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!

Conductor in national spotlight

Alondra de la Parra, music driector candidate for the San Antonio Symphony, recently conducted the world renowned San Francisco Symphony in concerts. During her time there, she was interviewed by NPR's Latino USA (heard locally on KSTX & KTXI Fridays at noon & 8pm).

Alondra de la Parra from NPR's Latino USA on Vimeo.

First Listen: Hélène Grimaud

Today, February 3, pianist Hélène Grimaud joins the ranks of Bruce Springsteen, M. Ward and Animal Collective when NPR Music launches an Exclusive First Listen of her debut Bach album. NPR Music will offer an on-demand stream of the entire album as well as Grimaud's performance of Bach's Prelude in E major, BWV 878 as a free download until the disc is officially released on February 10. The stream and song download are both available at NPR Music. Though NPR Music has offered Exclusive First Listen pages for a variety of high-profile pop, rock and alternative artists, Grimaud's 'Bach' is the first classical album to be featured in this way.
In Hélène Grimaud's first recording of Bach's music, listeners will find repertoire and interpretation choices that reflect not simply Bach's notes, but his very perspective on the musical form. As has come to be expected of this strikingly individualistic artist, the disc is both provoking and profound. 'Bach' includes Bach's Concerto for Piano no. 1 in D minor performed with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, a work originally intended for violin, but transcribed by Bach himself for organ and then later in the form we find here. Thus the album features Bach transcribed by Liszt, Bach transcribed by Busoni, Bach transcribed by Rachmaninov, and Bach transcribed by Bach. Each transcription is juxtaposed with a prelude and fugue in the same tonality from The Well-Tempered Clavier - in E major, A minor, and C minor - highlighting the modern composers' musical and historical perspectives while simultaneously underlining the source material.
Grimaud will tour Houston, TX; New York City, NY; La Jolla, CA; and Chicago, IL in late February and March in support of the album. Performance dates and times can be found on her website.
Hélène Grimaud was born in Aix-en Provence in the south of France in 1969. She studied with Jacqueline Courtin at the conservatory there, and subsequently in Marseille with Pierre Barbizet. At the age of 13, she was accepted by the Paris Conservatory where she won the first prize in piano in 1985. That July, immediately after graduating, Grimaud recorded Rachmaninov’s Sonata no. 2 and the complete Etudes-Tableaux op. 33 (Grand Prix du disque, 1986). She studied additionally with Gyorgy Sandor and Leon Fleisher. The year 1987 marked a turning point in her career, with appearances at MIDEM in Cannes and at the piano festival La Roque d’Anthéron, her first recital in Tokyo and Daniel Barenboim’s invitation to perform with the Orchestre de Paris. Grimaud has since performed with many of the world’s major orchestras and renowned conductors. She records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon.

Czech it out

If you were interested in this story on NPR this morning about Prague Spring 1968, be sure to listen to our interview with Czech composer Karel Husa, who's Music for Prague 1968 has been performed around the world, and talks about writing that and his career in music.
Listen to a Windows Media File or MP3 File

Take it...

From the Top, to quote Chris O'Riley!
Classically trained teenagers will have their chance to shine as Texas Public Radio’s KPAC 88.3 FM and KTXI 90.1 FM welcome National Public Radio’s From the Top on September 13 at Laurie Auditorium.
From the Top is a nationally broadcast radio program that features America’s top young classical musicians and vocalists. The program is heard at 10 a.m. every Saturday on Texas Public Radio’s KPAC 88.3 FM and KTXI 90.1 FM. Texas Public Radio is seeking classically trained musicians from ages nine to 18 to submit their audition tapes to appear in the live San Antonio taping. From the Top is currently accepting applications for soloists, composers, and small and large ensembles. The deadline to be considered for inclusion in the September taping is July 1. Interested performers are required to submit an application in addition to a recording of two current selections. Specific application details are available on fromthetop.org.
With an audience of approximately 750,000 weekly listeners, From the Top is public radio’s fastest-growing program in history. Recorded in live concert settings around the United States, From the Top’s host, acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley helps to capture the top notch musicianship, offbeat humor and insights of America’s best pre-teen and teenage classical musicians. Many performers who appear on the show are invited to tour nationally as the program records around the United States.
High-profile performers such as Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Bobby McFerrin have appeared on the show to talk about their musical influences and to perform with the young artists. Each one-hour program presents five young performers or ensembles whose stunning individual performances are combined with lively interviews, unique pre-produced segments, radio theater skits and lighthearted musical games. Previous episodes are streamed on NPR's music website.
More details on From the Top’s visit to San Antonio are available on Texas Public Radio’s website at http://www.tpr.org/.

And you'll also want to note that Chris will make another appearance in San Antonio when he plays with cellist Carter Brey in October for the Tuesday Music Club!