Podcast: Bolcom, Byron, Lorca – rich colours, dramatic swings

Raymond Bisha’s podcast focuses on two works by William Bolcom recorded for the Naxos American Classics Series. The emotional spectrum of his Canciones de Lorca and Prometheus is reflected in colourful orchestrations and a mix of musical styles that swing between intense drama and surreal humour. (This podcast was first published on 20 November 2015)   Read More …

Phrases of the loon

The recent passing of the actor Jerry Lewis, forever branded the nutty professor in the madness rankings, put me in mind of British entertainers The Crazy Gang (yes, I am that old), the 1960s comedy film It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world, and a whole host of other loony screenings. When crazy turns from Read More …

Scoring Smackers

I had supper recently in a restaurant named after the American novelist Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961). His life was every bit as colourful as his literary works, as were the restaurant’s table mats. They carried a collection of his quotations. My dining companion and I happened to get the same one: “I didn’t want to kiss Read More …

Podcast: Bolcom, Byron, Lorca – rich colours, dramatic swings

Raymond Bisha’s latest podcast focuses on two works by William Bolcom that have been recently recorded for the Naxos American Classics Series. The emotional spectrum of his “Canciones de Lorca” and “Prometheus” is reflected in colourful orchestrations and a mix of musical styles that swing between intense drama and surreal humour. View album details of Read More …

Playing on one’s name

Many instruments evolved over centuries, their names changing in tandem with their timbre. The lute became the guitar, the viol progressed to the violin and the sackbut got transformed into the trombone. Just occasionally, however, an inventor introduces a brand new kid onto the block and, naturally enough, gives it the family name. The most Read More …

Naxos Releases its First Recording Devoted Entirely to the Works of Composer Paul Fetler

Recording features Fetler’s Three Poems by Walt Whitman, Capriccio, and Violin Concerto No. 2 performed by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, led by Arie Lipsky On December 15, Naxos continues its American Classics series with a collection of Paul Fetler’ssymphonic music, the first to be completely devoted to his work. Performed by the Ann Arbor Read More …