This is a fascinating feature from the New York Times about what makes the Vienna Philharmonic sound so unique. Maestro Zubin Mehta gives his views along with some of the musicians from the orchestra.
For a start, the horns and the oboes in the orchestra are of the Viennese type and distinct from those played in other countries. The feature also contains video footage of how some of these instruments are played and sound.
For Sydney cellist Anthony Albrecht, life is about to undergo an irreversible change. In a few weeks he leaves Australia, to undertake a Master’s degree in historical performance at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. “I’m just trying to become an adaptable Renaissance cellist who is capable of performing at the highest…
The Australian Chamber Orchestra has just announced its 2013 season. Andreas Scholl sings Vivaldi, Barry Humphries presents music from Berlin, Martin Fröst plays Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Patricia Kopatchinskaja guest directs from the violin. There’s music by Brahms, Brett Dean, Ginastera and Rautavaara in the mix. More at: http://www.aco.com.au/buy/subscriptions?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Announcing2013season
Two world premiere recordings of works by the brilliant composer Nico Muhly are at the heart of Unexpected News, a new release from Omega Ensemble, on ABC Classics. It is an album that explores the American modern tradition through four works by Muhly and the great Philip Glass. The album contains three works by Muhly…
“It has always been known that the greatest pianoforte players were also the greatest composers; but how did they play? Not like the pianists of today, who prance up and down the keyboard with passages which they have practised – putsch, putsch, putsch – what does that mean? Nothing! When a true pianoforte virtuoso played it was…
Available tomorrow, April 10, is British harpsichordist and conductor’s new recording on Deutsche Grammophon, J S BACH The Well-Tempered Clavier I. Trevor Pinnock is a pioneer of the early music movement. As founder and former leader of The English Concert he enjoys a longstanding relationship with Archiv Produktion and Deutsche Grammophon. Among his celebrated recordings…
The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO) has a new release ‘Illuminate’ featuring music by Bruch, Britten and Tchaikovsky. This Historically Informed Performance expands ARCO’s repertoire into the late 19th and early 20th centuries.