Tag Archive for: Second Street Dreams

LINCOLN CENTER MOMENTS

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A music program reviving some memories that dementia has taken away. 

Many of us have relatives who are suffering from various forms of dementia.  There’s a program at Lincoln Center in New York called Lincoln Center Moments that has cognitive benefits for those suffering and helps them and their caregivers. It’s also open to those around the world via their virtual programs.

Katie Fanning, of the program says there are many examples of how the program has revived long dormant memories. 

 

Here are links to the items mentioned in the podcast.

Notes Of Deception – How a Quartet of American Musicians Outwitted the KGB

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The year was 1985 when members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band (KCB) went on a secret mission to what was then the Soviet Union.  The plan was to meet with the Refuseniks, Russian Jews, and smuggle information about them out of the country.  Dr. Merryl Goldberg was one of the four musicians on the trip, and she used a music cypher to get pass the KGB.  The entire adventure is now chronicled in the book Notes of Deception. 

Dr. Merryl Goldberg

Here is the link to the Cliburn International Competition for Conductors.

Expanding The Opera Canon With THE MANY DEATHS OF LAILA STARR

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The Many Deaths Of Laila Starr is historic.  It’s one of the few operas covering South Asian themes.  It centers on Laila Starr, the Avatar of Death living as a mortal in Mumbai, India.

It was created by composer Kamala Sankaram, and the librettist, Minita Gandhi via The New Works Initiative at the Minnesota Opera.

Hear how their backgrounds, talents and curiosity shaped The Many Deaths of Laila Starr.

Here are links to:

The One Ounce Opera Call for Composers
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on free Met Opera Tickets

Dudamel And Dale Making Music On Both Coasts

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Now that Gustavo Dudamel is holding the baton for the New York Philharmonic, the classical music community is all atwitter.  He says he’s not coming in to make changes, but changes will most likely come.  

And on the west coast, from whence he came there’s Dale Hikawa Silverman, a violist and the first Asian American woman at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  She tells stories of her 40-year career so far with the orchestra in her documentary DALE.

Here are the links to some stories mentioned in the podcast.

Opera Creole Continues Performing The Sounds Of History After  Morgiane

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Morgiane, the opera by Louisiana native Edmond Dédé got national and international attention when it was performed and recorded earlier this year.  This 1887 opera was finally included in the opera canon after 138 years and a 12-year effort by Givonna Joseph, Artistic Director of Opera Creole in New Orleans.  This opera company continues singing about historical events in the Black community of New Orleans and beyond as they prepare for their 2026-2027 season.

Givonna Joseph of Opera Creole

Here are links to other items mentioned in the podcast.

Yuja Wang + Documentary

Songs Of The Spirit
The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra

Squeezing The New Out Of Opera

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Since the 21st century started in earnest, there’s been some discussion about opera.  New operas versus the standard repertoire and how it’s measured against the prevailing views about race and attitudes.  Now comes One Ounce Opera out of Austin, Texas.  They are seeking to throw the old views out about everything that opera represents with their annual show Fresh Squeezed Ounce of Opera.

Julie Fiore – Founder of One Ounce Opera

Then there’s the horror of a singer being flogged and more for not wearing a hijab. 

Parastoo Ahmadi

And here’s a question:  What’s NOT going on at the Kennedy Center, especially when it comes to the National Symphony Orchestra. 

A Composer of Conscience and Thank Goodness for Music Librarians

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A soothing album as a balm for the ICE infested people of Minneapolis. 

Mozart’s newly discovered jam AND A newly discovered Ralph Vaughn Williams piece

This guy likes to play his piano outdoors

These are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.

The Declaration Project

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We are just days away from the actual 250th birthday of America.  The music developed for this event just keeps coming.  Perhaps none as expansive as the Declaration Project from pianist Lara Downes. She created it to get various takes from anyone about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This national program will end with a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.   

Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.

The OPERA Semmelweis Raymond Lustig

The NEW Album

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis

We The (all kinds of) People

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Many classical music groups have released new music or albums about the 250th birthday of America.  Some are straightforward, others take a diverse view, like the Apollo Chamber Players.

Founder and Director Matthew Detrick says the album, We The People, features music from composers with disparate American experiences.  

Here are links to some of the stories mentioned on the podcast.

Happy 250th And Then Some

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We have been inundated with new music and performances of old patriotic music because of the 250th birthday of the United States. On this June 8th podcast, I’m starting a series on music composed and performed specifically for the big bash next month.

This time it’s Karen LeFrak’s American Promise. 

You’ll also meet Dawn Carroll who was inspired to compose Songs for Mary. 

It’s aboutMary Cardwell Dawson, a woman who created the National Negro Opera Company in the Pittsburgh home that housed some famous Black sports figures and music makers. BTW:  The song “If the Walls Could Talk” was enhanced by Danny Borgers

June is also the month of Juneteenth and Pride month celebrations with some big firsts among them. 

Here are the links to some of the other items mentioned in the podcast.