Goat Love: Trick or Treat?
For Halloween, there's always Mussorgsky's Night on the Bald Mountain. The initial inspiration was a short story by Nikolai Gogol based on Russian folk myths. The story in the music is about a mountain without trees, bald, near Kiev. Legend …
Hopped up on Opium
Halloween is upon us which can only mean one thing. Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique: Episode in the Life of an Artist. The artist is a young man (Berlioz himself) who has a series of opium induced visions. Think Jim Morrison. …
The Children
At the San Diego District Metropolitan Opera Auditions this year, three out-of-town sopranos were put through to the regional round in Los Angeles. I want to make it clear that this not an audition but a competition that is open …
Chuckee's Evil Twin Sister
As I mentioned, I went the the local Met Auditions on Saturday at the Birch North Park Theater. I want to make it clear, this is NOT an audition. It is a competition that is called an audition. Nobody knows …
Comfort Music
With the all the rain, I decided to seek out some comfort music. Traditionally, for me, that is Russian Sacred Choral Music. It is simultaneously melancholy and mystical and that combination does it for me on a rainy day. I …
My Pants were on, so what was the Big Deal?
On Saturday, I went to the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, San Diego District. That's just a fancy way of saying singing contest. Contestants must have a total of 5 opera arias prepared and there must be three different languages. This …
A Bikini on the Floor of The Senate
I decided to go back and listen to the the beginning, middle, and end of classical music. That would be Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Argue all you want about periods, styles, or historical accuracy. What comes to mind when you think …
Bruckner's 8th and Kissing
Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony is a colossal piece of music. After listening, one may imagine having been to Alpine heights and the soulful depths of a saintly man. Bruckner fanatics, yes they're out there, will go on for hours about …
The Beast with Two Backs
If you've listened to classical music and never blushed at the blatant sexuality these composers are flaunting, then you may want to listen a little closer. As we might imagine, the Italians make it most clear but the Russians run …
Music and Art
Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings may be America's greatest contribution to the world of classical music. The point can be argued and discussed so feel free. What is unique about the Adagio is that it's passion is tinged with melancholy …