They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. It’s a good thing for us all then that Quincy Jones has been at the cutting edge of music technology for more than 60 years. The legendary record producer, conductor, arranger, composer, television producer, and…
Pat Robertson: Gay marriage advocates are like Illuminati, want to build “country without God”
Pat Robertson continues his reign as conductor of the crazy train with his latest ”700 Club” commentary about marriage equality.In a circuitous little statement about the French Revolution, the Illuminati and “history repeating itself,” Robertson segued his ramblings to gay marriage, asking viewers if equal rights advocates are really “just about marriage,” or if their motives “go far beyond that: to destroying the traditional family and building a country without God?”h/t Right Wing WatchContinue Reading… … Read More
Vienna Opera director is hospitalized after collapsing during performance
Vienna Opera’s musical director Franz Welser-Moest collapsed while conducting a Wagner opera after suffering a severe attack of lumbago when he raised his baton, the prestigious opera house said on Monday. The 52-year-old slumped onto his conductor’s podium Sunday at the end of the…
Maestro Valery Gergiev to head Munich Philarmonic
Valery Gergiev (RIA Novosti/Vladimir Astapkovich)Acclaimed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev is to take over as chief conductor at one of Germany’s leading orchestras, the Munich Philharmonic in 2015.The Artistic Director of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre Gergiev will replace Lorin Maazel whose contract expires in 2015. The news was announced in an official statement from Munich City Council on Wednesday.Gergiev’s contract with the Munich Philharmonic will span five years and expire in 2020. “Valery Gergiev is without doubt one of the most important, influential and inspirational conductors of our time,” said Munich’s Culture Minister Hans-Georg Kueppers. “His youthful energy and enthusiasm will not only benefit the orchestra. His ability and charisma will also shape audiences of all different age groups and Munich’s musical life,” Kueppers said.”The Munich Philharmonic is a fantastic orchestra with a great trad
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ition,” Gergiev was quoted as saying in the statement. “We know each other very well. I’m happy that we can intensify our artistic collaboration.”Gergiev has headed the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg for over 20 years and has served as the chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra since 2007. LSO has already confirmed in a statement that they will not be prolonging Gergiev’s contract which ends in two years time. … Read More
Riccardo Muti’s Flu Causes Conductor To Miss Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts
CHICAGO — The Chicago Symphony Orchestra says music director Riccardo Muti (MOOT’ ee) will miss three concerts and a student engagement because of flu-like symptoms.The symphony said Wednesday that Muti has withdrawn from concerts on Jan. 17, 18 and 19. He will be replaced by guest conductor Edo de Waart.Read More…
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‘Swan Lake’ in 3D: ‘Avatar’ director to work on blockbuster ballet in Russia
“Swan Lake” (image from www.mariinsky.ru)Ballet and film normally share little common ground, but two art gurus – the man behind “Avatar” James Cameron and the Mariinsky Theatre’s artistic director Valery Gergiev – have teamed up to work on a 3D version of “Swan Lake”.“We have had extensive talks with James Cameron and his tea
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m to consider what we can learn from famous films like Avatar,” one of the world’s most sought-after conductors, Russia’s Gergiev told the Independent.“They have the experience, talent and expertise. There is no team in the world that knows better how to work in a 3D environment in an opera house where you cannot stop the performance once the music has started,” he explained.“The cinemas will bring thousands of people together,” the 59-year-old conductor added.Earlier this month it was announced that Gergiev has earned a ‘best performance’ Grammy nomination for Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances for both himself and the London Symphony Orchestra, of which he is Principal Conductor. According to online studies of UK classical music, the indefatigable Gergiev was apparently the busiest conductor of 2010, performing 88 concerts in America and Europe over the course of the year.His new tour de force with Cameron will be broadcast from the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg live into cinemas across the world on February 14. … Read More
