Following the post about the Shostakovich Symphony No. 11, here’s the “guided tour” to the symphony, from the perspective of conductor Hugh Wolff and some of the brilliant young NEC…
Category: <span>Politics</span>
So what is the Symphony No. 11? Shostakovich’s most Russian/ Mussorgskian work? A piece of cinematic agit-prop? A commentary on the crushed Hungarian uprising? A deeply reflective “Requiem for a Generation,”…
Look no further than yesterday’s speech by Obama for proof of the long-lasting global impact of “The War to End All Wars,” which started 100 years ago. Enough that some…
Great love fest and concert last night for the ever-dignified and charismatic Harry Belafonte, the “High School drop out getting an Honorary Degree from Berklee.” At the age of 87,…
When shall we get ourselves a Washington To promulgate his new and righteous law? But someday we shall surely find the man! Taras Shevchenko, 1848 Witnessing the dramatic events happening…
From George Washington’s diary: Tuesday, June 12, 1787: “Dined at Mr. Morris’s and drunk Tea there. Went afterwards to the concert at the City Tavern.” Washington was in Philadelphia for…
I’ve been thinking for several days now about what I could say about Pete Seeger that hasn’t already been said, seen, or heard. Certainly it is impossible to overstate his…
Think piece I wrote for WCRB Classical New England for this rather remarkable day on the calendar…\ November Numerology: JFK and the Musical Meaning of 11/22
Nice to see Dave Brubeck get a well-deserved honor yesterday…the legendary jazzman came to Washington DC to honored with the Ben Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy – a sort of “lifetime achievement” award for Americans going abroad…and he plays a moving Chopinesque piece, inspired by a long-ago trip to Poland..
Any resemblance to Mike “I Was Just Thinking….” Barnicle is purely coincidental…. Kind of amazing to hear the wall-to-wall media coverage of the New York Philharmonic’s trip to North Korea….startling…