I read the news this year, oh boy... And so the Year of Death and Brexit and #MAGA comes to a merciful end. Yes, it was a horrific year for unity and truth and famous people staying alive. The awfulness extended to the classical music world as well. We said goodbye to far too many titans … Continue reading 5 Classical Music Stories That Prove 2016 Wasn’t a Total Loss
Mozart at the Bat
With opening week of the new baseball season upon us, I was thinking about the various songs the players choose for their walk-up music as they head up to bat. It's totally their choice and the picks range from something with a good thumping bass to get the adrenaline flowing to music of menace and … Continue reading Mozart at the Bat
Concert-going for the Affluent: A Takedown
I've been going to classical music concerts for as long as I can remember. At this point in my life, I attend about 40-50 concerts each year. But apparently, I've been clapping wrong this whole time. That is, if Joy Weaver is to believed, I am most definitely applauding incorrectly. How to do it properly … Continue reading Concert-going for the Affluent: A Takedown
I just spent 31 of your hard-earned dollars and you will thank me for it later
I've been working on my click-bait headlines. How am I doing, UpWorthIt? Okay, emotional manipulation aside, there are many ways you could spend $31. You could buy this crow bar...this Himalayan Salt Lamp which is also an air-purifier (huh?)...two of these Runny Nose Shower Gel Dispensers, one for your shower and another for the kids' … Continue reading I just spent 31 of your hard-earned dollars and you will thank me for it later
Departures from The Rite
On the 100th anniversary of what Leonard Bernstein called the most important piece of music in the 20th century, here are a few of my favorite adaptations of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.
Remixing the Rite
It’s not every day that electronic music DJs dabble in the classical music realm…but often, when they do, the results are less than thrilling. Okay…Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won an Oscar for that last one—a remix of In the Hall of the Mountain King, from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt. "There's this increasing wave in … Continue reading Remixing the Rite
Arrested Development & Recapitulation
First of all, credit where credit is due: my puntastic colleague at KUSC, @JamiePaisley, created this, and many other, TV ad posters during our recent pledge drive. As a rabid fan of Arrested Development, this one was my favorite. And it got me thinking: what if the cast of AD were made up of classical … Continue reading Arrested Development & Recapitulation
Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic on Stravinsky’s Rite
This weekend, the LA Philharmonic performs Igor Stravinsky's seminal masterpiece, The Rite of Spring, with music director Gustavo Dudamel. The concerts mark the opening of the 2012-13 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall. I spoke with Dudamel as well as several members of the LA Phil about what it's like to perform The Rite. Here … Continue reading Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic on Stravinsky’s Rite
Brutal Virtuosity: Grappling with Stravinsky’s Rite
“It doesn’t matter what notes you play,” I said, “as long as you play them at the right time.” It was 2004 and my violinist friend and I were driving to the first rehearsal of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Neither of us had played the work before and both of us were marveling … Continue reading Brutal Virtuosity: Grappling with Stravinsky’s Rite
Brian Lauritzen 