The results are in, and the first place winners in each category are: Piano: Daniil Trifonov. The 20-year old Russian pianist had already made a name for himself, initially by taking third place at the Chopin competition late last year, and then following it up with a first place finish and gold medal at the Artur … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2011
Happy Birthday, Esa-Pekka!
As we await the final results from the XIV Tchaikovsky International Competition, let me take a moment and wish Esa-Pekka Salonen a very happy birthday. The Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia and Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic turns 53 today. Continue reading
Thanks and Tchaikovsky on a Thursday
First of all, I must say, “Thank you very much” for all of you who have visited All is Yar since I began it twenty one days ago. I’m glad you have taken some of your busy time to see what I’ve shared, and I hope you come back often. Special thanks must go to … Continue reading
Orchestra programming: some are just better at it than others
After spending some time chatting on Tim Mangan’s blog about how the Pacific Symphony chose to put together its 2011-2012 season, I was reminded of a little contest that Sam Bergman and Sarah Hicks of the Minnesota Orchestra decided to hold a couple of years ago. The concept, in short, was to “put yourself in … Continue reading
Pacific Symphony 2011-2012 season announced; I give my $0.02 about it
The Pacific Symphony announced details of their 2011-2012 winter season. Timothy Mangan, music critic and blogger extraordinaire, refrained from comment (for now, at least) but invited others to share their thoughts instead. I couldn’t resist. Click HERE to see what I thought. Continue reading
Wine and a Weekend of Celebration
Typically, when the weekend comes around, Mrs. CKDH & I tend to open a bottle of wine (or perhaps two or six bottles, depending on which folks we happen to be drinking with). Since last weekend was a particularly celebratory one filled special occasions with family, friends, and lots of yummy cuts of USDA prime … Continue reading
Ford initial quality takes a dive; no one is surprised by this, right?
J. D. Power and Associates (JDPA) released the 2011 results of their much-watched Initial Quality Study (IQS). The noteworthy findings are: Lexus has the fewest problems of any brand in the industry. The leading seller of luxury vehicles in the US won highest-quality awards in every segment in which they were eligible, with ES, GS, GX, … Continue reading
Trying to ignore The Ring (nah, nah, nah . . . I can’t hear you!!)
Many people enjoy Wagner’s Ring. Some are even devoted to it enough trapse across the globe to see full productions of it. I am neither of those types of people. I’ve always respected it when critics were willing to acknowledge their inherent biases against a particular composer or performer. The late great Alan Rich made … Continue reading
LA Phil comings and goings (part 2 of 3): In search of a new Principal Trumpet
Peter Stumpf is not the only Los Angeles Philharmonic principal taking next year off: Donald Green, the orchestra’s Principal Trumpet, will begin a sabbatical at the end of this summer’s Hollywood Bowl season before returning to the orchestra next summer, and then retiring. In anticipation of Mr. Green’s retirement, the orchestra will be holding auditions … Continue reading
LA Phil comings and goings (part 1 of 3): As the Principal Cello chair turns . . .
News came today of Peter Stumpf, currently Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a member of the Johannes String Quartet, accepting a full-time position at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music after having served as adjunct faculty for the past two years, flying back and forth between Los Angeles and Bloomington to … Continue reading
Reviews from Ojai Festival 2011
The reviews are in from this year’s Ojai Music Festival, and most are quite positive overall. Music director Dawn Upshaw not surprisingly got most of the praise, with the rest of this year’s guests — Richard Tongetti & the Australian Chamber Orchestra, red fish blue fish, Maria Schneider & her orchestra, among many others — … Continue reading
Video humor: Whole Foods Parking Lot
Classic. “Pay my 80 bucks for my six things and get out” Continue reading
Dawn Upshaw leads Ojai Festival 2011
I remember June 1999, the first time I went to Ojai for its annual Music Festival: Esa-Pekka Salonen was festival Music Director that year and was being joined by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and many of his famous friends, including fellow Finns Anssi Kartunnen, Magnus Lindberg, and Olli Mustonen. While those folks represented many good … Continue reading
Beer with drinking instructions on the cork
I ordered a bottle of “Damnation” by Russian River Brewing Company. Surprise #1 was that it came with a cork like a bottle of sparkling wine. Upon popping it open (turn the bottle, not the cork), Surprise #2 was that there were instructions for choosing the proper glasswork printed right there on the side of … Continue reading
Why only now?!
Welcome to “All is Yar,” a blog devoted to enjoying life in all ways big and small, cheap or expensive, highbrow and low. I finally decided to start writing my own musings and rants after years of reading and commenting on what others — professionals and opinionated amateurs alike — have written about music, food, … Continue reading
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