Wagner

He ain’t heavy, he’s my leitmotif

Only secret squadron members who have decoders can decode them.

A Concert Roundup in Times Square

• This week the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is replaced by a gaggle of small children. RUN! Okay, actually it’s just the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and not all the children are small, or even necessarily children; I’m not sure of the exact age ranges, but they seem to follow the popular model of having multiple orchestra levels under one title. Anyway, they’re playing an extremely varied program of everything from Rossini to Holst to Wagner, so if you’re one of those strange individuals who actually enjoys the smiling faces of the coming generations, you’ll want to check it out. May 19 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra is busting out the NSO Pops to celebrate songwriter Stephen Schwartz, who apparently wrote Wicked and some Disney scores? You all know I would never in a million years disapprove of Disney music, so I’m comfortable endorsing this one (even if there is a singer from the Broadway version of Newsies; my God did I hate that thing). May 16 – 18. [ See it! ]
• Or! Or! OR OR OR OR OR! The NSO has a family concert this week too, and you’ll never guess what it is!!! Guys, did you know Chris Brubeck composed a score for A Cricket in Times Square?! Liverwurst! Insects with perfect pitch! Apocalyptic blackouts! AWESOME! Man, I should read that book again. May 19. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore: Soprano Kathleen Battle. [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

“The only opera on earth that comes in the giant economy package”

Holy bejeezus, guys! Turns out I know the prelude to Das Rheingold!

I know, I know, that’s THREE videos down there, which is, oh, one hell of a time commitment, but seriously, guys, watch it. I was showing my parents some Victor Borge clips I’d found last night, and they told me about Anna Russell, and I looked this up and HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, that’s all I’m saying, y’know? And by the way, she’s your aunt.

The Little Concert Roundup

• This week the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has Midori. Need I say more? I thought not, but I will anyway: she’s doing the Bartok violin concerto (praise be to God that it’s not the Mendelssohn!) and then the BSO follows it up with Brahms‘ first symphony. [Some pun about melon liqueur goes here.] April 25 & 26 at the Meyerhoff; April 27 at Strathmore. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra counters with a solo pianist: Andreas Haefliger taking on the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1. Plus Tchaikovsky‘s fourth symphony (the “Little Russian” if I’m remembering correctly) and did you know there’s a composer named Wagenaar? Did Wagner know about this? I feel like he would have sued. April 25 – 27. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore: Jazz drumming; boogie-woogie piano; the Marian Anderson String Quartet. [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

The Concert Roundup Cycle

• Spear, magic helmet! This week the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra tackles Wagner and his Ring of Nibelung, the straight ahead way, just music, with good ol’ Colin Currie on percussion. April 18 & 21 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• But! If you prefer, BSO conductor Marin Alsop will regale you with one of her Off the Cuff concerts, diving into the complicated topic of Wagner and his relationship to mad King Ludwig. Did I say he was mad? Hearsay, hearsay. All I’m saying is, I’ve been to Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein castle and there were caves. Like, just as a room. I’m sure Alsop can explain to us how this is perfectly normal and healthy and I mean everybody’s obsessed with Wagner anyway, right? April 19 at Strathmore; April 20 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• Meanwhile, the National Symphony Orchestra takes off in a different, presumably slightly less crazy direction with an NSO Pops concert centered around jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. Anyway he doesn’t look crazy, and they’re promising jazz, pop, AND classical. April 18 – 20. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore: Exploring the connection between art and neuroscience; Gershwin scion Michael Feinstein. [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

Concert Roundup is for Lovers

• It’s Valentine’s Day week – does your idea of passion involve waving your arms around while belting out your love at the top of your lungs? Then this week’s Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert is for you – it’s all Wagner! That’s right, it’s a whole concert of selections from Wagner’s operas, including Meistersinger, Tristan und Isolde, and that perennial favorite, Die Walkurie. I hear there’s even a $10 student ticket and after-party for college kids. February 15 & 17 at the Meyerhoff; February 16 at Strathmore. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra loves you very much but has a headache this week. No concert for you.
• This week at Strathmore: flamenco, electronica, and our annual free open house on President’s Day! Come on by if you’re in the area and say hi – I’ll be there! [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

And now for another round of: Sh!t Clift Sends Me!

In case you need a refresher course – check out the first Sh!t Clift Sends Me here and the second here. Got a lot of video for you this time around. And don’t forget to look for a bonus piece of Sh!t Rebekah Sends Me, because you won’t want to miss it!

• Here is Stephen Fry explaining exactly why classical music remains relevant to today’s youth, even if he does open with “Dubstep is my life.”
• “This Richter clip should be labeled ‘organ porn.'” Duly noted!
• Here, as the narrator informs us, Siegfried’s death scene.
• Here’s a fascinating article from the Montreal Gazette about the rising rock star status of the conductor and his current role in an orchestra.
• Here’s an article from Scientific American pointing out that even a small amount of musical training is beneficial to your brain.
• Here’s Don Giovanni and a condom. I don’t understand why you’re so surprised.
• This article begins thusly: “I’m going to start with Bach the rebel. The badass.”
• And let’s finish things off with some jazz.
• Here’s your bonus from Rebekah! And it is beautiful, beautiful. Its source is a parody website lampooning right wing religious types, which hopefully does not offend, but COME ON: “Violins were invented by a homosexual devil worshipper.” Call your school board and shut down your child’s orchestra program before it’s too late, everybody!

This concludes this edition of Sh!t Clift Sends Me.

* “I fully expect you to include this as a footnote,” said Clift. Done.

Never send your dog away from the opera

Also, don’t stab the scenery and try to keep the backstage clear of doves, rabbits, and frogs. Okay?

Leave It to the Councert Roundup

Because the Andy Griffith whistle wouldn’t’ve translated into text.

• This week the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s BSO SuperPops pays tribute to a better time, where everyone wore a fedora (this is only vaguely relevant but I like the old fedora look). Anyway, the concert is called “The Golden Age of Black and White” and features music of the ’50s. October 11 at Strathmore; October 12-14 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• Or if you prefer something a little more, y’know, classical, a small collection of musicians from the BSO swing by the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick on October 13 to perform some chamber pieces. [ See it! ]
• Or if you want to get loud about your classical, the National Symphony Orchestra is busting out the Wagner lieder, plus Bruckner‘s seventh symphony. October 11 – 13. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore: Hindustani music, classical guitarists Duo Amaral, and roots rock. [ See the calendar! ]
• Also at Strathmore – check out this online auction to benefit the My First Ticket program! All proceeds go to exposing children to the arts. [ Get bidding! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

There Are Many Blogs, But There Is Only ONE Concert Roundup

Ludwig in the house!

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra demonstrates that they are both wise and learned by played Beethoven‘s – well, hell, I could finish that sentence with anything, but in this case it’s his third symphony, “Eroica.” Also Schumann‘s violin concerto performed by Kolja Blacher and Rebel‘s The Elements: Chaos. But mostly Beethoven. October 4 at Strathmore; October 5 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra demonstrates that they are neither wise nor learned by performing the overture to Tchaikovsky‘s Romeo and Juliet. Oh, that was mean – lots of stupid people like it. I mean people like it! Oh, Piotr, you know I love you. Also a selection from Wagner‘s Tristan und Isolde, some Lieberson, and more Tchaikovsky, to cleanse the palate. October 4 – 6. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore: traditional Mexican music and dance, classical Indian music, and – please turn off your cell phones – the incomparable Patti LuPone. [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.