Tag Archives: Rachmaninoff

Exoticism –The Music of Karol Szymanowski

Earlier this summer I let someone pick the play I saw, observing how it’s valuable to let someone else choose what one will see and/or hear.  We circumscribe ourselves with our menu choices, our viewing habits, our purchases, boxing ourselves … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eve Egoyan 5: reinventing the tone-row

Isn’t that life, in a way: trying to accommodate dissonance –Ann Southam In the realm of disco or heavy metal, we’re told to turn up the volume.  I saw something new, though, on the booklet for Eve Egoyan’s CD 5.  … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Opera Eats

There are more talented artists graduating from the programs training them than there are possible jobs.  It’s one reason we have Fringe Festivals: because we’ve trained so many good young actors, directors & playwrights, that they can create their own … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The New Everest

In a fascinating article in the New York Times, Anthony Tommasini observed that virtuosi are “becoming a dime a dozen”.   Surely there’s some truth to this.  Tommasini made the analogy to the four minute mile, once thought to be an … Continue reading

Posted in Essays | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ministers of Music

December 30th is a day of reflection in my family.  My father passed away on this date long ago, forever casting a shadow over this festive season.  It doesn’t mean one can’t celebrate.  If one occasionally eats & drinks oneself … Continue reading

Posted in Essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mostly Frenchmen

I am so lucky that I made it to Lincoln Center in New York City this week for the big summer music festival, when Mostly Mozart Festival is admittedly mostly over. This is a festival probing interesting connections and juxtapositions … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment