One of my favourite moments in all of Russian music: Glazunov's Spring turns into Summer. Bugbear: why doesn't anyone play The Seasons these days? (Classic FM does. Concerts don't. Would rather listen to this any day than...oh, never mind.)
Happy 1 June, dear readers.
Monday, June 01, 2015
Sunday, May 31, 2015
10 things not to say to a music critic
Here are 10 things not to say if you spot a music critic, scribbling notes, near you in a concert.
1. "Do you have to keep on writing during the music? It's very annoying - please stop."
2. "Oh, I see - you're a critic? Wow! What a privilege to meet you. What do you think of the concert?"
3. "Oh, really? I'm amazed. I thought it was sublime. But what do I know?"
4. "Who's the best pianist around, then?"
5. "But you must know - you're a master, you hear them all!"
6. "Where can I read you?...Oh dear. I never read them. Ha ha."
7. "So, do you play the piano yourself? ....Really? Why not? ...Oh. So how come you get to review a piano recital?"
8. "How do you become a critic? You have to study music for years and years, right?"
9. "Goodness. That is very surprising."
10. "Here's my email address. Please write to me. Please. Please. When you have a moment. Just put down the best pianists to hear, the best orchestras in town...please..."
AND A BONUS:
11. Well, come and hear a symphony by XYZ with me - I'll convince you to like him!
1. "Do you have to keep on writing during the music? It's very annoying - please stop."
2. "Oh, I see - you're a critic? Wow! What a privilege to meet you. What do you think of the concert?"
3. "Oh, really? I'm amazed. I thought it was sublime. But what do I know?"
4. "Who's the best pianist around, then?"
5. "But you must know - you're a master, you hear them all!"
6. "Where can I read you?...Oh dear. I never read them. Ha ha."
7. "So, do you play the piano yourself? ....Really? Why not? ...Oh. So how come you get to review a piano recital?"
8. "How do you become a critic? You have to study music for years and years, right?"
9. "Goodness. That is very surprising."
10. "Here's my email address. Please write to me. Please. Please. When you have a moment. Just put down the best pianists to hear, the best orchestras in town...please..."
AND A BONUS:
11. Well, come and hear a symphony by XYZ with me - I'll convince you to like him!
Saturday, May 30, 2015
MESSIAEN PLAY ALERT
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| Chgall: The Falling Angel (1923-47) |
My play A Walk through the End of Time is being given at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton-on-Thames, next Friday, 5 June, 8pm. Tickets are just £5 each and the evening will involve a rehearsed reading by actors Caroline Dooley and David Webb. The next evening the Cremona Trio (and friend) will be giving a performance of the complete Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time and they and I will all be there on Friday to take part in a Q&A session after the reading. Come along and find out about Messiaen, Stalag VIIIA, the significance of these pictures by Chagall and Yves Klein and why this piece can and does matter so much to us all.
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| Yves Klein: Leap into the Void (1960) SHUNK-KENDER/©ROY LICHTENSTEIN FOUNDATION/MENIL COLLECTION, HOUSTON |
Friday, May 29, 2015
Anniversary joy: Korngold plays Korngold
It's Korngold's birthday (118) and how better to celebrate than listening to him play his own music? This is the 'Pierrot Tanzlied' from his most popular opera, Die tote Stadt, recorded in 1951 during the composer's optimistic yet short-lived attempt to return to Vienna after more than a decade of exile in Hollywood. He makes the piano sound like a couple of full orchestras. Enjoy.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Lovely piano, shame about the Schubert
I was kind of underwhelmed by Barenboim's approach to Schubert yesterday, sorry to say. But his bespoke piano sounds terrific.
Here's my review in The Arts Desk
Here's my review in The Arts Desk
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