FEATURE
The Kennedy Center is Turning 50 with a Year-Long Celebration of New Works and Special Performances
The Washington Post: Peggy McGlone
The Kennedy Center is planning an extended celebration of its 50th anniversary in its 2021-2022 season, featuring new commissions by Philip Glass and Esperanza Spalding, year-long artist residencies by the Roots and Robert Glasper, interactive exhibitions commemorating its first five decades and a new outdoor bronze statue of JFK. The festivities will end with a restaging of Leonard Bernstein’s theatrical “Mass,” which opened the center on Sept. 8, 1971.
RESEARCH AND OPINION
The Arts And Humanities Deliver Untapped Value For The Future Of Work
Forbes: Benjamin Wolff
A rigorous creative discipline teaches patience in the face of obstacles, which turns out to be a critically important mindset for coding.
Science now says you can judge people by their taste in music after all
The Hill: Austa Somvichian-Clausen
It turns out our musical preferences say more about us than we once thought.
‘Dance Can Give Community’: Twyla Tharp On Choreographing Through Lockdown
NPR: Fresh Air
During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Tharp, now 79, choreographed several dances through through Zoom. One was with four dancers — each of whom was in a different time zone.
The Strange Undeath of Middlebrow
The Hedgehog Review: Phil Christman
Everything that was once considered lowbrow is now triumphant.
Live audiences are (hopefully) coming back. Where does that leave streaming concerts?
Chicago Tribune: Hannah Edgar
Over the past year, many presenters have invested massively in streaming technology — gear, hosting platforms, licensing fees (in the case of re-aired or archival performances), and the like — and want to put those investments to long-term use.
What Does It Take to Become a Broadway Choreographer?
Dance: Rachel Rizzuto
Before getting hired to choreograph a Broadway show, artists typically follow a clear career trajectory – Dance Captain – Assistant Choreographer – Associate Choreographer.
The Film That Jazz Deserves
The New Yorker: Howard Fishman
Bertrand Tavernier’s “ ’Round Midnight” shows what it means to devote your life to music.
Making Music Visible: Singing in Sign
NY Times: Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim
A new project is producing sign language covers of 10 seminal musical works recorded by Black female artists.
NATIONAL
Taylor Swift’s Fearless Redux Is Both Business Stunt and Conceptual Art
Slate: Carl Wilson
The Fearless redux would likely not exist had Swift not become entangled in a multilevel business imbroglio with former manager Scooter Braun.
When Boston Ruled the Music World
The New York Times: Anthony Tommasini
Three recent recordings conjure the mid-20th-century moment when the city was a center of innovative composition.
The Philadelphia Orchestra Presents “Our City, Your Orchestra”
The Violin Channel
The series features audience-less performances at iconic locations and Black-owned businesses throughout the city.
Lincoln Center’s Renovated David Geffen Hall to Reopen Almost Two Years Early
The Violin Channel
With reconstruction plans accelerated, the home to the New York Philharmonic is anticipated to reopen in the Fall of 2022.
Streamed concert to champion climate optimism
The Strad
Singers and players to perform Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’ over YouTube.
Neil Diamond Bio-Musical Sets Sights on Broadway
NY Times: Peter Libbey
“A Beautiful Noise,” featuring songs from the hit-maker’s deep catalog, will play a monthlong run in Boston in 2022, with New York planned next.
INTERNATIONAL
Thousands demand plaque for renowned Black violinist in Bath
The Strad
A petition demands a memorial for George Polgreen Bridgetower, who gave the first public performance of Beethoven’s ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata.
50th anniversary of Stravinsky’s death to be marked by series of events
The Strad
A number of performances – many of them streamed – will pay tribute to the Russian composer over the next month.
Southbank Sinfonia and St John’s Smith Square join forces
The Strad
The graduate training orchestra and London concert venue to become a ‘hub for world-class musical development’.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Gaming technology recreates 16th-century music in Scottish chapel
The Guardian: Libby Brooks
Researchers capture how choral music would have sounded in birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Aaron Dworkin — Castle of Our Skins’ Ashleigh Gordon
The Violin Channel
Aaron Dworkin sits down with Ashleigh Gordon, Artistic Director of Castle of Our Skins, to discuss and share the philosophy behind her leadership work furthering the contributions of Black artists.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
“A Violin in the Most Unlikely Places”
The Violin Channel
Brazilian violinist, Nuno Santos, combines musical and natural exploration in the most challenging environments on the planet.
Meet the Man Recreating Ancient Musical Instruments Lost to Time
Atlas Obscura: Radhika Iyenger
Tharun Sekar’s creations include the yazh, a harp-like instrument played in India 2,000 years ago.
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