Musical America Blogs

By Rebecca Schmid Blame it on Cage. Or the Marshall Plan. It is impossible to escape the American canon as the season opens here with the Musikfest Berlin (August 31-September 18), an annual festival dedicated to 20th-century music. The event falls just as Europe’s major festivals are drawing to a close and often struggles for [...]

By Rebecca Schmid A timpanist just tall enough to rumble his mallets over the kettle drums stares out from beneath his specs as Lars Vogt slides onto the bench for the opening chords of Grieg’s Piano Concerto. “I like that sound!” says Music Director Donato Cabrera to the young percussionist as he walks out into [...]

by Edna Landau To ask a question, please write Ask Edna. Dear Edna: As it is now late August and booking season is heading our way, I was wondering when you think is the best time to catch orchestra executive directors. I will be sending out materials through regular mail and e-mail. If I move [...]

by Sedgwick Clark Lincoln Center’s attempt to add variety to Mostly Moz is just fine with me, especially if the variety is Stravinsky. Audiences seem to agree too, for a Saturday afternoon of Stravinsky films and two concerts of his chamber music by the spiffy International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) were packed. The first of the [...]

By Alan Gilbert I’ve often spoken about the uniquely awesome capacity of the New York Philharmonic, but I really must tip my hat to the musicians for what they have done over the last few weeks. From Sunday, October 24, through Thursday, November 4, we were on tour in Europe, playing in familiar cities, such [...]

Compiled and annotated by Richard S. Ginell 7 – 8 September, 2011 Davies Symphony Hall, Civic Center Plaza. San Francisco Symphony. Fanfare for a New Century. Michael Tilson Thomas The San Francisco Symphony celebrates its centennial season in 2011-12, kicking it off with a combination of high-society pomp and public-spirited populism.  The Opening Gala in [...]