From my review in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal of Fiona Maddocks’s post-exilic biography:
… In the past decade Vladimir Putin’s Russia has applied to repatriate Rachmaninoff’s remains from a cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y., and to buy up his villa at Senar. Both bids were resisted, and the villa has been lately restored for public visitation. Ms. Maddocks quietly reframes Rachmaninoff’s context as a man of the world—belonging not to Russia or America but to civilization as a whole, basking in its inventions and distractions, balancing life’s joys and sorrows in his ever-enduring concertos. In the right mood, Rachmaninoff would have made a wonderful dinner guest.
If you are not familiar with Brian Stokes Mitchell, all I can say is that you’re missing one of the gems of the American musical theatre and, arguably, my favourite leading man.
Brian Stokes Mitchell is an American actor and singer. A powerful baritone, he has been one of the central leading men of the Broadway theatre since the 1990s. He has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and a nomination for a Grammy Award. In 2016 he received the Isabelle Stevenson Award.
In this simple-seeming video, accompanied by pianist Tedd Firth, Tony Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, ‘Stokes’, as he is known to his many friends, does something very simple and, at the same time, very difficult. He simply stands against a plain background, with a single microphone, and sings. No props, no set, no costume, no lighting, just a man singing some famous and beautiful songs as a tribute to honour those lost to COVID-19.
He offers these songs, Memorial For Us All, to provide unity, comfort, and healing. As he says, music unlocks thoughts, feelings, and memories that unite and free us.
5th prize: Bobiljun Eshplatov (Uzbekistan)
6th prize: Zhang Haoya (China)
Winner of the Best Chinese Work Award: Zou Meng (China)
Special Award: Ovsanna Harutyunyan (Armenia)
The Vienna Boys Choir has received an emergency 800,000 Euros grant to cover rising inflationary costs and a collapse in sponsorship.
The ‘acute aid’ was sneaked through during the holidays break.
Two-thirds of the boys’ income is derived from international tours.
The Met’s new Carmen has been talking on social media about some Carmens she has sung along the way:
‘This production of Carmen at the Deutsche Oper was unforgettable. This rendition featured bull testicles as a gift and symbol of Escamillo’s love, lots of blood, and reading futures from organs – a cheerful show that haunted my dreams!
The magic of opera Carmen lies in its interpretive nature and powerful music. Despite the chilling scenes, the music always wins.
P.S.: Unfortunately, no proper pictures from the show, just some snaps from the prompter’s box (maybe it’s for the best ).’
‘Carmen by Barry Koski holds a special place in my heart. As a young artist, I sang Mercedes and acted in the role of Carmen in one performance. When the leading actress suddenly fell ill, I had to “jump in” this play at the last moment. With only two days of rehearsals to switch roles between each other and re-learn the whole scenario. It was absolutely crazy, but I was sure I could pull through.
There were some doubts, because any mistake could affect my career. However, everything went smoothly and I will never forget the moment the curtain rose and the play began. Supporting my family, musicians, choir, colleagues and loved ones has given me the confidence to shine.
After this performance, I was lucky enough to play the role of Carmen in the same production three more times. But it still seems like a great dream to sing “Carmen” at the Royal Opera House, especially when the play was shown in cinemas. Dreams do come true ! ✨
Since then, more and more people have followed me, which motivates me to work harder. But my first full production of “Carmen” will always hold a special place in my heart.
I am very grateful to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden for this opportunity, for all the support, belief in me and love. This special place with special people holds a special place in my heart. ♥️’
The French composer Francis Dhomont, a pupil of Nadia Boulanger, had a lightbulb moment in 1963 and dedicated the rest of his long life to electroacoustic music. Some consider him the true discoverer of musique concrete.
Dhomont, who died on December 28, shuttled for many years between his home in France and the university of Montreal, where he laid the foundations of Canadian electroacoustic music.
He lost an eye as a boy during the German occupation of Paris. ‘I had lost my right eye but I had found a vocation. As long as my health would permit me, I would then undertake serious musical studies and do nothing else. This is how I became a composer,’ he said.
We have received sad news of the death of Rosemary Gent, an assiduous and largely invisible organiser of the BBC Proms, described by controller Nick Kenyon as the festival’s ‘eyes and ears’.
After studying at Nottingham University, Rosemary found a job as production secretary at BBC Radio 3.She left to freelance for a decade as artistic co-ordinator for the London Sinfonietta and various festivals, revealing a passion for comtemporary music and composers.
In 1994 she became artistic administrator of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for five years, returning to be appointed artistic administrator at the BBC Proms for a decade, working with Proms directors Nicholas Kenyon and Roger Wright. Rosemary moved to Devon to care for her mother, undertook freelance projects and became a Green Party election candidate. She fell ill this month and quickly died.
Nick Kenyon and Roger Wright said ‘Rosemary was a wonderful artistic programmer and colleague, phenomenally knowledgeable about the repertory and always creatively supportive of artists and composers. She made a deep impact on our musical culture and will be much missed by all of us who worked with her.
The death has been announced of Dennis Masters, oldest surviving conductor of a National Championship of Great Britain winning band, a trophhy he won in 1957.
He taught for more than 30 years at the Birmingham School of Music and the Elgar School of Music.
Musicians around New York are lamenting the passing of Christopher Kennedy, resident piano technician of the Metropolitan Opera for 15 years until his retirement in 2015.
At the Met, his responsibilities covered 44 Yamahas.
Report from the Government controlled China Daily:
Canadian violinist Chantal Juillet celebrated her 63rd birthday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province on Dec 19. Conductor Yu Long presented her with a birthday cake and the musicians of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra played an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday to You for her.
On that day, the Chantal Juillet& Charles Dutoit Chamber Music Library was unveiled, with Juillet and her husband, Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, attending the ceremony.
The library houses the scores of more than 3,000 chamber works by 230 composers from the 17th century to the present day, all donated by Chantal Juillet.
…The last time she sang in London, Gheorghiu was savaged in the Times for singing her first three arias some way out of tune with the orchestra. Here there is no problem with intonation (unless it was digitally corrected). …
