November 4, 2024

🎶 Hope you're hitting all the high notes this week — 12-year-old violinist Christian Li who just signed with Deutsche Grammophon, becoming their youngest-ever exclusive artist. Talk about starting your career off strong.

+++

The big idea: The Internet Archive's $621M legal battle
Talking points:
— Newly-discovered Chopin Waltz performed by Lang Lang
— Soprano Renée Fleming appointed director of Cincinnati May Festival
Around the web + Laugh of the week

CLASSICAL CHARTZ

Weekly selections are based on sales numbers and albums we simply love and think you NEED to hear!

For the complete top 20, tune into Classical Chartz with the New Classical FM’s Mark Wigmore every Saturday from 3-5 pm EST!

THE BIG IDEA

AI Music: The Chart-Topping Secret Nobody's Talking About

Have you ever wondered if that catchy new song you're listening to was written by... well, not a person?

In a revealing interview with The Times, composer Max Richter ( the genius behind all those emotional film scores that make you cry) dropped a bombshell: AI-generated music is probably already climbing the charts – we just don't know it.

And he should know. With 3B streams under his belt and a resume that includes scoring Hollywood hits, Richter's got some thoughts about our robot-powered musical future.

Here's what Richter says is happening:

AI is sneaking into your playlist:

• AI music tools are getting "spookily good"

• They're likely already infiltrating electronic music

• Most listeners can't tell the difference

The tech giants' land grab:

• Big tech companies are snatching up musical data

• Current AI music systems violate artists' rights

• It's basically a digital music gold rush

Why artists are worried:

• AI systems are trained on existing music without permission

• There's no clear system for compensating original artists

• The creative process could become automated

But Richter's not jumping on the AI bandwagon. Despite pressure to chase algorithms and AI tools, he's sticking to good old-fashioned human creativity in his Oxfordshire studio. "The most important thing... is to engage with the material deeply," he tells The Times. "What I put on the manuscript is what I can control. Everything else I can't control."

The bottom line: While AI might be ghostwriting some of today's hits, there's still something to be said for the human touch. Just don't be surprised if your next favourite song was composed by 1s and 0s. For now, we'll be over here trying to figure out if our Spotify playlist passed the Turing test. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

🎭 New life for Phantom? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera will haunt the stage again, as the musical prepares for a North American tour in 2025. After closing on Broadway last year, fans feared the end, but the Phantom's return could reignite passion for a younger generation. In an era of streaming and digital entertainment, Broadway producers hope that the show’s theatrical grandeur can bring in new audiences. No word yet if the chandelier will still plummet, but Webber’s team promises the spectacle and suspense of the original — with a few new tricks. Read more

🎹 Classical piano fans, take note: Khatia Buniatishvili, hailed as one of classical music’s most charismatic and adventurous pianists, is back with a new album that honors classical giants. Known for her bold interpretations and fiery presence, Buniatishvili has redefined expectations for classical musicians in the social media era, where she has gathered a massive following. Her latest work shines a spotlight on Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff, signaling her return to core repertoire — and adding fuel to her reputation as a “superstar of the keys.” Read more

🎟️ Opera fans left gasping — literally: A recent performance of a new opera featuring graphic scenes of gore and explicit themes has drawn intense reactions from audiences, with 18 requiring medical treatment due to distress. The production, which takes operatic drama to unprecedented heights (and depths), was criticized for its shock value, while others praised it for pushing boundaries and drawing attention to underrepresented narratives. It’s an unmistakable sign of opera’s turn toward edgier themes, but will the genre’s traditional audience stick around? Read more

MORE CLASSICAL NEWS TO KNOW

John Williams Reflects on His Iconic Scores: A new documentary on the legendary composer John Williams reveals his candid thoughts on his extensive body of work. Williams reflects on what he considered a “low point” in one of his scores while sharing insights into his favourite collaborators, such as Steven Spielberg. Read more
Classical Music’s Best of 2024: The top classical music performances and compositions of 2024 have been reviewed, showcasing a range of standout pieces that keep the genre vibrant. Highlights include must-hear performances that demonstrate classical music’s enduring appeal and its evolution with contemporary audiences. Read more
Antiques Roadshow Appraises Valuable Violin: At a recent Antiques Roadshow episode, a man learned that his violin, purchased with paper route earnings in 1962 for $1,200, is now worth $25,000. A significant return on a treasured instrument! Read more

CLASSICAL HAPPENINGS

Lang Lang (Photo: Gregor Hohenber and Buro Dirk Rudolph)

Newly-Discovered Chopin Waltz Performed by Lang Lang

Piano superstar Lang Lang performed a Chopin Waltz that had not been heard for nearly 200 years. The waltz was discovered in the archives of the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan by curator Robinson McLellan.

What’s the buzz: Superstar pianist Lang Lang recently recorded a newly re-discovered Chopin Waltz that hadn’t been heard for nearly 200 years. Robinson McLellan, curator for the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan who is also a composer, discovered the piece while going through the museum’s archives and recognized it as Chopin. After consulting musicologist and Chopin specialist Jeffrey Kallberg, the manuscript’s authenticity was proven based on a number of criteria. These include Chopin’s unique penmanship — including his unusual rendering of the bass clef — as well as the paper and ink used for the manuscript.

A bit of context: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) died at the age of 39 leaving only about 250 pieces in his oeuvre, most of which are for solo piano. The waltz discovered at the Morgan Library was most likely composed between 1830 and 1835, when Chopin was in his 20s.

Fall 2024 has been an exciting season for classical re-discoveries. In September, the Leipzig Municipal Libraries announced that it had discovered a 12-minute String Trio by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. What’s next, the final two movements of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony? Archivists, keep your eyes peeled! — SS

Renée Fleming (Photo: courtesy of the artist)

Soprano Renée Fleming Appointed Director of Cincinnati May Festival

Last week, the Cincinnati May Festival unveiled its 2025 season programming. They also announced the appointment of soprano Renée Fleming as Festival Director.

Driving the news: On October 29th, the Cincinnati May Festival announced Renée Fleming as its 2025 Festival Director. Fleming curates the 2025 season alongside May Festival Director of Choruses Matthew Swanson, which includes works by Kevin Puts featuring Fleming herself, as well as the Verdi Requiem.

Tell me more: Since “retiring” from the Metropolitan Opera in 2017 in a farewell performance of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Renée Fleming has been anything but idle. The five-time Grammy Winner has taken up posts including Creative Consultant with Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as posts at the Kennedy Center and the Aspen Music Festival. She recently published an anthology called Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness exploring the impact of music on health and human experience.

The Cincinnati May Festival announced that it was inspired by Fleming’s “consummate artistry” as well as her work at the intersection of music and neuroscience. We’re confident her lifelong commitment to excellence will continue to shine in this new role. — SS

GAMES

Nothing says Monday like a mini-crossword .

AROUND THE WEB

🚢 Maritime Memory: In 1872, the iconic HMS Challenger set sail on a pioneering scientific journey, launching the first oceanographic expedition.

🌌 Cosmic Wonder: Watch as the James Webb Space Telescope captures never-before-seen details in the Andromeda galaxy.

🏞️ That’s Amazing: Visit this list of national parks where you can hike under mesmerizing starlit skies.

🍁 Did You Know? The longest ice skating trail in the world spans nearly 30 kilometers across Canada’s Lake Windermere.

🐱 Awww: Here’s a live cam of cozy kittens snoozing at a rescue shelter.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK

How did you like today's email?

Today's email was brought to you by Sara "Anything But Idle" Schabas and Michael "Fully Automated" Vincent.

CONTACT US