January 27, 2008

It’s this week in classical music, an update on what’s happening in the classical music world, I’m Randy Kinkel.

The New World Symphony will live up to it’s name in more than one way.  The organization just broke ground on a new 200 million dollar hall designed by architect Frank Gehry (who also designed Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A.); they have also been awarded a 5 million dollar grant from The John S. and James L. Knight foundation to “advance it’s use of digital technology and transform the way audiences experience Classical music”  The new building is slated for completion in 2010 and will house a 700-seat performance hall with capacity for recording, webcasts and 360-degree projections. Rounding out the facilities will be a rooftop music library, a conductor's studio,  and  rehearsal rooms.  The facility will harness the connective power of Internet2 technology to facilitate international partnerships and collaborations with musicians, composers and learning institutions around the world.  Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, who was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony last week, said he envisioned the new campus as a place where life will imitate the Internet, with all its ``choices, adventures and possibilities.''

The San Francisco Bay area’s New Century Chamber orchestra has a new music director—Violinist Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg.  The NCCO announced their choice after a grueling two-year search.  Said the 46 year-old Violinist: “They liked me, I liked them. They asked me to be their new music director, I accepted. And now it has changed my life. The New Century Chamber Orchestra is made up of 16 musicians who are all soloists and artists. Just like me. We have decided to be a team. And I vow to you and to them that I will do everything in my power musically, personally, and professionally to bring this ensemble to new heights in every way possible. “

The New York Philharmonic's concert in North Korea next month will be broadcast worldwide, the orchestra announced Wednesday. The Feb. 26 concert in the nation's capital will be conducted by the orchestra's music director, Lorin Maazel, and will include the national anthems of both North Korea and the United States; the Prelude to Act III of Wagner's "Lohengrin"; Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," and Gershwin's "An American in Paris."  The telecast is to be produced by the New York Philharmonic, EuroArts Music International, ARTE France and South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Company. The European Broadcasting Union will also join the effort.  Details of the US broadcasts have yet to be announced.

For more information on these and other items and events, go to the website, kbaq.org, be listening every week at this time for another update, and join me each weekday at noon for “The Mozart Buffet”, an hour-long journey through the world of Mozart and his contemporaries. I’m Randy Kinkel, For KBAQ’s “This Week in Classical Music”, on listener-supported 89-five KBAQ phoenix, a service of Rio Salado College and Arizona State University.