(Curated classical music news and views from around the internet.) A classical music festival in Rhode Island goes horribly wrong…. Kiri Ti Kanawa confirms her retirement from singing…. Another Proms season — the 123rd — is in the books…. Meet
Audio: Beethoven Symphony No. 5, III. Allegro
Glenn Gould plays the scherzo from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in the transcription by Franz Liszt. Initially, Gould’s tempo may seem too slow, but it works quite well over the long haul I think.
Previn cancels
André Previn, who was scheduled to conduct the Pacific Symphony in three concerts in October, marking his return to Southern California as a performing musician after more than two decades, has cancelled. The 88-year-old musician has withdrawn from the concerts
Pacific Symphony 2017-18 classical season: A brief overview
By TIMOTHY MANGAN One of the more interesting discussions going on in the world of symphony orchestras these days, well into the second decade of the 21st century, concerns the matter of programming. What, exactly, can an American symphony orchestra
Audio: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, first movement
Here’s one of the earliest recordings of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with Arthur Nikisch conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in 1913. Don’t let the primitive sound put you off; it’s a fascinating interpretation, notable for its extremely flexible approach to tempo. Carl
Classical cover: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
In 1945, a theme from the third movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (played Saturday) was turned into a popular song called “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” which over the years has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher,
Amy Beach: 150
Today is the 150th birthday of pioneering American composer Amy Beach. Here is the first movement of her Symphony in E minor, “Gaelic,” written in 1896. Neeme Jarvi conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns
Van Cliburn gold medalist brings Rachmaninoff for his debut with Pacific Symphony
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Yekwon Sunwoo showed up on Skype at the appointed time recently, or rather his voice did. He initially preferred not to appear on screen — 24 hours of travel from Poland to Aspen the day before had
Lesson Eight: Motivation and nerves
My last piano lesson in the series. Recording coming soon. Lesson Eight: Motivation and nerves. OC Music and Dance blog, Aug. 31, 2017.
Pacific Symphony: September concerts
Septembers are always an eventful time at Pacific Symphony, this year especially so. The summer season comes to an end, the winter season gets underway, a superstar soloist returns. Here’s a quick run down of the concerts, with clickable access