by Gregory Moomjy Just as every musicologist worth their salt should, I own a copy of Harold Schonberg’s tome The Lives of the Great Composers. He chose in a rather telling way to put two chapters back-to-back–“Colossus of Italy,” about Giuseppe Verdi and “Colossus of Germany,” about Richard Wagner. Much ink has been spilled on…Continue reading The Flying Dutchman Primer
Month: February 2020
Will Crutchfield, Musicologist for Opera Lafayette’s Leonore
LEONORE by Beethoven, 1805 Version Opera Lafayette 2/23, 2/26, 3/2 & 3/4 Conductor: Ryan Corrick Brown Musicologist Will Crutchfield discusses his path towards re-imagining the lost section of Florestan’s Act Three aria from Beethoven’s 1805 version of Leonore. Leonore (1805) LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, composer JOSEPH SONNLEITHNER, librettist The centerpiece of Opera Lafayette’s 25th-anniversary season is…Continue reading Will Crutchfield, Musicologist for Opera Lafayette’s Leonore
REVIEW: Agrippina
By Gregory Moomjy My favorite part of every opera season might come as a surprise to you. No, its not opening night at The Met, nor is it the Richard Tucker gala. Don’t get me wrong, I love those events. They’re fantastic evenings. The best part of which is the palpable sense of camaraderie between…Continue reading REVIEW: Agrippina
Podcast 70: IDEA Opera Grants with Laura Lee Everett
Laura Lee Everett joins us for a look at the IDEA Opera Grants for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and/or Native American ) creators supported by the Charles and Cerise Jacobs Charitable Foundation. We listen to selections from “Hu Tong”, Kui Dong Composer, Monika Datta Librettist; and “The Veil”, Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei, Composer (دانیال رضا…Continue reading Podcast 70: IDEA Opera Grants with Laura Lee Everett
Review: You Are Under Our Space Control
By Gregory Moomjy In the 19th century, composers like Liszt and Wagner gave music a special directive. They decreed it should forever move towards greater power of expression. This philosophy has led to the creation of everything from operas like Tristan und Isolde and Erwartung, to the serial compositions of Pierre Boulez and Milton Babbitt.…Continue reading Review: You Are Under Our Space Control