Archive for February, 2009
Thoughts on the “Cast-Less” Cast Album
I am thoroughly enjoying Allegro, the Rodgers and Hammerstein flop that seems ripe for remounting, rediscovery, and a formal introduction to the Broadway repertoire. Not that it will happen (for whatever reason, these “rediscovered” pieces by masters seemed doomed to flounder—like Candide, Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra or Anyone Can Whistle—no matter how good they might [...]
A Few Thoughts on the Inaugural Piece
Finally, I can say it here: I am beyond thrilled with the results of the last presidential election. Mr. Obama is, if not perfect, as close to it as a politician has ever been, at least in my lifetime. And more, I was thrilled with his inauguration—his acceptance speech, the poem, and even the piece [...]
At Last, Allegro!
As an aficionado of Broadway, there are certain shows one can find out a lot about without knowing. For example, if you know Kurt Weill’s stage works (not his operas, or his hybrid pieces, but his American Theatre pieces) you know Lady in the Dark or Street Scene, but you don’t have any chance of [...]
“That Sounds Like It Should Be In a Movie!”
Most composers—especially American Composers—are often confronted with the comment “your music sounds like it should be in a movie,” usually made by someone not directly affiliated with classical music, most often (though not always) meant as a compliment. So here I am, listening to Nikolaj Znaider play Eric Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto—under the baton of [...]
Lukas Foss
This morning I awoke to some sad news—Lukas Foss, that ever-curious composer-conductor-pianist, had passed away at the age of 86. This was a man who could quite literally do anything. He wrote music in every conceivable style, from hard and strict serealism to works more akin to mid-century France to minimalism. He dabbled in indeterminate [...]