Two more soloists on the catwalk

Two more soloists on the catwalk

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norman lebrecht

January 19, 2012

Just when you thought classical music was trying to go straight, I look at the Carnegie Hall board and this is what I find, fresh off the fashion shows. Almost 1.5 million people have watched this promo vid; they cannot all be wrong.

Meanwhile, over on CBS News, here’s a very good player, Charlie Siem, selling himself as a fashion mannekin.

There is a warning here from history band I offer it free of consultancy fee: Lola, Charley, the last soloist who came off the fashion walk is now married to an agent, a convicted fraudster. Be careful out there.

Charlie Siem, violin virtuoso and model

Comments

  • mary soilex says:

    THAT PIANO VIDEO OF THE RIANA SONG…OR WHATEVER IT IS…IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL I DISLIKE ABOUT JULLIARD TRAINED VIRTUOSOS WHO HAVE FINGERS BUT NO SOUL././

    PLAYING THE PIANO AND MAKING MUSIC IS NOT COOKIE CUTTER VIRTUOSITY PSUEDO
    HOROWITZ LIKE ATHLETICISM!!

    I THINK THIS PLAYING IS HORRID…AND THERE IS MORE TO MUSIC THAN PLAYING LOUD AND FAST,,WHY ELSE WOULD THIS BE SO POPULAR???

  • John Soloninka says:

    Leila Josefowicz, Canadian Violinist was previously a top model for Chanel for a year. But I think that was more alone the lines of them asking her, rather than the musician seeking the added publicity as a model. But I have no direct knowledge. Modelling has so many negative/vanity issues…but on the other hand, if these are both fine musicians AND worthy of being a model…should we care? I would only worry if the looks were getting more publicity than the talent….like some would say of Anna Kournikova in tennis.

  • Fortunately there is no danger of Charlie marrying his Agent/Manager. I am closer to his mothers age than anyone he would consider marrying. Charlie is a very fine musician and a delight to work with in every respect. He doesnt model – people just want to take photographs of him and put them in their magazines. They find him a fascinating subject as a musician and they also like to hear him play. We do not seek Modelling jobs the Fashion world has come to him,

    • Annie, I just picked up Charlie’s first recording from the library as it just “happened” to be laying there in the front of a row of CDs (I think I was looking for Tchaikovsky and the S of Siem comes before T). I pretty much fell in love with it. Charlie has this ability to hone into the very essence of the creative impetus of a piece. The kind of penetrating integrity and purity of tone you find in a painting of Gericault. And the way he brings out, in that particular CD, the movement towards virtuosity…I had to call up my friend and talk about this, because my friend has the same kind of interest in things beyond the margin, virtuosity having become something considered out of bounds, and thus was worthy to be explored; then, when it emerged. We’ll probably make a video merging conception with uninhibited brain activity that’s “usually” considered out of the boundary of “sanity.” We’ll see what emerges from beyond this “boundary” that’s supposed to exist between the inner and the outer world. It’ll be fun anyhow, despite these words on the screen, as if that’s what it’s about, which isn’t why they’re there.

  • Janey says:

    Well perhaps I’m not cultured enough, but I think the piano video is great. Thanks, Norman.

  • Brian says:

    Give this video a look – it appears more representative of Astanova’s recent work. Nice outfit too.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwVp7S59fO0

  • MARY SOILEX says:

    BRAVO!! NOW THIS is an artist! Was this filmed in the Steinway basement in NYC? This is very impressive indeed,

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