While Bernstein invariably called St.Clair “Cowboy,” St.Clair called Bernstein “Mr. B.” This was St.Clair’s own coinage (taken up by others) and a response to Bernstein’s mock protest one day, his hands around St.Clair’s neck and exclaiming, “Stop calling me Mr.
Interview: Carl St.Clair remembers Leonard Bernstein (Part 1)
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Carl St.Clair was sitting at a table outside a popular cafe in downtown Laguna Beach when we met with him the other day. He had musical scores spread out on the table in front of him, and
Director’s note for ‘The Magic Flute’
“The Magic Flute” is Mozart’s final opera and one of his last compositions. It premiered in Vienna in September 1791 and Mozart died a mere two months later. Despite being sick, hungry, broke and altogether miserable, Mozart’s music is some
Pacific Overtures: February
Another edition of my popular and sundry newsletter … Pacific Overtures. February, 2018.
A note on Paul Chihara’s ‘Wild Wood’
The following note on “Wild Wood” was provided by the composer Paul Chihara. The orchestral version of the score, substantially rewritten from the original for wind band, will be given its premiere by Pacific Symphony in concerts Feb. 1-4. I
Interview: Pianist Alexander Romanovsky to make Pacific Symphony debut with Prokofiev’s Second Concerto
By TIMOTHY MANGAN Alexander Romanovsky is a Ukrainian pianist who lives in southern Switzerland, near Lugano, about 400 meters from the Italian border. When he goes jogging in the morning he likes to venture into the neighboring country, the border
Bernstein, Made for TV
The importance of Leonard Bernstein will be discussed again and again this year, the centennial of his birth. The multitalented musician can be a little hard to pin down, though, because he did so many things so well (and not
Pacific Overtures: January
The first newsletter of the new year has arrived … Pacific Overtures. January, 2018.
Listen to this: ‘Bolero’
In our ongoing efforts aimed at improving the listening skills of people new to classical music, we come to instrumentation. It is helpful in learning to understand a particular piece to be able to identify, just with your ears, which
Pacific Overtures, December
The December newsletter is out a day early … Pacific Overtures. December, 2017.