January 2023

Image: Natalia Grigoryevna Gutman, photograph from Bolshoi Theatre site

January 2023

 

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
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22	23	24	25	26	27	28
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2023 has started!

 I hope you all had a peaceful and happy holiday season. January has arrived and our beloved orchestras have announced so beautiful programmes. Starting this year, I will add the radio programming of the NDR radiophilharmonie and also live broadcast of the BBC to the calendar. We all love video livestreams, however, the radio📻 is a powerful source of transmission, unmissable and available to anyone.

Covers 2023

 The January cover will be dedicated to the cellist Natalia Grigoryevna Gutman, her playing is awesome! What technique, amazing! It was enough for me to listen to it just once to remember her name. Completely admirable! If I were a cellist, she would be one of my references. 🎻

This year, the covers will be reserved for violoncellists (because I have noticed the predominance of compositions for the piano, but I will write about this topic on the next post), and as you all know my favorite pieces are those starring the violoncello. I'll give myself a taste about the covers.

Suggestion 

 I would like to tell you that Christopher Herrmann (cellist) has told me not to forget to listen to «smaller groups like quartett or quintet». My first thought was Wigmore Hall channel have specialized in broadcasting concerts of groups and I love it, but, it is true that we are mostly fans of orchestras, then it is important to know and enjoy works intended or arranged for small groups. Please write down or send me programs (or channels) about this type of groups, because we are missing out on great compositions.

Remember

On the other hand, I would like to remind you all that the spirit of the calendar, its reason for existing, is so that all of us have an à la carte schedule within reach of a click, a schedule that is freely available to anyone, a broad schedule, a daily schedule. It is important that you write in the comments (or by message on my social networks) those channels or websites that are yet to be incorporated into the calendar. The objective is that every day of the year we enjoy music and that we could choose between different programmes. 😍

Expectations

 In 2023 my musical expectations are to discover new compositions, complete, long, deep and authentic works that make me listen to them hundreds of times. I would also like to hear the work of soloists with a little more personal techniques, perhaps inventive. Sometimes, when I listen to the student, I seem to be listening to the teacher, and it seems perfect, but the teacher has already created his/her own style, an own musical label.

Anecdote

 A few of months ago, I listened to a live programme -very beautiful- so I heard it again some days later, then, oh, what disgusting comments! I was negatively surprised by the expressions used: «the soloist is fine, but the accompaniment is very bad», «the orchestra is getting worse», «the violins sounded very low», et cetera. So, my answers were (unintentionally hilarious) «get on stage and demonstrate a better accompaniment», «do a live broadcast and demonstrate your playing abilities» and «the audience wants to hear you». Their answers were more than obvious: «it's my opinion», «I don't live in that place», «it's a ship that is going to sink if we don't say something».

This led me to the following reflection: How did the concept of "criticism" become an antidote that validates any opinion? Opinion or criticism? I could comment, from my point of view, on the beauty -or ugliness- of the works of Raffaello or Michelangelo, but I cannot -from my baggage- criticize their work because I understand little about the entire process of painting or sculpture. However, someone recently said: «to criticize the work of a president of the government, should we all be presidents? [then, by analogy he said] we don't need to be musicians to criticize their work». Um, what a logic and false analogy!

What are the similarities between a musician and a president? A president of a nation is elected, paid and required to fulfill his campaign promises. A musician does not have the power to decide the course of a pandemic, nor can he influence the public budget or make decisions in the economic sphere. So, should we judge with the same severity the work of both? Why should we demand without measure the results of the musicians? A government president has a team of people, who guide and advise at all times. It's not about importance! The difference is in power and influence over our daily lives. I am sorry to disappoint him but I must say that musicians create art. The job of a president and a musician are completely different. It goes without saying that musicians are artists, not presidents and even less machines, robots or objects.

Since when did the audience behave like spoiled children that nothing and nobody satisfies? How is it possible that someone believes that a musician should be required in the same way as a president?

For me, the real criticism comes from those who make music, on stage.

 

💓 Lots of love to all!! 

 

PS. Please take care not to catch the virus this season (or ever). My mother presented symptoms last Christmas Eve, thank God she is fine, I was very worried. Don't let your guard down. See you soon.