November 11, 2007

It’s this week in classical music, an update on what’s happening in the classical music world.  I’m Randy Kinkel.

Alfred Schnittke’s Symphony No. 9, written while the composer literally lay dying, had its American premiere last week with Dennis Russel Davies leading the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center.  Schnittke had finished the short score but not the orchestration before his death; his widow engaged Russian composer Alexander Raskatov, who had a close relationship with the late composer, to finish the work.  Said Davies, a conductor long associated with Schnittke’s music, “It’s a testament by someone who knows he’s dying.  He was determined to finish this piece.  You can see and feel this in his shaking hand.”

The Musical America 2008 Awards are out; since 1960 the publication has handed out these awards to the cream of the classical music crop.  This year’s winners include: Anna Netrebko, musician of the year; conductor of the year Robert Spano; instrumentalist of the year Charles Rosen; and ensemble of the year Chanticleer.  Winners receive their awards in a special ceremony at Lincoln Center on December 13^th. 

Samuel Barber’s 1958 opera “Vanessa” was brought back to life last Sunday by the New York City Opera.  Barber’s work, with libretto by companion Gian Carlo Menotti, premiered at the Met and got a Pulitzer Prize for that year, but was lambasted by contemporary music hardliners as too old-fashioned for the times; enough people believed the hype that Barber’s opera virtually disappeared for the rest of the 20^th century.  Maybe now there’s hope for Barber’s 1966 forgotten opera, Anthony and Cleopatra.

The British mobile phone salesman that wowed audiences and won in the “Britain’s Got Talent” competition with his rendition of Nessun Dorma, had his debut on Oprah last Tuesday.  Paul Potts, whose audition video became a YouTube sensation, and whose album, “One Chance” is a worldwide hit, says, Finally, I am going to be doing what I’ve always felt I was put here to do – something I love and that gives me so much joy.”  Says Potts, “How many people are able to say that?”