Showing 1 - 4 of 4
150 years of Rossini
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 19/06/2018
» 'Opera would be absolutely perfect," said Giachino Rossini one day while cooking a gourmet meal in his Paris mansion. "If only we could get rid of those damned singers."
Taiwanese pianist Weiyin Chen returns to play with RBSO
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 03/04/2018
» Few names in classical music are as dreaded and venerated as New York Times reviewer Anthony Tommasini. The lanky writer, expressionless, tieless, inevitably seated on the aisle in Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, gives little indication of his thoughts during a performance. But within 24 hours, his printed judgements will have reached millions. And like a Roman Emperor signalling "up" or "down" to a gladiator, his opinions to a young artist can mean professional life or death.
Tremendous trombone
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 30/01/2018
» 'Never look directly at a trombone player," said the great composer Richard Strauss. "It only encourages them." Then again, the German composer was hardly being honest about an instrument which Felix Mendelssohn called "the most sacred and noble instrument in the orchestra".
'The Great American Songbook' in Bangkok
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 25/01/2018
» Never, ever call American popular melodies mere light music.