Eric's Interpretations

@national.ballet.ca La Fille Mal Gardée Bondage, drag queen,...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:01:25 -0500

@national.ballet.ca La Fille Mal Gardée Bondage, drag queen, lewd gestures and a boy with a fiery red umbrella between his legs - these may not be the words in the program notes of La Fille Mal Gardée. But they are all there loud and proud in Fredrick Ashton’s choreography done in the sex mad 60s.

The National Ballet of Canada had fun with it this season and still maintained a sense of dignity amidst the now quaint lewd references. After all what’s wrong with some old fashioned fun!

A quick visit to the Rodin Garden. Can anyone tell where it is?...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:23:54 -0500

A quick visit to the Rodin Garden. Can anyone tell where it is? :)

I sing for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and we are presenting...

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:07:43 -0500

I sing for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and we are presenting Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque along with many other glorious carols and Christmas pieces tomorrow Wed Dec 7 at the York Minster Baptist Church in Toronto. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.

Thomas Allen shows less is more. Last night I attended Sir...

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:59:09 -0400

Thomas Allen shows less is more.

Last night I attended Sir Thomas’ recital at the Toronto Summer Music Festival. He delivered a program of Schumann’s Dichterliebe plus a mix of songs by Beethoven, Schubert and pieces by English composers Bridge, Warlock and Michael Head.

At age 67, Sir Thomas may not have the youthful timbre in his tone, as shown in this recording, but instead he has absolute control and sophisticated musicianship to make him an effective communicator.

Quote by Lincoln Kirstein

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:34:40 -0400

There is no dilettantism in the professional ball player, pianist or violinist… Elite is a word to be fought for.

RIP Cy Twombly - died in Rome @ age 83

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:48:56 -0400

RIP Cy Twombly - died in Rome @ age 83

Toronto Symphony Orchestra strikes gold with the kids - latimes.com

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:09:30 -0400

Toronto Symphony Orchestra strikes gold with the kids - latimes.com:

Flex schedule, programming & discount tix make winning formula

Paul Krugman addressed ECOT.CA

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:21:00 -0400

Dr. Paul Krugman told the Economic Club of Toronto this AM that the global economic crisis is long term. Canada, though faring better than the US, may yet feel the pain.

Krugman broadly touched on a number of issues including why the monetary policy is not working, why inflation may boost the current economy and how the artificial values of emerging market currencies are hurting developed countries in the west.

On a side note, he also argued why public healthcare insurance is more cost effective than private options.

Amazing Grace

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:53:02 -0400

For an artist like Jessye Norman who has achieved just about all there’s to accomplish for a singer, what is motivating her to continue to perform?

No one can deny that her performance of show tunes and jazz numbers in Toronto tonight, as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival, was flawed, especially the first half of the program. Her vibrato and portamento could not cover her occasional uneven tone and no stage gesture could distract the audience from a flat note.

However, in her restrained moments when she trusted her voice and the music to do the work, she created magic. Her sotto voce and her beautifully controlled legato lines simply hushed the hall to silence. Of the show tune numbers her interpretation of the Gershwin songs was the most convincing to me, perhaps because she didn’t add more than what the music required.

Contrary to what a recent Gramophone review said about her tributes to some of the great jazz singers - Simone, Horne and Fitzgerald - that section of the concert was the most compelling. She seemed more at ease with the microphone in hand, even though she hardly used it or needed it. The little bit of amplification seemed to have eased her to do more with less. She sang Stormy Weather almost entirely in whisper, and what whisper it was.

At intermission many audiences commented on what a diva she was. There’s no question she loved the adoration from her fans and the spotlight on the stage. However it would be unfair to dismiss her as ego-centric or another performer who doesn’t know when to quit. Despite the flaws and blemishes of her voice, she delivered a generous, heart felt and convincing show.

It’s this generosity, courage and passion that create the DNA of an artist. For that I am grateful for Norman’s performance tonight.

News Desk: Obama and Gay Marriage : The New Yorker

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:19:14 -0400

News Desk: Obama and Gay Marriage : The New Yorker:

Great article on why Obama should speak his mind on gay marriage.

The house that changes the opera & ballet scene in Toronto

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:30:34 -0400

The house that changes the opera & ballet scene in Toronto:

The Four Seasons Centre puts Toronto on the world map of culture.

TSO names Jonathan Crow as concertmaster - The Globe and Mail

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:10:42 -0400

TSO names Jonathan Crow as concertmaster - The Globe and Mail:

Peter Oundjian couldn’t contain his excitement apparently after the Mahler Symphony 5 concert.

Unexpected items in a flea market in Madrid

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:18:00 -0400

Unexpected items in a flea market in Madrid

The people in Spain are speaking out. Found myself in the middle...

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:15:50 -0400

The people in Spain are speaking out. Found myself in the middle of a demonstration.

Madrid photo preview: Plaza del Oriente

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:13:35 -0400

Madrid photo preview: Plaza del Oriente

How Small Businesses Are Using Mobile [INFOGRAPHIC]

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:06:41 -0400

How Small Businesses Are Using Mobile [INFOGRAPHIC]:

Small and medium-sized businesses rely heavily on mobile technologies. In fact, our smartphones and other mobile devices have become so critical to day-to-day operations that a majority of small companies around the U.S. say they couldn’t run their companies without mobile technologies. These …

Lady Gaga's Social Media Strategy

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:13:00 -0400

Lady Gaga's Social Media Strategy:

steverubel:

A good breakdown that, well, breaks down a bit when you consider she also had significant play across all four media clovers.

iCloud

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:33:00 -0400

So iCloud is unveiled today. Until I get a new iPhone, I can’t take full advantage of it. Will you pay for this service? Can’t wait to test it out to decide.

I discovered this rarely performed piece of music -...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:30:00 -0400

I discovered this rarely performed piece of music - Medtner’s piano concerto 3 at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert on Sat. Parts of it reminded me of Liszt’s music, strangely.

Jackson Pollock Number 31, 1950

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 19:04:00 -0400

I first saw this painting in MOMA about 15 years ago. I remember it was framed by two Giacometti sculptures in the same room. I was immediately drawn to the canvas by the dancing lines and bouncing drips.

The painting is in the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto at the moment as part of the MOMA AbEX touring exhibition. I saw it this afternoon and it was love at first sight again.