When Doug McLennan asked me to write a description for my blog that ArtsJournal would begin hosting in 2017, I thought about the topics which move me to spend time writing—the things that I feel sufficient passion to write about without compensation. There’s no employer, no client, no contract, and no deadline. Looking at the writing I’d been doing for my own blog at … [Read more...] about What We Liked in 2017
classical music
The Aspen Pipeline
Today, a man elected last November is othering United States citizens, POC in Puerto Rico. We should stand up to that because it's important to call out our outrage—even though he won't be likely to stop. There are places where we have the power to make a difference—and it's a big miss (at best) when we don't use it. Like.... We hear all the time that the classical … [Read more...] about The Aspen Pipeline
Frank Sinatra Sings Brahms
The Importance of the Familiar You know how it feels when you unexpectedly hear a familiar piece of music—any kind of music? You get that jolt and you say, oh I love that song/piece. Or you say, wait, I love that, what is that? And maybe you hit Shazam on your watch or phone to confirm what it is and listen again. There’s some evidence that familiarity increases … [Read more...] about Frank Sinatra Sings Brahms
Stop Talking: More on Deleting the Formal
On the day of the Comey hearing, we sat in a bar in Paris watching CNN. Lordy, that was a lot of talking. As if to balance that experience, we went to a piano recital in Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the first art deco building in the city. It’s a fine and intimate space for about 1900 people. That night it was full—the concert appeared to be sold-out. The audience was pretty … [Read more...] about Stop Talking: More on Deleting the Formal
Deleting the Formal at Classical Concerts
Music first. It’s such a simple idea. Last night I went to a symphony choral event: the Cincinnati May Festival with the symphony, a huge chorus, and some soloists. As we took our seats, the players were already onstage, as usual. We noticed the chorus filing onstage, a few minutes later the soloists wandered on too, then the concertmaster, and finally the … [Read more...] about Deleting the Formal at Classical Concerts