Classical Music
Every now and then, a truly underappreciated gem comes along. I have a friend who has bugged me about Havergal Brian’s Symphony No. 1: “Gothic”. I ended up listening to it about a dozen times in …
I am notorious, amongst my friends and family, for starting my holiday season early. As soon as Halloween is over, it’s Christmas time in my mind. My tree goes up and my Mid-Century Christmas playlist …
The struggle session returned with a vengeance at the San Diego Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday, November 16. The previous concert weekend featured a program without any contemporary pieces to struggle through as an audience …
The San Diego Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday, November 9, was the concert I didn’t know I needed. To be honest, the program looked a bit boring on the surface. It was only Mozart, Haydn, …
Back in the dark days of the pandemic, San Diego Opera conceived of a way to present Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme in a manner that would be consistent with Covid-19 social distancing rules. The performance …
There are some spooky operas out there and nothing is better for a refined and dignified Halloween. Of course, a sugar-laden celebration is also appropriate but on this night of ghosts and devils, opera can …
It was with a sense of anticipation that I arrived at the Jacobs Music Center on Friday, October 4. Not only was Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 my favorite piece of music, once upon a time, …
Saturday, September 28, was a monumental evening in the artistic history of San Diego. The Jacobs Music went out on its maiden voyage. PlaceJacobs Music Center750 B Street, San DiegoThe first piece of music, Welcome Home, was …
As we embark upon the first masterworks season at The Jacobs Music Center I’ve been thinking about my expectations. Apparently, expectations are bad and are destined to create disappointment—for the most part. Intentions, on the …
The prestigious classical music publication, Gramophone, recently listed their 10 greatest Puccini singers of all time. There were a few omissions that raised my ire along with a few inclusions that made no sense whatsoever. It may …
Anton Bruckner had his 200th birthday on September 4. Though Bruckner wrote fanfares, his birthday came and went without one. Bruckner doesn’t get the love he deserves except from people such as me. I take …
We live in an age where entertainment is fading. I’m not talking about the performing arts, I’m talking about Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Superman. These enterprises are losing money faster than a crypto-bro …
On Tuesday, August 27, I other several other members of the local media gathered at The Jacobs Music Center for a tour of the refurbished house. Many burning questions were answered. I wanted to know …
On September 29, the San Diego Symphony will celebrate the grand reopening of the Jacobs Music Center with a singular event titled, A Day of Music. The event, scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m., will …
In the past, the only way I have been able to deal with this time of year is to resign myself to the fact that the weather will be gross until about Halloween. This year …
As The Olympics continue with a heavy dose of track, let’s look at distance-specific pieces of classical music. We will look at sprints, middle distance, and, of course, the marathon.Almost every tenor knows the aria …