News and views

Stop the Stravinsky! A Supreme Court Ruling this week “will effectively prevent orchestras in small and medium-sized cities as well as high school and university ensembles from performing works by 20th century composers such as Shostakovich and Stravinsky because it will be too expensive.”

Houghton College announced (via facebook) the formation of the Houghton Pops Orchestra. The student-run ensemble’s first concert is on St. Patrick’s Day and features Celtic music. As they say in Ireland, “May you live to be one hundred years, with one extra year to repent!”

Rochester’s 2010 Classical Idol competition winner Jonathan Beyer, who’s currently appearing in the Metropolitan Opera production of Gounod’s Faust, will preview his upcoming Carnegie Hall recital in Rochester at Roberts Wesleyan College on Wednesday, February 1^st  at 7:30pm in the Cultural Life Center.  I don’t normally use this space to promote artists, but he’s fantastic! Anyone who heard him win the Idol competition with an aria from Nixon in China knows Beyer has the power to transfix. 

Happy Birthday!  Because this Friday, January 27th marks the birth anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, I offer you this charming and (thankfully) brief tribute . . .

You’re welcome.