Wow. Isn't this gorgeous? This interactive media feature in the New York Times shows how conducting works with the musical director of the New York Philharmonic. With very cool videographics from the Movement Lab, we can see the invisible lines and waves he makes with the tips of his fingers and the swoops of his hands. We see him crouch and lift, bend and nod, as he explains what he his trying to draw out of two classical pieces. I especially like the way he explains the draw of the note (how it finishes) and anticipating the arrival of a new instrument.
Classical music can be so supremely beautiful. At my trip to the Kennedy Center last month to see a special concert of the National Symphony Orchestra, I was so enchanted with how classical music just holds you. There is something in classical music where the individual sounds of the dozens of instruments and an odd hundred musicians swirl in the air, blend, and become one beautiful sound. I remember trying to just listen for the strings or the woodwinds, and it is a difficult task, as they become indistinct from one another as they fill each corner of that magnificent hall.
How completely wonderful!....A flash mob of the Opera Company of Philadelphia performed Carmen's La Toreador at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. This "random act of culture" was supported by the Knight Foundation's arts program which will pull off 1000 or so such marvelous stunts around the country over the next three years.
I LOVE that kind of arts philanthropy - so creative and with many social benefits. Art philanthropy is especially challenging. Its social good is recognized, but often determined by some lofty cultural arbiters. It has a metric - butts in seats, tickets sold - but this has inherent challenges, too. And the shrinking audiences would suggest low demand. Arts philanthropists often underwrite exhibitions and operating costs of theater and music, as well as arts education and arts exposure (those discounted tickets, those school visits). What does a philanthropic gift for the operating costs of the opera company achieve? Lots, of course, but it's a rather elite inaccessible art supported by wealthy, mostly white patrons.
This endeavor lets unsuspecting regular people encounter opera in the everyday - perhaps they will be inspired to go to a performance, perhaps they will think opera (and opera singers) are more cool, maybe they will be feel a sense of community engagement and connection, or perhaps it will just bring surprise and joy and to their day, as it did to mine (albeit via You Tube). Enjoy!
A Talking Head Dreams of a Perfect City I stumbled upon this great article by David Byrne (of all people?) in the Wall Street Journal (of all places?). It talks about the best elements of cities - size, density, scale, mixed use, security, with a little danger and chaos, and a little attitude all its own. I like the way he references elements of each with references to his favorite cities, and how these blend to make the perfect city.
So, Sting just sold his 6,600-square foot Central Park West apartment in New York for $19m. Here's a tour of the listing, just in case you never got there for dinner. Check out the art. The guitars under the grand piano. The wall-to-wall book cases with actual books. The gorgeous woven carpets. The beautiful curved stairway. I'm not so into the bordello red bedroom.
