It feels odd to be starting up the orchestra’s summer season only a week after we wrapped up what is officially our “winter season” (despite beginning in fall and ending in early summer,) but that’s the way the calendar fell … Continue reading →
So, apparently, those of you attending the orchestra’s Sounds of Cinema festival this weekend or next will be getting an intermission faceful of all that video we were shooting during last October’s Inside the Classics concerts, wrapped up in classic … Continue reading →
Back after a much-needed summer hiatus! Now, to ease myself back into regular blogging… An ex-musician friend happened upon this video of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony – a “visual representation” of music: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgXUFnfKIY] For a “color code” of what each line … Continue reading →
A stunning video installation in the elevator of the Standard Hotel in NYC by artist/director Marco Brambilla, depicting an eye-popping journey from hell to heaven: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQJVr8Lvce0] It’s positively Boschian (with Brueghelic undertones!), and I love that Stravinsky was chosen as … Continue reading →
Whatever happened to this contortionist version of the Andrews Sisters? And what does “Solid Potato Salad” mean? Questions aside, it’s three minutes and fifty seconds well spent – I particularly like their big close. Hang in there until the one-minute … Continue reading →
So, as it turns out, that wonderful live performance at the inauguration by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, et al? Wasn’t so live. Now, on the one hand, it seems silly to criticize either the performers or the organizers for having … Continue reading →
It’s been an interesting week at Orchestra Hall, in part because we’re working with one of my favorite guest conductors, in part because there was a 46-hour turkey-related gap between our first and second concerts of the week (always dangerous, … Continue reading →
A few last thoughts on the clapping question. Also, some Clapping Music. It’s utterly hypnotic… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXhBti625_s]
Composer/critic Greg Sandow had an interesting post over at his ArtsJournal blog this weekend, positing, with photographic evidence, that the formal dress sported by orchestras is an outdated remnant of a time when ordinary citizens of a certain class dressed … Continue reading →
I know, I know, they’re talking flowers, but it’s such a nice visual viola joke… Here’s another one from a tremendous catalogue: Why do violists stand for so long outside their houses?They can’t find the key and they don’t know … Continue reading →
