Classical Post

12/11/2020

An American Mosaic: Honoring, Celebrating, and Memorializing Those Affected by the Covid Pandemic — Classical Post

Our exclusive Listening Guide is live on Richard Danielpour's world premiere #AnAmericanMosaic commissioned by Oregon Bach Festival, performed by Simone Dinnerstein.

https://classicalpost.com/read/2020/12/10/an-american-mosaic-richard-danielpour-simone-dinnerstein-world-premiere

The COVID-19 pandemic perhaps all but demands an artistic response. A commission from the Oregon Bach Festival, Richard Danielpour’s An American Mosaic provides just that in an expansive piano work written for Simone Dinnerstein that at its core reflects upon the various segments of American socie

12/10/2020

Leading Composer Jennifer Higdon on Breakthroughs and Diverse Listening — Classical Post

Leading composer Jennifer Higdon on breakthroughs and diverse listening. Read this special convo she had with Natalia Kazaryan - Pianist.

https://classicalpost.com/read/2020/12/9/leading-composer-jennifer-higdon-on-breakthroughs-and-diverse-listening

Pulitzer Prize and three-time Grammy-winner Jennifer Higdon joins us on Classical Post this month for an insightful convo with pianist Natalia Kazaryan. As one of the most frequently performed composers, Dr. Higdon transcends today’s classical scene with radiance. Here’s her take on leading at t...

12/08/2020

Soprano Laura Strickling's new album Confessions is out now. Guest contributor Mike Brofman offers special insight into why "song matters". https://classicalpost.com/read/2020/12/8/song-matters-soprano-laura-strickling-new-album-confessions

12/02/2020

"The New Normal at the Howland" - New op-ed from contributor William Fietzer on hearing violinist Jesse Mills and pianist Rieko Aizawa's streamed concert in the Hudson Valley. https://classicalpost.com/read/2020/12/1/the-new-normal-at-the-howland

11/16/2020

"Sarah Kirkland Snider's Mass for the Endangered; Call to Action to Save Planet" -- Read exclusive interview between Ms. Snider and pianist/scholar Natalia Kazaryan. https://classicalpost.com/read/2020/11/16/sarah-kirkland-snider-mass-for-the-endangered-call-to-action-to-save-planet

10/29/2020

There is a string that weaves through time and if we tug on it every now and then it pulls us into history. Speaking with chief music critic of The New York Times and author Anthony Tommasini about his relationship with his mentor composer/critic Virgil Thomson, I found myself three steps away from Stein, Stravinsky, Picasso, Copland, Sibelius and many others who felt more alive to me speaking with Tony Tommasini than they ever have. https://classicalpost.com/read/anthony-tommasini-and-virgil-thomson-the-threads-that-connect-us-all

10/27/2020

Ash Fure is at a transitional point as a composer, she is currently exploring musical experiences outside of the concert music context. While "Something To Hunt" is her debut album, it reflects more of where she’s been than where she’s going. At the same time, she feels that the works featured on this album give a glimpse into what she’s striving for as a composer; she can hear her muscles flexing. https://classicalpost.com/read/something-to-hunt-ash-fure

10/23/2020

Jacqueline Leclair's album "Music for English Horn Alone" is out today! Read her thoughts and insights from the composers on Classical Post. https://classicalpost.com/read/throwing-down-the-gauntlet-music-for-english-horn-alone

10/22/2020

Annick Odom’s hauntingly beautiful new work “Seven Bones” sets the scene for a crisp fall day. Equally inspired by Appalachian and contemporary classical music, this West Virginian ghost story deserves an immediate listen. Annick Odom and Federico Forla join Classical Post to discuss. https://classicalpost.com/read/a-west-virginian-ghost-story-haunts-annick-odoms-seven-bones

10/16/2020

Known as “Classical Bae” and revered for her collaborations with artists including Beyoncé and Yo-Yo Ma, Ezinma utilizes her classical training to create music that marries music of opposite worlds. Her latest single, “Vivaldi Springs Forth”, is out now. http://ed.gr/cxb2x

10/13/2020

25th Heinz Awards honor leading pianist and composer Gabriela Lena Frank for breaking cultural, gender and disability barriers in classical music. Through her academy, Dr. Frank is mentoring aspiring composers from diverse backgrounds and inspiring them to prioritize giving back to their communities while leading eco-conscious lives. http://ed.gr/cwz7f

10/09/2020

This month, I recently perused various news releases coming out of storied institutions and saw a shocking disparity between some who were able to really move forward with a fall season, but some who could not for a plethora of reasons. As I want to see what’s working and evaluate how these ideas can be implemented for current clients, I’ve selected three of the major U.S. A-list orchestras who seemingly have figured out a way forward this fall despite in-person restrictions. http://ed.gr/cwno3

10/08/2020

Natalia Kazaryan - Pianist interviews Missy Mazzoli to discuss "Proving Up", the future of opera, Luna Composition Lab, upcoming projects and more. http://ed.gr/cwkfw

10/07/2020

American trumpet soloist Andy Kozar interviews composers Eve Beglarian and Paula Matthusen about their featured works on his recent record "A Few Kites" as well as their music’s relationship to physical space as an inspiration, or creative starting point. http://ed.gr/cwecl

10/05/2020

Death of Classical, curated by Andrew Ousley in partnership with the Green-Wood Cemetery, will feature two in-person events and six streamed video concerts filmed in the catacombs from October 22-24. http://ed.gr/cv5o6

10/02/2020

Osvaldo Golijov’s "Falling Out Of Time" for Silkroad is a masterpiece as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally gripping. Golijov joins Classical Post to discuss this monumental work. http://ed.gr/cvw48

09/30/2020

Adrianne Munden-Dixon’s debut EP "patterns and cycles" features her own compositions and improvisations and uses electronics to heighten the shape-shifting qualities of the violin. She joins Classical Post to discuss the space in between composition and improvisation, the role of location in this album, the influence of fiddle playing on her work and more. "patterns and cycles" will be released on October 2. http://ed.gr/cvpbw

09/25/2020

My new album "Désordre" features music by the Hungarian composer György Ligeti and includes the first two books of his piano études along with his horn trio. The recording comes over twenty years after I first became familiar with his piano music. http://ed.gr/cu679

09/18/2020

"What’s the spectrum of feminism that’s okay to talk about in different regions?" Pulitzer Prize winning Composer/performer Du Yun joins Classical Post to discuss her latest album "A Cockroach's Tarantella", performed by JACK Quartet with Du Yun. http://ed.gr/cui89

09/16/2020

Natalia Kazaryan - Pianist interviews Composer/Pianist Gabriela Lena Frank to discuss her latest album "Her Own Wings", compositional language, and career at-large. Both artists studied under Logan Skelton at University of Michigan, where each received a DMA (in different eras). http://ed.gr/cubs4

09/10/2020

Contemporary music duo New Morse Code, comprised of Hannah Collins (cello) and Michael Compitello (percussion) joins Classical Post for a special video premiere of composer Thomas Kotcheff’s “then and then and then this”. They discuss the collaborative process, filming, matching timbre and what’s coming up next. http://ed.gr/ctpkf

09/04/2020

Patricia Kopatchinskaja's much anticipated new album, "What’s Next Vivaldi?"—recorded with the Italian period-instrument ensemble Il Giardino Armonico and Giovanni Antonini—is out today! She joins Classical Post to discuss. http://ed.gr/cs5tm

09/02/2020

For the last 90+ years PYP has held a biennial Piano Concerto Competition with the prize of performing with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Once again, Portland Piano International / SOLO will be presenting the biennial Piano Concerto Competition that selects the soloists for upcoming Portland Youth Philharmonic performances. http://ed.gr/csxd3

08/31/2020

Why ought one to listen to historical recordings with seemingly shoddy audio quality, narrow or distorted sound, and less accurate playing? The search for inspiration in modern performance will find a musical oasis in the unfettered musical expression of the earliest recordings. http://ed.gr/csnl6

08/28/2020

Times of crisis call for radical action. As the situation prolongs, we wait patiently for a recovery to “the good old days” of attending live concerts and events in-person. This is anxiously anticipated, obviously, but it does seem short-sighted from what I’ve seen and heard working within this space. http://ed.gr/csd1n

08/27/2020

Conductor Marlon Daniel is the foremost interpreter of the music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He joins Classical Post to discuss premiering "The Anonymous Lover", documenting Saint-Georges' works, the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges and more. http://ed.gr/cr8rt

08/26/2020

What roles do gender identity and societal issues play for composers in Iran and how does an organization amplify and celebrate the voices of Iranian female-identifying composers? Members of the Iranian Female Composers Association - IFCA discuss. http://ed.gr/cr498

08/21/2020

Pulitzer Prize finalist composer Christopher Cerrone and triple-Grammy-winning flutist Tim Munro discuss collaborating on Cerrone's latest work, "Liminal Highway" (out today) in this exclusive guest piece. http://ed.gr/crp02

08/20/2020

Abigail Rollins' first year as Executive Director of Berkshire Opera Festival has not gone as expected. Despite these tumultuous times, Rollins and the BOF team have prioritized supporting the artists. http://ed.gr/crlt1

08/19/2020

Grammy-winning composer Richard Danielpour has been commissioned by Oregon Bach Festival to compose a set of fifteen miniatures for celebrated pianist Simone Dinnerstein to be premiered this December. http://ed.gr/crh2c

08/14/2020

We need intensity and dedication in our art form, but when it comes to nurturing a mind, negative pressure can weigh heavily and have unintended consequences. Leaders in the field are focused on retaining our audiences, but take for granted that our highest-trained workers will want to stick around too. http://ed.gr/cq12n

08/06/2020

Legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica "Flicka" von Stade returned to the stage for Classical Tahoe's adapted 2020 season. She joins Classical Post to discuss this moving experience, which young opera singers have the most star power, what she's been binging on Netflix and more. http://ed.gr/cp89k

08/03/2020

Anderson & Roe Piano Duo share a special Chamomile & Elderflower cocktail in preparation for their upcoming Virtual Piano Extravaganza, hosted by Portland Piano International. http://ed.gr/cprra

07/31/2020

The Leeds International Piano Competition winner Eric Lu replaced pianist/composer Michael Brown at 92nd Street Y's opening concert of its streamed summer series, Lu joins Classical Post to discuss. http://ed.gr/cpi2a

07/28/2020

Saul Williams and Ted Hearne join Classical Post to discuss their latest collaboration “Place”, putting words into the mouths of others, getting personal to create the collaborative libretto and the classical space. http://ed.gr/co61p