Category: music

From beginners to pros – a study of surviving musicianship. New survival guide to be published in April offers help. – Los Angeles Times

Ex-Mobil exec named to run Washington Opera has always been a big fan. Now he’ll also call the shots. – New York Times

• Previously: EX MOBIL EXEC TO RUN OPERA: Appointment of ex Mobil treasurer brings some serious for-profit expertise to the non-profit Washington DC opera company at a time of potential expansion. – Washington Post 12/30/99

Used to be that opera was a stroll through the long-ago past. Not anymore. This is a Golden Era for new American opera. Latest to announce – composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrence McNally’s “Dead Man Walking,” based on Helen Prejean’s book, for San Francisco production next fall. – San Francisco Chronicle

Classical music has “entered the third Christian millennium more bewildered than most art forms, having long since lost its bearings. Yet the very anarchy of millennial mayhem may subtly assist its arrival at an epochal self-recognition. For the more diffuse society becomes, the more it reflects the eclectic state of musical creation.” – London Telegraph

Santana gets 10 nominations, Pierre Boulez nominated for six.  – 42nd Grammies Official Site

• Classical Grammys handicapped – Los Angeles Times 01/05/00
• Votes following money again – Los Angeles Times 01/05/00
• New York Times account 01/05/00 
• Boston Globe account 01/05/00
• Washington Post account 01/00/05
• San Francisco Examiner 01/05/00
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette analysis 01/05/00
• Dallas Morning News 01/05/00
• Cleveland Plain Dealer complains 01/06/00

– to have difficulty making their careers at home. One of Scotland’s best and brightest young conductors is likely to find most of his jobs out-of-country. – The Scotsman

He stabbed Christa Ludwig, slugged Roberta Knie and flung Carol Vaness across the stage. Jon Vickers was a great tenor, but truly “one of the most obnoxious characters in the annals of 20th-century opera” claims a new biography. – National Post (Canada)

Orchestra stand-mate giving you grief? Practicing a drag? New survival guide for the young musician attempts to soothe the way. – Baltimore Sun

Cuban filmmaker, artist and writer Agustin Blazquez reflects on cultural exchange with Cuba: “In recent months, the US has participated in what is called “people-to-people cultural exchanges” in what I see as a naive effort to reach out to the citizens of Cuba. Naive because these events ignore the interlace with politics — and because ordinary Cubans are forbidden to participate.” – The Idler

Perhaps no Best-of-Century list inflames the controversies and passions as does naming the best popular music. Have these youngsters no sense of history? – The Independent

• New York Times critics pick the 25 most important pop recordings of the 20th Century. – New York Times 01/03/00