Live Music
The post-modern politics of power are now trying to tack their sloppy thought processes onto Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. An article at vox.com claims: “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony starts with an anguished opening theme — dun …
There is some live music in San Diego these days. On Friday, September 11, I and my kids were able to attend Mainly Mozart’s drive-up Resilience concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. According to Mainly …
Shame on Amazon UK and their new Alexa commercial that asks Alexa to stop playing Mozart and start playing “something more fun.” The entire commercial makes Mozart’s Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute …
Last week I unfairly accused the brass and winds of forcing Covid-19-laden breath through their instruments. I venerated the strings section for their safer approach to music. None of that is accurate. I was having …
One of the issues orchestras is facing is brass and wind instruments. Brass instruments have “water keys” to drain the accumulated moisture from the instrument. Another, and more accurate, term for water key is “spit …
Giovanni Sgambati conducted the Italian premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in 1867. He conducted the Italian premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in 1870. Let that sink in for a moment. Beethoven composed his …
It’s August, a month in which I usually begin to look forward to the Masterworks Season at the San Diego Symphony. However, in my opinion, there will be no fall concerts this year. One of …
When considering “blind auditions” for orchestras I began to wish opera companies were forced to cast their operas based on blind auditions. A blind audition means the auditors do not know anything about the musician …
The author of a thought piece in the New York Times wants to get rid of blind auditions for top tier orchestras in order to create more diversity in orchestras. A blind audition means the …
Well, we are back to square one with the reopening of the county, and that is bad news for San Diego classical music. The good news is that the restriction on concerts is forcing our …
Having spent the last eight days in the Santa Cruz Mountains and having walked many a forest path, I began to consider the greatest music inspired by nature. What follows is by no means a …
I’m spending some time in the Santa Cruz mountains and a redwood forest. A redwood forest is often compared to a cathedral and for good reason. I must admit there is something of a sacred …
There are a multitude of stories currently presenting the idea that Beethoven was black. The claim is that he had a Moorish background through his mother’s side. His mother’s family came from Flanders which was …
Since Father’s Day is coming up, let’s look at some operatic fathers and decide if they deserve a Father’s Day card or not. First up is Rigoletto from Verdi’s Rigoletto. We see Rigoletto as a …
I’ve been sitting in on some voice lessons at the studio of a good friend. In the course of the conversation between lessons, the topic of sports performance came up, and then we realized the …