Blog Entries

My Last Post as the Official Blogger for the La Jolla Music Society

k24@brailean.com — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

It is with mixed emotions that I write this post, my last as the official blogger of the La Jolla Music Society (LJMS). There is some relief as the grind of a weekly deadline ends. (I have written 45 posts and cajoled five guest posts out of others since July 15, 2010.) But there is also sadness that this is an end to a fulfilling collaboration with the Marketing team. Lead by Kristen Sakamoto, Marketing Director, managed by Travis Maril, Web Master and professional violist, and reviewed by M [...]

Heard at La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest

k24@brailean.com — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Here are some of the best behind-the-scenes tidbits I heard at SummerFest. Most are paraphrased because I didn't have a pen at the time, but I think I captured the essence of the comments.

"Much better than we expected. We expected it to be great, but it is even better than that. To be included in a festival with all of these great musicians is amazing."
-Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, fellowship artist, violist

"I memorize the music when I can bec [...]

The Life of a SummerFest Spouse

k24@brailean.com — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

My name is Matthew Geaman, and I am proud to be a SummerFest Spouse. I have been married to a member of the LJMS staff for a little over a year (my wife Leah Rosenthal is the Artistic Administrator). Living with an LJMS staff member during SummerFest can be a little stressful at times, but exciting as well. As the festival approaches, I can see the line [...]

SummerFest from an Insider's Perspective

k24@brailean.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Curious Listener Note: this is a guest post from Nancy Reeves Manzur, SummerFest Artist Liaison.

Waiting for a performance to begin is always exciting. From the audience, after one finds their seat and turns off their cellphone, their eyes focus on the LJMS SummerFest 25th [...]

David Chan, Hai-Ye Ni, DaXun Zhang and Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt Create Romance Together

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The Serenades and Romance SummerFest concert on Friday, August 12, is the epitome of why I love La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest - because the musicians are an amazing variety of people, all of whom excel at what they do. The musicians in this concert are a compendium of experienced and new, competition winners, soloists and concertmasters .

Take DaXun Zhang, double bass. I looked at his website and immediately liked him. How could you not when h [...]

Beautiful, Booming Sound for Opening Night with Sheryl Staples!

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 04:00:00 +0100

"Our SummerFest Chamber Orchestra will make our little, intimate Sherwood Hall boom!", said Christopher Beach, President and Artistic Director, when I asked him why we have a chamber orchestra at SummerFest. As soon as he said it, I knew what he meant. Usually people have a preference between chamber music and orchestra. They either like the intimate sounds of one or the explosive sound of the other. But Christopher (he uses his first name with all La Jolla Music Society devotees) a [...]

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Leading Composer of Our Time

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The first Sunday concert of SummerFest includes a World Premiere written by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. La Jolla Music Society is one of the commissioners of the piece. That peaked my interest; so, I started my research and quickly found that Ms. Zwilich wrote this piece specifically for the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson (KLR) trio, Michael Tree, and Harold Robinson, who will be playing it for the first time, for us!

K-L-R and Zwilich have a long history together. This is the fourth compositi [...]

Does the conductor matter? How Nicholas McGegan leads his musicians.

k24@brailean.com — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Does the conductor matter? What more is required except good baton technique to keep the musicians together? While researching Nicholas McGegan, one of SummerFest's conductors, I have discovered great performances require a great conductor. A conductor must have his own interpretation of the music which thrills us, even though we have heard it many times. And, to motivate all 80 or so musicians to embrace his interpretation requires skillful leadership. The minute the conductor los [...]

Bob Ellsworth, a gentleman and lover of the arts, died at age 84

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100

My friend, Robert F. Ellsworth, died on May 9th. I was lucky enough to see him the week before - what a gentleman. At that meeting, he introduced me to someone by recounting my history and successes at length. That in and of itself makes him stand out as a gentleman, but it means far more after I read his obituary in the New York Times. His successes were on the world's stage. He was so very accomplished, but he spoke only of others' accomplishments, keeping his own to himself.

[...]

Amateurs Creating Opportunities to Play Classical Music - Scripps Ranch Music Club

k24@brailean.com — Mon, 16 May 2011 04:00:00 +0100

When my friend, Jim Banham, told me that he joined a classical music group that allows musicians to play to and with live audiences,I had to learn more.

I did an admittedly-perfunctory search on the internet and found these other amateur music clubs:

Amateur Pianists San DiegoAmerica's Finest City Dixieland Jazz SocietyMission Hills Folk Song Circle

I also read that there are many choral groups and some amateur orchestras in San Diego; but Scripps Ranch Music Club is unique [...]

An Overview of the 2011 SummerFest Stars

k24@brailean.com — Fri, 06 May 2011 04:00:00 +0100

What strikes me most about the SummerFest lineup this year? It's the star-studded performers! Here are my quick impressions of the first four names that popped out at me while I read the brochure:

Gil Shaham, violin - Oh so nimble fingers belying sweet style

Gil Shaham has been coming to San Diego for years. We brought him to La Jolla for SummerFest in 2009. San Diego Symphony is bringing him back for performances on May 27, 28 and 29th. I think it will be fun to hear hi [...]

Dianne Reeves Encourages Us to Find Our Unique Talent

k24@brailean.com — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The message that comes through most clearly from four-time Grammy® Award winner, Dianne Reeves, is to nurture your own unique talent. She says it in many different ways; and I understand why it is so important to her - as important as making the critics happy or selling a millio [...]

China Philharmonic Replaces the Spanish Orchestra

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This Sunday the China Philharmonic is playing for us at Copley Hall. The Orquesta Nacional de España was committed to playing but pulled out of their entire tour because the Spanish government ended the funding.

I knew when I heard about the debt crises in Europe that it would affect America's ability to sell products overseas. I knew that this would affect our stock market as well as job creation in the United States. I knew it was bad; but I didn't know that the first w [...]

The Audience Reacts to Andr� Watts

k24@brailean.com — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0100

I randomly interviewed a few people in the audience during intermission and after the concert. The first two questions are simply because I want to know how to bring more people to classical music concerts. The third is from my research on Andre Watts. There were no "ah-ha" moments. It was kind and comfortable. Enjoy.

I interviewed:

- One of my most favorite people in the world, my Mother, Anne Konrad

- A middle-aged couple who have not yet emb [...]

Andr� Watts Adopted the Same "Theatrical Playing Style" as Liszt

k24@brailean.com — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0100

André Watts is a well-known name, but why? It's because he has been playing for so very long. He, like Joyce Yang, is a child prodigy; but he is now 65 years old. He was 26 when, in 1972, he received an honor [...]

Dee Dee Bridgewater Review - The big voice she used to overcome a small man.

k24@brailean.com — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Big, booming, and beautiful. That was my first reaction to Dee Dee Bridgewater's voice. But by the end of the concert on Sat. Feb 26, I thought of it more as an instrument which she could manipulate any way she wanted. Amazing.

She could also manipulate the audience. [...]

Taps - An Ode to Nick

k24@brailean.com — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Today we bury a good man, my father-in-law. For 24 years, half my life, this man never failed to smile when he saw me.

There is so much more that I could say: about his wonderful wife, my mother-in-law, and how they took care of each other and set such a good example for their son and I. How important family, friends, chu [...]

S&M, Classical Music Rock Stars and the LJMS Allegro Society

k24@brailean.com — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Guest Blog by Matthew Geaman, Vice Chair of the LJMS Allegro Society

My informal introduction to classical music dates back to 1999 when I discovered S&M.

S&M is a live album by the heavy metal band Metallica, whom I was fond of at the time. S&M st [...]

An Illuminating Interview with Joyce Yang, Pianist

k24@brailean.com — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 04:00:00 +0100

What makes a great performance? I've often tried to describe it. I can hear myself talking to my neighbor now, "Technically flawless, but it went so far beyond that, so rich and moving." Even as I say the words, I know they don't convey my meaning. What makes a great performance? I found out during my interview with Ms. Joyce Yang. She did not know that she was answering this question, and I did not know I was asking it. But she answered it all the same.

k24@brailean.com — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:00:00 +0100

I hope you had a Happy Holiday. Mine was terrific. But now I'm looking forward to the new year and the upcoming concerts in our Winter Season. I looked up Joyce Yang and the Miró String Quartet (more on Miró next week), performing on Saturday, Jan. 22. Check out this video by Ms. Yang. It provided me with insight into how she developed into a pianist worthy of playing on our stage. (We are quite picky, you know!) First, her Aunt taught her to love the piano and view it as [...]