Marin Alsop in Sao Paulo: Match Made in Heaven?

Marin Alsop

It's early, yet, to pass judgement on the marriage of conductor Marin Alsop and her new band in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP). After all, the orchestra's previous relationship, with John Neschling, ended in a bruising power struggle. This after Neschling helped raise the orchestra's international profile to not only best orchestra in Latin America, but one of the best in the world. The many recordings made during the Neschling tenure confirm an orchestra of the first rank. Neschling was followed by a very brief fling with Yan Pascal Tortelier. This yielded only one recording I know of, a disc of compositions by Florent Schmitt, which has gotten rave reviews. (It's on its way to my mailbox as I am writing this.)

Many predict that the Alsop-OSESP tandem will be a great one, and I can certainly see their logic. After all, as James Jolly remarks in the August, 2012, issue of Gramophone magazine, "Alsop's flare for colour and rhythm makes this repertoire a perfect fit." The reference, of course, is to Latin-American music in general, and specifically to the music of Villa-Lobos and the other prominent musical voices of Brazil. But as all who know the reputation of the OSESP will attest, this is an orchestra which is as fluent in European repertoire as it is in the symphonies of Guarnieri. This makes Alsop's first recording project with the orchestra oh-so-intriguing - the complete symphonies of Prokofiev (for Alsop's label, Naxos). I can't wait to share these with the listeners to Itinerarios (Sunday evenings at 7pm on KPAC and KTXI).

We all get a wonderful opportunity for a sneak preview of Alsop and the Brazilians on Wednesday afternoon, August 15, at 1:30 pm CT. Listen online at http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/, as the orchestra takes center stage at the BBC Proms. The audio player should appear 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the broadcast. I hope all who are interested will join me in the virtual concert hall for what should be a wonderful experience.

Sala Sao Paulo

Wednesday's concert, part of the BBC Proms from Royal Albert Hall in London, was originally to have been Alsop and her "other" band, the Baltimore Symphony. Sadly, the Baltimore Symphony management felt it could not afford to send their orchestra abroad during these financially stressed times. Enter the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra. Not only is the Brazilian economy one of the more vibrant in the world right now, but the Sao Paulo Orchestra is also enjoying immense popularity in its home hall, Sala Sao Paulo, a former train terminal transformed by architect Nelson Dupre into a world class acoustic. So popular are the orchestra's concerts that the orchestra's management has had to cap season ticket sales at 70% of the Sala Sao Paulo's capacity of 1498 seats. According to Marcelo Lopes, the orchestra's executive director, "that's really the highest we can go because we must have some tickets for single buyers. If we didn't do this we'd sell every ticket before the season even started!"

On Wednesday's program, from Royal Albert Hall, will be Dvorak's New World Symphony, music by Copland, Joan Tower, Ginastera, and Villa-Lobos' Momoprecóce.
-James Baker

More to see and hear

BBC Radio 3 is to film a series of 12 concerts to be broadcast online. The concerts will first be heard on Radio 3's Performance on 3, and subsequently made available to view online via the Radio 3 website.

This new venture will begin on September 26 when the BBC Philharmonic under Gianandrea Noseda broadcast Beethoven's Symphony No 9 and Formazioni by the Italian composer Luciano Berio on Performance on 3. The concert will then be available to watch online, in what the BBC promises to be "high-quality sound and pictures", the following day.

Radio 3 Controller Roger Wright described the plans, which include not only the performance itself, but also interviews with artists and composers, as "an exciting enhancement". Interactivity is promised, with viewers able to choose which movements or sections of the concert they want to watch.

The series will feature the BBC's in-house ensembles, and will continue in October with a programme of light music performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, and in November with Orff's Carmina Burana from the Barbican. Programmes are also planned from, amongst others, the BBC NOW, the BBC Singers and from the Radio 3 London Jazz Festival.

(From Gramophone)

You are what you listen?

From Randy Anderson via BBC NEWS:

Music tastes link to personality
Musical tastes and personality type are closely related, according to a study of more than 36,000 people from around the world.
The research, which was carried out by Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University, is said to be the largest such study ever undertaken.
It suggested classical music fans were shy, while heavy metal aficionados were gentle and at ease with themselves.
Professor North described the research as "significant" and "surprising".
He said: "We have always suspected a link between music taste and personality. This is the first time that we've been able to look at it in real detail. No-one has ever done this on this scale before."
Prof North said the research could have many uses in marketing, adding: "If you know a person's music preference you can tell what kind of person they are, who to sell to.
"There are obvious implications for the music industry who are are worried about declining CD sales.
"One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They're both creative and at ease but not outgoing.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Don't worry about what people think of you because of the music you listen to. Music is the best thing in the world Steve Harding, Wiltshire, UK
"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things."
More than 36,000 people from all over the world were asked to rate 104 musical styles and also questioned about aspects of their personality.
The study is continuing and Prof North, who is head of the university's department of applied psychology, is still looking for participants to take part in a short online questionnaire.

MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS

BLUES High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease
JAZZ High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease
CLASSICAL MUSIC High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease
RAP High self-esteem, outgoing
OPERA High self-esteem, creative, gentle
COUNTRY AND WESTERN Hardworking, outgoing
REGGAE High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease
DANCE Creative, outgoing, not gentle
INDIE Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle
BOLLYWOOD Creative, outgoing
ROCK/HEAVY METAL Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease
CHART POP High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease
SOUL High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease

Source: Heriot-Watt University

Fab Four

The Beatles might easily be compared to Bach or Mozart...music that can be arranged for different instruments and not lose the feeling, tuneful melodies and the endurance of their music.
Just recently an interview has turned up after 44 years with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Check it out here.
Do you have a favorite Beatles tune? Favorite performance by Goran Sollscher or Ofra Harnoy?
Let us know in the comments below.