Category: music

Last week’s concert in Miami by Cuban band Van Van provoked huge demonstrations outside. Intense media attention was partly to blame.  Miami Herald

– a $50 million facelift. – MSNBC (Reuters)

As a new season begins, old questions return. Is classical music in trouble? An art form that would prefer not to look at itself too closely. – MSNBC

Leonard Slatkin was named chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. – The Washington Post

Italy’s small opera houses put more opera in grand opera, and it’s a revealing experience. – The New York Times

It’s been a decade since Herbert von Karajan died. On the verge of trading his successor (Claudio Abbado) for Simon Rattle, the Berlin Philharmonic takes a tour of European capitals. – Financial Times

For the 106th straight week, Elton John’s sappy Diana remake of “Candle in the Wind” sits on Canada’s Top 10 Singles list. So what’s the matter with Canadians? “We’re either sentimental saps or deeply loyal subjects,” says a Montreal music critic. – The Globe and Mail (Canada)

Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house was consumed by fire on the morning of Jan. 31, 1994. This week it reopened and it was as if nothing had ever happened. – The New York Times

Singers, sure, and of course there’s Glenn Gould. But when the “Greatest of the Century” list moves to composers, Canadians are notably absent. – National Post (Canada)

A pianist explains why ever-present background music numbs the ear and teaches us not to listen. – MSNBC