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conductor news stories
Classical superstar Xian Zhang is young, energetic—and a woman
New Statesman (UK) 7 hours, 30 minutes ago
(Newser) -
In the traditional world of classical music, no area has been less hospitable to women than the conductor’s platform. So it’s remarkable that one of the world’s hottest maestros is not just a woman, but a 35-year-old from China—Xian Zhang, associate conductor at the New York Philharmonic. “Having an unusual background means you view tradition in a totally different way,” Zhang tells the New Statesman .
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Honda robot manages to wow Detroit audience despite limitations
Guardian (UK) May 14, 08 3:27 PM CDT
(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.
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Noise legislation means musicians are playing musical chairs, the real game
New York Times Apr 19, 08 9:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A new law in Europe to protect employees from ear-damaging noises is stifling a surprise industry—orchestras. Conductors are taking it down a notch to comply, in one case canceling a world premiere because it exceeded the allowable decibels in rehearsal, the New York Times reports. At the Royal Opera House, musicians have to wear earplugs—akin to telling a "race-car driver they have to wear a blindfold," said one oboist.
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Late tenor too sick to sing live at Turin Olympics opening ceremony
Guardian (UK) Apr 7, 08 9:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Lipsynching isn't just for neophytes like Nikki Hilton—none other than tenor Luciano Pavarotti faked his way through his final public performance at the opening of the Turin Winter Olympics, the Guardian reports. In a new book, Pavarotti's conductor and pianist claims that he recorded the cancer-stricken tenor and the orchestra, and used video trickery to pull the ruse off before millions of TV viewers.
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