It was, without doubt, the frightening photo of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Evelyn Lear on the Deutsche Grammophon boxed vinyl recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck that first attracted me to this modern masterpiece. The cover promised whatever was contained inside was bound to be completely different. I was still an undergraduate music student at the time, and I’d had the … [Read more...] about Only a Red Glow in the West
Coming Together, in December
The weeks preceding Christmas might seem like a strange time for musical performances with a political and/or military flavor. Maybe not. In 1969, of course, John Lennon and Yoko Ono chose December to disseminate their billboard message, "WAR IS OVER! If You Want It - Happy Christmas From John and Yoko," around the world. We should be even more mindful of contemplating peace on … [Read more...] about Coming Together, in December
Light Years
The last time I spoke with Houston artist and lighting designer Jeremy Choate, he was planning an installation for the exterior building of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, a project about which he was very excited. This morning, I learned that Jeremy died suddenly Saturday night in Houston. Stopped at a red light on his motorcycle, a car running the light struck … [Read more...] about Light Years
The Choreographer Vanishes
Just before I moved to Texas, people warned me Houston was a kind of dance wasteland. Even a local critic told me there was “nothing here†in terms of dance, saying in a scolding tone, “you know, you’re not in New York!†While my experience has been variable (check out my latest review of Houston Ballet in the sidebar, after a depressing night of Ben Stevenson's … [Read more...] about The Choreographer Vanishes
Dial M for Mahler
The “iPhone Marimba Man†accused of ruining the New York Philharmonic’s recent Mahler 9th was stoned to death this past weekend in a secluded alley of the city’s meat-packing district. “It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it,†said one conductor wearing a woolen ski mask to conceal his identity. Photographers from New York Post and The National Enquirer were … [Read more...] about Dial M for Mahler