A Very Hilary Blog-Post V: Hilary Hahn & The PSO in New York City

Hilary Hahn with the Pittsburgh Symphony at Avery Fisher Hall (Photo courtesy of  WQED Pittsburgh)

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin
Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC
February 26, 2012

Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center was the venue for the second of 2 shows featuring Manfred Honeck conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orcherstra, and violinist Hilary Hahn. Though Ms. Hahn is playing a work I have heard her play on numerous occasions, I had no doubt that in her hands, performing this piece on the program with this orchestra and conductor (both of whom she has performed brilliantly with before), that this would continue to be a great interpretation. The orchestra would be just as promising, and after attending quite a few new music performances, I was curious to see if the classical concert stage would have a different perspective. I think it did based on the fact that I have so much respect for the musicians, and they are just as dedicated, no matter how old or new the pieces are.

Contagious Sounds: Streaming Live. February 23, 2012 7 PM EST

Live broadcasting by Ustream

7:00 PM: FAST>>FORWARD>>AUSTIN in NYC  w/Owen Weaver, Bel Cuore Quartet and special guests Concert Black and Vicky Chow

WANTED: Need some extra writers!!

Anyone interested in doing some volunteer freelance writing for a cool publication?

I am looking for people to hop on for some extra work and get some recognition in doing so. I need people that live in NY that can do gig reviews in particularly the NY area where it is hard for me to travel to for monetary reasons, and also if people can write CD reviews

No special training is necessary, but if you are a really good writer and love music, that is a huge plus. Please email me at chrismcgovernmusic@gmail.com if you are interested.

TRAG

Reblogged from The Glass:

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TRAG are (From L to R) Nora Tragianese (vox/kybd), Mark Tragianese (drums/vox), Bart Bruno (bass/bg vox), and Robert Iandoli (lead guitar)

“Alterna-Prog-Eighties”

This is the genre description that Shelton, CT-based band TRAG goes by these days, and at least lead-vocalist Nora Tragianese takes time to bear this out for me: “Mark is the progressive, and also the alternative–I’m semi-alternative, but I’m big on the eighties, so kind of throw that all together in a blender, and that’s what we sound like.

Read more… 555 more words, 2 more videos

Simone Dinnerstein

Simone Dinnerstein (THAT one, yes) is doing a Glass interview! Wow!

Simone, the lady that made a self-financed CD of the Bach Goldberg Variations and managed to eventually garner critical acclaim from the NY Times, LA Times, The New Yorker, and have a brilliant career as a concert pianist is giving some time to this still budding publication. Still need a pinch.

The new CD, Something Almost Being Said, is her newly-recorded collection of music by Bach (by now her trademark) and Schubert. Simone talks a bit about the record, Tift Merritt, correctional facilities, and that damn iPhone.

PRIMITIVITY

PRIMITIVITY are (From L to R) Loren Westbrook-Fritts, Devree Lewis, Robbie Burns (drums), Natalie Spehar

“It’s exciting! We have a lot to look forward to! It’s exciting times for Primitivity!”~Natalie Spehar

The DC-based all-cello ensemble Primitivity is a group featuring 3 classically-trained cellists (and a drummer) that’s part of a seemingly expanding genre known as cello rock. You’ll see there’s a few, but certainly more than I knew existed (I did know about Apocalyptica).
“Primitivity was just cellos”, explains cellist and leader Loren Westbrook-Fritts. “The 1st album is just a tribute to Megadeth, and I did that thing with just cello sounds–It was all acoustic, and then it grew from there into being more similar to Apocalyptica with processed cello sounds and drums, but it’s also become its own thing, different from that in the last year.”

Randy Gibson: About His Music and The 2012 Avant Music Festival

The Avant Music Festival, a 5-night event being held at The Wild Project in NYC between Friday, Feb 10th and Saturday the 18th, promises to be a compelling series of shows of music in the vein of avant-garde. Along with music by living composers Randy Gibson (whom you are about to hear from), Eve Beglarian (Songs From The River and Elsewhere) and Jenny Olivia Johnson (After School Vespers), there is a performance of Schoenberg‘s ground-breaking work Pierrot Lunaire and a 2-part show on Saturday the 11th celebrating the 100th Birthday of John Cage at 4 PM and 8 PM respectively (This concert, by the way, features Vicky Chow performing the great Sonatas and Interludes on prepared piano).

Randy, who is one of the curators of the event, spoke briefly about the festival as well as himself.

Vicki Ray – Piano (via My Ears Are Open)

Photo courtesy of Lefteris

By James Holt courtesy of My Ears Are Open

“My name is Vicki Ray and I’m a pianist living in the Los Angeles area. I play in the California E.A.R. Unit and another new music ensemble called Xtet and I’m a founding member of Piano Spheres which is a solo piano series dedicated to modern piano music.”

Vicki Ray – Piano (My Ears Are Open podcast)

E.A.R. Unit

Piano Spheres.org

Bridget Kibbey

Photo courtesy of Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Harpist Bridget Kibbey is currently creating another household name for harpists as we speak. Having just come off of a short series of shows at LPR titled Music Box where she performed a compelling recital of commissioned solo harp pieces, she has even more shows on the horizon and a forthcoming CD that features a special guest (As far as letting us know who that guest is, it’s top secret information; She wouldn’t even say what instrument they play).

Bridget took the time to speak with me via Skype.