May 3, 2010

We don’t feature voice as often as we’d like, which is why we’re especially pleased to present the mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. A graduate of the Julliard and the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, Ms. Cooke has been acclaimed for her performances in opera, as a soloist with orchestra and song recitals. Her 2009-10 season includes engagements with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas’s San Francisco Symphony, and the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe.  She also sings the role of Meg in Falstaff with the Seattle Opera, and the role of Medea in Jason with Chicago Opera Theater.

We’ll hear Ms. Cooke in a contrasting set of songs. First, Hector Berlioz’s Au cimitière, from Les Nuits d'été, which will be followed by Maurice Ravel’s cycle Cinq mélodies populaires Grecques. We’ll finish with two songs from William Bolcom’s set of Cabaret Songs: Blue and Amor. To listen, click here.

The Power of Art

Submitted by jsdubois015 on Sun, 05/02/2010 - 10:02

I recently had a rather interesting conversation with a friend of mine. She is currently going through law school and has a keen interest in politics. We each also share an interest for the other's respective fields; me for politics and she for the arts. Our conversation centered around basically the current state of affairs in the world and, regardless of which side of the political fence you sit on, the eminent disasters the world is speeding towards. My friend, unfortunately, has a rather pessimistic view of the coming decades.

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The Most Musical Music

Submitted by jsdubois015 on Wed, 04/28/2010 - 15:32

I'm sitting here listening to the Bach suites for cello performed by one of the greats, Mstislav Rostropovich. While I greatly admire the symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms and the operas of Wagner, it is the music for the lone performer that intrigues me the most. Being a trombonist, much of my performance experience has been as part of a group, be it an orchestra or wind ensemble, or a smaller chamber group. Although I do enjoy the ensemble experience and there is a lot of great literature for just about any ensemble group, a part of me always grudgingly accepts it.

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