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December 3, 2008 12:37:29 PM CST


classical music

classical music news stories

1 - 20 of 24 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

How to Get to Carnegie? YouTube, YouTube, YouTube

Cyber orchestra created to merge world music

(Newser) - The road to Carnegie Hall now passes through YouTube, which is borrowing a note from American Idol to give aspiring classical musicians a chance to perform on the world-famous stage. To snag a seat in the cyber-orchestra, contestants must download and perform—using a liberal interpretation of "instruments"—a composition inspired by New York's streets, BBC reports. More »

More about:  classical music Carnegie Hall

 Cellist Runs 
 Church of 
 Beethoven 

Albuquerque arts devotees start secular Church of Beethoven in old gas station

(Newser) - Congregants gather on Sundays at an old gas station in Albuquerque to greet friends, ponder the divine, and listen to classical music, NPR reports. Espresso-sipping members of the Church of Beethoven also listen to poetry readings and engage in group song, but don't need to have religious beliefs. Cellist Felix Wurman says he founded the church to help people "find spirituality through culture." More »

More about:  music art church classical music NPR Albuquerque

US Composer Says Feds Are After Him

John Adams claims agents have targeted him for his politics

(Newser) - One of the most famous composers in America insists that Homeland Security has targeted him for his liberal views, the Guardian reports. John Adams, who achieved fame with his Nixon in China opera 20 years ago, says airport immigration grills him whenever he comes home. "I'm perfectly aware that I, like many artists and many thoughtful people in the country, am being followed," Adams says. More »

More about:  immigration Department of Homeland Security classical music composer John Adams

 Rap Fan's Sentence: Bump Bach 

Unable to listen for 20 hours, defendant opts to pay fine

(Newser) - An Illinois municipal court offered to reduce a 24-year-old’s fine for a noise violation if he listened to 20 hours of classical music, but he lasted just 15 minutes, the Springfield News-Sun reports. "I didn't have the time," says the college basketball player, denying that the symphony struck a wrong chord. He was fined $150 for bumping loud rap on his Impala’s stereo. More »

More about:  Oprah Winfrey Illinois rap music classical music Dr Phil Urbana-Champaign noise violation

 New Mozart Score 
 Surfaces in France 

Melodic sketch was part of a collection given to a Nantes library in early 1800s

(Newser) - A single-page musical score located in a French library has been confirmed as a Mozart original, the Telegraph reports. “Mozart's handwriting is clearly identifiable,” an expert said. “There's no doubt that this is an original piece handwritten by Mozart.” The notation is for a melody only, with no orchestrations, but “one can really get a feeling of what Mozart meant,” he said. More »

More about:  France Austria discovery classical music Vienna authenticity Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart library score

 You Are Your Music: Study

Study says music reflects our personalities

(Newser) - Our favorite music speaks volumes about who we are, according to a new psychological study. It turns out that Indie fans are miserable, and metal heads act a lot like classical music lovers. The Independent breaks down personalities by genre:   Indie: Low self-esteem and lazy, not to mention selfish and unkind. Rock: Hard-working and creative, but also unfriendly and hardly generous. More »

More about:  list music psychology rap music rock music country music classical music survey indie rock blues heavy metal reggae dance music

Gergiev to Lead Defiant South Ossetia Concert

London Symphony's principal conductor  hails Russian victory

(Newser) - Valery Gergiev, the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, among other prominent posts, will preside over a victorious concert tonight in South Ossetia, celebrating Russia’s recent military successes, the Times reports. Gergiev is an ethnic Ossetian and close personal friend of Vladimir Putin—they are godfathers of each others’ children—and Putin is expected to be guest of honor. The concert will coincide with rallies declaring South Ossetia independent. More »

More about:  Russia Georgia South Ossetia classical music

How an Amateur Made Classical Cool in NYC

Chamber rock series invites young fans to hear old masters

(Newser) - Ronen Givony is no musician, he can’t read music, and had never organized a concert—until recently. Now the 28-year-old is considered one of New York’s top impresarios, thanks to his “Wordless Music” series, which puts top indie rock and electronica bands on the same bill as classical performers. The series is a blockbuster, drawing the young, curious 20-something crowd that Lincoln Center so desires. More »

More about:  New York City concert rock music classical music Lincoln Center indie pop

 Fire Lashes Berlin Philharmonic 

No one injured in blaze as musicians bolt from iconic concert hall with instruments

(Newser) - A fire broke out at the Berlin Philharmonic today, bringing more than 100 firefighters to the concert hall, Der Spiegel reports. No one was injured in the blaze, with musicians fleeing with their instruments; a lunchtime concert had to be evacuated. "We don’t believe anyone is in danger, as the fire appears to be contained in the roof," a fire official said. More »

More about:  Germany firefighters Berlin California wildfires classical music fire

 Robo-Maestro Takes Baton 

Honda robot manages to wow Detroit audience despite limitations

(Newser) - It was classical music, but when the Detroit Symphony Orchestra hit its final note last night, it sounded an awful lot like the future. Honda’s Asimo robot led a real, live, human orchestra, and though the android was only repeating the recorded movements of a human, the performance went beautifully, impressing the musicians and delighting the crowd, the Guardian reports. More »

More about:  Detroit Honda classical music robot orchestra conductor

Violinist to Serenade
Taxi Driver

Concert at Newark airport for cabbie who returned $4M Strad

(Newser) - When violin virtuoso Philippe Quint left a 1723 Antonio Stradivari “Ex-Kiesewetter” in a New Jersey taxi two weeks ago, he was distraught: The $4 million instrument was not only irreplaceable, it was on loan. But the cab driver returned the violin next morning, and today, in gratitude, the Grammy-nominated musician will perform a private concert—at the Newark airport cab stand. More »

More about:  New Jersey classical music taxi driver violin Stradivarius violin Newark airport generosity

 Muti to Lead Chicago Symphony 

Italian personality had been pursued by NY orchestra, others

(Newser) - After four years of searching for a new music director, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has finally found its man: Italian maestro Riccardo Muti. He will take over for the 2010-11 season on a five-year contract. In September, Muti rejected the idea of an American music directorship because of hefty administrative duties, but a month of guest conducting changed his tune. More »

More about:  music Chicago classical music New York Philharmonic

Vivaldi Opera Revived 278 Years Later

Czech musician tracks down long-lost work
in Germany

(Newser) - A long-lost opera by Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi has resurfaced nearly 280 years after its Prague premiere, BBC reports. Argippo , a tale of love and deception set in an Indian maharaja’s court, was first performed in 1730 but vanished soon after, leaving only a libretto. But that was enough for a Czech musician to start hunting around Europe for the rest. More »

More about:  music Germany classical music opera Czech Republic preservation Prague aria Antonio Vivaldi

 Mozart Helps Snap
 Saudi Taboos 

Mixed-gender concert signals opening to outside world

(Newser) - Mozart hasn't challenged cultural taboos for more than 200 years, but last night he caused quite a stir in Saudi Arabia. A German-based quartet gave the nation its first public classical concert where men were allowed to hear Mozart and sit next to, gasp, women. "The concert is a sign that things are changing rapidly here," a German ambassador told the AP. More »

More about:  Saudi Arabia