What the heck took them so long?
Continue reading Report: Chris Roberts OUT at Universal Classics and Jazz (DG/Decca)
Category Archives: Classical Music News
Is the Justice Department about to trust-bust Apple and their online music dominance?
It sure looks like it. And it’s no surprise it “took so long,” as some would complain: the previous administration’s Justice Department seemed to be big business’s BFF, and AG Eric Holder has made it pretty clear that he’s no Alberto Gonzales. Continue reading Is the Justice Department about to trust-bust Apple and their online music dominance?
Abbado cancels La Scala return
This can’t be good. Here’s hoping he still performs at the Lucerne Festival. AP has also picked up the story.
Yvonne Loriod, 1924-2010
Roger Muraro has confirmed to the NY Times that Yvonne Loriod has died in Saint-Denis. Best known as Olivier Messiaen’s muse and the most prominent champion of his piano music, she was also one of the greatest French piano pedagogues of the later 20th century.
David Randolph, 1914-2010
David Randolph was a dynamic figure in New York City’s local classical music scene, best known as a choral conductor, but also an erudite and affable presence on WNYC for decades. The NY Times‘ Margalit Fox has a detailed obituary. Randolph was a frequent concertgoer, and one would frequently see him chatting with multiple colleagues, friends, and singers before concerts and during intermission. As one can easily discern from the obit, he was much-beloved not only here in New York but around the region.
He needs to watch some vintage footage of Fritz Reiner
The Los Angeles Times reports that hyperkinetic maestro Gustavo Dudamel injured himself Thursday night while conducting the finale of Dvorák’s Cello Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The orchestra is about to embark on a national tour, and here’s hoping Dudamel recovers in time for departure. In the meanwhile, he might consider reviewing some vintage action footage of Fritz Reiner, whose economy of movement is almost as legendary as his notorious podium temperament, which could run the gamut from withering to tyrannical.
Arthur Winograd, 1920-2010
The NY Times obituary is here. Winograd conducted the Hartford Symphony while I was in college, and guest conducted the Hartt School Orchestra on one occasion during my undergraduate years, getting impressive results with his authoritative, patient approach.
MET names Fabio Luisi their Principal Guest Conductor
Covering classical radio as if the Internet simply weren’t there…
I do most of my classical music radio listening via the Internet: BBC Radio 3, WCPE, BR-Klassik, WWFM and WFMT are all regular destinations. So imagine my surprise…
Continue reading Covering classical radio as if the Internet simply weren’t there…
Alan Rich, 1924-2010
Rich was a terrific writer and an enthusiastic booster of LA’s dynamic classical music scene. Here’s the obituary from the OC Register. (Hat tip: Christopher O’Reilly)
UPDATE: Here’s Allan Kozinn obit, just posted to the NY Times Web site.