Musical America Blogs

By ANDREW POWELL Published: November 24, 2014 MUNICH — It took him 39 years, but Maurizio Pollini has now completed his recorded survey of Beethoven sonatas here in the Herkulessaal, where the project began. The final sessions, for the Opp. 31 and 49 pieces, were held in June this year, and the resulting CD set […]

Crazy Weather BMOPsound 1038 As evidenced by Crazy Weather, Boston Modern Orchestra Project’s latest recording of music by Scott Wheeler, the composer really knows his way around percussive sounds. Even on pieces for strings like the title track, there is the ‘thwack’ of pizzicatos and bow slaps to help propel the proceedings. Pacing is another […]

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq.    Dear Law and Disorder: What rights does a translator have? I translated a non-English script into English. All of the prior translations were very bad, which is why I did my own.  Everyone agrees mine is the best, even the original author. However, now that I am getting offers […]

Co-founders of Le Poisson Rouge, David Handler and Justin Kantor, talk with Eugenia Zukerman and Emily Ondracek-Peterson of Noted Endeavors about the practical realities of making a living as a composer or instrumentalist. Called by Time Out New York “a forward-thinking venue that seeks to showcase disparate musical styles under one roof,” Le Poisson Rouge continues to […]

Lei Liang Bamboo Lights JACK Quartet; Rootstock Percussion; Cicada Chamber Ensemble; musicians from soundSCAPE; Awea Duo; The Callithumpian Consort, Stephen Drury, conductor Bridge 9425 CD [soundcloud url=”http://soundcloud.com/psny/lei-liang-listening-for”]   Composer Lei Liang knows how to pick performers; or perhaps, wisely, they select his works. Either way, when their paths cross, as they do here on a […]

Splash. From atop a cantering horse, the avant-garde flamenco artist Rocío Molina plunges into a dark river. This opening film sequence that precedes the live dance work Bosque Ardora (Ardor in the Woods) was seen November 7 at Teatros del Canal, the host of the 2014 Madrid International Dance Festival. Molina’s descent into a dark river is symbolic of her descent into the underworld of the psyche. There, the thirty-year-old choreographer embodies female archetypes: the goddess (Artemis of the hunt), the vixen (in which she wears a fox mask), and the modern day victim (who is physically punished by high-heel stilettos). Molina never settles too long into one vision, and thus never becomes trapped by female, cultural stereotypes. Molina outfoxes preconceptions: she is a petite, brown-haired beauty; she performs like a chameleon giantess.

By Brian Taylor Goldstein, Esq.    Dear Law and Disorder: The management company where I work has asked me to sign a non-compete agreement saying that, if I ever quit or am fired, I would be prohibited from working as a manager or agent anywhere in the world for one year after I leave. The […]

Daniel Bernard Roumain talks with Eugenia Zukerman and Emily Ondracek-Peterson of Noted Endeavors about the practical realities of making a living as a composer or instrumentalist. “Here I am, crisscrossing the country in new work, with new collaborators, making new friends,” Daniel Bernard Roumain writes in a November newsletter. He has composed the original score […]

Helen Grime Night Songs Lynsey Marsh, clarinet; Hallé Orchestra and Hallé Soloists; Sir Mark Elder and Jamie Phillips, conductors NMC Recordings NMCD 199   Helen Grime is Associate Composer of the Hallé Orchestra. The ensemble has given her a generous portrait CD on NMC with excellent performances of both chamber and orchestral works, all composed […]

By James Conlon   On the occasion of the opening of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Dimitri Shostakovich’s opera, I have revisited an article that I wrote for Opera News in 1994 at the time I conducted the opera in its first presentation at the Met. I have expanded and re-written a great deal of […]