Monthly Archives: October 2009
Lang Lang and chamber music
There’s a plant on my shelf that sits in a metal pot and for some reason (sympathetic vibrations) it rattles when certain tones are played loudly on the stereo speakers nearby. I first noticed this while listening to a … Continue reading
Filed under Chamber Music, Music
Ariadne auf Naxos at the Washington National Opera
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who once lamented that overturning a law criminalizing homosexuality might lead to the invalidation of laws criminalizing masturbation, adultery and fornication, received a little lap dance on Saturday night. Location: The Washington National … Continue reading
Adjaye tweaks his design
A few weeks ago, I wrote about architect David Adjaye and his designs for two new libraries in the District, plus his plans for the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture. The story included discussion of the … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
They must love migraines
News flash: The Chicago and Shanghai offices of the architecture giant Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, have been chosen to design a major expansion of the business district in Beijing. And it comes with all the environmental trimmings. Plans call for pedestrian … Continue reading
Filed under Architecture
New York, I Love You
Which I do, but this is also the title of a new film, and a very starry one. I’ll be curious to see how it does with its large and beautiful cast, given that it’s not conventional Hollywood fare. Rather, it’s … Continue reading
Filed under film
Debating Arts Education
The Seattle Opera website has taken up discussion of an Opera News article I wrote about opera education. They take issue with my arguments, and they take issue in smart, reasoned and interesting ways. Here’s a link.
Le Grande Macabre, at the ENO
The musical language of the 20thcentury hasn’t been congenial to comic opera. There have been attempts at the form, some of them perhaps successful. But there have been a lot of dead ends, too, including the absurdist non-sequitur style … Continue reading
Live Chat Today
I’ll be joining my Washington Post colleagues Blake Gopnik and Jacqueline Trescott for a live online chat about the Post‘s annual Museums section. It’s a free for all discussion. I’ll be taking questions on the profile I wrote of architect … Continue reading
Filed under Museums
Don Carlo at the Royal Opera
The Royal Opera in London has revived its 2008 production of Verdi’s Don Carlo, this time with Semyon Bychkov in the pit and rising star, German tenor Jonas Kaufmann in the title role. The short verdict: Kaufmann was just … Continue reading
Filed under Music, Opera, Uncategorized
