Danish jazz fiddler, entertainer, composer, singer, “elegantier” Svend Asmussen (born Copenhagen February 28th 1916 ) is 99 years old today.
Asmussens professional career spans 83 years and encompasses music making with Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodmann, Stephane Grappelli, Jango Reinhardt, The Mills Brothers, Edith Piaf, Toots Thielemanns, Herbie Hancock, Jacob Fischer, Jan Johansson, Duke Ellington …
Asmussen still enjoys going to jazz concerts in his native Copenhagen and listens to music at home.
A public celebration of the life of Chicago journalist Andrew Patner will be held in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center on March 18. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. Seating is general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Andrew Patner, who passed away on February 3, was the critic-at-large for WFMT-FM and contributing critic on classical music for the Chicago Sun-Times. A Chicago native and longtime Hyde Park resident, he also was a popular speaker, lecturer and moderator, and author of I.F. Stone: A Portrait (Pantheon, 1988).
The latest victim is Ramon Vargas, who was due to open in the title role of Massenet’s Werther in March 5th. His substitute is Jean-Francois Borras. Angela Gheorghiu makes her role debut as Charlotte.
‘No one can remain indifferent at this tragic hour. No one can stay silent. The conscience of every decent person who loves both Russia and freedom must raise their voice in response to this blatant crime.
‘The tragedy has unfolded as we knew it might. This death is neither ‘accidental’, nor is it a ‘provocation’.
‘The murder of Boris Nemtsov, a respected politician, was clearly ordered by someone, and is a culmination of sorts – it reflects an atmosphere which has reached fever pitch in our society. A society starved of pure air, pumped full of fear and jingoism, where good intentions have been driven into a dead-end.
‘In a civilized society, everyone is entitled to a point of view or a position. But there is one unambiguous fact: a country where the majority of the population treats lies and political murders – whether solved or unsolved, actual or symbolic – as part of the daily grind, and has found itself on the edge of moral collapse, cannot command respect. No matter how hard it advertises its historic grandeur.
‘A country does not stand on the shoulders of a single man. Every one of us is a citizen of his homeland, and every one of us is responsible for the state of this land. And here, then, is your answer to the eternal question: ‘What must be done?’
‘Switch off the brainwashing TV screens. Instead, take look at yourself. Follow your conscience – do not try to run from it. Do not fool yourself into thinking that there is no place, no role for conscience in our lives anymore.
‘There is nothing more valuable than a human life. The death of Boris Nemtsov rests not only on those who were ordered to kill him. His fate casts a shadow on all those who failed to protect him.
Gidon Kremer, musician’
The formidable Argentine pianist Pia Sebastiani turned 90 this week.
Catch this unmatched rendition of Ginastera’s first sonata.
