No images? Click here November 27, 2023 Pew Research Center is tired of blaming Gen Z and millennials for everything — it’s retiring the whole concept of generational framing. Wait... Does this mean millennials killed generational framing? +++ In this week’s email:
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 Lost Salieri Ballet to Receive First Performance in Over 200 YearsAfter more than 200 years, music by Italian composer Antonio Salieri, once thought lost, has been rediscovered. PhD student Ellen Stokes from the University of Huddersfield found it in an Austrian library, tucked within the pages of four manuscripts. Find of a lifetimeThe work is a ballet composed for Salieri's opera "Europa Riconosciuta". Stokes' discovery came after meticulous research at the Austria National Library in Vienna, where she managed to piece together the scattered fragments of Salieri's first international operatic success. What makes it special?It's a rare occurrence for a composer to have written both the opera and the accompanying ballet in the 18th century, and this particular ballet had been missing in its complete form for centuries. The upcoming performance by the Lincoln Pro Musica Orchestra is not just a concert; it's a revival of a piece of music history, unheard in its intended form in modern times. Stokes, demonstrating exceptional dedication to her craft, navigated through archives and decoded watermarks to reconstruct the ballet. Dr. Steven Jan, Stokes' PhD supervisor, commended her research skills, highlighting the importance of musicology in uncovering and understanding historical evidence. Mozart rivalrySalieri, recognized as one of Europe's most renowned composers at the time of his death, gained notoriety amid rumours involving the mysterious death of his contemporary, Mozart — a story that gained widespread attention with the play and film "Amadeus." The performance of "Pafio e Mirra" promises to be a significant event, offering a rare glimpse into an 18th-century musical world. It's scheduled to take place at 15:30 GMT at the Central Methodist Church in Lincoln. Zoom outHere are a few other historic finds:
TOUR DE HEADLINES Johan Lundgren (Photo courtesy EasyJet) He Wanted to Be a Trombone Player. Instead, He Ended Up as CEO of One of the World's Biggest Airlines — Johan Lundgren's journey from aspiring trombonist to CEO of easyJet is a testament to the unpredictable nature of life's path, where embracing the journey and the people you meet along the way can lead to extraordinary, unplanned success. | Business Insider Toronto Symphony Signs Three-Year Recording Deal with Harmonia Mundi — The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has embarked on a three-year recording journey with Harmonia Mundi, a milestone for the Canadian orchestra in the world of classical recordings. | Ludwig van Toronto 'One Man Waited 18 Years for a Harpsichord': Inside the Rarefied World of Period Instrument-Making — The niche industry of period instrument-making involves artisans crafting handmade replicas of historical instruments for a dedicated market, combining traditional designs with modern materials to create durable, playable versions of rare instruments like the harpsichord and theorbo. | The Telegraph David Pickard to Step Down as BBC Proms Director — After nearly a decade as director of the BBC Proms, David Pickard will step down in 2024, having expanded the event's reach and diversity, and featuring performances by prominent musicians and ensembles. His tenure included notable developments like the first Proms festival outside London and the premiere of works by acclaimed composers, contributing significantly to the event's success and evolution. | Classical-music.com ORCHESTRAL MANEUVERS Julia Perry New York Phil Presents First Black Woman Composer Played by Orchestra After Almost 60-Year HiatusThe New York Philharmonic presented Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater for the first time this week. What’s Up: On November 22nd, the New York Philharmonic presented American composer Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater for the first time. It featured mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges in a performance of the Black composer’s “undeservedly forgotten” 1951 work for voice and orchestra. Conductor Dima Slobodeniouk conducted Perry’s work in between pieces by Holst and Ligeti. Refresher: Julia Perry’s compositions achieved widespread acclaim during her career, which was cut short by illness. She was the first Black woman to have a piece performed by the New York Philharmonic in 1965. Her output is currently largely unplayed due to copyright issues and a lack of an heir to control licensing, although a lawyer hired by the Akron Symphony is currently investigating this. STREAMING The Crown, Netflix promo image Netflix's Season 6 of the Crown Premieres With New Classical SoundtrackThe series’ sixth season includes new compositions by Benjamin Britten’s godson, Martin Phipps. What’s Up: On November 16, Netflix released season 6 of The Crown, focusing on Princess Diana’s final days with a classical soundtrack to go with it. The score was composed by Martin Phipps, Benjamin Britten’s godson, who also scored the previous three seasons of the series. The soundtrack is performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London. Refresher: Classical music features throughout all six seasons for Netflix’s The Crown. Rupert Gregson-Williams composed soundtracks for the first two seasons before Martin Phipps took over for season 3. Season 6’s soundtrack also includes 90s hits by Smashmouth and Radiohead, and classical music by Mendelssohn and Chopin. QUIZ AROUND THE WEB 📅 On this day: Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel launched the first Nobel Prize in 1895. 🧠 Cure boredom: With this random trivia generator. 🎮 That’s interesting: An in-depth article on "internet gaming disorder" and the efforts of parents confronting tech companies regarding their children's gaming addictions. RARE INSTRUMENT OF THE WEEK The Piganino The Pianino, also known as the Hog Harmonium, the Schweineorgel (pig organ), was Intended by Abbé de Baigne at the request of Louis XI of France. Each pig was cruelly laid out on a flat surface, smallest to largest, with a nail connected to a keyboard. Pressing a key poked the corresponding pig, resulting in a squeal. The instrument was invented 200 years before the piano. How did you like today's email? |