Category: music

Joining widespread and growing protests against a partial privatization of the national pension scheme, the staff and performers of the National Opera and Ballet Theater in Yerevan walked out just before curtain time. (in English)

The European Parliament has agreed to a revision of air passenger rights, which includes a reform that would mean air carriers “must accept smaller instruments into the passenger cabin” and “must clearly indicate the terms and conditions for the transport of larger instruments in the cargo hold”.

“Mozart in the Jungle” is a satirical, behind-the-scenes look at a fictional American orchestra. But the magnetic Rodrigo doesn’t feel fictional at all. In fact, he’s a dead ringer for Gustavo Dudamel.

Put an electrode at the back of your head, and watch a cellist play your thoughts. [VIDEO]

“From the basic physics of string theory to complex biological materials, different functions arise from a small number of universal building blocks. I call this the universality-diversity paradigm.”

“Services such as Spotify and iTunes don’t handle the more complicated metadata very well, often rendering music in these genres harder to discover and sort. But building a tailor-made private playground cut off from huge pools of listeners is an even worse attempt at a solution.”

In a conversation Saturday with Brian Newhouse, managing director of Classical Minnesota Public Radio, Osmo Vanska said that “For any healing to begin at the orchestra, Michael Henson must go.”

“They have a big row, they go on, and basically they play this kind of speed-metal, punk, thrash-jazz, with Davis acting almost as conductor. They knew the setting and the moment was unique; they thought they were absolutely rubbish, though.”

Well, American music, anyway: “February 1964 — boom! No one had made or heard sounds like these. Here’s a crucial truth that goes totally unappreciated today: They were loud. … By the standards of the day, they were cacophonous.”

If it weren’t to be Mr. Vanska on the podium, there could not have been a more popular choice than Mr. Skrowaczewski, who, looking frail and gaunt, drew a half-minute standing ovation of his own.