Synaphaï: Gene Gaudette's Blog

Tenor Peter Hofmann started his musical career as a rock singer, and switched to opera, showing enough talent to be one of Bayreuth's busiest heldentenors during the late 1970s and 1980s and make 29 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera. He even looked like both Siegfried and the frontman in a heavy metal hair band.  When his voice began to show some strain in the late 1980s, he left opera and became the German-speaking world's definitive Phantom of the Opera, bringing gravitas, electricity, and a strongly expressive voice to the title character in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's cheesy musical. Margalit Fox has a detailed obituary at nytimes.com.

My review of the New York Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble's terrific Saturday evening concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was posted to Classical Source yesterday, but I wanted to add a few personal observations here.

Go read the Guardian's Ed Pilkington on the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's continuing strike.

Pascal Vieillard, CEO of Atlanta-based A-440 Pianos Inc., has entered a guilty plea after having been charged with violating the Lacey Act by smuggling elephant ivory, an internationally protected commodity, into the US. The ivory was concealed in (not so carefully) hidden compartments inside furniture and supply crates. Atlanta Business Chronicle has the details.

Just back from a brief but thoroughly enjoyable concert by Ne(x)tworks, a new music ensemble that deserves more attention.

My review of their terrific recital at Carnegie Hall can be found at Classical Source.