a virtual journal and blog of the classical music scene in Boston
Robert Levin, editor; Bettina A. Norton, executive editor; Lee Eiseman, publisher
News & Features
April 28, 2010
Harvard’s Historic, Controversial Fisk Organ: Last Local Utterances
by Christopher Greenleaf
When Harvard University Organist, Christian Lane, lifts his hands from the four well used manuals of the 1967 C. B. Fisk opus 46 organ in Appleton Chapel for the final time, at 7:30 P.M., on Monday, May 3, [reviewed here] staff from the firm that built the instrument will be ready with [...]
Thoughts on Hearing Maurizio Pollini’s Hamburg Steinway-Fabbrini in Concert
by Christopher Greenleaf
Maurizio Pollini’s touring Hamburg Steinway-Fabbrini concert grand exhibits exceptionally ravishing tonal and technical characteristics. The fact that this is a piano well outside our modern norm begs a number of questions, among which is, “Why don’t we regularly hear instruments of this subtlety and beauty?”
But first, what goes into the production of [...]
April 14, 2010
A Call for Action: BMInt readers who care about the BPL are asked to stand up for it.
by Bettina A. Norton
Ed. Note: Footnote updated
On April 14, the Boston City Council begins to take up the budget for FY 2011. Amidst the crisis of pending cuts are those for the Boston Public Library. Given these ominous prospects and leaving the concern over branch closings to others, BMInt has investigated what will happen [...]
April 9, 2010
A Force for Music Education Wears His Other Hat: Cortese and New England String Ensemble to Perform Tippett, Vivaldi, Purcell, Benjamin, Britten.
by Bettina A. Norton
Conductor Federico Cortese is very well known and valued for one niche in classical-music Boston — teaching serious music students; but he is not adequately recognized in another, as Music Director of New England String Ensemble. His upcoming NESE concert on April 17 at Jordan Hall should help rectify that. The [...]
April 2, 2010
The “New” in NEC: The Buzz from New Faculty, New Programs, New Events
by BMINT STAFF
On April 7, New England Conservatory Philharmonia Orchestra is putting on a concert for what is believed to be the first time in Symphony Hall. Conducted by Chair of Orchestral Conducting Hugh Wolff, the concert features NEC’s Artist Diploma candidate cellist Narek Hakhnazarian in Schumann’s Cello Concerto, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. [...]
March 31, 2010
Ghostwriter Honors Intelligencer
by John Sullivan Dwight
To the esteemed editorial staff of the Boston Musical Intelligencer,
In the more than a century since my passing, not in my wildest dreams would I have contemplated a musical world that you now have in Boston. Some issues I do not comprehend, some fill me with great pride, some I note with [...]
March 27, 2010
WGBH to BMInt, “We decline to respond.”
by BMINT STAFF
Just released monthly (February) Arbitron ratings, respected indicators that track radio listenership, show that since the November changes, audience at the new all-talk WGBH has remained flat and at the new all-classical WCRB has declined. It seems timely therefore to revisit the issue of what is going on at these stations. BMInt [...]
March 22, 2010
B S O Music Director James Levine withdraws from rest of season.
by BMINT STAFF
Maestro Levine will miss the remainder of the season, citing back problems for the cancellation. “This has been a difficult year for James Levine and we wish him the very best as he works with his doctors towards resolving his ongoing back problems,” said BSO Managing Director Mark Volpe. Jayce Ogren will conduct the world premiere of Peter Lieberson’s Songs of Love and Sorrow on March 25, 26, and 27. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos will conduct Mendelssohn’s Elijah on April 1,2, and 3. The conductor for the program on April 8, 9, and 10, featuring John Harbison’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with soloists Mira Wang and Jan Vogler and Mahler’s Symphony No. 7, will be announced later this week.
etcetera
by Richard Buell
Richard Buell will be contributing a column from time to time on music in Boston. His first for BMInt features excerpts from Francis Poulenc, “‘Echo and Source’: Selected Correspondence 1915-1963,” translated and edited by Sidney Buckland; research consultant: Patrick Saul (London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1991)
“What a dismal town” — Francis Poulenc, [...]
March 19, 2010
BMINT Has Productive Week
by Lee Eiseman
The Boston Musical Intelligencer has posted reviews of 17 concerts between March 10th and the 17th- way too many for our virtual front page. So we encourage you to click our “Reviews” and “News and Features” buttons and have a look at the older reviews and articles which have been pushed down below the break. You can also use the search box when looking for a specific keyword. We also wish to share with our readers that the site’s average daily hit rate for March stands at 10,577. Thanks to all our readers and writers. And if you hear something, write something!