For nostalgia-lovers, the 2016 World Series is a gold mine. There are dozens of articles out there recounting what life was like in the years the Chicago Cubs (1908) and Cleveland Indians (1948) last won the World Series. The drought has been so long for both teams...and I thought it would be fun to take … Continue reading A Classical Music World Series
Learning to Hate: A Story Whose Relevance Reaches Beyond the West Side
At the climax of West Side Story, Maria brandishes the gun that killed her star-crossed lover, Tony, and declares that, "We all killed him," because of the unbroken cycle of violence and hate between the two rival gangs. "I can kill now," Maria screams, "Because I hate now too!" When they programmed a concert performance … Continue reading Learning to Hate: A Story Whose Relevance Reaches Beyond the West Side
Resurrection of Hope
It's been a hell of a week. As we struggled to process the murder of Alton Sterling, we learned of the murder of Philando Castile. The Washington Post tells us 509 people have been killed by police this year. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune tells us that 148 people have been killed by police in Minnesota since 2000 … Continue reading Resurrection of Hope
Conductors Conducting the Climax of Mahler 2
The Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler is the biggest, most epic symphonic statement since Beethoven's 9th. It's subtitled "Resurrection," and the work climaxes with the words: O Pain, You piercer of all things, From you, I have been wrested! O Death, You conqueror of all things, Now, are you conquered! With wings which I … Continue reading Conductors Conducting the Climax of Mahler 2
A Devastating Double-Bill: Thoughts on Elektra and Mahler 9 at Lincoln Center (part 2)
(To read Part 1 of this post, please click here.) The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic don’t get together in the offseason and plan out their repertoire as a team, so it was pure coincidence that Richard Strauss’ dark psychodrama, Elektra, opened at The Met the same weekend the Philharmonic was playing Mahler’s … Continue reading A Devastating Double-Bill: Thoughts on Elektra and Mahler 9 at Lincoln Center (part 2)
A Devastating Double-Bill: Thoughts on Elektra and Mahler 9 at Lincoln Center (part 1)
The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic don't get together in the offseason and plan out their repertoire as a team, so it was pure coincidence that Richard Strauss' dark psychodrama, Elektra, opened at The Met the same weekend the Philharmonic was playing Mahler's bleak final symphony. Lincoln Center's coincidence was my good … Continue reading A Devastating Double-Bill: Thoughts on Elektra and Mahler 9 at Lincoln Center (part 1)
Buzz-Feeders: Why Art and Capitalism Should Play By Different Rules
A strange thing happened the other day: Bernie Sanders went to a performance of Hamilton. A presidential candidate going to a Broadway show isn’t the strange part. The strange part is *this* presidential candidate going to *this* broadway show. Bernie Sanders, champion of the people, advocate for the little guy…the man leading the assault on … Continue reading Buzz-Feeders: Why Art and Capitalism Should Play By Different Rules
LA Phil 2016-17: By the Numbers
I do this every year: leave the punditry to others and tally up the stats. Here's what 2016-17 looks like at the LA Phil. Unlike in years past, I have only included performances by the LA Phil--no visiting artists. 21 commissions, 14 world premieres, 5 U.S. premieres, and 5 West Coast premieres. This beats last … Continue reading LA Phil 2016-17: By the Numbers
Gustavo Dudamel and YOLA at the Super Bowl: GIFs
Here you go! All of the best Gustavo Dudamel and YOLA GIFs the halftime show at Super Bowl 50. Everybody wins.
How to Fix Classical Music
Money (1950). Lascivious musicians (1530). The gramophone (1930). Money (1969). Claude Debussy (1902). The violin (1740). Money (1683). YouTube (2013). Ludwig van Beethoven (1827). Money (1903). Popular music (1324). The compact disc (2009). Money (1987). Figured bass (1609). An aging audience (1960s-present). For centuries, classical music has been on the brink of death. Over the … Continue reading How to Fix Classical Music
Brian Lauritzen 