Category: Opinion
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Rattle, a trade deal gone wrong, and music’s managed decline
It’s all going to shit. Like everyone said it would.
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Jess Gillam’s third Virtual Scratch Orchestra set to record Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride
News this week that Jess Gillam is launching another lockdown virtual scratch orchestra brought a smile to my face. As role models go Gillam’s activity throughout 2020 in response to COVID has been impressive, acting as a beacon for young musicians and amateurs alike. That along with her obvious industry, determination and spirit, not only…
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My new pal: Beethoven’s violin concerto
Meet my new pal: Beethoven’s violin concerto. I was originally a little unsure of it when I first came across it. It wasn’t Tchaikovsky. Or Mendelssohn. Or Brahms. It seemed heavier, laden with I don’t know what. Much deference seemed to be paid to it. And it was long. Very long. Something has changed in…
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Some thoughts on the new wave of digital classical music concerts
Over the past few weeks I’ve enjoyed watching a host of new concert series online. I wanted to use this blog post to document what I’ve enjoyed, why I’ve enjoyed it, and share some thoughts on what could do with being improved a bit. What follows isn’t exhaustive. There’s a problem when you start scribbling…
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First Night of the BBC Proms 2020
Finally. Amid a global pandemic, the audience gets the credit it deserves.
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In praise of the London Mozart Players
This weekend feels like one of those important transition times. This partly down to the government eagerness getting us back to the good-old-British-pub, the busy-ness of the nearby South Circular, and the comfort our neighbours display welcoming a considerable number of pals into their garden this afternoon, people who are quite happy hugging and stroking…
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Borlotti Buitoni’s deft piece of comms
An unexpected delivery today through the letterbox. A spongy brown envelope in which was a tote bag and a face mask. Inventive marketing I thought. Arresting communications, as I retrieved the Borlotti Buitoni Trust branded mask and bag. I’ll admit that I still don’t like wearing a mask. It’s dehumanising. I hate not seeing other…
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Oliver Dowden in the Evening Standard
I’m a little late to the Dowden interview in the Evening Standard. This late discovery doesn’t change the view expressed in the previous post. If anything the interview only backs it up. Julian Glover’s interview is a positive profile piece, seeking to project Dowden as the nice guy. The kind of Everyman the arts world…
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UK orchestras in a post-lockdown world: a warning shot from The Guardian, and a hint of resilience and determination from The Times
The story we tell about how classical music adapts is vital to its very survival in the short, mid and long term.
