30 Great Violinists

Janine Jansen and John Clare

This month, KPAC celebrates thirty years in broadcasting. Our hosts are having some fun sharing "30 lists" - artists, music, movies, and recordings you might enjoy and help shape the great sound of your classical oasis.
Kicking things off is Afternoon Host John Clare with 30 Great Violinists! (They are in no particular order, and were chosen keeping in mind the artist was available to be heard on Spotify)
Listen to these violinists on Spotify: http://spoti.fi/VG9KKJ 

1 Janine Jansen
(I remember exactly when and where I was listening to Janine's debut cd, and hearing her live is even better. We did an interview in Washington, DC after a concert. This is her answer about playing Bach.http://classicallyhip.com/sounds/janine/ending.mp3)
2 Itzhak Perlman
(It was a dream to interview the violinist who inspired me to play the violin, Itzhak Perlman - listen to our talk here: http://www.tpr.org/classicalspotlight/2011/03/cs1103172.html)
3 Jascha Heifetz
4 Mischa Elman
5 Leonid Kogan
(I was delighted to see the Faure Piano Quartet on Spotify, an all star group from Russia - while there are LOTS of recordings that might have shown Kogan's talent, to me, this is supreme music making on all parts!) 

Josh Bell and John Clare

6 Joshua Bell
7 Gil Shaham
(Gil is as nice a person as he is a great artist - and now he runs his own recording company!)
8 Midori
9 Sarah Chang
10 Maxim Vengerov
11 Isaac Stern
(A modern masterpiece for the violin, and one I adore hearing Stern play - Penderecki's 1976 Violin Concerto. I also treasure Stern's unique sound.)
12 Anne-Sophie Mutter
(Every chance I get, I try to hear Anne-Sophie Mutter live. She was a large inspiration as a teenager and her playing has only deepened. It was a dream come true when I interviewed her: http://classicallyhip.com/sounds/asm/ASM.mp3)
13 Viktoria Mullova
14 David Oistrakh
15 Gidon Kremer
(If Gidon recorded John Cage's 4'33" I would buy it. Pretty much anything he touches is gold.)
16 Nicola Benedetti
17 Yehudi Menuhin
(There is so much to love about Yehudi and his playing, but I couldn't resist also sharing a portion of on of his unknown commissions, Andrzej Panufnik's Violin Concerto!)

Hilary Hahn and John Clare

18 Hilary Hahn
(Since her Sony debut to her latest DG release of improvisations, Hilary plays perfectly. We also had a great run of yearly interviews as she played at the Las Vegas Music Festival!) 
19 Lisa Batiashvili
20 Nathan Milstein
21 Oscar Shumsky
22 Toscha Seidel
(They say that if Jascha Heifetz was the angel in Leopold Auer's violin class, that Toscha Seidel was the devil - and with an instrument that is often associated with Ol' Nick, it certainly is a compliment to Seidel! I was delighted some of his artistry can be heard on Spotify!!!)
23 Anne Akiko Meyers
(This stunning virtuoso calls Texas home but plays worldwide, and is a great mom, too! How does she do it all? Listen to our interview about Air: http://kpac883.blogspot.com/2012/02/annes-air.html)
24 Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg

John Clare and Mark O'Connor

25 Mark O'Connor
(This amazing fiddler plays it all. Classical, jazz, bluegrass, swing, you name it. Nowadays not only does he share his artistry but has a new spin on technique, one that he teaches in various camps as well as method books!)
26 Rachel Barton Pine
27 Pinchas Zukerman
(Such an outstanding musician, known for his violin and viola playing, plus an international career as a conductor.)
28 Simon Standage
(A period performer, Simon does amazing things with music that you might not have realized you liked, or even heard of, all with a very old violin!) 
29 Lara St. John
(I wondered about some of her album cover choices, but Lara proves you can't judge a recording by the cover! We talked Mozart not long ago: http://www.tpr.org/classicalspotlight/2010/10/cs1010145.html) 
30 Julia Fischer
(Another musician who I would buy their recording if it were the phone book...she is also an amazing pianist - having recorded Grieg's Piano Concerto on DVD! We talked Paganini and more one day: http://www.tpr.org/classicalspotlight/2010/09/cs1009094.html)

There are lots of great violinists - who are some of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below or on facebook!

Kind of Blue

YOSA Philharmonic is looking for some crystal glasses that are part of a work by Jennifer Higdon, Blue Cathedral, that they will perform this fall.

From their Facebook page: "Lead crystal wine glasses produce the best sound. The glasses will be carefully monitored by YOSA staff and safely stored between rehearsals until the performance on November 5, after which they will be returned.
If you have crystal to lend, please email bhenson@yosa.org"

Host John Clare spoke to Higdon about her Blue Cathedral:

John Clare and Jennifer Higdon

[John] The first commercial recording I had been familiar with was of Blue Cathedral – I know this is a very personal piece and I wondered, was curious about – that idea of putting yourself or having something personal in music.

[Jennifer] Yeah, you know, I had a great debate with myself when I first wrote Blue Cathedral because it was written in – it was written as part of a commission from Curtis in its 75th anniversary, but I started the piece a year after my brother's death, and it made me really stop and think about the fact that in a lifetime, we have a lot of people cross our paths. I was thinking about the kids here at Curtis. I thought, Wow, their colleagues will come to mean a lot to them once they leave school, and I thought about the fact that everyone you meet affects you in some way – but when I wrote the piece, I actually had no intention of telling anyone about the background that was running in my head about this piece.
My brother's middle name was Blue, so that's part of the title, but I was thinking about him throughout the process of writing – but the ironic thing was, so many reporters were asking me about the title that it's like I could not escape explaining what the piece was about.
My thought about that was, well, you know, it's good to share that message, I guess, although I had real conflicted feelings about it, but I have found that it's been a very cathartic piece for a lot of people who've lost people  – when I got to concerts where that piece is being done, people come up to me often in the lobby, and sometimes they can't even speak, they're – they have tears in their eyes. They'll take my hand. It's really a very moving experience. Sometimes they can tell me about someone who's died in their family. So I think it's not such a bad thing. I don't think you have to know the program to have the piece speak to you. At least I hope that's the case. But it is interesting. It's a very exposed feeling for a composer – to write something that personal and to put it out into the world, because you're basically kind of – it's literally wearing your heart on your sleeve. You're wearing it on the manuscript paper, you know, and you hope that it speaks to people but there's no way to know how it will be taken and no way to know what the reaction will be and you have to make sure you don't let that affect you.

More (cow) Bell

Josh Bell and John Clare, photo by Michele Krier

Joshua Bell is in the news again, not with the ASMF or in the DC subways, but with Carnegie Hall and the new  National Youth Orchestra! From the press release: Carnegie Hall today announced that renowned American violinist Joshua Bell will be the featured soloist for the debut performances by the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), a major new initiative that, beginning in summer 2013, will bring together the most talented young orchestral players, ages 16–19, from across the United States. Under the baton of conductor Valery Gergiev, Mr. Bell and the orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Following a two-week residency at Purchase College, State University of New York, the NYO-USA will make its debut at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, followed by its first exciting international tour, including stops in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and London. In addition to the Tchaikovsky concerto with Mr. Bell, the orchestra’s concert program will include a new work by young American composer Sean Shepherd, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall for NYO-USA, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10. 
 It was also announced that James Ross, associate director of The Juilliard School’s conducting program and artistic director of the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, will lead the NYO-USA faculty in 2013. Comprising some of the finest players and section leaders from America’s greatest orchestras and music schools, the faculty will oversee rehearsals during the orchestra’s residency in Purchase and will conduct master classes, chamber music readings, and other seminars on essential music skills, all leading up to the launch of the international tour.
- Host John Clare

Classical Spotlight: Rounding out the summer

Nicolas Gilles, with a cello he created
 - photo by John Clare

As the regular concert season closes, a few more concerts and releases entertain South Texas. Round Top International Music Festival has its 40th season and violinist Angele Dubeau has a summer blockbuster, A Time For Us!
Exciting times at Terra Nova Violins as renowned Luthier Nicolas Gilles visited San Antonio with a new violin and cello! Hear about all of these on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoon at 1pm on KPAC & KTXI.
- host John Clare

Conducting

Host John Clare recently conducted the combined Children's Chorus of San Antonio in a work by Lowell Mason, O Music. Clare says, "It was fantastic! I enjoyed hearing all those voices, and seeing them come together - with a turn of the wrist." (see picture left)

This is a wonderful article about David Zinman (see picture right) and conducting we thought you might enjoy:
...Zinman insists ''there is no mystery''. Nor is there the equivalent of a musical semaphore code which trainee conductors learn precisely. ''It's all very personal,'' he says. ''Each conductor does it differently.'' But surely there must be some kind of international conducting language, otherwise nothing would get played? ''It's pretty simple. Essentially the musicians have the music in front of them. The conductor has to reinforce the music. Obviously if you put your fingers up to your lip, it means play softer. If you want something played louder, the [baton] gesture becomes stronger, bigger.

This coming May 23rd, we invite you to learn more about conductor Alondra de la Parra at a special event, TPR Presents Itinerarios! Here is an interview from her first appearance in San Antonio

10 Questions for the Gold Medalist

Next week, Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii performs in San Antonio. We asked him ten questions about the recital and more!

10. What is your recital program for San Antonio?
1st half consists of works by Mozart and Liszt.
1st piece is 12 Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je, maman" in C major, K.265.
I played this piece when I was a young child, just as many Japanese piano students do.
Its theme is lovely and very well known, following variations are enjoyable both for pianist and for audience.
I believe you'll like it.
2nd piece is Piano Sonata in A major, K.331 "Alla Turca", again by Mozart.
Its 3rd movement "Turkish March" is very popular, too, but it is first time for me to play this sonata in public.
I'm excited.
2 Liszt pieces, "Un Sospiro" and "Rigoletto Paraphrase" are my tribute to bicentenary of the birth of the composer.
They have beautiful melody, and they are technically very challenging.

2nd part is Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an exhibition".
It is demanding, not only technically but also about musical imagination.
Mussorgsky composed this piece inspired by pictures of his friend who died young.
It is also very well known as orchestral version by Maurice Ravel.
I learned about the original pictures and also listened to orchestral version, etc., and I came to the conclusion that it was written for piano and I can express the music perfectly on piano.
I know there are very many wonderful recordings by great pianists, but I hope you can hear and enjoy my own "pictures".

9. Are there any favorites on your program?
Yes, all of them.
I have a list of music which I wish to play in public and to share the joy of music with the audience.
I pick up some of them to compose season's program.
So, every piece I play in concert is my favorite.

8. There must be a lot of travel since winning the competition – are there certain things you love or hate about hotels?
The Cliburn Competition opened window to the world for me, and I have had a lot of travel which I had never imagined before the competition.
About hotels, nothing to complain.
American hotels have more space than Japanese.
Travelling itself is generally smooth, unless air flight got cancelled by tornadoes.
Luckily, I'm not bothered by jet lag.
I enjoy local food and local drink anywhere.
Though, it is challenging to make a balance between keeping myself well and well shaped, because American food has bigger portion than Japanese and I feel like hungry when I completed a concert.

7. Travelling also includes different cultures and food – any memorable meals you’d like to share?
I always trying to have local food.
One of the most memorable food was Arros Negre, Paella cooked with squid ink, which I had in Mallorca island of Spain.
I don't stick to Japanese food during the tour, but one of Sushi restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, was memorable.
It is the best Sushi in US so far.
I would like to share with you but I couldn't find it on travel advisor.

6. Your Carnegie Hall debut will be later this season, how are you preparing?
I'm very much excited with it.
I believe the best preparation is to practice.
I'll try to enjoy this experience and I hope the audience enjoy the concert with me.

5. Do you hear from fans since the documentary A Surprise in Texas has been shown?
Yes, I often experience people talk to me at the airport, at the restaurant, and on the street.
In June, I visited Venice, Italy, and had an opportunity to play a piano at one of traditional building.
After I played piano, one lady came to me and said she was from Texas and had watched the film so that she easily recognized me.

4. There are quite a few wonderful cds that you have recorded, from orchestral concerti to the most recent Chopin – what’s in store for fans in the next few releases?
Thanks, my next CD is just out in the market.
It is Mussorgsky's Pictures and an Exhibition and 2 Liszt pieces, all of them I'm going to play in San Antonio.

3. Is there repertory you want to record that you haven’t yet?
Yes, quite a lot.
I'm planning to make recordings of Mozart in the near future.
Beethoven and Chopin are my lifework and I wish to make records of them time to time.

2. You recently graduated from college – what’s next, teaching? Or is there a keyboard hero you would want to study with or play for?
Graduating from college is, like winning the competition, just starting professional career.
I have quite a lot to learn and to study, I can't imagine teaching someone!
I would like to meet and listen to as much wonderful pianists as possible, but it is no less inspiring to play chamber music with great musician and to play concerto with great conductors and orchestras.

1. I’ve heard the Van Cliburn is a real challenge but a joy, with all aspects of music making – solo, chamber and concerti. How was it for you competing and how has it impacted your life?

Well, Van Cliburn Competition was very much demanding about repertoire.
I have to learn quite a lot of music, solo, chamber, concerto, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary.
However, the hospitality and atmosphere of the competition were so warm and human, I was able to relax myself and to concentrate on playing piano.
Honestly, I didn't think as I was "competing" at all.
I simply enjoyed playing and sharing great music with such wonderful audience.
Every time I survived the round, I was so happy with the fact that I was given further opportunities to have concerts with them.
By the way, last week (14th and 15th of September), I played duo concert with Ms. Son Yoel-Eum, in Tokyo and in Seoul.
I, and my parents, were impressed with her music during the competition.
I had opportunities to attend her concerts after the competition, but it was first time for me to play "duo" with her.
We played Debussy Petite Suite and Mozart Sonata for 2 piano K.448, and Rachmaninov Tarantelle for encore.
It was very much enjoyable and exciting concert, and I wish if I could do it in the States, too.

with very best wishes,
Nobuyuki Tsujii

Listen for all the scoop and behind the scenes with the music and musicians every week on Classical Spotlight, Thursday afternoons with John Clare on KPAC & KTXI.

Placido in San Antonio



Domingo and Clare



Tomorrow the San Antonio Opera presents Placido Domingo, Con amor a San Antonio at the AT and T Center.  The varied program includes arias, mariachi, zarzuela and more with guest soprano Ana Maria Martinez and a full orchestra.

Host John Clare spoke to Domingo about his lengthy career, new works and returning to San Antonio.  Listen to their conversation here. {mp3 file}

Tale of Feathers, Fur, and Fins

Recently host John Clare joined the Symphony of the Hills to narrate Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens with poetry by Ogden Nash.  Here is their performance:

Oscar crowns a new "King" on Sunday

On Sunday, Hollywood's best and brightest gather for the 83rd time as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gives their awards of merit, known worldwide as the OSCARS(c).  "The King's Speech" is the front runner to win Best Picture.

Though we're as interested in who's going to win each category as much as the next person, we're particularly excited about this year's crop of nominated composers for Best Original Score.  All this week on KPAC, Nathan Cone and John Clare have been trading ideas about who will win as they sample some of the music for each nominated film.  You can listen to their discussions through the audio links below, which include short excerpts from the nominated scores.

127 Hours: A.R. Rahman, composer

How To Train Your Dragon: John Powell, composer

The Social Network: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers

Inception: Hans Zimmer, composer

The King's Speech: Alexandre Desplat, composer

Nathan thinks Desplat will take home the gold for "The King's Speech," but John says the Oscar will go to Reznor and Ross for "The Social Network."  Who do YOU think will win?  Let us know in the comments box below.

And if you haven't gotten enough Oscar music, visit NPR Music to listen to a special audio stream curated by Nathan Cone, the staff of KPAC, and you.  Songs and Scores of Oscars Past is online now at NPR's companion music site, and it featured over 100 Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated songs and scores.

Enjoy, and we'll see you at the movies!

--Nathan Cone

Pro/Am this weekend

"Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned." - George Bernard Shaw

The first event for the San Antonio Symphony's Tchaikovsky Festival is this Sunday!

TCHAIKOVSKY FESTIVAL PRO-AM
January 30, 2011
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
A FREE event at Municipal Auditorium, 3:00 p.m.Come hear amateur musicians perform side-by-side in this unique concert experience with San Antonio Symphony musicians and Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing in Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy.
Music workshop and rehearsal will begin at 3:00 p.m. with the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy in full concert at approximately 4:30 p.m.


This idea falls from the Baltimore and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, as an outreach, celebration and fundraiser.  You can read abou the BSO's Rusty Musicians here and here.  They have even gone so far to create a summer music academy!

"It is so difficult to mix with artists! You must choose business men to talk to, because artists only talk of money." - Jean Sibelius

The San Antonio Symphony announced their plans last fall for a Professional/Amateur rehearsal and concert, so KPAC Host John Clare filled out the forms, and learned in December he would be playing first violin!
Clare says, "I am looking forward to working with friends, and at the same time feel a little weird, maybe a bit nervous, having this chance to perform with the Symphony.  My most recent dealings are artist interviews and acting as Santa Claus and Jack O'Latern, not with my violin!
It will also be a chance to see the other side, literally, of Music Director Sebastian Lang Lessing."

See you Sunday at the Municipal for the kickoff of what will be a rousing Russian work! The San Antonio Symphony's Tchaikovsky Festival continues April 29th through May 8th.

"Every artist was first an amateur." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oscar music

This year, several great composers up for an Oscar:
Music (Original Score)
“How to Train Your Dragon” John Powell
“Inception” Hans Zimmer
“The King's Speech” Alexandre Desplat
“127 Hours” A.R. Rahman
“The Social Network” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Music (Original Song)
“Coming Home” from “Country Strong” Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
“I See the Light” from “Tangled” Music by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
“If I Rise” from “127 Hours” Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
“We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3" Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Nathan Cone and John Clare will preview the scores in February, and keep an ear out for a special NPRMusic feed curated by Nathan about Oscar nominated and winning music!

Santa and the SA Symphony

Clare backstage

This weekend the San Antonio Symphony had special guests, including Saint Nicholas! Host John Clare snapped a few shots of the jolly ol' elf backstage:

Santa with violist Lauren Magnus

We also thought you would enjoy some musicians from the San Antonio Symphony performing carols around the city this last year:

SA Sym: Feliz Navidad from John Clare on Vimeo.

Giving Thanks 2010

This Thanksgiving, we're sharing thankful classical thoughts. Host John Clare shares music and composers he is thankful for:
Composer Steve Stucky hails from Hutchinson, KS and grew up in Waco, TX. A violist and composer, Steve won the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.  We talked soon after, although he had been on my short list of composers for Composing Thoughts.  Later that year, he introduced me to a cellist who was performing in the area and was premiering a work of his.  Elinor and I connected and Steve let us broadcast the premiere! That summer I met up with Steve and Elinor in Itaca where Steve lived.
We became fast friends and have stayed in touch ever since. There were many more trips to Ithaca and we'd meet up in NYC or Dallas.  Currently Steve is chairman of the American Music Center and I was just elected to the board last May.
Steve still visits Texas and we we snapped this photo in Main Plaza downtown last November.  He'll be in Dallas again this week for his Rhapsodies and next May before the Carnegie Hall premiere of his August 4th, 1964.
Steve writes powerful and passionate music that I am grateful for and enjoy studying.
What music or composers are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments!

Classical Spotlight: OLÉ!

Classical Spotlight roves from Round Top to Madrid, plus some Country Roads and Gold from one of today's leading composers!

SASym leaves on a jet plane
A Tribute to the Music of John Denver
November 19 & 20, 2010 8:00 p.m.
San Antonio Symphony
Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium
Michael Krajewski, conductor Jim Curry, singer

Benefit for a great cause
SA Mastersingers Concert for Alzheimers
Friday & Saturday November, 19 & 20, 2010 8 PM
John Silantien conducting Robert Cohen’s Alzeimer’s Stories
First Baptist Church, San Antonio (11/19)
First Presbyterian Church,Kerrville, TX (11/20)

200 & 100 Years celebration
Mexico 2010 November 20, 2010
Youth Orchestras San Antonio & Juventud Sinfonica de Monterrey
Municipal Auditorium 7 p.m.
Tickets required - to get your free ticket, call the YOSA office at 210.737.0097. 
San Antonio's Office of Cultural Affairs presents a festive celebration for the bicentennial of Mexico's Independence movement and the centennial of its Revolution in a concert shared with the Juventud Sinfonica de Monterrey.

OLÉ!
Walden Chamber Players, joined by the Trinity Chamber Singers and soloist, Dr. Linda McNeil
Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m. Ruth Taylor Recital Hall
The program, subtitled "Boccherini in Madrid," will feature 18th-century repertoiryincluding several Boccherini quintets, the Turina Oracion del Torero, and vocal works. Enhancing the cultural scope of the afternoon, students from Trinity's Madrid Summer Program and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will offer commentary on Spanish architecture, history, poetry, and daily life between the musical selections.

Schütz happens
Sunday November 21, 2010 at 4:00 pm
The Houston Chamber Choir, The Whole Noyse and Houston musicians perform works by Heinrich Schütz, the Master of Baroque Dresden. The founder of the Academy for Early Music in Bremen (Germany), Dr. Manfred Cordes, will conduct. In 1991 he was awarded his doctorate for his thesis on the relationship between tonality and emotion in the music of the Renaissance. In 1994 Dr. Cordes was appointed Professor of Early Music at the University of the Arts in Bremen, where served as Dean from 1996 to 2005 and was named Rector in 2007.
Reservations on line or call 979-249-3129

Light & Gold
Eric Whitacre has dazzled the composition scene for some time, but makes his conducting debut with a new Decca recording, Light & Gold.  The grammy nominated composer spoke to host John Clare about the new work, and about his project, The Virtual Choir.

Love is kinda crazy

Quoting a Mike Sharpe (Shapiro) and Harry Middlebrooks, Jr., song about Halloween in this blog title, and we're promoting a chance to see KPAC afternoon host John Clare with the San Antonio Symphony!


Troy Peters will conduct a program that includes Saint Saens, Williams and Halloween classics like Phantom of the Opera this Sunday for the first Family Concert of the 2010-11 season.  Tune in to Classical Spotlight tomorrow at 1pm for an interview with Troy and John on KPAC & KTXI!

What I did this summer

Did you ever have to write a report or do a presentation about "what you did over the summer?" Elementary school, right? Maybe middle school? These days with twitter and facebook, social media pretty much answers those questions! Recently Betty White quipped on Saturday Night Live that "in her day, looking at someone's vacation slides was considered punishment!"
Nonetheless, I was amused when coworkers asked me about what I did this summer...and thought, what a fun post this could be on the blog.
In June, I wrapped up Classical Spotlight and went on the road with YOSA for their "Great Tour of China." It was truly amazing and fun to see young musicians perform and interact across China. The food, shopping and sights were spectacular too! On the left hand side is a picture of me on the Great Wall of China.


Here is a video montage of the trip with an appropriate soundtrack by John Adams - The Chairman Dances!

When I arrived back to San Antonio, it was time to take in some summer festivals, Round Top International Music Festival and Institute continued their 40th year - it was a real blast to see and hear old friends in Round Top. Also the Cactus Pear Music Festival got underway in July and it was great seeing Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio. I spent a morning with the Young Artist Program and heard a world premiere by Colin Sorgi.
Later in July I took a leave of absence and documented the West Branch International Music Festival & Academy near Hancock, NY. It was a dreamy two weeks of solo, chamber and orchestral music. I made new friends and enjoyed catching up with old friends too - in a cooler climate surrounded by the Catskills. Pictured on the right is a photo of me with the concertmaster of the Royal Danish Opera Orchestra, Sir Lars Bjørnkjær on the deck of the West Branch Angler Resort.
Here is a great example of the orchestra at WBIMF, conducted by Christian Hørbov-Meier, performing Jean Sibelius' Romance, Opus 42.

Now the dog days of August are here and I am busy preparing videos of this summer, plus practicing violin, and setting up the new season of Classical Spotlight (Thursday afternoons at 2pm, returning September 2nd!) I'll also return to Round Top on August 28th for their preview concert of the August to April series at Festival Hill.
I would love to know what you have been doing over the summer. CEO Jack Fishman has shared what he has been up to, as well as some of the musicians of the San Antonio Symphony on his blog. Post a comment here, or send an email and photo to john@tpr.org.
John Clare, afternoon announcer & Classical Spotlight host

GTOC: Journey's End

Here are some never seen before photos and video coverage of YOSA'a Great Tour of China:

GTOC: Food

One of the great things about visiting abroad is dining. It has been different to say the least, and ranged from incredible to very good. We've also had a chance to check out different flavors in Tokyo, Beijing and now, Shanghai.

Today's lunch menu wasn't too different from what we've enjoyed (usually a rice, noodle, soup, bok choy, watermelon and varying degrees of meat, pork, fish and chicken) but the presentation was a real delight. Here's the chicken (below left):

And our fish (seen right):

Today I also got to sample some soup dumplings with director Troy Peters and know that we will be eating them as often as possible!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we'll be at the EXPO 2010 and looking forward to see what food will be around as we'll be there for lunch and dinner.

GTOC: Shanghai

A night on the train led us to Shanghai on Monday morning. Once off we were on the go to a musical instrument museum and a famous shopping area, Nanjing Road!

Here is a video of a big gong from the museum:

We then checked into the hotel and rested/washed up before dinner and the acrobats! Here is a great example of some of their feats:

GTOC: On the international stage

YOSA is currently in China, performing concerts and learning more about the culture. Over 12 days, the musicians will see 5 cities and perform music in different locales.

John Clare is with the group and has this update:

Saturday began with more exploring, including the Forbidden City. Throughout the day, kids were asked to pose for pictures, and also took pictures of themselves, family, sites and other interesting visitors (including soldiers on duty!)

Afterwards they rehearsed their program and then presented it at 2pm in the new national concert hall which holds about 5,000 people. (My guess is that it was 2/3rds full, although I heard it had sold out!)

Following the concert, there was a small reception and then an exchange with students of the National Conservatory. Folk melodies, as well as Paganini's Moses variations were played perfectly and quite touching by the young Chinese women. During one of the pieces, one of the YOSA members exclaimed "Awesome!" - and indeed it was an awesome performance!