Toluu

Inside the Classics

Photographic Evidence That We're Actually Working This WeekJanuary 5

So, as promised, here are a few shots I managed to squeeze off in between takes of Bruckner 4 at today's recording sessions at Orchestra Hall. (Click any of the images for a full-size version.) First off, here's a look at the chaotic, microphone-strewn mess that our stage becomes during one of these weeks...

Notice that not only are there mics and cables everywhere, but also an assortment of spotlights you would expect to find at a neighborhood ballpark. There's a good reason for these: the stage lights at Orchestra Hall, being more than thirty years old, actually emit a low-level hum that BIS's oh-so-sensitive mics pick up when we're playing softly. So they bring in their own lights and leave the rest of the hall dark while we're recording, which creates a very eerie glow around the auditorium.

Happy Year of the Cow!January 3

Well, it's actually the Year of the Ox (if you're into the whole Chinese/Japanese astrology/zodiac thing), but Cow is so much funnier...

Of course, no mention of the New Year would be complete without a Neujahrs-Konzert with the Vienna Philharmonic, a tradition since 1939, this year led by the inimitable Daniel Barenboim.

I've written about Mr. Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra - although ostensibly non-political, the ensemble has given him a platform to promote deeper understanding between two opposing factions, and given the current violence in the region, I was wondering if Barenboim would take advantage of the Vienna podium to share his thoughts.

Which he certainly did - while his remarks at the actual concert were limited to a simple wish that 2009 be a "year of peace in the world and of human justice in the Middle East", he did release a statement that was tantamount to a criticism of Israeli air strikes against Palestinians on the Gaza Strip.

While one may not agree with his politics, it's hard not to admire a man who takes a stand on his strongly-held convictions, particularly when those convictions are borne of an understanding of both perspectives (the Israeli-Argentinian conductor is also an honorary Palestinian citizen).

But, as always, the music transcends all. I particularly love "Spharenklange" by the Waltz King's brother, Josef Strauss:



I'm not a huge fan of the sweeping shots of the Alps (and the odd close-ups of alpine lichen), but, hey, it's TV, people! The notion of "Harmony of the Spheres" is a nice one, particularly given the tenor of violence in the world discussed earlier.

And of course, you can't have a New Year's Concert without the obligatory encores - in this case, ALWAYS "Blue Danube" and my favorite, Radetzky March, the perennial opportunity for conductors to ham it up and mug for the audience/camera (not that there's anything wrong with that!!):

Flight RiskDecember 31 2008

The other day, I had the following conversation with an old friend, a violinist in El Paso, on her Facebook page:

Her: I'm trying to remember how to play the violin...

Me: The bow goes in the left hand, I'm almost certain.

Her: And what do I do with my right hand?

Me: Hold your beer. Duh.

This exchange is a variation on what is more or less a running joke among professional musicians - that we all stop practicing whenever we're not working for a couple of weeks and lose our ability to play. For the most part, it really is just a joke, because most of us can't afford to take an extended break from our instruments. We tote them along on vacations, family trips, cross-country drives, and squeeze in a few minutes of practice wherever we can, because you'd be amazed by how long it can take to recover, musically speaking, from even a week off.

But in recent years, the renewed emphasis on airline security has made traveling with an instrument, even one which fits in the overhead compartments, a logistical nightmare. Oboists who've forgotten to remove their reed knives from their cases face grilling by TSA flaks, string players are told our cases must be checked because they don't fit neatly into the stupid little carry-on sizing box (you can't check a string instrument, under any circumstances, because the cold baggage compartment would crack it, not to mention that

Osmo Blagojevich?December 16 2008

Okay, I wasn't going to post this on the blog, lest anyone mistake it for a real news story, but in the five days since it was dashed off by the obviously twisted Carl Schroeder in our PR office, it's gone viral, spreading from our offices to our musicians' lounge to orchestras across the US. I've now had it sent to me by players in two different orchestras asking whether I was the author, so credit where it's due: this is Carl's baby. Enjoy...

Osmo Vänskä arrested for conspiring to sell concertmaster seat

Finnish conductor sought benefits for filling position to be vacated by Fleezanis

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä was arrested today by FBI agents on corruption charges alleging that he conspired to obtain personal financial benefits by leveraging his authority to appoint a new concertmaster pending the 2009 departure of current top violinist Jorja Fleezanis.

The criminal complaint filed against Vänskä alleges that Vänskä was caught on wiretaps noting that the concertmaster seat is “some kind of valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.” He was also taped saying that unless “I get something real good,” he would appoint himself to the vacancy.

According to the affidavit, Vä

Encore!December 14 2008

I know, I know, I've posted this before, but it's just too good! And it's one of those things that never fails to make me laugh (there are a couple of those in my life).

Here it is; the most appalling ending of the Hallelujah chorus that has ever been (and hopefully ever will be). I challenge you to listen to this with a straight face!