The Sound Post » NY Times

Baldwin Dedicated to Classical Music

Colin Oettle — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:18:35 +0000

Alec Baldwin loves classical music. According to the NY Times, Baldwin is not only invested in his role as announcer for the New York Philharmonic’s weekly radio broadcasts, but he is also a die-hard classical music fan. Daniel Wakin writes that Baldwin was offered the position after the Phil took notice of his patronage. The NY Phil regularly keeps tabs on its celebrity concert-goers, offering them tickets in exchange for publicity.

The Phil first booked Baldwin as narrator for an “Inside the Music” series in 2008—a program where a work is first explained and then performed. Then, after Baldwin joked that he’d like to quit acting and become a classical music radio presenter, the Phil pounced on his apparent interest and made an offer.

Now, as Baldwin records radio announcements between acting commitments like this winter’s “It’s Complicated” and NBC’s “30 Rock,” he sets his schedule around musical events he refuses to miss. Last May, he contracted time off to see Daniel Barenboim conduct Mahler’s ninth symphony. Baldwin’s interest in classical music began on a soap opera set when he was 24, when a staging director chided him for not recognizing Berlioz’s “March to the Scaffold” from Symphony Fantastique. Now, Baldwin listens to classical everywhere from his home to his car, and has a constantly expanding library of works.

Baldwin prefers mostly romantic composers; he says he likes more “emotive” kinds of music. Some of his favorites include Mahler and Tchaikovsky, having earned his preference by his own standard: music he wants played at his funeral.

Read the full story here.

Juilliard Acquires Beethoven and Mendelssohn Manuscripts

Colin Oettle — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:20:20 +0000

To mark the completion of a $200 million addition, The Juilliard School will host a lecture event tonight at Alice Tully Hall. The school is expected to announce the acquisition of two original manuscripts as gifts from Bruce Kovner, chairman of Juilliard and billionaire trader. Including the two newest articles, Kovner will have donated 140 manuscripts to the Juilliard archive.

The two items include a copy of Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” sonata and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” each containing revisions and notes by its respective composer. There will be a concert as part of the event showcasing other works whose manuscripts have been obtained. This includes Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge” and the last act of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.”

Kovner has expressed his intent to make these manuscripts available to scholars, having already begun processing the artifacts for access on juilliardmanuscriptcollection.org Read about the event, the acquisitions, and the archive here (source: NYT).

Aaron Rosand Says Goodbye to His Guarneri

Colin Oettle — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:55:32 +0000

Violinist Aaron Rosand relinquished his violin in a London hotel last week after more than half a century with the instrument. Rosand sold the instrument because he “had” to; he wanted to ensure it will be played as he approaches his golden years—a contingency to which the Russian billionaire who bought the violin agreed.

Rosand says parting with the instrument “felt as if I left part of my body behind.” The Guarneri del Gesu was made in 1741, and previously belonged to violinist Paul Kochanski, earning it the nickname “ex-Kochanski.” Rosand spent his career with that violin, and says he sold it to make sure it continued to see the hands of capable violinists.

Although his performing days are waning, Rosand is staying involved with the arts—particularly his Alma Mater, The Curtis Institute of Music. Mr. Rosand has already donated $1.5 million to the conservatory after the sale, and intends to continue giving. The price tag of his instrument: $10 million.

Source: NY Times.