This week in classical music 3/23/08

It's this week in classical music, an update on what's happenning in the classical music woprld, I'm Randy Kinkel.

American Conductor Dennis Russell Davies will become music director of the Basle Orchestra, the largest orchestra in Switzerland for a five-year contract, starting in 2009. the Ohio-born Davies is also conductor of the Bruckner Symphony Linz and the Linz Opera. The 63-year-old conductor was the founder of New yourk's American Composer's Orchestra some 30 years ago; he is known for his championing of new Music and composers like Glass, Henze and Cage.

Conductor Lorin Maazel recently reflected on his and the New York Philharmonic's recent visit to North Korea, for which he received praise from some for breaking down barriers between the two countries and blame from others for entertaining a repressive regime. Maazel said in a recent interview with Bloomberg Radio's Kathleen Campion, "The reason they opened their doors is that there is a recognition in some part of the government, starting at the very top, that the time has come to move on. It would never have happened had there not been a realization in high government circles in North Korea that they are in deep trouble and they have to come to a conclusion, they have to move forward. I think, in a way, it was alerting the populace that the party line had changed. Americans are no longer criminals and mad people and fanatic warmongers.".

An Artist in Birmingham, England has found a unique way to bring the sound of music to the city streets. 15 pianos have been scattered across the city in public places, inviting anyone who passes by to play them. Some of the pianos are under cover, some have been placed outside in the elements. Some have been enthusiastically played, others have remained untouched. The Installation is the brainchild of artist Luke Jarram and the Fierce arts organisation, a collaboration renowned for getting odd things into odder places. Explains Executive Producer Kevin Issacs, "So many people spend their lives now surrounded by horrible noises, working on screens, watching television, this was a way of having something nice just steal up on them where they would least expect it," . The pianos will remain until after this weekend, when those that survive will be given permanent homes.

For more information on these and other items and events, go to our website, kbaq.org, belistening each week at this time for another update, and join me every weekday at noon for the Mozart Buffet, an hour of music by Mozart and other composers of his time. 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.

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March 23, 2008 by Randy Kinkel courtesy of KBAQ.

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Title: March 23, 2008
Author: Randy Kinkel
Publisher: KBAQ 89.5 FM
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