28.9.07
Three Years
This is the 315th post on this blog, which I started three years ago today. Thanks, again, for reading and commenting.
24.9.07
21.9.07
News from New York
Alex Ross reports that he has received the first finished copy of his forthcoming The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century. I wonder if Penelope will review it.
Alex also reports that Gerard Mortier's first season (2009-10) as general manager of the New York City Opera will include productions of The Rake's Progress (Stravinsky), Einstein on the Beach (Glass), Nixon in China (Adams), Saint Francois d'Assise (Messiaen), and Death in Venice (Britten). To say that this is exciting is an understatement of operatic proportions.
[Lisa Hirsch posts about her reservations about the Messiaen, but also about her willingness to give it another chance.]
Alex also reports that Gerard Mortier's first season (2009-10) as general manager of the New York City Opera will include productions of The Rake's Progress (Stravinsky), Einstein on the Beach (Glass), Nixon in China (Adams), Saint Francois d'Assise (Messiaen), and Death in Venice (Britten). To say that this is exciting is an understatement of operatic proportions.
[Lisa Hirsch posts about her reservations about the Messiaen, but also about her willingness to give it another chance.]
20.9.07
Greatly Exaggerated
Critic and editor Phil Freeman writes in today's Los Angeles Times that, far from this being an era of songs and playlists:
Mr. Freeman cites trends he has noticed, including downloading of albums as a prelude to puchasing the whole rather than a means to pick out individual songs, as reasons to be optimistic about the continuing availability of hour-long visits to an "artist's world".
The pressures/incentives to view music, both popular and concert, as background and/or soundtracks-of-my-life are great. Many concert music radio strations are no help, either, with their constant recycling of a few "hits" and their seeming inability to play a symphony.
However, the trends Mr. Freeman notes, as well, as the sales figures Alex Ross has pointed out from time to time, are reasons for optimism.
Albums are more contemplative, presuming and demanding both commitment and patience on the listener's part. But for those of us who love the idea of being permitted into an artist's world for an hour or so, that's how it should be -- and these are good times.
Mr. Freeman cites trends he has noticed, including downloading of albums as a prelude to puchasing the whole rather than a means to pick out individual songs, as reasons to be optimistic about the continuing availability of hour-long visits to an "artist's world".
The pressures/incentives to view music, both popular and concert, as background and/or soundtracks-of-my-life are great. Many concert music radio strations are no help, either, with their constant recycling of a few "hits" and their seeming inability to play a symphony.
However, the trends Mr. Freeman notes, as well, as the sales figures Alex Ross has pointed out from time to time, are reasons for optimism.
9.9.07
6.9.07
Luciano Pavarotti
The larger-than-life Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at 71. The blogosphere is filling up with links and tributes:
A. C. Douglas
Alex Ross
Steve Smith
AllAboutOpera
La Cieca
A. C. Douglas
Alex Ross
Steve Smith
AllAboutOpera
La Cieca
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