Category: music

The theory (backed up with statistics): “British people are more liberal on such issues as same-sex relationships and abortion than they have ever been. At the last count, one in 10 people in couples in England and Wales were in what the official statistics call an ‘inter-ethnic relationship.’ Cannabis smoke regularly wafts around our town and city centres; Glastonbury is as much a part of the national calendar as Wimbledon or the Grand National. And throughout our waking hours, there is one constant above all others: what the dictionary still calls pop music, probably the most potent means of communication human beings have ever come up with.”

The matched set of four pieces has ivory handles with inlay; wide, sharp blades; and the music and text – in four-part harmony, one voice per knife – for blessings before and after the meal, one on each side. (includes sound clip of one of the blessings)

Arthur Kaptainis: “The [Orchestra symphonique de Montréal] wanted to extend his contract, and naturally enough. He still sells tickets. Why mess with success? Nagano noted in a statement that ‘following a decade and a half as music director, it seems like a natural transition point.’ Fair enough. … No conductor can lead an orchestra for more than a decade without incurring some sense of déjà vu. And no conductor in the world is less interested in repeating himself than Kent Nagano.”

“[He] came to the Montreal orchestra when it was emerging from shambles. The OSM had gone through four years of labour strife, money troubles and uncertainty after the sudden departure of legendary director Charles Dutoit in 2002 after nearly 25 years in the post [of music director]. Mr. Nagano leaves the orchestra in much better position with a new concert hall, a solid balance sheet and years of critical acclaim.”

“Mr. Abumrad, 44, is a lifelong pianist, and studied composition at Oberlin – where there were some ‘leftover lefties from the ’60s who were teaching 12-tone still, for some reason,’ he said in a recent interview … As [he] has become one of the most innovative radio producers of his generation, he continues to moonlight as a composer.”

She’s moving from the University of Southern California to the East Coast, and “she cited Curtis’ approach as one appeal of the job – the ‘commitment Curtis has to nurturing younger musicians to prepare them not just to play the instrument, but to also become responsible citizens.'”

In 1985, Philadelphia police attempting to evict and arrest members of the militant activist group MOVE dropped a bomb on the group’s headquarters, causing a fire that burned down an entire city block. Jones, composer Daniel Bernard Roumain, and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph are creating a new work about the disaster and its aftermath for Opera Philadelphia’s inaugural O festival this September. David Patrick Stearns talks to Jones and Joseph about how the piece is coming together.

Just what those issues are hasn’t been stated, but that’s the phrase used in the announcement that the 76-year-old pianist won’t be making a scheduled appearance in Athens next month. Last week she cancelled what was to have been her Australian debut, saying in a statement, “I am unable to travel and play in this moment, feel very weak, exhausted and having physical pains that worry me.”