Renée Fleming recently talked with CNN about her newest album, Dark Hope, which was released on June 8 in the US. Dark Hope is an all-pop cover album that represents a departure from the operatic prima donna role that earned Fleming international fame. Inspired by new, edgy and eccentric lyrics, Fleming created not only a new image, but also a new voice for her popular debut.
See The Sound Post’s review of the single Endlessly here, and click through to watch both the CNN and WQXR interviews with Ms. Fleming. View Full Article »
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Follow Up: Fleming Goes Pop
Philadelphia Names Yannick Nézet-Séguin Music Director
pronounced nay-ZAY say-GHEN
The Philadelphia Orchestra has appointed Yannick Nézet-Séguin as the next music director—its first since Christopher Eschenbach stepped down in 2006. Until now, Charles Dutoit acted as Chief Conductor while the orchestra negotiated a period of nebulous leadership. Nézet-Séguin will begin a seven year contract immediately under the title “music director designate,” and after two seasons will assume the full role of music director starting in 2012-2013. View Full Article »
Soprano Renée Fleming to Release Alt Rock Cover Album
Starts Shopping at Hot Topic
Knock-out soprano Renée Fleming will release her new pop album, Dark Hope, on June 8 in the United States. Already out in Europe, the album represents the underside of Fleming’s newest leaf: popular music.
Her classical credits bud with acclaimed performances in the world’s best opera houses, multiple solo albums, and the moniker of “America’s Favorite Soprano.” None of this, however, receives a mention in the liner notes of her new release. Instead, Fleming wants to earn her alt-rock plaudits with a breathy, alto-range timbre that reflects little of her previous professional exploits. That tone, though antithetical to her pure, operatic upper register, is a tool she carefully crafted to convey an authentic pop feeling. Fleming and her producers have consistently asserted that the album is not a “crossover” but a purebred rock/pop release. The difference, they stress, is that a crossover album is classically styled performances of popular songs. Fleming’s recording is pop covers of pop songs. View Full Article »
Dudamel and LA Phil Come to East Coast
Bring West Coast Glam
Last Thursday and Friday, Gustavo Dudamel gave tri-staters the opportunity to see him conduct for the first time since his inauguration as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. At Avery Fisher Hall on Thursday, Dudamel and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performed Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2 “The Age of Anxiety.” Times critic Anthony Tommasini called the performance “arresting” and said the work “if sometimes wild and brassy, was basically wonderful.” However, he was not as enamored with the LA rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique.”
Tommasini felt that technical faults in the performance hinted at under-preparation despite Dudamel’s emotive and carefully executed direction. While the lush, expressive lyricism lent itself to a poignant interpretation from the maestro, The NY Times thought the orchestra’s inability to deliver resulted in a performance that was “rough and unfocused.”
But on Friday, The Sound Post was able to see Dudamel continue his east coast performances with a similar program in Prudential Hall at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Dudamel and Thibaudet began the performance by repeating the same pristine execution of Bernstein’s 2nd Symphony “The Age of Anxiety” from the night before. View Full Article »
Brahms and Tchaikovsky Live On
Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, two great masters of classical music, were born on this date, May 7th, over a century ago. In 1833 and 1840 respectively, these men each entered the world destined to become two of its most influential composers. The profundity of both composers’ works helped shape the topography of Romanticism, combining worldly humanism with classical discipline. While Robert Schumann accurately predicted that Johannes Brahms would succeed Beethoven—a foresight which spoke to his acumen as a critic—Tchaikovsky similarly carved a wake through Russia and Europe with poignant works telling of crisis and wandering.
With great respect and reverence should these musical giants be remembered. Their works represent an era of musical humanism and affectation that has timelessly endured concert programs worldwide. So today, go and listen to what they’ve left us, as their work emanates the same potency today as it did in their lifetimes.
Met Names Principal Guest Conductor
The Metropolitan Opera recently named Italian conductor Fabio Luisi its principal guest conductor—only the second time a conductor has held the title. Although the three year contract is unrelated to James Levine’s recent absences due to illness, Luisi will act as the go-to conductor for any future performances Levine may miss.
Maestro Luisi has periodically conducted at the Met since 2005, and was already scheduled to lead several performances next season. He is currently the chief conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and is scheduled to become the music director of the Zurich Opera in 2012. His post as principal guest conductor will both allow him to become more familiar with the company and its orchestra, and act as reassurance for the staff in the event of any further absences. Peter Gelb, The Met’s general manager, acknowledges that while Luisi has the expertise to succeed James Levine, that scenario is not yet a consideration. Neither Gelb, or Luisi have any anticipation of Levine stepping down, and assert that the Met can simply enjoy its newest resident Maestro.
via The New York Times.
Lacombe Invigorates NJSO
Jacques Lacombe enjoyed a warm public reception after his first weekend of performances with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. In fact, the new music director “could hardly have made a stronger impression” according to The Star Ledger.
Lacombe succeeded Neeme Järvi as the NJSO’s conductor, and was considered the perfect candidate to revitalize and polish the orchestra. It seems he did just that. Ronni Reich wrote for the Ledger that the orchestra’s new sound was “fittingly earthy and surprisingly refined,” noting that the ensemble’s tone was “full of depth without ever feeling heavy, thick or unwieldy.” View Full Article »
Gergiev Accepts Role as Dean
Despite his already taxing schedule, conductor Valery Gergiev has accepted the position of Dean of arts faculty at St. Petersburg State University. In addition to his commitments at the Mariinsky theater as well as his post at the London Symphony Orchestra, Gergiev will assume leadership of the arts faculty that was formed last month when the school’s academic council voted to separate the arts and philology faculties. View Full Article »