I've been working for NPR's classical music program, Performance Today. It's a fantastic show, with live performances of classical, and sort of classical music from around the world, and interviews and features on artists and ideas. We celebrated our 20th anniversary of the program this morning, and it was really something to hear.
The show will be ending it's stint at NPR and moving to American Public Media next week, so this was a particularly poignant moment for all of us. in a rare turn of events, the show is available on the NPR website, along with pictures and all sorts of wonderful things. Hope you'll take a moment to listen.
Performance Today's 20th Anniversary
Showing posts with label Commentary - Classical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commentary - Classical. Show all posts
Friday, January 05, 2007
Monday, December 18, 2006
Oh, those silly opera singers
If you haven't heard the greatest story of vocal tantrum EVER, reference this article by Norman Lebrect from Scena Musicale: Stop the Opera, I want to Get Off
It's a funny thing - European audiences have far fewer barriers to expressing their distaste openly. While we stand at ovation for mediocre performances, they heartily boo at vaguely mechanical ones. And some people get pissy - like Roberto Alagn when he left the stage at La Scala after being booed. The poor understudy who was pacing backstage got thrown on in jeans and street clothes to finish the scene - and it's certainly the musical feel good story. But I was pleased to see the New York Times feature on Antonello Palombi, the man in jeans, which doesn't overplay any heroism in his last minute dash to a La Scala premiere. It was a surprisingly honest account of the raw terror that came with that moment. I feel bad for the guy, too - he got pushed off the musical cliff, had a fantastic moment on stage, and didn't really have the chance to enjoy it. But, what's done is done, and maybe we'll hear more from him in the future.
It's a funny thing - European audiences have far fewer barriers to expressing their distaste openly. While we stand at ovation for mediocre performances, they heartily boo at vaguely mechanical ones. And some people get pissy - like Roberto Alagn when he left the stage at La Scala after being booed. The poor understudy who was pacing backstage got thrown on in jeans and street clothes to finish the scene - and it's certainly the musical feel good story. But I was pleased to see the New York Times feature on Antonello Palombi, the man in jeans, which doesn't overplay any heroism in his last minute dash to a La Scala premiere. It was a surprisingly honest account of the raw terror that came with that moment. I feel bad for the guy, too - he got pushed off the musical cliff, had a fantastic moment on stage, and didn't really have the chance to enjoy it. But, what's done is done, and maybe we'll hear more from him in the future.
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