Luciano Pavarotti, Dead at Age 71

According to various news sources, Luciano Pavarotti died today, 06 September 2007, at the age of 71. While I am not familiar with much of Maestro Pavarotti's work, I do know that his rendition of the literature can impress even the strongest opponent of opera.

Let us conclude this entry by quoting one of Pavarotti's signature work's, Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot.

Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!

Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

Only through your legacy of recordings will we ever hear your magic again, Maestro. We will watch the stars that tremble with love, and with hope.

Shostakovich 100

One-hundred years ago today, russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was born in St. Petersburg, Russia to Dmitri Boleslavovich Shostakovich and Sofiya Kokaoulina Shostakovich. As a matter of course for a historical figure, much has been written about DSCH's life. Instead of trying to write an educational posting, I chose to reflect on what DSCH's music means to me on such a historical day. As a result of this introspect, I have found three things in Shostakovich's music that changed my view of classical music as a whole.

The first of these is the emotional power that a composer is capable of producing. I discovered my favorite DSCH work during my first year of college: the Fifth Symphony. In my opinion, this is the greatest work ever written for orchestra because of it's Largo movement. I still haven't figured out what this movement entirely means to me; sometimes when I hear it, I'm angry that DSCH lived in oppressed society. Other times, it is clear to me that DSCH's expressions of emotion through music would have transcended the current political conditions, no matter what they were. I challenge anyone to find a more honest expression of both love and contempt for humanity.

The second in my list is the physical power that an orchestral composition can have, and there is no better example of this than second movement of the Eleventh symphony. "9 January" starts with nervously, but during the second half of this movement, the volume that is produced by a 100+ piece orchestra is astonishing. Regardless of what revolution you associate this symphony with (the 1905 Russian revolution or the 1956 uprising), one cannot deny the power, violence, and massacre this movement represents.

Finally, the greatest thing about DSCH's music is that it sounds natural. It is romantic, but not redundant. It is rhythmically interesting, melodic, and singable. You can walk out of a concert after the Seventh or Ninth symphonies and sing a melody despite their complexity.

These three factors changed my view of "classical" music: it's not boring, staunchy music that sounds 50, 150, or 250 years old. It is something that is powerful, emotional, turbulent, serene, or calm. It's longevity comes because it appeals to both intellect and emotion in both the rich and poor. If I could thank Shostakovich for one thing, it would be for this realization.

Prokofiev's Birthday

Happy 115th birthday, Prokofiev!

Austin Celebrates Shostakovich!

My good friend Rich Furlane brought http://www.shostakovich100.org/ to my attention. It looks like the city of Austin, Texas is celebrating Shostakovich's 100th birthday in full force. Rich, looks like I'm coming to visit you!

Happy Birthday, Mozart!

Today is W.A. Mozart's 250th birthday. It is reported that the Maestro was born at approximately 20:00h CET (UTC +0100) in Salzburg 250 years ago. Mozart was trained from an early age by his father, Leopold, and wrote his first symphony (which I have always found amazingly intricate) by the age of ten. He lived a quite a life and composed opera, chamber works for small ensembles, symphonies, concerti for solo instruments (or groups of instruments) and orchestra, songs and sacred masses. His music was responsible for the controversial Mozart Effect which was thought to induce better concentration during academic studies.

Mozart's music lives on in concert halls, recordings, television commercials and even cell phone ring tones. So wherever you are today, spend a few moments listening to the sounds around you and listen for the influence of Mozart.

Richard Strauss

Happy birthday, Maestro Strauss! You would be 141 years old today!

Happy Birthday, Elgar!

Happy birthday, Sir Edward Elgar! What a life you lived giving us wonderful music. If still alive, today you would be 148 years old!

Eugene Espino Dead at 65

From pas.org...a bit late, but worth quoting.

Eugene Santiago Espino, Principal Timpanist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 37 years, died of a heart attack on April 23 in California. He was 65.

"He was a legendary personality in the orchestra and a popular figure in town," Cincinnati Symphony music director Paavo Järvi told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He was a good example of a great pro and a great old-timer. He's done it all and knew the repertoire and was a real master."

Espino joined the Cincinnati Symphony in 1967, after spending one year as Principal Timpanist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure, he performed two world premieres, an American premiere and a Cincinnati premiere as soloist. Espino also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. A native of Oakland, Calif., Espino graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with Saul Goodman.

Harry Brabec

Harry Brabec, a former percussionist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, passed away on 03 February 2005. He played under the baton of Fritz Reiner in the mid-1950's. More on his life can be found here. We wish you farewell, Harry.

Artie Shaw

Artie Shaw, the clarinetist and band leader whose recording of Begin the Beguine epitomized the Big Band era, died Thursday, 30 December 2004, in his home at the age of 94. Farewell, Artie.

Happy Birthday, Orchestra Hall!

Happy 100th birthday, Orchestra Hall. You've been a good home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and seen the likes of Frederick Stock, Fritz Reiner, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Georg Solti, and many other wonderful musicians!