In what has become a nearly annual event, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has named a new Principal Flute: this time around, the winner is Benjamin Smolen, the current Principal Flute of the Battle Creek Symphony. Mr. Smolen has played as a guest with the Pacific Symphony before. Now that he’s got the full-time gig, let’s hope … Continue reading
Category Archives: Music News & Info: Classical
Symphony in Beer
You know, some things just don’t get old, especially when it involves the combination of two of my favorite things: orchestras and beer. Here’s a real 2007 Australian commercial for Victoria Bitter beer starring the Melbourne Symphony and Orchestra Victoria (playing as the “Victoria Bitter Orchestra”) in a performance of “The VB Stubby Symphony.” Also … Continue reading
Getting ramped up for the new seasons
Welcome to September (special thanks to Pomplamoose for helping to ring it in with style). We officially still have a few weeks of summer left, but this month is when all sorts of seasons (musical and otherwise) start anew: My beloved USC Trojans kick-off their 2011 football season tomorrow at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum … Continue reading
Yefim Bronfman on Iron Chef America again
I was settling in for the evening when, on a whim, I decided to watch the latest episode of Iron Chef America. Mind you, this is something I do very rarely these days because I don’t think the latest crop of contest-chosen alleged “iron chefs” are actually worthy of the title (Marc Forgione on the same plateau as … Continue reading
Classical music marketing — try it yourself, win LA Opera tickets
Just got back from a week’s vacation up in Northern California: fun in Yosemite, Napa, and Sonoma. I spent some quality time outdoors hiking and relaxing, not to mention tasting some very yummy wines (more on that in the near future). Much of the week was spent unplugged and away from the internet (partially by … Continue reading
Comparing guest conductors’ rehearsal styles: how to endear yourself to an orchestra — or not
“The art of conducting lies, in my opinion, in the power of suggestion that a conductor exerts – on the audience as well as on the orchestra,” the conductor Otto Klemperer once observed. “A conductor must know how to hold attention. He must be able to lead the players with his eyes and the movements … Continue reading
Quick hits on a Tuesday
First and foremost, many thanks to Timothy Mangan, esteemed music critic and muppet fan extraordinaire, for adding “All is Yar” to the blogroll of ClassicalLife.net. As much as I appreciate his wry sense of humor when covering popular culture, I continue to hold out hope that the editors and publishers of the Orange County Register … Continue reading
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc. / Reviews 2011/2012
Rodrigo y Gabriela (et al) at the Hollywood Bowl
A near-capacity crowd filled the Hollywood Bowl to the brim this past Saturday night. Gustavo Dudamel was in the house, along with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and some other folks. But for once, the crowd was not really there to see The Dude. Sure, there were a few screams of “We love you, Gustavo!” but … Continue reading
Philly Principal Trumpet gets teaching job in Georgia, but is staying with orchestra (for now)
David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1995, has accepted a teaching position in Athens, GA. In a letter sent to Peter Dobrin of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr. Bilger confirms that: He will immediately become the “Visiting Professor of Music and William F. and Pamela P. Prokasy Professor in the Arts at the … Continue reading
News about many conductors; a comment about a critic, a pianist, and a dress
I am still trying to piece together the data for the next installment of my analysis of Gustavo Dudamel’s penchant for new music (as promised in my previous post); however, these things take time and the day job keeps getting in the way. In the meantime, it seems like every time you turned around recently, … Continue reading
Gustavo Dudamel and new music (Part One of an ongoing series)
“Gustavo Dudamel — new music conductor.” Or perhaps, “Gustavo Dudamel — new music proponent.” Really?? The young maestro is not necessarily known for conducting new music as much as others such as David Robertson or Kent Nagano, and he certainly does not have the reputation or gravitas that Esa-Pekka Salonen brings when conducting “new” or … Continue reading
Changing programs around a little
I received an email from the Los Angeles Philharmonic a couple of days ago informing me that there would be a slight change for their October 20 & 21 programs: instead of Tromba Lontana by John Adams, the curtain raiser will now be Short Ride on a Fast Machine (also by Adams) in a concert which also includes … Continue reading
A Sibelius soundtrack for a Texas storm
I visited Texas a few months ago, driving from city to city as I made my way across the state. On the leg from Dallas to Houston, I found myself chasing one of those Texas-sized storms, the kind of which we just don’t get in California: lightning bolts flashing back and forth across the sky … Continue reading
Auditions & Appointments / Las Vegas / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Travel
News of Mr. Hooten and Miss December: how the LA Phil may have found a new Principal Trumpet and CKDH a new favorite blackjack dealer
Long before the closure of Interstate 405 allegedly threatened to end the world as we know it, I had planned to spend this past weekend with family and friends in Las Vegas. High temperatures were a surprisingly mellow 98-degrees in the shade, so days were spent outside at the Mandalay Bay lazy river with cold … Continue reading
Free French-related Fun for Bastille Day
It’s very easy to make fun of the French because . . . well, because they are so very French. You don’t get saddled with a nickname like “cheese-eating surrender monkeys” without having deserved it in some way, shape, or form. Still, they helped us win our nation’s independence, they shipped a nice big copper … Continue reading
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