see what you missed?

[calimac]

My editors were happy with my review of Stanford's Stravinsky Project, which pleases me, because - lacking time to do it any other way - I drafted it in longhand on a notepad while listening inconspicuously from a back corner to an informal student chamber music concert. (It's OK - this was an evening concert, but to the noon ones you're invited to bring your lunch, though few ever do.) Not the way I usually write much of anything, except for taking notes. But it came out a full draft of 1100 words, beefed up a little in revision back home on the computer.

Anyway, a good experience. I'm not the biggest Stravinsky fan, and unlike these performers I actually like it when his neo-classical music is played in a staccato, emotionless style, but it was an interesting experience to have gone through, and I hope they'll hold other events like it again. Wish you were there.

Comments

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

Joseph Horowitz, ick. Did he find here some way of dragging out his obsessive, almost pathological, disdain for Arturo Toscanini?

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Never mentioned him. Allusions to the Craft controversies very muted. Possibly that ick is not always necessary.

Although I have my doubts about the "Stravinsky is really all Russian deep inside" theory, and tried to suggest that in my review, the only point that irritated me was during Horowitz's "exiles" lecture, when he dared the audience to guess whether a snippet by Korngold was from his concert music or his film music.

Well, it was from the scherzo of his Symphony (I was the only audience member who recognized it), and I raised my hand to say that, if (as Horowitz suggested) the music sounded like John Williams that's hardly Korngold's fault, that in fact Korngold's concert music and film music sound quite different, and explained how.

He seemed interested, as if he hadn't known that, and talked with me about it afterwards.

[khatru1339.livejournal.com]

Nice write-up, I really enjoyed reading it.

I rummaged around in the San Francisco Classical Voice for a little bit, which was fun. I was surprised, though, that with all the operations it carries, not to find one I was looking for. A friend of mine works with Del Valle Fine Arts, but they don't seem to be covered. I was hoping to see an outsider's view of them.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Alas, SFCV is a small operation, and though the editors do send the reviewers out to cover various events on geographical periphery on occasion, I guess we haven't gotten around to that one. I think staffing is thin on the outer East Bay; I've noticed few reviews covering that area. We're much better on the North Bay (Sonoma, Napa). One reason I'm valued is that I'm one of only two staff reviewers who regularly work in the San Jose area.