September 5, 2023

In an innovative study, scientists at the University of Rochester have successfully introduced a longevity gene from naked mole rats into mice, leading to enhanced health and a longer lifespan. 🐭🎂 #ForeverYoung

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In this week’s email:

The big idea: Violinist sues pilates instructor for potentially career-ending injury
Awards: American contralto wins Norway’s Queen Sonja competition
Piano: Pianist competes at the US Open
Opera House of the week
Around the web: Curated copyright-free photos, legal lullabies, a multiplayer music experience called Plink, plus more curious internet finds.

CLASSICAL CHARTS

THE BIG IDEA

Violinist Sues Famed Pilates Instructor for Potentially Career-Ending Injury

The Israeli violinist Maya Meron, who has played with the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony and Barenboim’s West-Divan Symphony, is experiencing long-term nerve damage.

The Story

Maya Meron has filed a claim against Heartcore Fitness Limited, a personal training studio in Hampstead, London founded by Jess Schuring. Schuring, also known as Jesse Blum, has trained celebrity clients, including Victoria Beckham and Robbie Williams and was reportedly one of Meghan Markle’s favourite teachers.

Meron visited London’s popular Heartcore pilates studio to regain fitness after giving birth to twins. Schuring instructed Meron into a downward-facing dog position on a pilates Reformer machine before the machine collapsed. Meron fractured her left elbow and experienced abdominal injuries following the collapse.

The Case

Rob Aylott, a personal injury lawyer in London who is representing Ms. Meron, described the ill-maintained nature of the Reformer machines at Heartcore. The studio has denied responsibility for the accident.

Meron has turned down considerable work while undergoing elbow surgery, abdominal reconstructive procedures to her abdomen, and still experiences wrist pain and a loss in finger strength. Aylott described the catastrophic nature of the injury, stating, “My client was enjoying a glittering career which was unceremoniously halted by a trip to Heartcore.” Meron is no longer able to play complete orchestra programs, although she has expressed that some of the orchestras she works with have offered to have her play partial programs with them.

Zoom Out

Many musicians visit pilates and yoga studios to promote injury prevention and wellness. Before Maya Meron’s injury, she was an advocate for musicians’ injury prevention who could be found on YouTube promoting stabilizing technology for violists and violinists.

We know the whole musical community hopes to have Meron sharing her gift on stages again soon.

TOUR DE HEADLINES

'Maestro' Receives Seven-Minute Ovation & Rave Reviews at Venice Film Festival — The Leonard Bernstein film "Maestro" premiered at the Venice Film Festival, receiving rave reviews. Amidst controversy over Bradley Cooper's prosthetic nose, the film's makeup artist, Kazu Hiro addressed the audience to clarify her intention for authenticity. | OperWire

Opera Conductor Accused of Bullying Claims He Is Victim of Age Discrimination — The tribunal was informed that Mark Shanahan was let go from the National Opera Studio due to violations of the institution's code of conduct. | The Telegraph

'It's Not Possible!' the Crazy Tightropes and Dangling Pianos of Art Daredevil Catherine Yass — Catherine Yass discovers Barking Creek Barrier, symbolizing climate guilt and potential flooding, and creates a film exploring diverse perspectives, especially through avian eyes. Yass's artistic works challenge mainstream views, emphasizing diverse experiences and environmental ramifications. | The Guardian

Lisztomania Enters the Twenty-first Century — Franz Liszt, renowned for his unmatched piano prowess, blended classical elegance with unique elements, like the mystical Phrygian mode and Hungarian verbunkos scale. His intricate compositions challenge musicians and defy simple categorization, blending the profound with the popular. | The New Yorker

Seohyun Kim wins 2023 Tibor Varga Violin Competition — Fourteen-year-old Seohyun Kim from South Korea clinched the first prize at the 2023 International Tibor Varga Violin Competition in Switzerland. While Kim showcased her unparalleled talent, the competition spotlighted numerous emerging musical personalities with profound storytelling prowess. | The Strad

New Review Addresses the Health Impact of Violin Playing — German researchers studied violinists' health, finding physical and mental challenges. They suggest ergonomic solutions, diverse treatments, and improved health education. | The Violin Channel

Freddie Mercury's Grand Piano to Be Auctioned 'Without Reserve' — Freddie Mercury's cherished Yamaha Baby Grand Piano, pivotal in creating hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody", is being auctioned without a set minimum. The sale follows a widely attended exhibition, and proceeds will support the Elton John Aids Foundation. | Yahoo

AWARDS

Contralto Jasmin White wins first prize at the Queen Sonja Competition (Photo courtesy of the competition)

American Contralto Wins Norway's Queen Sonja Competition

Contralto Jasmin White has won first place at the 2023 Queen Sonja Competition, including a €50,000 prize.

The Judges

The 2023 Queen Sonja Competition was judged by directors and administrators from the Norwegian Opera, Washington National Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Theater an der Wien and the Dutch National Opera. Randi Stene, the jury director, shared that the panel was looking for an artist who was “the complete package,” expressing that the competition had been very close.

The Winner

Jasmin White (who uses they/them pronouns) wowed audiences with their performances of Erda’s aria from Wagner’s Das Rheingold, “Iris, Hence Away” from Handel’s Semele and Rossini’s “Di tanti palpiti” from Tancredi.

White made their Metropolitan Opera debut in Porgy and Bess in 2019 and is a current member of Vienna Volksoper’s opera studio. They are a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and have recently been signed by IMG Artists. White looks forward to debuts with Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and also recently took home second prize at Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Armenian baritone Aksel Daveyan won second place with €10,000, followed by German countertenor Nils Wanderer in third with €5,000. The remaining finalists included baritones Navasard Hakobyan and Vladyslav Tlushch, as well as mezzo-soprano Rebecka Wallroth.

Hear White’s captivating performance of Mahler’s “Urlicht” in Brussels here:

PIANO

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (Photo via LTA)

Classical Pianist Competes at the US Open

Twenty-seven-year-old British tennis player Yuriko Lily Miyazaki, trained as a concert pianist while perfecting her game.

The Story

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki was born in Japan before moving to Switzerland and eventually England, where she now holds citizenship. Miyazaki’s mother, Akiko Miyazaki, is a concert pianist with whom Miyazaki can often be seen on Instagram playing duets. Miyazaki recently faced Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic in the second round of the US Open, who beat Miyazaki in straight sets.

Tennis Meets Classical Music

Sports and more specifically, tennis psychology is often employed by musicians. Timothy Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis (1997) has become a classic text for musicians experiencing performance anxiety, despite it having been written for tennis players. Popular performance coaches for musicians including Jackie Reardon, close colleague of legendary Canadian conductor/soprano Barbara Hannigan, also work with tennis players and Olympic athletes.

And the connections don’t stop there. Composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears were often known to hit the court together, and Arnold Schoenberg and George Gershwin played regular games together in Los Angeles. Violin virtuosos, Joshua Bell and Pinchas Zukerman, were both tournament-winning tennis players—Zukerman even once considered leaving music for a career in tennis(!).

While Miyazaki’s Instagram performances don’t suggest her to be the next Zukerman-esque double threat, only time will tell where her inner game of tennis takes her next.

QUIZ

Which form of musical articulation can you NOT play on a piano?

A: Staccato

B: Legato

C: Pizzicato

D: Sforzando

Scroll down for the answer…

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 53 premieres.

😊 Positive Vibes: Someone made a website that features inspiring science news stories.

🎶 Music: Meet Plink! — a website where you can create simple music with strangers in real time.

💤 Sleep: Legal Lullabies: fall asleep in seconds as someone reads Terms of Service agreements.

📷 Cure Boredom: Browse a collection of amazing copyright-free photos.

🐶 Aww: This father and son dog moment will make you smile.

OPERA HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Charles Garnier, Paris Opéra, 1860-75, masonry walls with concealed iron floors (photo: Juanedc CC BY 2.0)

Palais Garnier

Often hailed as the world's most iconic opera house, the Palais Garnier is a symbol of Paris, ranking with famed landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Sacré Coeur Basilica.

Situated in Paris's 9th arrondissement at Place de l'Opéra, the Palais Garnier, also referred to as Opéra Garnier, is an impressive 1,979-seat opera house. Initiated by Emperor Napoleon III from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera, it was initially dubbed the "new Paris Opera." Its lavish design, crafted by architect Charles Garnier in the Napoleon III style, led to its naming as the Palais Garnier.

It remained the primary home for the Paris Opera and its ballet wing until 1989, after which performances shifted to the Opéra Bastille. Presently, the Palais Garnier predominantly hosts ballet and has been recognized as a French historic monument since 1923.

QUIZ ANSWER

C: Pizzicato

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara Schabas, with editing by Michael "One-love" Vincent.

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