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Free to a good home – when pianos pass their ‘use-by’ date
This somewhat heartbreaking feature in the New York Times looks at the increasing costs of maintaining a quality piano, and the disposabiity of lower end instruments: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/arts/music/for-more-pianos-last-note-is-thud-in-the-dump.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Madness, death and loss – this tenor never gets the girl
Tenor Stuart Skelton is soon to be performing again in Sydney. This is an interview he have to SoundsLikeSydney last year, on singing Wagner and on some of the characers he has portrayed in opera. If you’re one who believes that in the end, the tenor gets the girl, even a cursory look at the roles sung…
Cuts to school music programmes in Queensland – Simone Young comments
Simone Young is in Brisbane to conduct the Australian Youth Orchestra. She comments on the Queensland state government’s slashing of music education in schools: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/conductor-heats-up-over-axed-programs/story-e6frg8n6-1226436119693
‘Dazzling Virtuoso’ opens in Sydney
Scenes from the opening night of Dazzling Virtuoso – Gabriele Cassone performing the Haydn and Hummel trumpet concerti on the keyed trumpet with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is safe from cuts
Gramophone magazine reports that the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will not be axed with the nation’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister describing the move as ‘unthinkable’: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/minister-denies-axing-new-zealand-symphony-orchestra
Music in the middle-east – the thoughts of an iranian pianist
The geographic and ethnic boundaries of Western classical music are being extended. Extended with a purpose. Recently, the Australian Chamber Orchestra featured Palestinian-Israeli pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar. They played the music of Schubert and Messiaen. Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are recording the orchestral works of Beethoven. They have perhaps achieved more towards Middle Eastern reconciliation…
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José Carbó – ‘My Latin Heart’
It comes from his heart. His Latin heart. Argentinian born Australian baritone José Carbó has recorded a collection of music from Argentina, My Latin Heart, a tribute to his heritage. Accompanying him are guitarist brothers Leonard and Slava Grigoryan. Together they have created a swathe of Latin American songs that blaze, glow, fade to embers and flare again. Carbó…
Danielle de Niese with the Australian Chamber Orchestra
On hearing that I was attending the opening night of Danielle de Niese’s concert season with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney, a friend asked me to let him know whether I thought he should go along to hear her. Twenty four hours after the concert, I’m still deliberating on my response to him. Danielle de Niese is…