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Sure sometimes they thrill me
I come from one of the cloudiest and fattest cities in America: Lansing, MI. For some reason or another, I haven't posted much about my hometown on this blog. But Lansing has its strong points: Doc, for one; and Raymond for another. Now it's time to broaden the appeal. Let me now introduce to you the right-wing religious nut John Mangopoulos. He's been a staple on Lansing Public Access for many years and he's even nuttier now than ten years ago. Watch some of his work HERE. If you scroll down to "Get Away From Me," you'll see the man in top form. "Now go indulge yourself in some porn."
(Former site of Lil' Doc's Fun Cards - Old Town, on a sunless Saturday morning)
Copland/Kissin/Grimaud/Horowitz
A fun ride over the last few days here in the windy city. I saw French pianist Hélène Grimaud on Friday afternoon play the Schumann concerto. I was just excited to watch Ms. Grimaud wobble along the bench, so my attention to her music-making was somewhat distracted. She is easily one of the 5 most beautiful women in classical music today. Mr. Patner, on the other hand, paid closer attention and has written an entertaining perspective of the performance. Sunday afternoon I finally got to see one of my longtime idols: Evgeny Kissin. Since my freshman days listening to the discman in my dorm room, I have not come across a more thrilling pianist. His Chopin preludes and the Schumann Fantasy are in my HOF of recordings. Sunday's highlight was his take on late Brahms, op. 118, which trumped the Chopin finale andante spianato and grand polanaise. And he also gave 11 (that's eleven) encores.
Prior to all of this, I was asked to write an 800-word feature on the upcoming Aaron Copland Festival which will be presented by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. I conducted my first interviews too, with music director Robert Hanson and former NY Times critic Joseph Horowitz (he is the festival consultant). Horowitz has been an authority on classical music for god-knows how many years now, so I was a little intimidated to ring him on the phone. Yet he was gracious and seemed genuinely enthusiastic describing to a puny freelancer his Copland program. In addition to music performances, there will be a reenactment of Copland's testimony during the McCarthy hearings. Chicago-area folk ought to go.
Requiem for a radio show
Cyber Classical never became what Gerry and I had hoped for. Our marketing was limited to this blog, and the cutting-edge interviews never got around to happening. Radio DePaul seemingly always denied us entrance if we weren't on their "list," even though we had been doing the show for months (although in light of Monday's shooting, not a bad thing). We never got into a rhythm because the station was constantly closing or some equipment would be broken. What regular listeners we did have would inevitably have to wait another week.
The experience, however, was priceless. I learned more new music in that one year than any other; and I was able to cultivate one of my closer friendships. I even got a little on-air experience. Thanks to WRDP for the opportunity.
Shocked
What a sad, sad day down in Blackburg, VA. My sympathies go out to all who were affected. Having spent considerable time there as a youth, this idiot's actions have in some way stained my opinions of the place. But that's hardly important. I'm stunned to report this is the worst school shooting in the history of the US. Only in America does all this gun-happy crap seem to happen with regularity.
Play ball
My review of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk-Road concert w/ the CSO appeared in Saturday's Chicago Sun-Times. I'll have one in Tuesday's paper as well. I am grateful for Andrew Patner and Laura Emerick and their willingness to take a chance on me. Since my eyes are bloodshot and the pinkies are stiffing up, I'm off for a nap. Otherwise I'd give you a saucier recap of last night.
But now a little friday fodder; my friends and I began writing lyrics to commemorate our experiences at DePaul, which are now sadly behind us (still waiting on those exam scores). To the tune of Terry Cashman's Talkin' Baseball, I offered the first verse:
Manning was smokin', while Goodman was evokin'
the latest poesy he had come upon.
Finke stroked his beard, Cunneen's was getting weird,
'Twas hardly a surprise that nothing much was getting done
I'm talking DeeePaul....
It's better if you know the tune.
While I wasn't a fan
I'd like to point out that author Kurt Vonnegut died today at the age of 84. I feel bad, cuz I pimped him all these years for his ties to the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Hey now, a homer is as a homer does. I did meet him once at a book-signing at the Border's on 57th and Park in Manhattan. While I couldn't get into his fiction, he did seem a really funny and personable man.
Floating
I'll be accompanying the side-splitting Sun-Times arts guru Andrew Patner tomorrow to catch Gustavo Dudamel's American debut at orchestra hall. Mahler 1, Bruch's famous violin concerto, and a work by Castellenos are on the program. I'll see if I can come up with a decent review of the show and then we'll go from there. Andrew has passed on to me a piece of valuable advice I'll keep with me for a very long time: "never write that Bartók is scary." Update coming Monday, or maybe earlier.
Best day of the year
I'm done with my comprehensive exams, I don't have a job, I don't have class, and I've been watching every opening day game on MLB TV here at the coffee shop. Is this heaven?
