Karl Heinrich Ehrenforth, one of the leading scholars in the development of music education, has died in Reinbek, near Hamburg, at the age of 87.
Unlike most professors, he spent 16 years teaching high school before he was offered a conservatory position, at Detmold.
He published extensively on the history and theory of music education.
It’s 120 years ago to the day that the old boy breathed his last.
So: a good time to play a game I last tried out with Menahem Pressler and the Emerson Quartet.
A hundred and twenty years is not that long ago.
How many people have you known who saw Brahms alive, shook his hand, exchanged a greeting?
In my case, just one: my neighbour, Eleanor Rosé.
Plus quite a few who knew his at one remove – London musicians who played with Felix Weingartner, for instance.
Name yours.
This is Brahms shortly after Clara Schumann’s funeral.
The German diva poses for her next Warner album in haute couture fake fur.
In Jürgen Frank’s photographs for the cover of Grand Opera, Damrau champions New York fashion house Pelush, makers of luxury faux fur. According to Pelush founder, Milan-born designer Anna Tagliabue, these creations are “ecologically sensitive and cruelty-free…a wonderful alternative for the modern woman”.
“Pelush’s stunning faux fur made me feel like Cinderella at the ball,” said Diana Damrau.
Oh – and she’s singing Meyerbeer, the ultimate imitator.
Andris Nelsons will lead the Boston Symphony Orchestra in November on his first tour of Japan, its eighth.
Andris says: ‘It is an extraordinary honor for me to bring the Boston Symphony Orchestra to Japan for our first tour together in this amazing country where the BSO has such an important history of concerts under BSO Conductor Laureate Seiji Ozawa.’
Seiji says: ‘My dear BSO friends and Andris Nelsons, welcome back to Japan! I’m so happy to hear that you are coming to Japan to share the joy of BSO music with the Japanese audience. How exciting to hear that this will be Andris’s first visit to Japan with BSO. I’m sure that Japanese audience will enjoy it as much as I look forward to hearing it again and seeing my dear BSO family. I can’t wait to see you all here!’
(These guys are heading on to Turkey)
From the CBSO:
We are sorry to announce that Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has had to withdraw from this week’s concerts on 6 and 8 April due to a severe ear infection. She is very disappointed and looks forward to her next concerts with the CBSO in June. We are grateful to Andrew Gourlay for stepping in at very short notice to conduct this week’s concerts.
A member of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus collapsed and died on stage during a break in the choir’s Friday night performance.
Ryan Nunez, 39, lost consciousness while standing in one of the choir’s upper ranks.
Chorus members who are medical personnel attempted for an hour to resuscitate him.
Ryan was the choir’s administrative coordinator.
An appeal has been posted for his funeral expenses, raising $21,000 so far.
Tim Seelig the chorus’s artistic director, writes:
One of our singers, Ryan Nunez, collapsed on the risers during intermission of our concert last night and, after an hour of CPR, administered mostly by chorus brothers, was pronounced dead by paramedics. They had been unable to move him from the stage, so he died on the spot where he had sung the first half. The singers waited backstage and the audience waited in their seats with me keeping them occupied with life stories getting periodic updates to “stretch.” When we got the final word, we let the audience go, with our apologies for not being able to continue.
At that point, the singers gathered in a small room and began the grieving process. I have not experienced such shock or soul-shattering grief as that. Ever. The process will continue today as we sing two more concerts – all about paradise – on the very spot where Ryan left us. A task that right now seems completely impossible to do. We are all grasping for solace.
Ryan was not only a singer, but was the Administrative Coordinator on the SFGMC staff. He was our voice to the world. Filled with humor and huge hugs for all – he just took care of everyone – first.
Press Release, April 4, 2017
Steven Isserlis is the Recipient of the 2017 »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward«
Music is essential for childhood development – thus the conviction of the British cellist Steven Isserlis. In addition to his performances as a celebrated concert soloist with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, composing and playing for children are important focal points of his work. Furthermore, he has published three books for children recounting the lives of famous composers in an anecdotal and informative manner, and he gives master classes all over the world. Doubtlessly, this makes Steven Isserlis one of the »torch-bearers« of the international classical music scene. In recognition of his special achievements in music education and his support for young professional musicians, he will receive the 2017 »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« during the 40th Dresden Music Festival. The award will be presented to Isserlis on May 23, 2017 as part of his concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs under Vladimir Jurowski’s baton at Dresden’s Kulturpalast.
»Steven Isserlis is not only one of the most interesting and expressive cellists of our times, he is also a musician who has gotten involved in multiple creative ways in the events of our times: he writes children’s books, comments philosophically on music and society, and keeps presenting new works. I am delighted that for the first time in the award’s history, a fellow cellist will be honored with the ›Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward‹,« says Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival.
Bearing a cash value of 25,000 Euros, the »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« will be donated by the watchmaking company Glashütte Original for the 14th time in 2017 and presented in ccoperation with the Dresden Music Festival. As in past years, the award constructed by two students at the company’s own watchmaking school »Alfred Helwig«. Previous prize winners include such artist personalities as Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Hélène Grimaud, Hilary Hahn, the fado singer Mariza and Andris Nelsons.
Or so the versatile singer, 76, tells the San Francisco Chronicle.
Not sure if I believe it. At least, I hope it’s not so.
I once asked her about Handel oratorios, which she knew extensively from singing them in church as a girl.
I was all set to fix a meeting with classical record executives when … something else cropped up.
She’s a wonderful singer and I hope she soon repents of retirement talk.
Coincidence, or perfect timing?
It slipped out at the weekend that Martha Argerich was giving a discreet masterclass in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a Canadian port village.
Hours before her arrival, the Nova Scotia government awarded a million dollars to the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance for the restoration of its antiquated building.
Magic.
