Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Norman Lebrecht

John Williams 85th Birthday Salute

Hard to believe, John Williams is 85 years-old today. Oh Johnny, how do I love thee? Enough to go to battle with Norman Lebrecht on his blog, slippedisc.

John Williams is 85 tomorrow

I hope you’ll join me today, as I give Williams a more proper birthday salute, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and at wwfm.org.

Thank you, John, for all the great music. You’ve been an essential part of the soundtrack of my life for 40 years. Long may you reign.

PHOTOS (clockwise from left): Williams with the 2016 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, the first bestowed upon a composer; Williams with his “Star Wars” Oscar in 1978; Williams conducting sometime in the 1970s; Williams takes a bow.

February 8, 2017
Otto-Werner Mueller Legendary Curtis Institute Conductor Passes

Sorry to be filling up your Facebook wall with so many posts today, but I just learned of the passing of Otto Werner Mueller. Mueller was one of the great conducting pedagogues, a giant in more ways than one, and a staple for many years at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music.

Here’s an appreciation posted on Norman Lebrecht’s blog:

This challenging giant was never Mueller light

No obituaries posted yet online.

PHOTO: Mueller towering over Riccardo Muti and Gary Graffman

February 26, 2016
Anna-Maria Hefele Overtone Singing Mastery

I’m pretty much up to my eyeballs, so I’m borrowing this one from Norman Lebrecht. Here’s Anna-Maria Hefele to share her extraterrestrial mastery of polyphonic overtone singing:

More crazy stuff on her website as you scroll down the page.

http://xanmoo.com/am-oberton/

October 7, 2014
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Canada’s Highest Honor

Whenever I hear news of a meteor passing too close to the earth, I always double-check to make sure it isn’t Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Nézet-Séguin (or Yannick, as he’s usually packaged) is music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a much lauded guest at La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera.

The indefatigable maestro was one of two musicians to be invested with an Order of Canada on Friday. He and composer R. Murray Schafer were promoted to Companions, the highest of three levels – in fact, it is Canada’s highest honor (or honour, as the case may be).

I would have shared the news yesterday, but I thought the story, as reported on Norman Lebrecht’s blog, was in error, since Yannick had previously been recognized with an Order in 2012, and Schafer in 2013. I’m such a hoser.

PHOTO: The last thing this guy needs is more sugar

September 16, 2014

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