Anthony Tommasini and Virgil Thomson: The Threads That Connect Us All
Speaking with Anthony Tommasini about his relationship with his mentor composer/critic Virgil Thomson, I found myself three steps away from Stein, Stravinsky, Picasso, Copland, Sibelius and many others who felt more alive to me than they ever have.
Deep Dives“Something To Hunt” Is A Microcosm of Ash Fure’s Musical Macrocosm
Something To Hunt gives a glimpse into what Ash Fure is striving for as a composer; she can hear her muscles flexing.
Deep DivesThe Great Silence In Osvaldo Golijov's "Falling Out Of Time" For Silkroad Ensemble
Osvaldo Golijov's Falling Out Of Time for Silkroad Ensemble is a masterpiece as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally gripping. It cracks open how we experience time and how this experience is disrupted by grief and eventually dismantled by death.
InquiryEzinma Releases "Vivaldi Springs Forth"
Known as "Classical Bae" and revered for her collaborations with artists including Beyoncé and Yo-Yo Ma, Ezinma utilizes her classical training to create music that marries music of opposite worlds. Her latest single "Vivaldi Springs Forth", is out now.
InquiryIt’s All About Perspective In Du Yun’s “A Cockroach’s Tarantella”
Is there a right way to listen to an album? How literally should a listener take the track layout of an album?
Deep DivesMeet Marlon Daniel, The Conductor Who Premiered Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ Only Opera 236 Years After It Was Written
Conductor Marlon Daniel is the foremost interpreter of the music of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He joins me to discuss premiering The Anonymous Lover, documenting Saint-Georges' works, the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges and more.
InquiryTed Hearne & Saul Williams in "Place": Me, You, and The Difference Between
I spoke with Saul Williams and Ted Hearne separately about Place and this collaborative process and have created this piece in the spirit of that dialogue, allowing the reader to alternate between the perspectives of Williams and Hearne.
Deep DivesHistory Silenced the Family Violin, It’s Resumed Through Virgil Boutellis-Taft
History had silenced Virgil Boutellis-Taft's family violin. Through Incantation, the violin sings again in an unfurling of seemingly contradictory emotions which are all centered around melancholy.
StringsQuince Ensemble’s “love fail” Transcends Romantic Love
The subject matter of interconnectedness, communication, compassion, faith and love in "love fail" are mirrored in Quince’s experience of bringing the work to life.
New MusicHigh-Wire Act: J’Nai Bridges Balances Cutting-Edge Akhnaten With Blockbuster Carmen
Celebrated mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges is comfortable in the roles of Queen Nefertiti and Carmen. She joins me to discuss this balancing act, how her personal practice has shifted during the pandemic, and how her basketball background informs her operatic practice.
Inquiry
