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Will Liverman

The Lebrecht Weekly: Dreams of a New Day – Songs by Black Composers (Cedille)

By Norman Lebrecht on 21 May 2021 Lebrecht Weekly

In a year when every US institution is trying to fly multicultural credentials, the unanswered question is whether classical music has anything positive to contribute. No major orchestra has gone beyond the token overture or intermezzo by a minority composer, and no work by an unsung artist has yet captured the spirit of these times. For all its hiring of diversity v-ps and woke PRs, the music establishment has not changed its ways, nor the audience its tastes. The present recital is something of a breakthrough. Will Liverman, a baritone much seen at the Met, has chosen songs by Black…

Vasily Petrenko

The Lebrecht Weekly: Prokofiev 6th/Myaskovsky 27th symphonies (LAWO Classics)

By Norman Lebrecht on 14 May 2021 Lebrecht Weekly

I once had an all-night argument with Valery Gergiev about 20th century Russian composers. This was before Gergiev had become a propaganda tool of the Putin regime and his mind was still open to contradiction. I took what was then the mainstream position that Stravinsky was an unassailable genius, a position which, 30 years later, I have abandoned. Gergiev argued vehemently for Prokofiev, first for the operas which he was then reviving at the Mariinsky but even more forcefully for the seven symphonies, of which only the first and fifth had caught on. The rest, from that day to this,…

The Lebrecht Weekly: Johanna Martzy/Michael Mann (DG Eloquence)

By Norman Lebrecht on 30 April 2021 Lebrecht Weekly

The German writer Thomas Mann cast such a huge shadow across 20th century culture that his six children struggled to emerge in their own light. The eldest, Klaus, a remarkable novelist, committed suicide at 42. His sister Erika, with whom he had symbiotic links, was a bisexual media activist. Another daughter, Monika, made a living for a while as a pianist. Elisabeth became an expert on maritime law and Golo was a generally embittered German historian. The youngest, Michael Mann, was in his teens when the family fled Hitler. He grew up in California and joined the violins of the…

Benjamin Baker and Daniel Lebhardt

The Lebrecht Weekly: ‘1942’ (Delphian Records)

By Norman Lebrecht on 23 April 2021 Lebrecht Weekly

In the year 1942, while millions were being slaughtered on battlefields and in German extermination camps, three composers in different countries wrote sonatas for violin and piano. Nothing connects these works to contemporary events or to each other. They are acts of escapism by expert musicians who chose not to engage with the worst time in human history. Aaron Copland’s is an act of self-denial, using folksy tunes that he picked up on Hollywood film sets, snatches of an organic America that never was. Upon finishing the score he heard that a pilot friend, Harry Dunham, had been shot down…

Royal Conservatory of Music launches new online series

By Newswire on 20 April 2021 Newswire

TORONTO, April 20, 2021 – The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is proud to present Music of My Life – A Conversation With …, a new series available online beginning April 22, 2021. The series helps to launch a new digital concert platform, RoyalConservatory.Live, which features over 40 concerts from the Conservatory’s archives, documentaries, and conversations with artists. With hosts Dr. Peter Simon, President & CEO, and Mervon Mehta, Executive Director, Performing Arts, stars of the stage and screen discuss the music that inspires them that they cannot live without, that they would take to the grave. Music of My Life kicks off with Grammy and Emmy award winner Eugene Levy, C.M., star of the…

Job Offer – Azrieli Music Prizes Coordinator (Bilingual)

By Newswire on 20 April 2021 Employment, Newswire

POSITION TITLE: Azrieli Music Prizes Coordinator STATUS: Full Time, permanent REPORTS TO: Manager – Music, Arts and Cultural (MAC) Initiatives INTERFACES WITH: Prize Laureates, Azrieli Music Prizes Advisory Council, Communications Team, and a broad range of program partners, service contractors and key stakeholders across Canada and internationally LOCATION: This position is based in the Azrieli Foundation’s Montréal office, with occasional travel to the Toronto office. International travel may be required from time to time. DEADLINE: May 14 or until the position is filled POSITION SUMMARY: The Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) Coordinator is the primary point of contact and principal administrator…

Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra

The Lebrecht Weekly: Vaughan Williams – Symphonies 4 and 6 (LSO Live)

By Norman Lebrecht on 16 April 2021 Lebrecht Weekly, Orchestral

Recordings of Ralph Vaughan Williams fall into the middle of the Atlantic. English interpreters – Boult, Barbirolli, Hickox, Handley and most recently Andrew Manze – veer towards understatement, allowing the power of the music to emerge by stealth. Americans – Stokowski, Previn, Slatkin – are more energetic and explicit. These may be broad generalisations, but they reflect just how narrow the arteries are of Vaughan Williams reception. No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies. The only European champion on record is the Dutchman Kees Bakels on Naxos. Where do these concerts by the London Symphony…

CD review: Roots of Strings by Nazih Borish

By Justin Bernard on 15 April 2021 CD and Book Reviews

Nazih Borish, oud; Roberto Occhipinti, double bass; Joseph Khoury, percussion – Analekta AN 2 9173 ★★★★★ “Creative by nature, music is not restricted by its geographic origin or by the people who transmit it. It is language, it awakens consciousness.” With these words oudist and composer Nazih Borish partially describes the artistic project that inspired him and gave rise to Roots of Strings, released by Analekta. Accompanied by Roberto Occhipinti on double bass and Joseph Khoury on percussion, this self-taught musician of Syrian origin takes us on a tour of different parts of the musical world. His compositions are marked by…

CD review: Immersion by Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà

By Justin Bernard on 15 April 2021 CD and Book Reviews

Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà – Analekta AN 2 8749 ★★★✩✩ Immersion is the 45th album by violinist Angèle Dubeau. It follows Pulsations, released in 2019, which already gave pride of place to film music and in particular works by Ludovico Einaudi. This composer of music for The Intouchables, among other films, is featured again, but this time along with other composers active in the film industry. Minimalists Philip Glass and Steve Reich are on the lineup. Their influence is felt on other tracks, starting with the first, Flying by Valentin Hadjadj. The persistent repetition of the same motif, which creates…

Job Offer – La Scena Musicale Summer Interns 2021

By La Scena Musicale Team on 14 April 2021 Employment, Newswire

La Scena Musicale is now open for applications for summer jobs in editorial, fundraising and web programming. All positions are subject to funding. Interns: Editorial, Fundraising and Web Programming (3 available) La Scene Musicale Location: Montreal, Quebec Posted: April 15, 2021 Deadline: until positions are filled Salary: $14/hr Duration: 8 to 12 weeks Full time (35 hrs/week) or part-time Funding: subject to funding from Canada Summer Jobs Note: work remotely available Volunteers welcome Canada Summer Jobs: Must be 30 years old or less, Canadian or Landed Immigrant. Description (Editorial) Assisting the Editor in chief in his duties; Taking part in all tasks…