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Tonight on Tonic: the number five. Doesn’t seem that exciting, does itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> June 08, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots New New Sounds Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 8-09 at 03:30 PM 

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But the electronic music broadcast tonight on The Signal is no “hey ma look what I wrote” GarageBand tinkering. It’s music from some extraordinary creative souls, like Ghislain Poirier, Martin Tetreault and Akufen.

–> October 06, 2008 Beck On Drive Today! Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 6-08 at 10:55 AMbuffalo sabres jerseys,upside tall bootsnbsp;

–> March 08, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots At Least 76 Trombones Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 8-09 at 12:00 PM 

But 21st century klezmer is extremely multifaceted, as today’s edition of Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) will aptly demonstrate when Jurgen presents what he’s calling Klez Is More. Just how multi-faceted is today’s klez, you askjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Here’s how:

Properly this post should be accompanied by a photo of Katie belly dancing, but oddly enough she didn’t send me one. Not that she’s shy — in fact she tells me doing a belly dance demo for her colleagues at CBC Montreal is an annual holiday tradition. Still, I’ve no photographic evidence.

Tonight’s concert features music from one of five sold out shows in January celebrating Tyson’s 75th birthday, recorded at the Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove Alberta. But if you haven’t heard him lately, don’t expect to hear the Tyson of Navajo Rug or Four Strong Winds fame.

Serena Ryder sings like she’s felt a lot. So it came as no real surprise to read that many of the songs on her latest recording, Is It O.K., were written following the death of someone she loved. In fact the recording is dedicated to that friend, Bonnie O’Donnell. (You can read more about how her friend inspired her here.)

But why do you want to hear Diana Krall in concertjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! What is it about her music that appeals to youjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Share your thoughts by commenting right here at The Radio 2 Blog.

Continue reading “Gregarious (Musical) Machines” »

–> November 29, 2008 Met Broadcasts Resume With Faust Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-29-08 at 10:26 AM 

–> March 09, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Every Banjo Has Its Day Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 9-09 at 07:00 PM 

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–> Saturday Afternoon At The Opera: Partenope Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 9-09 at 10:13 AM 

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As you may have already heard (how could you have missed itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!), we have some give-aways happening here at Radio 2 to celebrate the release of jazz starlet Sophie Milman’s silky new album, “Take Love Easy.”

Karita Mattila is Tatiana, “a country girl who enjoys the quiet joys of rustic life” and falls in love with a sophisticate, always a mistake. The sophisticate is Eugene Onegin, performed by Thomas Hampson, who fails to love her back, at least, in timely fashion.

It’s Project Philou, tonight on Canada Live starting at 8 p.m.

Here are a few example of some of the artists you’ll be able to hear:

Haydn as you have never heard Haydn before!

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Drive listeners didn’t hesitate to tell him — the show has received over 100 emails featuring their top picks. And tomorrow, Friday November 7th, in the third hour of the show, the resulting top ten (or twelve, depending on time) will be played.

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Tonight Canada Live (8 p.m.) broadcasts the tribute, which includes some of the obvious songs like Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind and Early Morning Rain, and the less obvious — I’ll Tag Along, From The Forest…and many more in both categories. (Performers include Jason Fowler, Liam Titcomb, Cadence, Ken Whiteley, Jory Nash, Royal Wood, Oh Susanna…a very nice lineup.)

Continue reading “The God Of Harmony” »

First of all, the two things in the subject heading have nothing to do with each other. But I wanted to draw your attention to two features on air today on Radio 2. (And it worked, didn’t itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

Jian also wrote about the experience of meeting Mr. Cohen, an article slugged Leonard Cohen, The Bard On A Wire. (Oh, those clever headline writers.)

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Continue reading “RPM: Daniel Lanois’ Acadie” »

All from different age groups. All from different regions of the province. But put them together and you get a rollicking musical crowd. “A Crowd of Bold Sharemen,” to be precise.

“Q: How did you morph from ‘the Debbie Gibson of Canada’ to the fierce voice on ‘Jagged Little Pill’jerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

And then there’s his four cello version of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir:

–> April 09, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots “Nothing Is Wasted Or Gratuitous” Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 9-09 at 08:30 AM 

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–> September 29, 2008 Q&A With Ron Sexsmith Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-29-08 at 11:00 AM 

On the weekend, we discussed the benefits (and inevitable drawbacks) of poor Henry Purcell’s death by chocolate. Now today, on The Signal we are pleased to present to you: a cocoa tin. Sort of.

8. Stage vs. the radio studio — thoughtsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> May 04, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Music Monday: Evening Edition Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 4-09 at 03:30 PM 

–> June 09, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Trip For Two, Montreal For You Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 9-09 at 02:00 PM 

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Meanwhile, here are the 5 W’s of Ms. Zaki Ibrahim:

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–> October 13, 2008 Drive “Lives” Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-13-08 at 10:30 AM 

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Continue reading “White-Hot Dramatic Sweep” »

Like every sort of music under the sun, Food Music is not an easily defined genre — in fact just as jazz has many sub-genres (swing, bebop etc.) Food Mu. has any number of offshoots. For instance:

–> June 05, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Paying Tribute To Pete Seeger Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 5-09 at 03:30 PM 

Continue reading “Doctor Atomic Starring Gerald Finley” »

There’s also Thomas Quasthoff singing Gerswhin and Johnny Hartman with his version of The Very thought of You (shivers), and Ken Nordine.

Cliffhanger: Will justice be served or will politics play out to a deadly conclusionjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

A quick note about “rusalka.” In English they’re mermaids, in German, ondines, and to the Slavic peoples of Eastern and Central Europe, they are rusalki. If you don’t know your Dvorak, Disney, or HC Anderson, here is the story in brief: Rusalka falls in love with a mortal prince. To be with him, she sacrifices her immortality and her voice. (For full synopsis please continue reading to the end of the post.)

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Czech composer Korngold was one of those child prodigy types, (some have even compared him to Wolfie), born in 1897 and beginning to compose when he was around eight. It happens. Anyway, his Violin Concerto was written much, much later than that, after he’d moved to the States and had a very successful career writing music for Hollywood — the Violin Concerto was premiered by Jascha Heifetz in the late 1940s.

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Continue reading “Through the Opera Gateway” »

Continue reading “The Sound Of Borders Dissolving” »

Fans of Ron Sexsmith take note — tonight you can hear him in concert at Massey Hall, on Canada Live (8 p.m.) Speaking of fans, true fans tend to flock together (being fans of a feather). And even with Facebook etc., the tried and true message board is still a hub of fan-activity.

That’s not his usual style (the show would not be called Farrago if it were!) But Jurgen considers Nalini a “wonderful singer, arranger and songwriter.” And on top of that she’s also a physics professor, astronomer and “tomato grower of local renown.” So today’s show is called “The Singer and the Universe: A Diane Nalini Hour.”

Tues 24: The Duhks
Wed 25: Lubo & Kaba Horo
Thurs 26: Ndidi Onukwulu
Fri 27: k.d. lang
Sat 28: Kathleen Edwards

This week the final episode of The Nerve explores the idea of whether or not music can inherently embody emotional qualities; the episode is called Sentimental Journey: Music And Emotion.

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2008 has been and continues to be pretty cuckoo. Which is why it’s not a bad idea to take a deep breath, and, corny as it may sound, count our blessings. Each one of us.

–> May 24, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Project Philou… on Canada Live! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-24-09 at 02:30 PM 

Tomorrow, Thursday, Shad will be on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) with Rich Terfry, performing and talking about music. That’s in the third hour of the show.

Saturday Afternoon At The Opera starts at noon o’clock today (1:00 AT, 1:30 NT), the early start to happily accommodate the return of the The Metropolitan Opera to the airwaves, with a new production of La Damnation de Faust, by Hector Berlioz.

What: “Let’s just leave it at ‘urban…Let’s figure out what the hell ‘urban’ means and then get back to me.” -As quoted in Now Magazine

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–> October 08, 2008 Drive Live — Martha Wainwright Today Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 8-08 at 10:45 AM 

Espace Musique has some of the performances online too — just watched/listened to Yannick-Muriel Noah singing a Kurt Weill piece — beautiful!

–> April 30, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Life And Times Of Pete Seeger Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-30-09 at 03:29 PM 

2. Talking to James Levine, for that same program, and somehow malapropping his name to “Leveen.” As in, “Oh Mr. Leveen, so nice of you to take this call.” Thank God for editing, that’s all I can say.

The production stars, among others, another Canadian, John Relyea. That same article says Relyea is “a vocally commanding Méphistophélès, mixing stentorian power with wily, seductive lyricism.” Nice. The opera also stars tenor Marcello Giordani as Faust, and soprano Susan Graham as the object of his passion, Marguerite.

Well, I’ll see Jurgen’s quirky music with a different brand of “instrumental quirk.” Both of these videos are under two minutes, so quirky does not have time to become annoying.

At its 1894 premiere, she shocked audiences with a 19th century “wardrobe malfunction,” inadvertently (perhaps) baring her bosom. Despite ensuing chatter, the opera did not go over so well. Massenet revised it in 1897, but it still met with a bit of “meh.” Finally, in 1903, with Lina Cavalieri in the title role in Milan, Massenet hit pay dirt, and had a hit on his hands. Since then, Thajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!s hasjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! been a favourite of sopranos who want to portray the glamorous title role. (Plus it’s quite the virtuoso turn, vocally speaking.)

Heads up! Tomorrow, Friday September 12th Ron Sexsmith is the first “Drive Live” guest — he’ll sit down with host Rich Terfry on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), play some tunes, talk some talk — this in the third hour of Friday’s programme.

“…if you look up the word “melody” in the dictionary, you’ll see a photo of Burt Bacharach. If you asked thousands of record buyers and record makers who they considered to be the most gifted pop melodicist of the last 30 years, most of them would probably agree on three men: Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Burt Bacharach.”

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Continue reading “Daniel Lanois On Drive Friday” »

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Nice. But for those of us who don’t know our tight ends from a…well, you can fill in the blank…we’d best stick to the music alone.

When you hear Diana Krall singing, jot down the song-title, date and time you heard it, and send an e-mail to krallconcert@cbccheap mlb jerseys,patrick kane team usa jersey,ugg boots.

That’s one way of describing Strauss’s opera Salome (”reality twisted to extract maximum emotional effect”). Jonathan Darlington, Music Director of Vancouver Opera put it that way — talking about his favourite Strauss opera, broadcast today on SATO.

So what are the components of music that create emotional responsesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Is there any universality when it comes to music and the emotional responses we have to itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! These are some of the questions The Nerve’s guests discuss today. They include film composer Howard Shore (pictured here), probably best known for his scores for Lord Of The Rings and Silence Of The Lambs, though he also did the music for the recent opera based on David Cronenberg’s The Fly, and Laura-Lee Balkwill from the Music Cognition Lab at Queen’s University.

Competitions in music are controversial — but no one can deny the impact they can have on a career. And the MIMC has showcased some of the best singers in the world — Marianne Fiset and Measha Brueggergosman are just two laureates who can attest to that.

Today SATO host Bill Richardson presents highlights from the various rounds of competition, and goes behind the scenes with conversations with competitors, jurors, audience members and Montreal’s musical movers and shakers.

–> January 18, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Quirk Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-18-09 at 12:30 PM 

In Somali, his name means “Traveler.” And since K’naan is Mogadishu-born and now Toronto-based, he’s lived up to his name… But the rapper’s geographic moves haven’t been due to any wanderlust.

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How To Buy An Oud, via Alsiadi’s Beginners Guide To Buying Oud (sic)

He’s won two Pulitzer prizes, he’s the first composer to be honoured with a United States National Arts Medal, he’s a Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, and today he’s 100 years old. And tonight American composer Elliott Carter will be celebrated on The Signal (10 p.m.)

6. True or False: You were once scouted by A. The Lansing Lugnuts B. The New York Yankees C. The Mount Uniacke Unicorns

–> April 20, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…David Foster Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-20-09 at 02:00 PM 

“Regina Giddens and her two brothers are an acquisitive nouveau riche southern family who have fuelled their greed through cynical marriages, the exploitation of workers, and now theft and murder. With a lucrative business deal in their sights, they attempt to outplay each other in a destructive quest for profit and power. It is Regina — as mother, sister, wife, and aunt — who is most venomous, callously bullying her family to get what she wants. She may be victorious, but is left alone, as her daughter Alexandra finds the strength to escape the cycle of destruction.”

Thanks to Newfoundland guitarist Duane Andrews for that — Andrews was commissioned by CBC to write an arrangement of some of Haydn’s music, and he chose the first movement of the String Quartet Opus 76 No. 2.

One of the most amazing (and rather well documented of late) things about Carter is how his creativity has continued into his old age — he composed nine new pieces in 2007, just as an example. Today, his actual 100th birthday, there are concerts around the world of this music — the Carter100 website is an excellent source of information on that front.

Here’s a great story from 1930s Hollywood. Comedienne Fanny Brice and Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg met at a Hollywood party hosted by Harpo Marx. Upon meeting him Brice, legend has it, said: “C’mon professor, play us a tune.” (Whether Schoenberg sat down and played, and what he played if he did, isn’t known.)

Continue reading “Live Times Five… on Drive! ” »

It was 1979 when the above claim was made — by no less than Billboard magazine. And while the disco-sucks legacy may poo poo, it’s true that Montreal was a disco destination for the international jetset in the late 1970s.

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Continue reading “Saturday Afternoon At The Opera: Partenope” »

10. Mantra for the new radio seasonjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

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–> September 05, 2008 Wired For Sound: Music And The Human Experience Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 5-08 at 11:03 AM 

If you’re not familiar with the opera and want a small preview — you may want to listen to Gerald Finley singing Batter My Heart, from the end of Act 1 of the Amsterdam production of the work. It’s beautiful.

Continue reading “Controversial Sleepwalker” »

–> November 22, 2008 Puccini Double Header: Turandot & Gianni Schicchi Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-22-08 at 10:30 AM 

The nutshell version of the story, in case you are not familiar with Parsifal, is this:

Continue reading “Sophie Milman on Canada Live tonight!” »

And just imagine the off-the-cuff demonstrations that could arise from the Symphonie Fantastique… A little chit-chat about how to artistically portray an opium addiction, or a dream about murdering one’s loverjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Please continue reading for more details about La Rondine.

It’s not easy being a living legend, but Pete Seeger seems to manage. The folk-singer, environmental activist, and all around good guy turned 90 on May 3rd, and there were many tributes, gracefully acknowledged by Seeger.

And wow, those hands at the end — flying!

Of course the exploration of “high” and “not high” art is part of the essence of In Tune, when host Katherine Duncan looks at where classical music and popular culture meet. Today she shares this story, as well as some updates on other stories making classical music news:

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re: that country to city transition — in a 1981 interview Cockburn is quoted as saying:

There’s a lot of territory covered, as dub is the basis for much contemporary dance music and is also at the heart of remix culture. Like reggae, it’s truly international. If you tune in you’ll hear interviews with some real pioneers of the music including Adrian Sherwood, Bill Laswell, Twilight Circus, Clifton Joseph and Leroy Sibbles.

It’s one thing to learn English through learning music though, another to meet and befriend the man who created the song that so moved you — in this case, Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo. And then to go on, years later, and record a new version of that song with that man.

–> March 17, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Sound Of Borders Dissolving Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-17-09 at 04:27 PM 

That’s something else, ehjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! And an indication that Harpo’s impact as a musician should not be underestimated. As Jonathan Richman said in his song, When Harpo Played His Harp:

–> The Wordsmiths Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-30-09 at 09:54 AM 

4. He plans to collaborate with Céline Dion.
(Céline Is Taking Chances On Opera)

9. Big hair: friend or foejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

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“They’re a crack live band who can turn even the poshest venue into a downhome Newfoundland kitchen party.” — Sun Media

Continue reading “Hoy Yoh Toh Hoh!” »

Today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) Jurgen presents the (Mostly) Mose Allison Songbook.
“Mostly,” because it’ll be songs written by or made famous by Mose Allison, but also some versions by other singers of songs Allison did, and even music from his daughter, Amy Allison, who sounds not one jot like her famous Dad. (Though she also sounds not a jot like anyone else, as you’ll hear if you click on the last link.)

Who: “Toronto singer Zaki Ibrahim may prove to be the star that outshines all others”-Hour

Continue reading “Oscar and Oliver” »

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And he should know. Only 26, Lang Lang travels the world to perform (when he’s not writing books or endorsing running shoes.

Tom, it should be noted, is big on Carey and California. (He also claims to have once had a dream that included the horns and funky bass of Dry Cleaner From DesMoines. We should all be so lucky.)

The emphasis should be on “delicious,” though, “earnest” sounds so, well “earnest.” And what I’ve heard of her music definitely falls more on the delicious side of the musical equation. You can get a sense of Ibrahim’s music yourself on Friday’s Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), when she’s in studio to perform, and to chat with Mr. Terfry.

–> Evolution: Live Broadcast Coming Up! Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-26-09 at 03:00 PM 

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Continue reading “Drive “Lives”" »

It’s probably not too big a stretch to say La Bohème is on the shortest of short lists that is headed: World’s Most Popular Operas. It’s the ultimate story of love, not among the ruins, but among the artistic lives that inhabit the impoverished but vital Latin Quarter in Paris.

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Bacharach, who studied with French composer Darius Milhaud, was apparently embarrassed by early efforts — but then Milhaud, according to one interview (see Burt Bacharach In Love With Us) told his student: “Never be ashamed of a melody.”

Continue reading “Montreal’s Electronic Signature” »

You can also weigh in on which composition you like the best:

–> December 21, 2008 Joy To The World! Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-21-08 at 04:30 AM 

This week the long list for the Polaris Prize came out. Full disclosure: the Radio 2 Blogger is on the jury. And behind the scenes there is much gnashing over who made it onto the list, and why.

–> September 04, 2008 Ten Questions For Tom Allen Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 4-08 at 11:00 AM 

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A few years back when TV shows started popping up with titles like “My Music,” and the concept of creating one’s own playlists became as ubiquitous as the reality of having an MP3 player upon which to listen to them, the trend towards music as a marker of who you are was underscored as never before.

Continue reading “Brahms Festival Begins On Tempo” »

3. The quality you most admire in a radio hostjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

In the past few years everyone’s been all over the brain. And why not, there’s much still-being-charted territory. Consequently the growing body of knowledge about how music works so deeply into us bipods has led to an excitable burst of explaining and theorizing.

Continue reading “New New Sounds” »

Continue reading “Interviews & Music Docs Online” »

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For more details about the opera cast and characters, and plot synopsis, please continue reading.

“There are few things as glorious as stride piano.”

Love potion # Donizetti today, with the comedy L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love), featuring Angela Gheorghiu as Adina, and Massimo Giordano as Nemorino. It comes to you from the Met, and is broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT).

Although not hugely and internationally famous in the manner of the other violinists in the documentary, Oliver Schroer had a remarkable impact on the musicians and audiences he encountered. In this doc you can hear him playing and speaking about his relationship with the fiddle, and it also incorporates one of his performances from his final concert, in June of this year.

The same could be said about life, nojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Interesting words from Kent Nagano, conducter of the OSM.

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But this holiday day post eschews the resolution and resolutely turns towards the idea of musical “intentions” instead. According to Kavit Haria,team canada hockey jersey blank white, a “musicians’ coach,” having musical intentions requires searching our innermost self to find out how passionately we want to achieve a specific musical goal.

How the bluesy, soulful Ms. Potvin got that way:

–> December 05, 2008 Gregory Charles Hears Wedding Bells Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 5-08 at 04:00 PM 

–> June 23, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Dijon Of The Bass World Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-23-09 at 03:46 PM 

–> Ben Heppner In Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-13-08 at 10:00 AM 

This week and next you can hear Wagner on SATO, today his earliest international success, Rienzi, and next week his late masterpiece, Parsifal.

Speaking of Dylan and Smith, you may want to watch this (shaky, hand-held but not bad sound) version of Dylan & Smith singing Dark Eyes, in 1995. Do their voices blend beautifullyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Well no, but it still has its own kind of beauty.

–> January 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Critics On Demand Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-21-09 at 10:30 AM 

Suzanne is one of Cohen’s most famous songs. But the Suzanne who inspired it was relatively unknown until a few years ago when people like CBC’s Paul Kennedy started telling her story.

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I’ve climbed to the top of the tallest tree in Mt. Uniacke (my home town)!! I needed to be able to listen to the college station in the distant city. It was really high up. I had my eyes closed.

–> November 21, 2008 Music Documentaries, Comin’ Up Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-21-08 at 03:37 PM 

Who is Jully Blackjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Some have said she’s “vying for the title of Canada’s Queen Latifah” (due to her multitalented ways — she’s a singer/songwriter and TV personality). But she says:

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Admittedly these musicians don’t have what you’d call “household name recognition.” (With the exception, maybe, of Grizzly Bear, pictured here.) So if they’re new to you, here are a few reasons you might want to tune into The Signal to hear the latest.

Today, Jian talks with Gordon Lightfoot. Among other things, Gordie talks about worries while writing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, and why at this stage of his life he’s reticent to get involved with women. (The latter is one of those fascinating if slightly odd radio moments!)

Today the much-loved Jurgen Gothe launches his new show, Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT). Most of the music will come from his own collection, and you can just imagine how rich a collection that must be.

Continue reading “Polaris Winner “Caribou” Live On Drive” »

But back to Ron. He’s been quietly writing and singing songs others love for decades, and here are a few reasons why, courtesy of Metacritic:

But when the Dave Brubeck Quartet put out an entire album of songs in bizarre time signatures, the number five as featured in their track “Take Five” was a very exciting number.

Actually, they probably wouldn’t be. As the blurb for the Vanity Fair opera feature says: “Meet seven international opera stars who are putting to rest the fat lady sings cliché, via live broadcasts to movie theaters.”

James Joyce might have found Twitter a challenge. Or would hejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Today being Bloomsday (the day when “Joyceans” around the world re-enact Ulysses) chapter ten of Ulysses is performed on Twitter by an interesting guy named Ian Bogost.

It’s not every day that a hard-slogging songwriter from a teensy town outside of Sarnia, Ontario gets praise from U2 frontman, Bono.

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–> April 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Provisions & French Horns Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-10-09 at 10:30 AM 

Of course if you are having your own lunch while listening, approach with caution. A listener named Allan noted: “The Chef interview is great but it sure makes my lunch of a peanut butter sandwich look a little anemic!”

You’ve probably heard some of those romantic songs, like Juliet and A Mirror Without on Drive, because Royal Wood is a bit of a Drive favourite. Actually, the show claims to adore him! So they are pleased as punch to have Mr. Wood in studio today, to play some music at the piano, and chat with Rich about his latest recording, The Lost And Found EP.

–> January 04, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Wide, Wide World Of Vocal Ensembles Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 4-09 at 02:02 PM 

Please keep reading for full cast and character details, and the plot synopsis. (And don’t forget the opera has an early start time today, 12 o’clock in most of the country, 1 Atlantic, 1:30 Newfoundland).

–> March 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Sarah McLachlan — “Quite Amazing” Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-12-09 at 07:11 PM 

“Montreal is the second most important disco market on the continent, outside New York.”

The opera is based on a novella by Alexander Pushkin, and basically it’s about a man who loses his fortune (and his mind) to gambling. Apparently Tchaikovsky was not keen on his brother Modest’s libretto at first, he said the subject didn’t move him. It seems he changed his mind though, if later letters to his brother are to be believed: “Either I am horribly mistaken, Modya, or the opera is a masterpiece.”

That’s the video of Melody Day, a song from the Caribou recording, “Andorra,” which took home the Polaris Prize last night, a critic’s choice award that burst on the music scene a few years ago, with its $20,000 prize, its mandate of being about the quality of a single Canadian recording.

–> January 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots I Am All Day And Night: The Music Of Frank Zappa Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-16-09 at 03:00 PM 

–> April 03, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Sky Music Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 3-09 at 10:30 AM 

Ms. Frost is on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) on Wednesday, December 17th, singing a Christmas song she wrote with her husband, Jose Contreras, (who you may know from the band By Divine Right), as well as performing a new song from the album she’s recording right now.

But before you get your knickers in a twist thinking you’ve missed the whole thing, do note that the Canada Live Podcast is releasing the entire thing in two stages: Part 1 today, Part 2 on Wednesday, April 1.

Lucky Marilyn Raymond from Surrey BC may have won the tickets to hear L.C. in N.Y.C. (she told Tom Allen she is “thrilled”) but you should know that right now on the Radio 2 website you can hear Cohen’s Live In London concert.

Continue reading “The Lady that Bono Looks Up To: On Canada Live” »

–> June 11, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cowboy Junkies, Skydiggers Double Bill Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-11-09 at 03:59 PM 

The first places in Canada to hear Mozart, Bach and Haydn quite likely were the coastal communities of Labrador, courtesy of Moravian missionaries, who also, circa mid-1700s, brought their own hymns and brass band music.

–> November 23, 2008 If Food Be The Love Of Music… Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-23-08 at 12:00 PM 

Thanks Bill!

The day is of course being marked around the world in performance — as today’s Globe article, 200 Years Later — And Still A Star outlines. (The article also delves into some recent revelations about Mendelssohn that suggest his traditionally viewed “squeaky clean” image may be less than true, but that’s just a tabloid-type diversion.)

Lauren Speers, a.k.a. DJ Chocolate, looks back at the history of dub from late sixties Jamaica, to how the music evolved in Britain, the United States, Canada and elsewhere. The documentary was co-produced by David Dacks, whose 2007 feature article for Exclaim magazine called Dub Voyage provided the basis for the program.

A true story: A Basset Hound named “Arlo” used to “sing” along with Linda Rondstadt’s version of Blue Bayou (only the chorus). It got so when he’d hear the scratchy bit on the song before (an old LP) he’d lumber over to the stereo to get ready to “sing” along.

–> After the Flood: On Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-21-09 at 03:00 AM 

–> October 23, 2008 Zaki Ibrahim Tomorrow On Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-23-08 at 10:45 AM 

If you listen to Drive you’ll know that host Rich Terfry has a bit of a thing for historical birthdays. Last week we jammed to tunes by Stevie Wonder, David Byrne, Brian Eno… all to send some Happy Birthday wishes their way.

“It’s an excuse to gather the tribe…It’s about celebrating another year in the music biz, which is a difficult life and a fun life…” And most tellingly he adds: “The Songwriters’ Circle is a beautiful thing.”

Once they were called bards and troubadours. Then folk musicians. Now, singer-songwriters. And Canada has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the genre.

You know how on SYTYCD they do that goofy thing with the fingers to show what number you need to phone to vote for the contestantsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! (If you don’t know, you probably are of sounder mind than those of us who are addicted to the show, and will now be forced to watch reruns.)

First, the extraordinary talents of “The Marimba Ponies”:

–> October 26, 2008 Lower Than A Snake’s Belly Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-26-08 at 10:30 AM 

Seriously: try to get through one of their ballads without a tear coming to your eye.

–> April 13, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cockburn, Cormier, Ross and McKee…Concerts Tonight! Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-13-09 at 06:27 PM 

Alan Doyle and Sean McCann from Newfoundland’s (mostly Celtic) rock band Great Big Sea are on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) tomorrow, Wednesday, so this is your heads up to hear them playing live in studio, and chatting with host Rich Terfry.

Continue reading “Fidelio: The Power Of Pure Love” »

The Magic Flute - it is (perhaps along with La Bohème) the perfect gateway opera. What better way for children to discover the art form than with ancient Egypt, a lost Prince, a boastful birdcatcher, an exotic Queen with a quest to free a captured Princess, and - last but certainly not least - an enchanted musical instrumentjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

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Yes, songs about vino are so rampant that one blog even posted a Top 100 Drinking Songs list (which implies there must be countless others).

“On a journey through a gloomy kingdom, the prince Golaud happens upon a mysterious girl, weeping beside a forest fountain. He takes her for his wife, but Mélisande’s charms (not to mention her long-tresses) also seem to attract the eye of Golaud’s half brother, Pelléas.”

4. The quality you most admire in a petjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> May 08, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots It’s all Montreal, tonight on Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 8-09 at 04:10 PM 

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Alanis Morissette performed on the debut of Rosie O’Donnell’s new TV show last night. Cannot comment on it, as I was otherwise occupied with choral singing, something Ms. Morissette would be brilliant at. But probably she’s too busy.

But it makes it a slightly more manageable proposition when you narrow the field, as the host and producer of a new series starting up on Inside The Music have.

This programme actually has stats that show ex-prisoners who were involved in the guitar playing workshops have a “re-conviction rate of between 10%-15%” compared to Britains national average of 61%.” Incredible. (Although is it possible that the prisoners who got involved with the music programmes were also prisoners who didn’t “have form,” as they sayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! But keep reading, there are more quantifiable results ahead.)

“It’s important never to allow yourself to think you know the answer because this does not serve the composer or the music.”
-Kent Nagano

And a little b.g. on the opera: Written in 1842, it’s in the tradition of the French Grand Opera, an attempt to outdo the musical excesses of Meyerbeer, Donizetti, Halévy and their contemporaries. It largely succeeded, there were around two hundred performances by the early 1900s. Apparently Wagner considered it something of an embarrassment though — he wouldn’t allow it to be performed at Bayreuth!

As for the story itself, Rienzi was based on the novel, Rienzi, The Last Of The Tribunes, by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Set in ancient Rome, the papal notary, Cola Rienzi, exercises his political prowess to calm an ongoing feud. But as quickly as he is hailed a great leader, the people begin to resent his authority, and the nobles plot to bring him down. Tall poppy syndrome, ever at work.

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They’ve performed (and recorded and toured) together before, something Ingrid has described as one of the most intimate experiences imaginable.

Continue reading “Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Bruce Cockburn” »

“The Concept Album Is Back!” roared a headline in the Times online. (If your reaction was, “Oh no,” you are probably someone who lived through the 1970s.)

–> February 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Il Trovatore Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-28-09 at 10:37 AM 

Britain does seem to be leading the way with these kinds of endeavors though — the Music In Prisons project in the UK has been running since 1995. As well, a very recent study, called Beats And Bars based in large part on this programme concluded that these music programmes also increased prisoners’ “readiness to read and write.” (See Music Boosts Prisoner’s Learning.)

Continue reading “The Cape Breton Connection” »

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“Instead of talking about it Bill, I’ll just play it for you…”. Pinchas Zukerman picks up his violin, smiles at CBC host Bill Richardson, and shows him exactly how Beethoven influenced Brahms in his Symphony No. 1 In C Major Opus 68 (hint: Ode To Joy). But Zukerman doesn’t stop there, then he gets into the nitty gritty of how it should played, with comparisons of various approaches to the music:

–> September 24, 2008 Everything You Always Wanted To Know cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Operalia But… Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-24-08 at 11:00 AM 

Remind me not to order that, next time I’m south of the border.

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Next to “The Taliban Dances,” which no doubt piqued your curiosity.

You can hear The Nerve on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT on Radio 2, with a repeat on Sunday on Radio 1 at 8 p.m., 9AT, 9:30 NT).

–> February 08, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Guitar Pickin’ & Winnipeg New Music Festival Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 8-09 at 01:00 PM 

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It’s kind of a back-handed compliment… but it’s also the story of their band:

Sloan’s 1994 album Twice Removed was named one of the “Best Albums You Didn’t Hear” by Spin magazine. And while some folks might have worried about what that said about their image or their sound, Sloan just kept writing and gigging mercilessly.

–> February 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Neko Case On Tuesday’s Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 2-09 at 12:00 PM 

Continue reading “Prison Music” »

It being Jurgen, the oud is heard in all manner of ways, from traditional, to, well less so.

–> October 02, 2008 Live On Drive: Ron MacLean Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 2-08 at 10:55 AM 

p.s. As for the goat dancejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Here’s what Exploring Romania has to say about that: “The goat dance appears in the habit of the New Year’s Eve as a symbol of fertility and fecundity, connecting the Romanian territory to the Greek antiquity and to the Oriental civilizations.” ‘Nuff said.

Laurie Brown’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year.

Not really. I was drinking a Brandy Alexander at a party and Leslie Feist was there. She asked me what it was and I told her it was the legendary”rock’n'roll” drink that John Lennon and NIlsson were drinking the night they got thrown out of the LA Troubadour in the 70’s. A few days later Leslie emailed me a rough lyric and I went to my piano and wrote the tune.

So you heard it here first — bets on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah making the Top 49. Of course, we won’t know until the ballots are cast — which they will be, starting Monday, Jan. 12 at the Obama’s Playlist website.

And The Essential: Right Hand Basics, via Oud Cafe.

–> March 22, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Day The Bass Players Took Over The World Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-22-09 at 11:06 AM 

I admire lots of different qualities, but I guess that “clutch” is tops. Being clutch - coming through when the game is on the line. Some baseball scholars say there’s no such thing, but I believe in it.

Perhaps Rutledge has more to say about it to Rich Terfry — you can hear for yourself today when Justin Rutledge is on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.).

–> October 29, 2008 Shad On Drive Tomorrow Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-29-08 at 11:00 AM 

It hardly seems possible that a year has already gone by since great Canadian folk singer Willie P. Bennett passed away. Since that time there have been tributes paid in song, and one of those tributes, recorded at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, is broadcast tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.), featuring Jaxon Haldan, Chris Whitely, Russel De Carle, Don Zeuff and Pat Temple.

Now, it’s true that everyone’s talking about the incredible visuals by (Canadian) director Robert LePage, but as the NYTimes points out (Between Hell And Heaven, A World Of Morphing Imagery): “…fascination with the video wizardry should not obscure the big news of the production: the magnificent performance James Levine drew from the orchestra and the robust singing of the Met’s remarkable chorus…”

Continue reading “Who Are The Greatest Canadian Guitaristsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! ” »

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Yes he does. Not that way, but on In The Key Of Charles (Sunday 10:00 a.m., 10:30 NT) this weekend when he explores music connected to weddings, proving there is far more to wedding music than a Chicken Dance/Macarena/YMCA medley.

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Lacking an ability to play trumpet will have to settle for the written equivalent though, Bold or CAPS or better still, BOTH. So here goes:

“When Harpo played his harp, it was a dream, it was — well if someone else can do it, how come nobody doesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!”

–> Haydn Symphonies, One At A Time Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-26-09 at 10:50 AM 

“Thanks so much for this wonderful radio hommage to Claude Vivier. His music is still as fresh today as it was at the time it was created. It has withstood time very well.”

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As you may know, particularly if you read a previous post, Radio 2 Celebrates Olivier Messiaen, this is the weekend leading up to what would have been the composer Olivier Messiaen’s 100th birthday on December the tenth.

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Right now, for another side of Shad — and he has many, watch Brother (Watchin’): skillful, moving, smart.

Continue reading “Spotlight: k.d. In u.k.” »

This past August Festival Vancouver and Early Music Vancouver created a performance of the Greek myth of Pygmalion that brought together singers, instrumentalists and dancers from Vancouver and Montreal — and you can hear some of that music today on Sunday Afternoon In Concert (Sunday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT).

One of the nice things, dare we say “great” things about this little 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year series Radio 2 hosts have participated in, has been the musical reminiscences and recommendations. Today’s contribution, from Nightstream host (and some-time Radio 2 Blog host as well) is a case in point. Philly shares a lovely moment from a live concert, and draws attention to some excellent Canadian musicians. But I won’t give the specifics away, over to (a splendidly summery!) Philly:

–> December 28, 2008 Pat Carrabré’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-28-08 at 05:42 PM 

Evolution is evolving — the CBC Radio-Canada composers competition gets underway this week at the Banff Centre. Five young Canadian composers selected to write pieces for one ensemble — competing for the $20,000 National Composition Grand Prize among other awards — are now settling into their ‘huts’ to write.

–> October 12, 2008 One Cat, One Vote, One Beer! Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-12-08 at 10:30 AM 

Continue reading “Colin Linden On Drive Friday” »

Skydiggers aren’t as well known (see last post!) as the Junkies, which isn’t to say they’re less loved. But the Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions recording of twenty years ago had a huge impact on the Canadian music scene. The international scene too — back then Rolling Stone said the album was a great example of when a recording managed to “establish a mood and sustain it so consistently that the entire record seems like one continuously unfolding song.”

5. Three words that describe the essence of getting ready to host daily national radiojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Tonight in honour of the solstice Laurie plays songs about snow, the solstice itself, and about finding hope in the darkness — all on The Signal. So it seems the perfect moment to post her shortlist of positive experiences in these much bemoaned difficult times.

First, the prizes. Today is your last chance to enter to win a trip to the Montreal Jazz Festival, courtesy of Tonic. Weekend Tonic host Tim Tamashiro has the final question of the contest — all you do is listen for it this evening, answer correctly, and enter the draw. Good luck!

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But will Jurgen be playing string quartet music performed while airbornejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! I think not. So The Radio 2 Blog takes on that task, with this brief excerpt from Stockhausen’s Helicopter String Quartet, in full flight:

Now as to that guitar. Specifically, the relationship between Canadians and guitar.

–> May 26, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Today’s Drive Live: Royal Wood Posted by Li Robbins on May-26-09 at 11:00 AM 

And we quite enjoy hearing them. Today, highlights from this year’s Montreal International Musical Competition (MIMC) are broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera.

Continue reading “Juno Songwriters Circle, By Podcast” »

As for that bluesman claim, here are a few key points as to his bluesman cred:

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Best Impromptu Party: I was living in Vienna when I found out I got the Tempo job. I was celebrating solo with a glass of white wine on a patio. I blurted the news out to three Viennese strangers. We traded in the patio party for a wild night of mojitos** on along the Danube River. (With Big Mac chasers.)

Best Gig: Singing Act 4 Carmen with Canadian Tenor superstar Richard Margison.

Yes, that Ron MacLean. And no, he won’t be picking up a guitar to play when he appears on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) tomorrow, Friday, nor will he make an interference call, as he is in the accompanying picture. (From a stint officiating the second period of the exhibition NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres in 2006. That’s for you hockey geeks reading this.)

Bruce Cockburn is the featured artist in part three of Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums, which you can hear this weekend — broadcast details at end of post.

–> December 17, 2008 Tom Allen’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-17-08 at 10:30 AM 

But when the last drop is poured here’s a reminder that there still remains sweet music to be made, once the glasses are all empty:

As you may know, Tempo has taken it upon itself to present all the symphonic works of “Papa” Haydn, the father of the symphony, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his death. Today we’ve reached the brief, delightful No. 25. A work so delightful that Mozart saw fit to steal it.

Actually it’s Bruce Cockburn’s 30th recording we’re talking about, the man himself is 63, if Wiki and my math are correct. Slice O’ Life comes out March 31, and Cockburn joins Rich Terfry on the Tuesday edition of Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) with some in-studio music and conversation.

Ouch, nice ending. And Nine Tunes In One Minute And Three Seconds, there’s some kind of record! Also, don’t you just love that dissolve from tree to wreathjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Breathtaking.

Continue reading “Paying Tribute To Pete Seeger” »

There are fourteen concerts broadcast in total, from the following places: Reykjavik (Iceland), St-Pjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!lten (Austria), Lisbon (Portugal), Sofia (Bulgaria), Helsinki (Finland), Palo Alto (California, United States), Grjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!sted (Denmark), Prague (Czech Republic), Oslo (Norway), Pécs (Hungary), Stockholm (Sweden), Warsaw (Poland), St-Arnual (Sarrebruck, Germany) and Quebec (Canada).

What would Papa Haydn sayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Possibly he would be impressed by the use of mandolin and guitar, and certainly he would be struck by the Django Reinhardt approach. Not so typical back in the 18th century.

I always loved the first week of school; the opening night of an opera is exciting but not nerve-wracking because I’ve been doing it a long time; starting a radio show is pretty nerve-wracking! It’s an arena that is very new for me. But I am up to the challenge and the performer in me is thrilled to get on the air.

3. What quality do you most admire in a performerjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “Your Most Inspiring Music Teacherjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

You almost expect a punchline — like, ‘well, someone had to.’ Ba dum bum. (As a Torontonian I thought I’d better beat anyone else to the punch.) But it is true that the fabulous pianist is doing his first North American “residency,” in Canada this week, and the city happens to be Toronto.

Note: For another 200th year celebration of Haydn (performed in slightly more traditional mode) tune in this weekend to Sunday Afternoon In Concert — a live broadcast of The Creation oratorio performed by Tafelmusik.

Continue reading “Montreal’s Days Of Disco” »

It’s a fun premise (plot synopsis at the end of post) and as Tommasini says, it “deftly balanced elements of unabashed melodrama with touches of subtle humor…the music is modest and appealing, with a couple of ‘gotcha’ arias.”

6. You co-wrote one of the songs on the album, “Brandy Alexander,” with Feist. (Maybe not in the shadow gospel camp…) You weren’t channeling “Days Of Wine And Roses” were youjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “Lenny And Jian, Together Again” »

That’s part of a description of Gilles Tremblay’s Cedres En Voiles, written for solo cello — and performed tonight on The Signal (10 p.m.) by Matt Haimovitz. (For the full review, see Gilles Tremblay Cedres En Voile.)

A highlight of every week in the life of the Radio 2 Blogger is the stories Katherine is covering on In Tune. She leaves no classical music stone unturned, what she turns up is frequently fun — if not downright wacky.

Continue reading “Jurgen Goes To The Dogs” »

Continue reading “Name That Free Reed Wind Instrument!” »

But here are two real quotes about the music to balance out the fictional:

I couldn’t possibly top that video, but here’s another kind of oddness connected to dance. In this case no felines though, just angst ridden, hormone driven youths — the famous dance scene from Jean Luc Goddard’s 1964 movie, Bande A Part.

When Wagner decided to write an opera based on Norse legends and Icelandic sagas he discovered as he advanced the story that he needed a prequel, then another, and well, you know how it goes — Ring Cycle and “epic” are practically synonymous!

Continue reading “Rich Terfry’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

Continue reading “Do YOU Hear The Lonesome Whistle Blowjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

Tomorrow, Saturday, you can hear the first in a three part series on the iconoclast Frank Zappa, on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT). An incredible musician who embraced and kind of repelled (!) many kind of music, including rhythm and blues, do-wop, jazz, classical — turning them into some of the most unusual compositions you could hope to hear, Zappa made music that definitely fell into the popular music arena, but was both very challenging and very listenable.

“Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve done — there’s a little bit of jazz, a little country, a little of the Ingénue sound, a little Brazilian touch. It really feels like the way I hear music, this mash-up of genres, and I think it reflects all the styles that have preceded this in my catalogue.”

Messiaen had what the folks at the Messiaen 2008 website describe as “an original and unique style which included innovations in harmony and melody.” Very true. But for many of us, one of the most delightful aspects of the music was his interest in birdsong, which he transcribed and incorporated into his own music. Stay tuned to the Radio 2 Blog for more on a Messiaen Birdsong Contest — coming up tomorrow. But for now, here’s the array of Messiaen music/documentary/conversation you can hear this weekend:

–> January 06, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Yes You Can… Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 6-09 at 10:13 AM 

3. Talking to a really great American, composer John Adams, about his memoir Hallelujah Junction.

–> November 02, 2008 Accordion Crimes Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 2-08 at 11:01 AM 

Meantime, here are a few nuggets about Caribou:

For full synopsis and cast and character details, please continue reading.

–> April 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots “The Best Music I’ve Heard In Months” Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 7-09 at 10:00 AM 

It’s a special alchemy that makes words come together with music to form a great song. It’s also a craft requiring dedication. (Or, to paraphrase Leonard Cohen, you have to pay your rent in the tower of song!)

Continue reading “Laurie Brown’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

In the concert Bell Orchestre will play music from their new CD, As Seen Through Windows, and there’ll also be classical works including Shaker Loops by John Adams and Claire de Lune by Debussy. (Note that another Canadian string player, Owen Pallett, is booked to play with the Brooklyn Phil next weekend too.)

Not that this was revolutionary — people who have a strong attachment to music have always identified themselves by their musical choices. You might view this as cultural, political, a marker of economic status and education, regardless there’s no denying the highly charged emotional connection people have to specific music — and how they see that as a reflection of who they are.

“Frank once said that music is the wall paper of your life. How true.”–WayCat

Continue reading “Listen To Cohen Concert Online” »

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She first toured Watershed in the U.K. — to some great response:

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And for those not in Toronto, here’s a brief look at the irrepressible Lang Lang, having a little fun both at the piano and not - - titled “Lang Lang Gone Mad,” although I think that’s a bit unfair — more like Lang Lang fooling around for the camera, and having a massively good time doing it.

If you miss the radio broadcast you can also hear it streaming online at Peter And The Symphony. And if you are seized with a burning desire to follow along with the score — or explore recordings of Bruckner’s fourth — a good starting point is the Bruckner Symphony Versions Discography.

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When all of us hosts here at CBC Radio 2 were asked to provide our list of 5 great things from 2008 by your usual blogger, Li Robbins, we were given a lot of leeway (pardon the pun). Li suggested we could make the list all about our favourite music of the year, all about other things in life (which begs the question “are there other things in lifejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!”) or some combination thereof.

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2. She really does have a voice. Or, as The Independent puts it “with her strong, supple, deep voice, she is inviting, yet ferally fierce.” “Ferally!” Goodness.

In this personal perspective on works revealing the orchestra in all its power and glory, Peter has replaced his baton with a CD player for insightful and intimate conversations and off-the-cuff demonstrations on the piano and violin.

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Willie P. was a masterful songwriter and inspirational musician who touched many lives. A number of musicians have written into Radio 2 to share their stories about Willie P. — and I’d like to share two great stories now, from country bluesman Morgan Davis, and guitarist (with Corb Lund) Grant Siemens.

Continue reading “Newfoundland’s Tom Power Guest Hosts Drive” »

Today Daniel Barenboim conducts Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde, “Live from the Met,” broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera. (Again, with an early start time, you can hear the show from 11-5PM, 1-7 AT, 1:30- 7:30 NT.)

Next there’s web 2.0 promotion of the idea!:

Smith presents four hours of music and conversation about Dylan, including interviews with friends, collaborators and journalists — plus some rare clips from Dylan himself. In the first episode you’ll hear about Dylan’s early years, tracing his move to New York City in 1961 (within two years he was being lauded as the “voice of a generation”).

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But don’t go anywhere after the first nine innings, because SATO also brings you Suor Angelica, a one act opera drawn from the trilogy composed as Il Trittico. The production features soprano Nicole Youl as Suor Angelica, with Andrea Licata leading the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

Today you can hear tunes from the Victoria based Marc Atkinson Trio, the Rosenberg Trio with Fats Waller’s Honeysuckle Rose, music made in Serbia by Trio Balkan Strings, and from Iceland, some lovely playing from Guitar Islancio.

The opera also famously features a duel — Pushkin himself died in a duel with his wife’s alleged lover. In some weird synchronicity, just came across recent reports (like this one) saying that scientists are trying verify if the blood stains on a sofa thought to be two centuries old come from Pushkin. (What will this changejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Probably nothing, but it is interesting trivia for those with a passion for Pushkin.)

Bill will no doubt play all nine during this Sunday’s show, just in case you are on dial up and have trouble with the video. And speaking of Sundays and Christmas and radio, some of you will be pleased to know that next Sunday, December 21st, the annual Euroradio Christmas “Joy To The World” programme will be broadcast. Stay tuned to the Radio 2 Blog — more details as we get closer to the date.

The Greek legend Orfeo is pretty much a perfect vehicle for opera, as among other things it’s a tribute to the power of song — the Gods were so moved by Orfeo’s songs that they allowed him to travel to Hades and retrieve his beloved wife Euridice from the land of the dead. So there are many operatic settings of the story, but one of the best is the one you’ll hear today, by Christoph Willibald Gluck.

For more, much more, about the opera and today’s production, please continue reading:

And then of course there is the Tube of You. One of the most played, best-loved Mendelssohn works turns up there in spades — the Violin Concerto. It’s difficult to resist this posting this performance so I won’t. It features the then 13-year-old Itzhak Perlman:

We always knew the European-inspired architecture and high-quality cheeses were helping you pump out amazingly fresh-sounding musicians. But since you’ve wowed global listeners with Arcade Fire and Patrick Watson, it’s now a well-known fact that yours is the scene to watch. And you just keep living up to the reputation. So, tonight on Canada Live: some fantastical frames from that enduring scene…

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The two Dan’s played together as part of Ottawa’s B.C. Scene, (still on ’til May 3). Here’s your quick n’ dirty Church of Dans Profile:

If your response is “dohjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! whatjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” here is the Twitter version of what a dobro is: An acoustic guitar with that shiny resonator thing on the front. Apparently invented by the Dopyera Brothers, thus the name. (So, maybe two Tweets worth of explanation.) Anyway, you may want to visit Planet Dobro to get inculcated.

Continue reading “What Is Happinessjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

As noted earlier, tonight there is a special live broadcast of Operalia. It’s a competition for up and coming opera singers, begun in 1993 by Placido Domingo. (That’s him kicking a penalty shot in July during a charity football match — he sings, he scores!)

But the website is also having a little “refresh” (which makes me picture a computer surrounded by spa technicians — massaging, maybe applying a little nail polish). The refreshed site will be “live” at some point Monday. But sometimes changes behind the scenes on websites aren’t instantaneous, (all that buffing and polishing), so if there is any bumpiness as the transition happens, your patience is appreciated!

On his actual birthday Seeger was at a massive tribute held in Madison Square Garden. (Canadian trivia note — Bruce Cockburn was one of the invited performers.) At it Seeger said:

Jurgen Gothe plumbs the depths today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT), with a show he calls Oddball SQ.

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The leaders in the field, played today by Jurgen, are Finland’s Huutajat. As they put it: “The emphatically disciplined expression does not exclude primitive force; precise articulation mixes with non-linguistic howl; amusing turns to serious without warning.”

Continue reading “Music: “Auditory Cheesecakejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!”" »

Rich Terfy has an alter ego, Buck 65, and this week his alter ego is touring the UK. (Rich is there as well. Heh.) But he’s leaving Radio 2 Drive (3-6pm) in great guest-host hands.

–> September 02, 2008 Ten Q’s For Julie Nesrallah Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 2-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “Cowboy Junkies, Skydiggers Double Bill” »

The explosively creative and perpetually performing Canadian expat in Paris is a prolific and genre-defying pianist, singer and songwriter… But perhaps he’s best known for his collaborations with Feist (which range from the beautiful to the… um… uniquejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

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Continue reading “Coming Soon: Peter & The Symphony ” »

As to who Ron MacLean is listening to these days, all will be revealed on Drive tomorrow. We do know that in 2005 he told MacLeans that he was listening to Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mays and Jim Bryson. As well as the fact that he’s never had a playoff beard. (Editorial aside: good call, Mr. MacLean.)

Continue reading “What Music Is Like” »

–> November 10, 2008 Greatest Canadian Guitar Players: The List Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-10-08 at 02:45 PM 

Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin was inspired by the epic poem (a “novel in verse”) by Alexander Pushkin. It’s a story that’s quite apt for today’s Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) Valentine’s Day broadcast.

Just like weddings, wedding music is an industry — but also considered by some to be a genre with sub-genres. Garter Toss Songs, anyonejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! (You Can Leave Your Hat On seems an obvious one, but I’m surprised they suggest the Joe Cocker version, who wouldn’t want to toss a garter to Randy Newmanjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Now that’s classy.)

Continue reading “Wagner’s Rienzi” »

4. What quality do you most admire in an audiencejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> February 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Dubmatix On Drive Wednesday Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-10-09 at 05:31 PM 

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–> May 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Of Earth Mothers and Flower Pots… Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 7-09 at 12:25 PM 

Continue reading “Exclusive Leonard Cohen Footage” »

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–> “Go Thoughts On Wings Of Gold…” Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-11-08 at 10:45 AM 

The opera got varied reviews from the Toronto press — even those joined at the hip — The Star headline was “Opera Stumbles In Its Wanderings” while Eye Weekly called it “dramatically compelling.” Terrific singers, of course, and on the radio you won’t need to concern yourself with the set and whatnot, as did the writer at Yappa Ding Ding. (Unless, of course, you want to know what “Yappa Ding Ding” thought of the set, and that might be difficult to resist, if only to read a blog of this name.)

Today on In Tune (Saturday 5:00 p.m., 5:30 NT) Katherine will share more about this story in what she is calling the “Valentine’s Day In Hard Times” edition of the show. But back to the lamb. Here’s an excerpt of the work that gives the recipe its name, (a cantata for chorus, four soloists, and organ), performed by the Washington Collegium. Not sure if it will make you think “needs more rosemary” or not though.

Of course, she is a little older now than in her heyday, in fact, this year she went on an 80th birthday tour, and given her august stature she may have mellowed a little. But she sure can sing, and swing, as you’ll hear in the concert Radio 2 recorded, broadcast tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.)

Favourite Zukerman Quote: “When people see something great, for goodness sakes imitate it! I want to play like Jascha Heifetz one day, just for ten minutes, but I can’t!” (Followed by quite a chuckle.)

Continue reading “The Life And Times Of Pete Seeger” »

If you don’t know Matt’s music, today will be a good introduction, audio-wise, although it won’t be with full rockin’ band, El Torpedos. (He’ll be joined by one band member, keyboardist Adam Baldwin.)

Today’s production (from Vancouver Opera) features Russian soprano Mlada Khudoley as Salome, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley as John the Baptist, mezzo-soprano Judith Forst as Herodias, and New Brunswick-born tenor John Mac Master as Herod.

When Salome was first performed at the turn of the last century, Strauss’s adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s story of obsession, murder and manipulation had many opera goers aghast. Darlington says that’s in part because it was “truly groundbreaking,” belonging to the same camp of other provocative early 20th century works, like Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. (That and “a fundamental distaste for the subject matter.”) After its premiere in Dresden the opera was variously censored, banned and canceled at some of the world’s best opera houses. But as we all know know, the Dance of the Seven Veils still shimmys to this day.

Continue reading “High, Low, Whatever: Art” »

Tonight on The Signal you can hear some preview tracks from the CD, Is This Tomorrow. (Fans of the legendary Mary Margaret O’Hara, who has performed with The Henrys before — note that she is a guest on this recording too.)

–> January 29, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Gregarious (Musical) Machines Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-29-09 at 07:00 PM 

The most exciting thing about launching Tempo, after weeks of pretend shows, will be having a live audience on the other side!

–> November 07, 2008 RPM: Daniel Lanois’ Acadie Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 7-08 at 02:36 PM 

Anyway, today’s broadcast also features (barring any last minute changes!) James Morris as The Wanderer (Wotan) and the Swedish Soprano Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde.

–> April 08, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Ladies And Gentlemen… Mr Leonard Cohen Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 8-09 at 11:00 AM 

–> March 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Final Fantasy Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-10-09 at 07:00 PM 

Regardless, Canadian jazz musicians understand what kind of musician he was, and what his contributions were, and it’s been great to read some of their reminiscences — so I thought I’d share a couple.

Today’s SATO broadcast of Regina has been called “a toxic tale of avarice in the Old South,” which certainly sounds like good opera potential. What is it about the south that engenders these tales, anywayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! A question for another day, I suppose. For now, here’s the scoop on today’s broadcast, background courtesy of SATO and Pacific Opera Victoria, whose production it is:

Anyway, next weekend it’s Turandot and Gianni Schicchi, but this weekend it’s Tosca, starring Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka as Tosca. The critics were wowed — here’s what one had to say:

–> September 17, 2008 Drive Live: Matt Mays Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-17-08 at 11:00 AM 

Tonight on Canada Live, it’s a four-concert trip around the world… without leaving The Rock.

First to the opera gracing the pages of Vanity Fair. You have to give The Metropolitan Opera and General Manager Peter Gelb the credit — it was a stroke of genius (or at least brilliant marketing) to simulcast operas in movie theatres. Why else would opera stars be on the cover of the May issue of Vanity Fairjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

An upcoming series on Radio 2 is focussed on exactly that. It’s called Next! Canada’s Music Future, and it begins this Sunday, January 18th. It showcases 50 up-and-comers (there is no perfect term, and I’m avoiding “rising stars,” since it seems even higher on the cliché-o-meter!) in classical, jazz, roots and blues music. Whatever the terminology, the point is this — these are musicians who have striking talent, and seem poised for greater recognition.

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But there is some information available on the musical tastes of world leaders. Nelson Mandela, for example, is said to love the music of Handel, Tchaikovsky, Paul Robeson, and a range of South African artists. (ANC Biography.)

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Best new Canadian rock song: New Goodbye, Hey Rosetta!

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Continue reading “Music Monday Continues!” »

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Spoiler Alert: Plot synopsis ahead.

“As a musician, you never stop learning. But there’s something to be said about the najerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!veté and pure lusty inspiration of earlier records.” 2008, Mondo Magazine

Continue reading “Death By Chocolate. No, Really.” »

Chances are you have quirky music lodged in your brain, and every now and then it emerges. Maybe you find yourself humming Laguna Orooney, or you keep hearing William Shatner singing It Was A Very Good Year. (I’m sorry.)

And today’s piece in The Guardian (Celebrating A Century Of Elliott Carter) is a good way to get introduced to his music — as it’s a top ten essential recordings list. Soho The Dog also has an excellent recent interview with Mr. Carter in the Boston Globe (The Composer In Cambridge: Carter Looks Back) you may wish to read.

So what’s with the banjo, anywayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! At a dinner party I was at recently the subject arose — that these days you hear banjo (maybe low in the mix, but still) in all kinds of music. Noticing that tonight’s edition of Canada Live (8 p.m.) includes banjo player Old Man Luedecke raised the banjo question anew.

–> January 11, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Klez Is More Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-11-09 at 12:00 PM 

Today Sunday Afternoon In Concert features all three. First, the idiosyncratic Martin Frost, pictured here. He doesn’t just play the clarinet, he uses movement, multimedia, and masks. (Watch this.)

Did you just say Ken whojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Well, he has something of a cult following, but if you are not in that cult today Jurgen plans to induct you. And not to steal Jurgen’s thunder, but here is a performance by Nordine, called Think A Thought. As interesting to watch as to listen to…

Of course now you may be fired up wanting to sing So You Want To Write A Fugue, and if so, here are the lyrics, in English. If, on the other hand, you want to sing it in Japanese, you may wish to first watch the following:

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4. Attending the Opera Atelier production of Mozart’s Idomeneo, and the subsequent broadcast. A really good performance that made really good radio.

Well tomorrow night, May 16, he’s taking all that musical energy and directing it towards a very objective goal: performing for 27 hours straight. And you can hear all about it tomorrow on Radio 2 Morning with Molly Johnson.

Continue reading “Zappa Inspired” »

The concert, should you be wondering, got great reviews, including Lanois-love like this:

–> June 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Behind Every Great Pianist There’s… Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 7-09 at 12:00 PM 

–> Tristan Und Isolde, Live From The Met Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 6-08 at 09:00 AM 

What you’ll hear is some rather odd string quartets, playing repertoire not usually associated with more traditionally-minded ensembles.That means the music of Metallica, Sting, David Foster, David Grisman and James Brown, among others.

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Continue reading “Evolution: Live Broadcast Coming Up!” »

Here are a smattering of critical responses to the show, to whet your appetite:

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How: Not a “w,” actually. But here’s how anyhow: She has a powerful set of pipes; most of her music is a blend of soul and jazz and hip hop that has a strong original spark to it, which is why people say things like “may prove to be the star that outshines all others.” (Please see “Who.”)

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Please continue reading for the rest of the cast and character details, and the plot synopsis.

–> April 04, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Elixir Of Love Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 4-09 at 10:41 AM 

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Here’s a tough question. Would you like to go to the Montreal Jazz Festivaljerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Even tougher — would you like to win a trip for twojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! If you’re thinking — ‘you betcha where do I sign up!’ here are the details about next week’s Tonic contest:

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so much an “invitational,” seeing as the contest started by y’all inviting yourselves into it. But when listeners heard Tom talking about the official “Grilled Cheese Invitational” (so official that it’s held in a loft in L.A….) you started sending in your own recipes…

8. The trombone versus the mandolin, in under twenty wordsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

But you can hear from the composers themselves throughout the week on The Signal (10 p.m.), leading up to the special live broadcast of the finished works on March 26th.

“It’s a fabulous pleasure to hear this great concert by the Gryphon trio. Since I’m living in Belgium, I do not have the opportunity to hear the north american concerts of my favourite trio! Thanks to CBC I have discovered more new (excellent) works (I knew already Silvestrov, Ka Nin Chan) . Heather Schmidt is a great talent that is very well served by the trio’s interperetation. Contemporary music is real music with them! Keep going on broadcasting their music on the web. That’s a treasure!”

A reminder, or for some, perhaps brand new news — you can hear many of the interviews that Rich Terfry has done on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) on the website. Not only that, but some of the music documentaries broadcast on Inside The Music.

Continue reading “Cohen Concert Tonight” »

Continue reading “Journey Into The Soul Of The Fiddle” »

And the winner is… cheese lovers everywhere!

–> May 05, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Name That Free Reed Wind Instrument! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 5-09 at 03:30 PM 

You can hear this 10-part series from Sunday until March 22, in two places: On Sunday Afternoon In Concert (Sunday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) and Canada Live (8 p.m.)

That beautiful single line (the thoughts, the wings of gold) is one of the reasons Verdi went from being a young, grieving widower to a lifetime of musical achievement. Legend, also known as wikipedia and other online research, has it that it was “the words of the famous Va pensiero chorus of the Hebrew slaves that inspired Verdi to write music again,” resulting in Nabucco.

There is no shortage of classical composer anniversaries this year — Handel, Haydn, Purcell and Mendelssohn are among the biggest.

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Those years of experience and their sensitive Newfoundland hearts result in interesting, fun, and always emotionally moving music.

This weekend the show, (heard on Inside The Music Saturday Edition 12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT on Radio 2, with a repeat on Sunday Sept. 28 on Radio 1 at 8 p.m., 9AT, 9:30 NT) takes a look at music and religion. Holy big subject, if that’s not being too irreverent. But seriously, the connections between music and religion — music as a way of elevating the spirit, connecting with the divine, creating religious community — are vast and varied.

And finally, once you’re ready to perform, here’s a primer on How To Sing The Blues.

As one of the critics in the final jury, I can say that all ten short-listed recordings had their strengths, but from my perspective this recording from beginning to end is excellent, and one that you can go more deeply into on every listen. (If you haven’t heard it before, you may think, huh, Brian Wilson, and that’s there for sure — but also so much more.)

Jules Massenet’s Thajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!s had its world premiere at the Paris Opéra in 1895, and it is a pleasure imagining the opera goers walking into that gorgeous building to hear it. But moving from fantasy to reality — today’s production from the Met (broadcast on SATO) ain’t half bad either. Not with its stellar cast, featuring Renée Fleming, (pictured here) Michael Schade and Thomas Hampson.

–> October 01, 2008 Brahms Festival Begins On Tempo Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 1-08 at 11:00 AM 

True, her music can be generally classified as folky-jazz or jazzy-folk (depending on what part of her career you’re talking about). But the Joni genre that’s even more fascinating isn’t a result of her own doing. It’s one that’s sprung up about and around the cult of Joni…

Some Radio 2 listeners/blog readers have offered explanations of their choice — and here are a few examples, which will perhaps inspire you to do the same! (Also note — the current but ever-growing list of nominees is now up on the Obama’s Playlist website, so have a boo.)

The story is one of those innocent-peasant-falls-for-snake-oil-salesman plots. (What, you didn’t know that was one of world’s five great narrativesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!) And it features the beautiful and soulful aria, Una Furtiva Lagrima. (That link will take you to a performance by Pavarotti.)

Best new glam a capella song sung by women from the Canadian Prairies: I Don’t Lie by Chic Gamine

“For the preliminary selection, each candidate should submit a recording with 2 arias in the original language. They may add a Zarzuela aria if they wish. For the Competition, 4 arias must be prepared in the original language. Contestants may repeat 2 arias chosen for the preliminary selection. They may also have prepared, if they wished, 2 Zarzuela arias. Contestants should bring their piano scores to the Competition.”

1. Dear Placido — why Operaliajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

And speaking once again of Dylan and Smith:

But since The Blog is still in it’s customary Farrago mode, we’ll turn to a topic inspired by Ms. Nalini’s non-musical side — Tomato Music. (You knew there had to be a reason for that photo, rightjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

For background on the opera, and the plot synopsis please continue reading:

On Radio 2 Julie Nesrallah celebrates the symphonies of Haydn, playing all 104 through the course of this year, in order, on Tempo. (Yup, all 104!)

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…help choose some of the music for 49 Songs From North Of The 49th Parallel, a.k.a. Obama’s playlist. But the real question is, why would you want President-Elect Barack Obama (or for that matter any other new head of state) to hear the specific piece of music you think is representative of Canada or of being Canadianjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Beck is of course the guy who had an early (and bilingual) hit with the rap/song Loser back in 1992, and then went on to record the magnificent Odelay, which had music critics frothing. Real people liked it too.

–> September 18, 2008 Spotlight: Ehnes Plays Korngold Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-18-08 at 10:04 AM 

Continue reading “Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…David Foster” »

An entertaining list at Global Noize turned my thinking in this positive direction, and made me ponder what our Radio 2 hosts would shortlist. So I put it to them, narrowing it down to 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year (short short lists have a way of focusing the mind).

As the days grow shorter the benefit is longer darker nights in which to stay home and listen to music. (Well, obviously that depends on your tendencies in winter, but it certainly is one option.) So it seems timely to announce that there are constant, yes constant updates to Concerts On Demand (or CoDs as we say, pronounced like the fish).

Possibly nothing has changed music more in the past few decades than digital technology. Dating back to the MIDI (which stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, in case you’ve wondered but just never got around to googling), to current software programmes anyone can use to create music.

Tapping into that zeitgeist is a new series brought to you by the award winning team who produced The Wire (the radio show, not tales of McNulty et al). The new series is called The Nerve: Music And The Human Experience, and it begins tomorrow on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT), presented by Nightstream host, Jowi Taylor. (It’s also heard on Radio 1 on Sunday night at 8 p.m., in fact each of its six episodes will air Saturdays on R2 and Sundays on R1.)

But if you know little (or perhaps nothing) of Collett (aside from “Fleetwood Mac-influenced, Dylan-esque, Marley-brand) here are a few salient details:

–> December 01, 2008 A Radio 2 Exclusive With Alex Cuba Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 1-08 at 10:40 AM 

Please do click on the Continue Reading etc. at the bottom of this post to see full the synopsis for both operas, as well as cast and character details.

Oh, and a reminder, as well as the operas themselves, you can hear host Bill Richardson in conversation with film maker Tony Palmer about Puccini, and various opera sages drop by to weigh in with their take on Puccini.

–> October 18, 2008 Death In Venice Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-18-08 at 10:24 AM 

Continue reading “Pelléas et Mélisande, Debussy’s Only Opera” »

Continue reading “”Go Thoughts On Wings Of Gold…”" »

“Thick with poetics and steeped in a delicious mixture of earnest emotion and social commentary.” That’s one (self) description of Zaki Imbrahim’s music.

Gary_ohh says: “My vote for one song to be added - Northern Lights by Bruce Cockburn. A spectacular Canadian event, by a truly great Canadian artist that exemplifies all good about Canada…..”

Tempo’s Temptations is about celebrating how music inspires those who love to create in a totally different sphere — the kitchen. (Or as listener Antonio San put it: This program is all about ART…culinary art that is!”) Five great Canadian chefs are creating new culinary concoctions based on music suggested by Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)

Tunes For Troubled Times: Songs From The Depression Era features mostly music written during the 1930s: Buddy Can You Spare A Dime and Pennies From Heaven, I’ll Fly Away etc. Some of the songs are about the reality of the depression, some are escapist — but funny how all of it is somehow comforting.

When you have a producer as talented and unique as Lanois (whether it’s U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson or the Neville Brothers, that Lanois production is instantly recognizable) it’s a marvel that that same person is as strong a musician in their own right — creating something as good as Acadie! Lanois fans should also note — there’s currently a deluxe reissue available too.

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March 05, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Inspired By Evolution Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 5-09 at 05:00 PM 

–> February 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Remembering Willie P. Bennett Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-16-09 at 03:10 PMbuffalo sabres jerseys,upside tall bootsnbsp;

Here’s my answer to the challenge, and my reason for choosing it is because like many, I have “been faithful to it in return.” (And also because I am Young In Heart, when not Cranky In Person.)

Continue reading “Joy To The World!” »

–> October 20, 2008 Justin Rutledge On Drive Today Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-20-08 at 11:00 AM 

–> April 24, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Diana Krall Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-24-09 at 01:24 PM 

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This series explores Zappa as a composer, and is told through the memories of some of those who knew him best — family, his friends, and some of the musicians who worked with him. You’ll hear from Zappa’s wife, Gail Zappa, Ruth Underwood, the percussionist who first heard him at a famous concert at New Yorks Garrick theatre in 1967; Elliot Ingber, a guitarist in the early Mothers of Invention, and Joe Travers, drummer and vaultmeister of the Zappa archives.

–> May 23, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Was it Colonel Sanders in the parlour with a chicken drum-stickjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-23-09 at 04:53 PM 

The Peter in question is Toronto Symphony Orchestra Music Director Peter Oundjian. Starting Sunday, May 3rd on Inside The Music (12pm, 12:30 NT) you have the opportunity to hear him in a very special eleven week series.

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These fellows are the best and brightest of Newfoundland’s folk music scene, each with an impressive careers behind them and the hunger for more harmonies, more gigs, and more shanties on the horizon.

Continue reading “From Robin Hood To Radio 2 Drive” »

–> March 06, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots “Dancing To The Northern Lights” Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 6-09 at 03:30 PM 

–> November 24, 2008 East Or West — Where Is Music Bestjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-24-08 at 10:40 AM 

–> January 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots From Robin Hood To Radio 2 Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-28-09 at 11:08 AM 

Continue reading “Ron Sexsmith Inaugurates “Drive Live” Friday!” »

If that has you curious about the genesis of this piece, the official Stockhausen website has extensive and fascinating detail.

“Great Big Sea, the answer to the musical question ‘who wants some funjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” — Saskatoon Star Phoenix

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Continue reading “Cuddy in the Cold… on Canada Live” »

–> Your Most Inspiring Music Teacherjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-30-09 at 09:50 AM 

It’s an hour-long examination of the meaning of the music and life of Messiaen, who was by all accounts a fascinating man. He had a unique approach to music and composition — perhaps the most obvious example of this is that he believed birds were among the greatest musicians. (As opposed to the camp that think they are not musical at all, merely responding biologically to certain conditions. Pish tosh, we say to that camp.)

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Many have strong Montreal/Leonard connections of course. For example:

One listener to the CoD version said: “My only complaint is that I wasn’t there to witness it live.” And you too can have the “next best thing” experience either by listening online to Gordie Sampson in Glace Bay, or simply by turning your radio on tonight at 8 p.m. to Canada Live. The other two performers tonight are Molly Rankin of The Rankin Family, and multi-instrumentalist whiz, JP Cormier.

Continue reading “Battle of the Amazingly Old Instruments” »

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Lund is partly responsible for getting Tyson performing in public again — Lund convinced Tyson that despite having injured his voice he should still record. The result was Yellowhead To Yellowstone And Other Love Stories, and a renewed performing career.

Mozart’s enduring masterpiece Die Zauberfljerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!te was created with librettist Emanuel Schikaneder in 1791 and was an immediate success, reaching it’s hundredth performance in just over a year. The opera was created as a singspiel (a mix of sung and spoken parts) and Mozart cast a selection of his favourite singers and comic actors to bring the story to life. With this in mind, the arias for the singers are complex and challenging, those for the actors are comparatively simple. This balance of elements is just one of the many reasons this opera makes a great place for children to start with the genre.

The lady is the real deal. Plucky, sultry, and as straight-shootin’ as they come, singer/songwriter (and sometime member of the New Pornographers), Neko Case doesn’t have the time of day for digital musical enhancements.

Another might be the Twitter synopsis of the plot: “dallas stars jerseys,women’s classic tall ugg boots ! of control teen uses stepdad to get back at would-be boyfriend, learns some confusing lessons about love.” (For more fun, see Twitter Opera Plots.)

True, but the writer of the above, in reference to a recording of 20th century string quartet music, (see American String Quartets, Lost And Found) was only scratching the surface of the string quartet as put to singular or idiosyncratic use.

Continue reading “Of Laureates And Prizes” »

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–> Bet #2: Gilles Vigneault Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 9-09 at 10:30 AM 

The premiere of Dream-E-Scape is broadcast tonight on The Signal. It was commissioned in honour of Schafer’s 75th birthday, and was part of a four day Schafer-fest put on by the National Arts Centre.

A year or so ago the indie trio Apostle Of Hustle (featuring Broken Social Scene guitarist Andrew Whiteman) paired up with innovative throat singer Tagaq — and they’re about to do it again, in a concert Radio 2 will record on Friday. (If you’re in T.O. and want to see about getting tickets — the concert is at the Glenn Gould Studio.)

Heads up! Tomorrow on Drive you can hear an interview with Daniel Lanois, he of much producing fame (including a personal all-time favourite, EmmyLou Harris’s Wrecking Ball). And before saying one more thing about Lanois — here’s a clip from the interview, Lanois talking about his philosophy of making “records.”

–> January 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Cape Breton Connection Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-12-09 at 03:30 PM 

Jill Barber is a romantic. Just listen to the music on her new recording, Chances. If you go to her website, you can hear some tracks via a lovely (virtual) vintage radio. (She’s got a teensy bit of Blossom Dearie going on in the title track, methinks. In a good way.)

While three new show premiered this week with four new hosts (don’t forget Molly Johnson on the weekend!) one of those hosts, the host of the weekday edition of Radio 2 Morning (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) probably needs little introduction. He has, I think, attained a status rarely conferred upon any individual — he is a CBC Personality. Possibly even a National Treasure! (We won’t hold this against him though.)

Continue reading “Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Gordon Lightfoot” »

All-women bands/events in jazz and blues have sometimes been challenged, philosophically, as though women getting together to play without men is either a form of segregation, or somehow acknowledging that they are not equals to the men in their field. Obviously that’s not true of the Women’s Blues Revue on the latter count — not with a lineup like this: Alana Bridgewater, Lily Frost, Little Miss Higgins, ShoShona Kish of Digging Roots, Elizabeth Shepherd and Suzie Vinnick.

Charity Chan calls her piano style ‘non-invasive.’ In other words — no prepared piano (a Wikip-link — oddly enough there is no “preparedpiano.com”).

For a long time banjo seemed steeped in Deliverance, Dueling Banjos hillbilly stereotypes. But now banjo frolics in indie music, and joins forces with African musicians (Jayme Stone, for example). Also on the latter front, Bela Fleck’s documentary tracing the banjos roots just came out, it’s called Throw Down Your Heart.

Or you may want to peruse this list of fabulous blues names that already exist, and base your name off of one of these. (Using this method I came up with “Lazy Snake-Root Robbins.” Needs some work.)

The album has not gone unrecognized. Tons of press, and this week it made the long list for the Polaris Prize. (Exciting to have music that unusual alongside of singer songwriters, pop, hip hop and…Leonard Cohen.)

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In case you haven’t looked lately — here are some of the latest additions:

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–> April 25, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Twilight Of The Gods Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-25-09 at 10:00 AM 

And the singing is by some pretty spectacular singers — soprano Natalie Dessay and tenor Juan Diego Flórez (who were teamed in last season’s virtuosic comedic hit La Fille du Régiment).

L d L is based on a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, and it’s about a young Scottish woman who is torn between feuding families. Her own wedding day turns out rather badly for her betrothed. Poor Lucia is cornered by forces that first break her heart…and then…her mind.

Character. I can put up with attitude, with noise and with fur all over the place, as long as character prevails.

One of baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau’s epitaphs is said to have read, “Here lies the god of harmony.” (He was also born in Dijon, which is neither here nor there really, except for us mustard-lovers it’s a nice Rameau factoid, if not as weighty as the epitaph.) Anyway, Rameau is also credited with some of the most graceful and lovely dance music ever written, and a quick study, too — most accounts suggest his Pygmalion was written in eight days!

March 31, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cohen Concert Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-31-09 at 03:00 PM 

Continue reading “Wordsmith Of The Day: Ian Tyson” »

Continue reading “Gregory Charles Hears Wedding Bells” »

But now to some music:

–> February 05, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Bell Orchestre, “Dazzle By Finesse” Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 5-09 at 05:30 PM 

–> January 05, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Building Obama’s Playlist Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 5-09 at 08:18 AM 

–> Joel Plaskett is Live Times Five… on Drive! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-22-09 at 01:28 PM 

Die Walküre is the second and most popular installment of Wagner’s monumental operatic cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). It features an incredible cast of gods, goddesses, giants, water-nymphs, and a few mere mortals.

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–> September 20, 2008 Pelléas et Mélisande, Debussy’s Only Opera Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-20-08 at 11:06 AM 

Best new musical duo: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

And this is how you can hear music from the festival on your radio:

–> May 14, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cuddy in the Cold… on Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-14-09 at 02:10 PM 

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The Juno Awards are coming up March 29th (and with them a live broadcast on Radio 2 of a songwriters’ circle hosted by Rich Terfry, more about that in days to come).

The first response is of course about the band of that name — Stars — some of whom (including Amy Millan, pictured here) dropped by to play some music and chat with Rich Terfry on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.). That conversation and music will be broadcast on today’s show.

Today’s Radio 2 Video Fest offerings feature music created on musical boxes. No, not the wind-up kind that Frank Mills memorialized with his piano tune, but box-shaped instruments.

Continue reading “The True North Of Song” »

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How many times have we Canadians gotten into the “identity” debate: the one where we nudge each other over whether we, you know, have one… or whether we just define ourselves in opposition to our neighbour to the south. Sure, some iconic musicians may pop up in that conversation as proof of a solid self-image: the Joni Mitchells and Gordon Lightfoots so many Canadians have grown up listening to. And then, of course, there’s the jokes about Bob and Doug McKenzie too. (koo-loo-koo-koo…)

Continue reading “Cigarette Girls Behaving Badly” »

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Pat’s list of 5 Great Things comes as no surprise to me (although he does offer us some surprising anecdotes). As you read on, you’ll discover that Pat seems to be curious and observant about not just music, but life in general.

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–> November 15, 2008 Puccini Double Header! Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-15-08 at 11:00 AM 

On Monday you’ll begin hearing some changes to the Radio 2 schedule, and also to the Radio 2 website. On air you’ll hear a new show hosted by Mr. Tom Allen each weekday at 2 p.m., called Shift. And there are a number of tweaks to when shows start and end (as you’ll see if you click through that last link).

His legacy also lives on through The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, a nonprofit education organization founded in the mid 1980s by his descendants, along with the actor and opera singer Maria Fisher. (She believed that jazz was America’s classical music.) It offers free jazz education and sponsors the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competitions.

Continue reading “Dubmatix On Drive Wednesday” »

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Want to read accordion-based fiction without having to write itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! (Or read E. Annie Proulxjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)
You need Accordion Short Fiction Stories.

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I say go for it. Train robberies, mentions of a nice caboose, or even of a VIA rail employee dispensing sandwiches, it should all count. But seriously, the depth and breath of train-related music really is marvelous, and on Farrago you’ll hear some good ones, for instance this classic:

R. Murray Schafer decided not just to lie in bed thinking about it, but to do it. In 26 days he wrote a composition that reveals how dreams shift and mutate in such odd and unexpected ways.

–> September 22, 2008 Jason Collett, Drive Live Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-22-08 at 11:00 AM 

Katie Malloch’s Five Great Things From A Crazy Year:

Happiest Domestic Moment: Celebrating 25 years of marriage to sweet Paul.

Most Serene Moment: Sitting on the rocks, taking in the Pelican Rapids on the Slave River in the NWT.

Proudest Achievement: After three and a half years of studying belly-dance, finally mastering the “walking shimmy.”

Most Jaw-Dropping Performance Moment: Seeing the nouveau-cirque troupe Les 7 Doigts De La Main at the Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala.

Most Nostalgic Moment: Watching Barack Obama make his acceptance speech, and realizing that I hadn’t felt that optimistic about politics since Bobby Kennedy was campaigning, forty years ago.

Thanks, Katie! (Alhough I still want proof of the “walking shimmy!”)

Next up, Don Ross and Andy McKee.

–> January 17, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Doctor Atomic Starring Gerald Finley Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-17-09 at 10:09 AM 

Today’s Drive Live is Matt Mays, he’ll join Rich on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) to talk about Ron Maclean’s admiration of his music. Actually, I don’t know that they’ll discuss that, though it is true. But what is known for sure is that Matt will be in studio to perform some music from his most recent recording, the interestingly named Terminal Romance.

Well, who doesn’t. Why there is even a Canonical List of Banjo Jokes, “the result of the tireless efforts of an International network of operatives who combed the earth (and beyond) checking and cross-checking sources to make sure that this time we had the real thing: the definitive list of banjo jokes.”

Today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (with an early start time at noon, and pre-empting both Inside The Music and In Tune) Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle continues, live from The Met. This week, Siegfried, with German tenor Christian Franz in the role of our hero.

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First off, I’d like to say that Tom Power is one of my Great Things of 2008. Last autumn I bid a fond farewell to my own 1-hour world/roots-music disc show Roots & Wings after an unexpected and enjoyable 17-year run. FYI, Roots & Wings was created way back in 1991 by producer Li Robbins - your usual R2 blogger.

Without further ado, here are Bill Richardson’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year:

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This weekend a documentary about composer Claude Vivier will be broadcast on Inside The Music (Sunday Edition 12:00 p.m., 12:30 NT). When the documentary was previously broadcast some listeners/blog readers asked if it would be again — so I’m pleased to say you can hear it this Sunday. It got a very positive response the first time around, here are a couple of examples of that response:

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You need Accordion Guy: The Adventures Of The Accordion Guy In The Twenty-First Century.

And he hasn’t been. As one Melody Maker (pun definitely not intended, mere coincidence) article put it:

But when the sound of Oscar Peterson’s practicing came out onto the street where Oliver was playing with his friends, he told his biographer, the music, “was so beautiful that he stood frozen on the spot.”

Continue reading “Musical Capitals Of The World” »

Jenn Grant is a beautiful Dreamer.

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Continue reading “Radio 2 Celebrates Olivier Messiaen” »

–> January 31, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Rigoletto From The Met Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-31-09 at 10:16 AM 

But here’s an interesting quote from an interview she did recently on the tour — perhaps not so flattering a view of being Canadian, but certainly an apt summation of that transition she made from dance music kid to intense music adult, something people still sometimes puzzle over.

For those who feel there ain’t no cure for Leonard Cohen (hands up!) he just gets better and better. If you were lucky enough to get to one of the shows on his recent tour, you know this. If not, tonight you have a chance to get close to that experience when Canada Live (8 p.m.) broadcasts a performance recorded live in London.

No, not a slogan from the Kittens N’ Lager party, but a song title that hints at the theme of today’s edition of Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT). The feline part of that equation, that is, the beer and the voting may be tackled by Jurgen on another occasion.

In the first instance, the question posed comes from the documentarist’s experience with choirs. Taking Gabriel Faure’s wonderful Requiem, performed by choirs the world over, journalist/choir member Anne Mullens suggests that the opening of the beautiful Agnus Dei exposes the “Achilles Heel of the piece.”

You can hear the rest on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) this afternoon.

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–> September 19, 2008 Music As A Weapon Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-19-08 at 03:00 PM 

Martha Wainwright, she of the wonderfully named I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too, is on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) today, to talk a little music, and play a little music.

I’d invite Beethoven out on a date and then ask him about everything — his life, his music, his mother, relationships — everything that makes Beethoven tick. That would be the ultimate insight into the man and his music.

As mentioned in the previous post, obsessive love is the subject matter of this opera, and it is difficult not to think it sprang from real life experience, given Massenet apparently had a reputation as, well, let’s just say a man who liked women. (A lot.) One of his love interests (whether or not it was requited or un- is uncertain) was Sibyl Sanderson, a Californian soprano. She “created” the title role of Thajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!s.

Some of the news includes an earlier start in the day for Tempo, and a second (week)daily installment of Tom Allen– with a new afternoon show called Shift. We’ll have a new classical program for the weekends called This Is My Music… Saturday Night Blues is coming over to Radio 2… and there are a few other tweaks and additions here and there.

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Meanwhile, as you await the broadcast, you may wish to read Everything An Operasingerwannabe Always Wanted To Know cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Operalia, But Never Got Around To Asking:

Quickest, but oh, so lacking in conveying the beauty of their music. As the band themselves say: “To say they are an instrumental band is like saying El Greco was just a painter, or Frank Gehry just builds museums: it fails to capture their essence.”

“It was almost unbelievably beautiful. Watching it, you imagined it being done in 1748 and could well see how it must have enchanted people, that is, if the first Pygmalion was anything like the amazing tenor Lawrence Wiliford. This was a voice that owed its origins as if to something supernatural with a concluding aria dense with ornament and florid with long brilliant lines. It all came off spectacularly and Suzie LeBlanc was memorable, as well, as the statue.”

-Now, for something completely different. Yes, it’s one of those “drop the needle” non-video videos, but it’s worth it for the music — a 1939 repressing of the original: Potato Head Blues.

What tops the list of things that alt country singer Neko Case lovesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! “Canada and the Canadians therein,” she says. Aww, gee, how nice.

–> December 19, 2008 Tim Tamashiro’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-19-08 at 10:30 AM 

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Continue reading “Talk Of The Town(s)” »

In the second instance Jurgen doesn’t ask the question, he just goes straight to the basses and baritones, celebrating the “big, plummy manly” voices, because of course there are so many of them. He starts with Paul Robeson singing spirituals, then moves to Leon Bibb, with his son Eric, who happens to be Paul Robeson’s godson.

And it’s just one concert of many that my CoD colleagues have been busy putting on the website — here are some of the other concerts in various genres you may want to check out:

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From what Jurgen deems ” the expected,” eg. American Woman by the Texas Chainsaw Orchestra, to the less — Hawaiian influenced Austrian band The Bonsai Garden Orchestra. (Think slack-key in lederhosen.)

Just three responses to Part 1 of I Am All Day And Night: The Music Of Frank Zappa — you can hear the second part this weekend on on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT).

–> October 28, 2008 Slipping Into The Nightstream Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-28-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “Music Monday: Evening Edition” »

First steps. First words. They all get enough attention. But let’s not forget about another pretty great first: First concerts!

For eleven weeks these two extremely musically knowledgeable gentlemen explore the intricacies of what makes a great symphony great. And of course there will be lots of music, much of it selected from Maestro Oundjian’s favourite symphonies.

Continue reading “Remembering Willie P. Bennett” »

Continue reading “Beck On Drive Today!” »

Workman has been touring with music from his deliciously named Los Manlicious. (He does excel at delicious titles, including an early recording, 2001’s Last Night We Were The Delicious Wolves, which is probably why the deliciousness of manliciousness came up).

Here’s a lovely story:

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The pickin’ happens on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT), when Jurgen celebrates that fabulous style of guitar playing. The music from The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music Festival is featured on The Signal (10 p.m.) tonight when Mr. Pat Carrebré presents music he heard earlier this week at the festival.

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Continue reading “”Contemporary Music Is Real Music With Them”" »

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If you’re not familiar with his music, and are wondering why you should be, the intro to the Guardian piece gets to the heart of it:

Related Trivia Bulletin: Just out this January, “the first official book to be created about the band, by the band”– The Clash By The Clash.

It’s called Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums, and you can hear it this weekend — broadcast details at end of post.

Not that there’s anything wrong with a little Chicken Dance from time to time, no faster way to bring a group of disparate people to some fundamental albeit absurd common ground. Don’t believe mejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Watch this instructional video from The Lawrence Welk show.

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Continue reading “Shocking, Alluring…Risible” »

Inspiring music teachers truly are a wonderful thing — their lessons stay with you for life. And Tom Allen, Rich Terfry and The Radio 2 Blog want to hear about your most inspiring music teacher, in honour of Music Monday (May 4th). Tom n’ Rich will share some of your memories and anecdotes on Radio 2 Morning and Radio 2 Drive next week.

–> May 11, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Oscar and Oliver Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-11-09 at 04:10 PM 

But since it’s the first Monday in May, both those words get a capital “M.” And with those upper-cases, let the music-loving festivities commence… both on the air and on the ground!

The Henrys are back! They’re one of Canada’s best-loved-under-recognized-usually-instrumental bands and their first new recording in seven years comes out this month.

Battle of the century! One night only! Don’t miss it! Still plenty of good seats left!

–> Robert Harris Time Travels On Tempo Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-22-08 at 10:30 AM 

Continue reading “I Am All Day And Night: The Music Of Frank Zappa ” »

Continue reading “Happy 200th, Felix” »

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Probably Kevin Hearn or Kurt Swinghammer… Bob Dylan perhaps.

Beck is on tour, and that tour brought him to Toronto on the weekend. Yesterday, before his concert, Rich and Mich(elle), Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) host and producer, respectively, went backstage and recorded an interview with him. You can hear it today in the third hour of the programme.

–> December 06, 2008 Robert Harris’ Messiaen Documentary Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 6-08 at 03:40 PM 

–> Peter And The Symphony Continues… Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-10-09 at 03:00 AM 

La Bohème is frequently called timeless, and that too seems fair — fairly recent evidence of its continuing influence includes Rent and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!

But the story reminded me that in that era of Hollywood film there were a number of composers and arrangers who were European emigrés with dual careers writing “serious” music and film score music. And one of the most famous was Erich Korngold.

But what about new songsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! There’s so much great material these days — the drama of the economy, politics on both side of the border, the sad tale of the runaway wallaby — all great songwriting fodder.

A Puccini double header with his final uncompleted masterpiece, Turandot, and comic opera Gianni Schicchi. The latter tells a typical family tale: various relatives of a dearly departed gather to shed a tear – and grab their share of an inheritance. (It’s up to Gianni Schicchi to juggle their expectations and ensure a dowry for his own daughter.)

As for Turandot, here’s the nutshell version: Turandot, a femme fatale, finds herself out-riddled by an unknown prince who seeks her hand…not to mention her heart.

–> April 29, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Celebrating Duke Ellington — Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-29-09 at 04:00 PM 

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Continue reading “Andrew Wan is Next!” »

As part of Afropop Worldwide Commemorates The 60th Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they share their thoughts about the fight for human rights, as well as the music these struggles have inspired.

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The episode examines why so many listeners feel this record changed their lives — songs include This Flight Tonight, River, Carey, A Case of You, and interviews include cultural critic Camille Paglia and Sheila Weller, author of Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon.

Continue reading “Afropop Worldwide: Declaration Of Human Rights” »

–> May 29, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Hot Club De Haydn Posted by Li Robbins on May-29-09 at 01:30 PM 

–> April 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Dobro-ology Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-19-09 at 11:00 AM 

Right now he’s touring the music from that new triple CD (aptly titled “Three”), and one of the recent shows is broadcast tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.). It’s an all-acoustic concert, Plaskett performing with his dad, Bill Plaskett, and singers Rose Cousins and Anna Egge.

And not just Cohen’s own. There are also the “sublime” Webb sisters as Cohen calls them — and they are. You should hear them on If It Be Your Will. (You can — it’s the second track of the concert, actually.)

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There are many other Drive Lives coming up as you will see if you continue reading. One caveat though, the broadcast dates are subject to change — so do mark your calendars, but possibly in pencil or whatever the equivalent is in your hand held electronic device:

For the composers who have been burning the midnight oil to write new compositions for the Evolution competition — this is it! The live broadcast of their new compositions, performed by the ECM+ ensemble. Tune into Radio 2 tonight to hear the LIVE premieres.

But people got over it. Carmen opened in 1875, and despite some furor in both the press and the audience, it ran for 45 performances. Sadly Bizet died after the 33rd performance — well before it became a staple of the repertoire.

–> December 18, 2008 Julie Nesrallah’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-18-08 at 10:40 AM 

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Join us tonight to hear from amazing jazz pianists including Francois Bourassa [above], Lorraine Desmarais, Yves Léveillé, Min Rager, Isabelle Cyr, and Coral Egan.

–> January 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Listening Habits Of World Leaders Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 7-09 at 11:25 AM 

Continue reading “”Dancing To The Northern Lights”" »

Continue reading “Know Any Good Banjo Jokesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! ” »

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Continue reading “Drive Live: Matt Mays” »

OK, enough with the quotes. Here is a wonderful video of Donald Lambert playing Grieg’s Anitra’s Dance, in stride…yes, the video quality is awful, but the music is fantastic, totally worth watching.

Judee Sill mainly these days. I love Bing Crosby, Dusty Springfield, Gordon Lightfoot.

Continue reading “Today’s Drive Live: Royal Wood ” »

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Learn about the Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza Festival held in Huntsville, Alabama.

Continue reading “Hawksley Workman On Drive Thursday” »

What do you think the three most popular hobbies arejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! One poll says: 1. Reading 2. Watching TV 3. Spending time with family. If these poll results are accurate this is shocking! (And you’re officially in trouble if you think spending time with family is a “hobby.”)

Continue reading “RPM: Joni’s “Blue”" »

Hopefully the subject heading didn’t make you shake your head in disbelief — just two hints about stories Katherine Duncan covers today on In Tune (Saturday 5pm, 5:30 NT).

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–> March 30, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Bruce Cockburn At Thirty Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-30-09 at 03:54 PM 

La Rondine (”The Swallow”) a lesser known opera by Puccini, has become less lesser known, as it were, in part because of the recordings and performances by the stars in today’s production, broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT): soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna. (Who are one of opera’s more talked about real life couples, btw, married at the Met in 1996 by then New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.) They recorded the work in an acclaimed EMI recording back in 1996.

So, in the spirit of my ideal Boxing Day, I offer you a selection of music-related quizzes, surveys and brain-teasers – fun time wasters all - from the web. These are just a few sites I enjoyed in 2008 - I hope you’ll enjoy them, too.

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It’s all about the power of pure love, in this case for a condemned political prisoner. Deep within the dungeons of a state prison, Florestan is slowly nearing death, the innocent victim of his political enemy, Governor Pizarro. Meanwhile his loyal wife, Leonore, maintaining her belief that he is still alive, clothes herself in men’s garments. (People frequently do this sort of thing in opera and Shakespeare, and yet it so rarely happens in real life. Maybe it’s a “back in the day” kind of thing.)

Insert trumpet fanfare here! A much anticipated series begins today, featuring Toronto Symphony Orchestra Music Director Peter Oundjian and veteran broadcaster Eric Friesen. Its charming title: Peter And The Symphony.

Continue reading “McRae and Brubeck Take Five… Live!” »

Expect everything from “surreal jazz sounds” to “high-speed minimalism.” Otherworldly dexterous players featured tonight include:

The latest news came in yesterday — that Frank’s widow, Gail Zappa, has been unable to stop a German festival called Zappanale from using his image/trademark. The festival has been around for 20 years, in a town called Bad Doberan. (Put that in just because it’s such a great name. And here’s some more images, this time of Zappa related Bad Doberan.)

Political intrigue! Treachery! Personal entanglements where they had ought not to be!

–> Colin Linden On Drive Friday Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-16-08 at 11:00 AM 

TRUE. I make a mean tabouleh. They don’t call me “Julie Tabouleh” for nothing.

And abandonment, and a child, and then worst of all…well, you can read the full plot synopsis at the end of the post if you want all the heart wringing details!

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–> November 26, 2008 Hawksley Workman On Drive Thursday Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-26-08 at 10:33 AM 

In today’s installment of The Haydn Symphony Challenge on Tempo: a symphony chock full humour… and intrigue!

What a lovely phrase, makes you immediately conjure in your mind’s eye the experience of seeing northern lights, always awesome (in the truest sense).

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But here, on the Radio 2 Blog, is where you will find this exclusive. (A very succinct exclusive, but an exclusive nonetheless):

–> February 06, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Clash: Revolution Rock Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 6-09 at 03:30 PM 

Today’s production on SATO is from the Bavarian State Opera and it features baritone Paolo Gavanelli as Nabucco and soprano Maria Guleghina as the King’s presumed daughter, Abigaille.

An early start to Saturday Afternoon At The Opera today, 12 o’clock in most of the country, 1 AT, 1:30 Nfld., for Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, starring the mighty Ben Heppner from The Metropolitan Opera.

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Continue reading “Powerhouse R&B Double Bill” »

When a Count throws a curse upon the Duke — and Rigoletto for making jest — things turn ugly. The cliffhanger, for those who don’t know how it turns out is this: Will Gilda become another victim of the Duke’s prowlingjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Can Rigoletto avert the curse, and if so, by word or weaponjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

If that dime store version of the plot was not enough for you, please continue reading.

Hmmmm, Satie’s Gymnopedies is playing and suddenly you’re craving a perfectly smooth bowl of gelato so you grab the dairy products and and start concocting. Is this how it worksjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Not exactly. It’s a little more conceptual than that. For instance, because much of Benjamin Britten’s work is connected to the “sacrifice of innocence,” you get Rejoice In The Lamb-Shanks Britten. (That’s OK, you don’t want to make gelato anyway, that’s what Italian cafés are for.)

As you may have noticed, if you are a regular Radio 2 Blog reader, we are not a wide blog, we are a rather squished-in-the-middle-of-the-page blog. This is fine since there are many other things of import on the Radio 2 mainpage. But it does not do justice to the fine photos that my colleague Ryan Couldery takes of Rich Terfry and his guests on Drive. For the full scale deal, I recommend having a look at Drive’s own blog — where you will also find full audio from Rich’s interviews.

Continue reading “Soul Christmas Redux” »

Katie Malloch hosts Tonic (6 p.m.), Mondays through Fridays on CBC Radio 2.

–> Ancient Strings Posted by Li Robbins on May-25-09 at 01:00 PM 

7. Blues can take place in New York City but not in Hawaii or any place in Canada. Hard times in Minneapolis or Seattle is probably just clinical depression. Chicago, St.Louis and Kansas City are still the best places to have the Blues. You cannot have the Blues in any place that don’t get rain.

Continue reading “To Hell…And Back Again: Monteverdi’s Orfeo” »

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No, not a figment of blog — you have this experience this Sunday afternoon (if you use a tiny bit of imagination for the visuals) by tuning in to the live broadcast of the Juno Songwriters’ Circle, presented by Mister Terfry. (3pm most zones/4 in the Maritimes/4:30 Newfoundland — repeated Monday March 30th on Canada Live at 8 p.m.)

“Think big!”

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This bass-centric show provides the perfect excuse to post the first video in a series that was recorded at a Ray Brown master-class. (Ray Brown of Oscar Peterson fame, as well as a long legacy of playing with other jazz greats. Also, it should be noted, co-composer along with original Tonight Show host Steve Allen of Gravy Waltz, which got a lot of play last Thanksgiving weekend, appropriately enough. But I digress.)

–> September 30, 2008 Polaris Winner “Caribou” Live On Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-30-08 at 11:02 AM 

Haimovitz famously wields his cello in many and various scenarios, bars, pizza joints — and draws from a broad repertoire. For example his last CD, Odd Couple, with pianist Geoffrey Burleson, is in large part a celebration Elliott Carter.

–> December 08, 2008 Tempo Hotline Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 8-08 at 11:30 AM 

3. On human nature again: “We are all Mad Hatters and as cruel as the Queen of Hearts.”
(Classical Director Kent Nagano Keeping Score)

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–> May 17, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Two Starlets, One Day Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-17-09 at 11:42 AM 

2. What delights you most about Radio 2 Drivejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> March 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Ring Cycle Begins Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-28-09 at 11:00 AM 

The big news here is that you can hear Daniel Lanois in a concert tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.), playing his own songs, from his Massey Hall debut this past fall — recorded by Radio 2. He’s backed up by Jim Wilson on guitar, Marcus Blake on bass, and Brian Blade on drums.

7. What do you turn to for comfort/sustenance, musically speakingjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

For full details on cast and the plot synopsis, please keep reading.

–> Ch-ch-ch-changes here at Radio 2 Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-15-09 at 11:00 AM 

But when a Peruvian-born singer; a guitarist who’s equally at home with new wave, classical, and pop; and a bassist/drummer who calls himself an “explorer of jazz, hip-hop, and metal” are getting international praise for their “World Music”… and they’re actually a Canadian band… a solid new identity of both Canada and of World Music start to emerge. So maybe we owe a thank you to Vancouver’s Pacifika.

Radio 2: Saturday, October 25th at 12 noon in Ontario, Quebec, Central, Mountain and Pacific; 1 p.m. in Maritimes; 1:30 p.m. in Nfld.

Continue reading “It’s all Montreal, tonight on Canada Live” »

As for what people think of the highly sophisticated pop of Stars, it ranges from massive adoration to well, less than massive adoration. (As is often the case with bands that have such a distinctive sound and approach.) Here are a couple contrasting responses to past performances:

“A strapping Knight, a Princess who is spirited away, love Potions to DIE for - what more could you want in a 5 hour opera!”

But just in case, here’s a little more ‘all’ anyway: Wagner’s opera is based on an epic 13th-century poem by Gottfried von Strassburg, and on his own personal experience. Big themes are love and death. Wagner began writing the opera around 1853, in exile in Switzerland. It wasn’t all bad, a wealthy silk merchant, Otto von Wesendonck, offered him financial support and a comfortable cottage in which to compose. Not to mention that Otto’s wife, Mathilde “became friendly” with Wagner, as it is sometimes coyly put (a.k.a. a torrid and passionate affair ensued). You may, should you choose to interpret it this way, hear their infatuation and emotional upheaval in the music.

Please keep reading for cast & character details, as well as the synopsis.

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Meanwhile (here’s the segue you’ve all been waiting for) you can hear about the life and music of Frank Zappa this weekend, with the third and final part of I Am All Day And Night: The Music Of Frank Zappa, broadcast this weekend on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT).

–> Mozart. That Copycat. Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-14-09 at 10:02 AM 

But the piano still sounds like a whole different beast when it’s played by Chan. This evening The Signal features music from her latest recording, Somewhere The Sea And Salt.

Continue reading “Instant Composition” »

7. Quality you most admire in a baseball playerjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

The sisters Jensen grew up in Nanaimo (also home to Diana Krall and Phil Dwyer — must be something in the bars out there). Ingrid studied at Berklee, and lives in NYC now; Christine went to McGill and continues to live in Montreal, where this concert was recorded.

–> Joel Plaskett: Tuesday Drive Live Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-24-09 at 06:00 AM 

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Anouar Brahem, with his song The Mozdok’s Train. Rabih Abou-Khalil, with Q-Tips”. Canada’s own Andre Thibault, with My Favourite Things.

–> January 30, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Zappa Goes On Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-30-09 at 03:09 PM 

Continue reading “The Canada Live Podcast: More ways to win with Sophie Milman” »

Continue reading “Final Fantasy Tonight” »

Continue reading “Yes You Can…” »

–> November 19, 2008 “Contemporary Music Is Real Music With Them” Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-19-08 at 03:45 PM 

For example:

Yikes. But it is absolutely true that the ground-breaking album not only brought Broken Social Scene international acclaim, it also drew attention to their Arts & Crafts record label, which in turn drew attention to a collective of great musicians based in Toronto, a vibrant quasi-underground musical community — people like Feist, Amy Millan and Emily Haines all came out of that (broken) scene. (Click here to see the current roster.)

Today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera ( Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) you can hear the first Canadian incarnation of the Operalia competition which took place in Quebec City earlier this week. Previous competitions have been held in Paris, Madrid, Tokyo, Los Angeles, among other major cities, and Quebec City was chosen in part to honour its 400th anniversary. (It too being a great city!)

Continue reading “Bell Orchestre, “Dazzle By Finesse”" »

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–> The True North Of Song Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 3-09 at 03:00 AM 

Short: Colin Linden is a bluesman.

You know you’re a bass player when: “You strongly believe in the phrase ‘One day bass players will take over the world.’”(At least according to one bass player.)

–> February 01, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Singer And The Universe Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 1-09 at 12:33 PM 

You can do better though — Saturday when Inside The Music airs the conversation Jian Ghomeshi had with Cohen, recorded at Cohen’s place in Montreal. So if you missed the previous broadcast, here’s another chance. They talk about everything from what Cohen does when he first comes home to Montreal (you’ll be surprised) to whether he regrets not having a life long partner.

“How to appreciate Frank Zappajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Hmmm…. Several years ago I ‘loaned’ my copy Frank’s autobiography to my mid-teens stepson who was just beginning to play guitar. Since then he’s read it at least three times, and it looks like it should: a manual for how a young person should learn about and explore the non-linear, fantastical world of music.” –hans1640

Sam Joseph Melville was an infamous inmate at Attica prison, a conspirator and bomb setter key to instigating the 1971 riots in that prison, riots in which he lost his life. One of his journal entries was used by the composer Frederic Rzewski in a composition called Coming Together, which host Laurie Brown features on The Signal (10 p.m.) tonight.

How To Build An Oud, via Khalaf Oud Luthiery

–> September 15, 2008 Spotlight: k.d. In u.k. Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-15-08 at 11:00 AM 

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There’s a bittersweet lesson for lovers in Handel’s half serious, half light-hearted comedy, Partenope. It’s all about the fragility of love, driven by a story that aroused Handel’s imagination as early as 1708… even though it wasn’t performed until 1730. There were some who felt Silvio Stampiglia’s “immoral” tale that had so bewitched Handel to be extremely controversial…

It’s Gordon Lightfoot’s 70th birthday today, and Tom Allen (and the Radio 2 Blog) celebrate by asking: What Should Gordon Lightfoot Be Writing cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Todayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Possibly more important, he gives the singing in this production a very positive review. But you can hear for yourself today. Please continue reading for more details about the opera:

But as well as playing each of the symphonies, Tempo would like to know if you have a favorite Haydn symphony, or a favorite recording of a Haydn symphony.

That’s a review of a concert by the Gryphon Trio you can hear tonight on The Signal (10 p.m.) and also at Concerts On Demand (where that review came from).

7. Favourite music to cook burritos tojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

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Among the greatest of the many great story tellers on Radio 2 is Tom Allen. As you’ll see, each of his “5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” tells a story, even within the constraints of a list. Go ahead, read ‘em, but don’t weep. (Except maybe a tear of laughter over #4. I suppose it is a great thing if you’re an astronaut.)

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You can hear some of the influences even in that clip — Penguin Café Orchestra, Arvo Pjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!rt — but they draw from a deep well. Again, if you’d like to hear more, Laurie will be playing some of their music tonight on The Signal (10 p.m.) And for more info about the new recording, here it is, from the Orchestre’s mouth:

Continue reading “Ben Heppner In Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades” »

The Pelletier Trio is a family group from Saskatchewan who can pick and grin pretty much anything you like. Bluegrass, classic country, gospel, gypsy jazz, you name it: Freddie (the dad), Sheila (the mom) and Clinton (the son) play it all… on their antique “Sears and Roebuck” guitars.

It’s a classic NFB documentary directed by Donald Brittain and now you can watch it online on the Radio 2 website: Ladies And Gentlemen…Mr. Leonard Cohen.

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–> June 24, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Instant Composition Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-24-09 at 03:33 PM 

PACIFIC - 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
MOUNTAIN - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
CENTRAL - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
EASTERN - 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
MARITIMES - 9:00 - 11:00 p.m.
NEWFOUNDLAND - 9:30 - 11:30 p.m

Also today, SATO will feature a recent Naxos recording of the first opera written specifically for television - the popular Christmas story “Amahl and the Night Visitors, by Giancarlo Menotti.

(Movie buff note: Apparently the inspiration for the dance scene in Pulp Fiction. Oh wait, you’re a movie buff, you already knew that.)

Continue reading “A Radio 2 Exclusive With Alex Cuba” »

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–> May 03, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Joel Plaskett “Yes, Yes, And Yes!” Posted by Li Robbins on May- 3-09 at 03:31 PM 

Cockburn shares a few road stories from his thirty five + year career with Rich, and what an amazing career it has been to date. (Although as one reviewer accurately put it: “Cockburn has been one of the lowest-key Canadian success stories possibly ever.” )

It takes inspiration. It takes stamina. It takes a seriously solid set of pipes, and equally dextrous fingers. It takes, in a word, Gonzales.

Did you see in the credits at the end that “the Wizard is Frank Morganjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” Funny, I always thought it was the other way around…

I’m happy to report that the show can be heard again on your radio this Sunday — and it will be included in the Inside The Music Audio Archive, available next week.

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Well, it is mere days away from the opening of the fall classic. But in this case it isn’t that “the bags are juiced,” as we tobacco chawin’, hard talkin’ baseball fans like to say. No, these bas(s)es are of the musical variety.

–> November 25, 2008 Tubular Bells, The Backstory Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-25-08 at 11:00 AM 

–> March 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Tempting Tempo Temptations Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-19-09 at 10:15 AM 

Now maybe you’re thinking, hey, I’d like to play the oud, what a fabulous sound. If so, here are a few quick links to get you going:

Continue reading “Behind Every Great Pianist There’s…” »

It’s Joni Mitchell’s 63rd 65th(!) birthday on Friday, and Tom Allen and the crew on Radio 2 Morning (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) celebrate with her music all week — and by asking you for your favourite Joni Mitchell song.

–> May 01, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Coming Soon: Peter & The Symphony Posted by Li Robbins on May- 1-09 at 09:54 AM 

A: Well, I went from 15 years old to 20, and for women and young girls, that’s a pretty pivotal turning point. Every woman at some point in her life has that turning point where they no longer sublimate what they’re feeling, and as a Canadian I was definitely a passive-aggressive creature, and it served me well in my art. So I bottled it all up inside and later it exploded and came out in lyrics and music and movement. “

–> December 02, 2008 Interviews & Music Docs Online Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 2-08 at 10:27 AM 

While you wait to hear Rich’s interview with Beck, here’s a quick Blog’s Eye View of some recent Beck moments to mull over:

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The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra In Shanghai — the final stop on their recent tour, featuring the violinist Hilary Hahn. Yes, the same violinist whose violin case Twitters her fans.

–> April 11, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Hoy Yoh Toh Hoh! Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-11-09 at 10:00 AM 

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The production today of Rienzi features tenor Stefan Vinke as Rienzi, soprano Marika Schjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!nberg as his sister Irene and mezzo Elena Zhidkova plays the “trouser role” of Adriano Collona, the love interest of Irene whose own family loyalties are tested. The Leipzig Opera Chorus and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra are led by conductor Axel Kober. (Are you still stuck on “trouser rolejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” Just a woman in man’s clothing, a woman playing a man’s role is all.)

–> October 11, 2008 Musical Capitals Of The World Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-11-08 at 03:30 PM 

Justin Rutledge decided to call his latest recording “Man Descending” after the great short story collection of that name by Guy Vanderhaeghe. Here’s the official record co. (Six Shooter Records) explanation:

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But don’t think too much about Winnipeg and its great music scene, let alone one of those other burgs like Calgary or Vancouver.

–> February 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Ian Tyson At 75 Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-12-09 at 06:00 PM 

–> January 24, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Gluck’s Orfeo Ed Euridice Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-24-09 at 10:00 AM 

Rupa is also something of a philosopher, quoting the likes of Krishnamurti in performance:

Holy long ovation! But that is a great reminder that in the case of Alfie, even if the words did come first, that little melodic line that goes with “what’s it all about, Alfie” is pretty much perfect.

Thank you, Mr. Cohen.

–> June 14, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Talk Of The Town(s) Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-14-09 at 11:45 AM 

Ron Sexsmith is for sure one of Canada’s most respected songwriters of the post-Cockburn generation. (Which is not to slight Cockburn’s creativity, still going strong!) So having Sexsmith kick things off is perfectly in keeping with Drive’s drive, as it were, to play great Canadian music. Speaking of, here’s a nice stat for you — in the first week of programming 73% of the music Rich played was Canadian. (Who sits there with a calculator to figure this outjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Not I, thankfully, but I have it on good authority.)

6. True or False: You once aspired to be a cook in a Mexican restaurant.

Exalt the everyday with classical music that rocks your world.

Tonight Joseph Petric plays Brian Current’s fiendishly difficult Concerto For Accordion And Orchestra on The Signal, recorded live with Symphony Nova Scotia.

Pete Seeger turns 90 on Sunday, May 3rd. And he’s still an activist and a performer — you may have seen him singing This Land Is Your Land at President Obama’s inauguration with Springsteen and choir.

–> September 08, 2008 Idea Of North Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 8-08 at 11:00 AM 

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The inspiration comes from words of the legendary blues artist Bone Man Slim. In case you don’t know Bone Man Slim’s body of work here’s the pivotal lyric:

Best “I didn’t expect that” musical moment - Dave Brubeck at 87 years old taking the stage in Calgary and putting me and the entire audience into a full nelson for ninety minutes.

This is what one of my esteemed SATO colleagues sent me as a kind of teaser for anyone unfamiliar with the opera, and it pretty much says it all:

Continue reading “”Nothing Is Wasted Or Gratuitous”" »

–> November 16, 2008 Oudistry Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-16-08 at 11:11 AM 

So, maybe not the kind of Cat Song Jurgen has in mind. But for all you cat-music lovers interested in some additional resources contributing to this burgeoning genre (like cats you can apparently never have too many), here you go:

Katie is right — you can’t quite believe it ’til you see (and hear) it. Now you have a chance to do just that — win a trip for two courtesy of the Tonic Montreal Jazz Festival Contest. Each day this week Katie (and Tim Tamashiro on the weekend) will ask a jazz question — all you have to do to enter the draw is answer. Correctly, obviously. But the questions won’t be too tough. For example:

We’ve been telling you all about a certain young jazz starlet who’s been stealing the international scene and is gracing our airwaves tonight on Canada Live (and don’t forget about the two ways to win!)…

Admittedly that was as much a feature for Washburn’s vocals as for banjo playing, so for those who are craving more of a banjo foci, here is: Bela Fleck, Tony Trischka, and Steve Martin. Yes, you read that right:

“Renouncing formulaic bombast, Bell Orchestre dazzles by finesse, not force. Call it blank slate music– oceans of negative space awaiting colonization-by-imagination.” Deathoftheleftunfinished

Not to suggest time travelling has to be done with a metronome…but that today there is some very imaginative time travelling of the mind, when Robert Harris joins Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) host Julie Nesrallah to take listeners back two hundred years for some Beethoven. A great deal of Beethoven, actually, since on December 22, 1808 Beethoven was even busier than usual, masterminding a marathon of a concert in Vienna’s Theater an der Wien.

The question arose because so many of Lightfoot’s best loved songs chart history in a powerful and memorable way. (Though many of his personal songs also seem to strike a universal chord.) Either way it’s no surprise his songs are regularly covered. (Sometimes in unexpected places, eg. when Canadian Idol singers sang Canadian Railroad Trilogy.)

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On today’s broadcast he plays the great Brahms Quintet For Clarinet And Strings. (Plus you’ll hear his collaborators, the award-winning Jerusalem Quartet, in concert from Vancouver performing Haydn’s String Quartet In F Minor Op. 20 No. 5 and Debussy’s String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 10.)

One of my colleagues at CBC Digital Archives kindly drew my attention to an online feature about Gilles Vigneault at our sister site at Radio-Canada, so you may want to have a look/listen there as well — the first clip includes a brief snippet of the song Mon Pays.

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–> October 25, 2008 Verdi’s Attila Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-25-08 at 10:00 AM 

Please keep on reading for full Regina cast details and the synopsis.

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing… and when it comes to the music of Duke Ellington, it meant a lot. Still does. 110 years after his birthday (today) admirers still pay tribute to his music.

At a party recently I ran into the producer of Jian Ghomeshi’s interview with Leonard Cohen, which you can hear today between 5-6pm on Radio 2 Drive. (Also streaming online.)

I’m guessing it might include Don Ross, Ed Bickert, Neil Young, any of the members of the African Guitar Summit, JP Cormier, Kevin Breit…oh there are so many, and who knows which ones the Drive listeners are throwing their weight behind. But you can hear for yourself between 5-6pm Friday.

1. She’s what writers of a purple prose style like to call music “royalty,” as she is the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. And Rufus’ sister as well. (Of whom she told The Observer “when we were growing up we needed to be separated all the time. He tortured me because I was his younger sister.” Well of course he did. Fortunately they both grew up and got over it — she was even his back-up singer for a while before her own career took off.)

Critix: “Canadian producer, Dubmatix, creates some of the freshest reggae around. What’s so fabulous about the outing by Dubmatix out of Canada is he’s taken dub & reggae and pushed the envelope in a creative sense and taken it to another level.” –Dermot Hussey XM Radio “The Joint”

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Jazz being the premiere music of improvisation (at least in western terms), you’d think that idiosyncratic, ground breaking jazz singers would be a dime a dozen. But no, they’re more expensive than that. For some reason jazz singing is one of the, IM (not so humble) O, more conservative areas of jazz. Singing standards became the standard. Original lyrics, unusual voices, not so much.

–> June 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Lenny And Jian, Together Again Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-12-09 at 02:20 PM 

Continue reading “If Food Be The Love Of Music…” »

Here’s the backstory:

“If I didn’t think music could help save the human race, I wouldn’t be making music.”

But for the blow by blow plot synopsis (as well as cast details) please continue reading:

Brooklyn Vegan, long a champion of FF aren’t the only New Yorkers to take notice.

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Zappa’s influence lives on, in Canada no less.

There are some instruments that are more frequently made into figures of fun than others. And while it is true that the accordion does lend itself to being both a figure of fun and a conduit for musical fun, in equal truth it’s one of the most versatile instruments around, capable of remarkably virtuosic music. This you can hear today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT), an edition of the show he calls Accordion Crimes.

–> December 11, 2008 Elliott Carter At 100 Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-11-08 at 04:00 PM 

You may really, really want to hear Leonard Cohen live. And you’ll have the opportunity to win a trip to hear Cohen in New York, starting next Monday March 9th, by listening to Radio 2. In the meantime Radio 2 is presenting some exclusive Cohen tracks.

–> February 22, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Oddball SQ Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-22-09 at 11:00 AM 

–> June 15, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Tonic Jazz Fest Contest Begins! Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-15-09 at 01:00 PM 

The Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) interviews happen almost every week, and many have been archived. Currently you can hear Rich’s full interviews with Beck, Martha Wainwright, David Myles, Colin Linden & Paul Reddick, Justin Rutledge, Zaki Ibrahim, Roxanne Potvin, Shad, Jill Barber and Tanya Tagaq & Apostle of Hustle on the Drive webpage.

Continue reading “The Church Of Dans” »

And although he was one of the “architects” of bebop, it’s his compositions that stay with us — instantly recognizable, angular, twisty and lovely. Best known of course is Round Midnight, courtesy of the many covers of it, and because of the movie of that name.

–> March 24, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Duhks, k.d., Ndidi…Juno Fever! Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-24-09 at 10:00 AM 

–> Jenn Grant Is…On Drive Today Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-16-09 at 09:40 AM 

Continue reading “SATO: Bizet’s Pearlfishers” »

I believe a fan put together the montage. And apparently there has been a great deal of feedback about this song from service men and women and their families, as well as prior fans of J.P. Cormier. Rightfully so, that’s one powerful song.

With the Juno Awards taking place this weekend Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) gets Juno fever and showcases some of the classical nominees Thursday and Friday. Thursday’s performances include part of Bruckner’s 9th Symphony conducted by Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and the Gryphon Trio with Schubert’s Trio No. 1.

–> February 20, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Banjoman Steve Martin Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-20-09 at 02:48 PM 

It’s called The Crow: New Songs For the 5-String Banjo and what I’ve heard is good — surprisingly good if you only think of Martin as a comedian. (If you know something about clawhammer banjo playing, chances are you won’t be surprised at all.)

If you are getting warmed up (and given the temperatures across the country of late, you will want to be warming up by the radio!) for Saturday Afternoon At The Opera ( Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) here is what’s in store:

Continue reading “Gluck’s Orfeo Ed Euridice” »

So without further ado, here’s Julie!

Have you noticed how slowly Leonard Cohen’s website loadsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Not because of any flash heaviness either. It must be because so many Cohenites are going to the site every minute of every hour, to continue to worship at the shrine.

Timely, as 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of Claude Vivier’s birth, and the 25th of his death in Paris. Vivier’s personal, imaginative sound-world has captivated musicians and audiences around the world, and his short, intense life continues to affect his friends and colleagues — as you will hear in this doc.

Tomorrow on Tonic (6 p.m.) Katie will be featuring some music by Monk in honour of what would have been his 91st birthday — his legacy always present in jazz radio.

Of course there are many Canadian train songs, no surprise, given the country’s history. But as Tim Rogers, who likes to write about Canadian trains and music says, much is in how you define the genre:

Bragg’s involvement inspired a similar American programme in the city of Lansing, Michigan. See Careful With That Axe, Eugene for more details on the programme. (Can’t you just imagine the hilarity that ensued when someone came up with that headlinejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

At 7:17 this morning if you were following Leopold Bloom you read this Tweet, for example: “I idly turn over pages of The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk, then of Aristotle’s Masterpiece. Crooked botched print.”

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–> February 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Dylan Doc Hosted By Patti Smith Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-19-09 at 10:50 AM 

If you google the word “stars” the first response is not something about “a massive, luminous ball of plasma that is held together by its own gravity.” (That’s third, actually, terribly sciencey. Who wishes upon a “luminous ball of plasma,” after all.)

–> January 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Today On Drive: Stars Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-19-09 at 02:00 PM 

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It was the art historian Horace Walpole who later coined the term Serendipity - meaning the accidental discovery of something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

The “Venerable Island” of Sri Lanka (aka Ceylon) is the setting of today’s opera, Les pêcheurs des perles (The Pearl Fishers), by Georges Bizet. For thousands of years, most seawater pearls were retrieved by divers working in the Indian Ocean, in areas such as the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and in the Gulf of Mannar (between Sri Lanka and India).

For the complete cast and character and the plot synopsis, please continue reading.

I admire an audience that surrenders itself and joins you for the ride — and turns off their cell phones.

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Continue reading “Joel Plaskett “Yes, Yes, And Yes!”" »

Ringophiles are possibly even more obsessive than Trekkies. But that doesn’t mean you have to have that level of fandom to experience Wagner’s Ring Cycle — you may just be Ring-curious.

Ms. Barber, it should be pointed out, is Rich Terfry’s guest this afternoon on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.).

Continue reading “Idea Of North” »

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Continue reading “Tristan Und Isolde, Live From The Met” »

Continue reading “Reality Twisted To Extract Maximum Emotional Effect” »

On today’s show he features some of his own favourites, including The Duhks, K-os, and what he calls the “Radio 2 Power Trio” - Luke Doucet, Ron Sexsmith, and Sarah Slean. (And, it must be said, his current favourite of favourites and mine too — Fleet Foxes.)

That’s how David Newland, host of this year’s (7th annual) tribute to Gordon Lightfoot at Hugh’s Room describes the man’s music, and it would be difficult to better that description.

It looks like a terrific event — both as a competition and as this press release puts it, “a unique spectator experience,” enhanced by large screens and what they call the “innate surround sound” (nicely put) of the organ.

If you are vague as to why there is so much to-do about Ms. Wainwright — here are just a few of the reasons.

–> December 10, 2008 Sheila Jordon At Eighty Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-10-08 at 04:00 PM 

–> May 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Sisters In Jazz Posted by Li Robbins on May-28-09 at 07:18 PM 

The festival draws from NACO’s Brahms/Mozart festival, which began in September, and ends tomorrow. Each concert will feature one of Brahms’ four monumental symphonies. Pinchas Zukerman, NACO’s music director, conducts Symphonies 1, 3 and 4.

Continue reading “Duhks, k.d., Ndidi…Juno Fever!” »

–> November 08, 2008 Parsifal Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 8-08 at 10:30 AM 

And also: “I am storyteller, a singer, a songwriter, an actor, a television personality, an ambassador, a philanthropist, an athlete, a dreamer and an equal.”

Tonight The Signal broadcasts a performance of the work which was awarded the Jules Leger prize this year — Que Sommes-Nous by Analia Llugdar. She’s originally from Argentina, and studied at the University de Montréal, ending up with a PhD in composition.So why did the jury pick her piecejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

You may have romantic Canadian songs on your mind, (you know, the kind that open your heart like a can of peaches), and if you do, that link will take you there. But you should also know that tomorrow on Drive Rich’s guest is Dubmatix. Quick Dubmatix 2010 olympic hokcey jerseys,,ugg classic tall boots,ugg upside tall boots:

It’s safe to say that few would dispute the depth of musical talent in this country. But behind every established great artist is a line-up of newer talent, singing and playing and hoping for the big break.

Twilight Of The Gods a.k.a. Gjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!tterdjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!mmerung is Wagner’s epic operatic conclusion to the also epic Der Ring des Nibelungenm.

Continue reading “Daniel Lanois is Live Times Five… On Drive!” »

–> November 20, 2008 “I Want To Play Like Jascha Heifetz” Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-20-08 at 11:00 AM 

Maybe it isn’t so much songs of mysteries, as much as mysteries perceived in songsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! There are many misconceptions about songs, often over what the song really means. (Famous case in point: Springsteen’s Born In The USA being construed as nationalistic. It is not.) For a rundown of some song secrets, you may want to look at Top 25 Songs With A Secret.

A corollary of that question might be, “why does a specific voice move usjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” Sometimes it’s the actual quality of the voice alone — the person could sing the phone book and you’d listen. Probably more often it’s some combination of the voice, the musical material, and even who that artist is aside from their music. I suspect the latter is the case for Jurgen Gothe today, as he devotes the entire edition of Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) to one very interesting singer and person — Montreal’s Diane Nalini.

–> December 14, 2008 Know Any Good Banjo Jokesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-14-08 at 12:00 PM 

–> February 18, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Extreme Cello Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-18-09 at 05:26 PM 

On Farrago (5 p.m. 5:30 NT) today Jurgen, who is famous for his wine lore (see Grapes Of Gothe), sticks mostly to wine, with music from musicians as disparate as Handsome Ned and Lambert Hendricks and Ross.

Recently Rich Terfry on Drive mused about what a shortlist of the best Canadian guitar players might be like, and his off-the-cuff remark resulted in a hundred or so responses! On Friday, Rich played music from the shortlist on the show.

–> June 27, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Ultimate Femme Fatale - Lulu Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-27-09 at 12:00 PM 

So here it is: January 1, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots. Everyone and his blog and his blog’s best friend have been looking back of late, but now it’s time to turn in the other direction. Not by making “resolutions,” they’re too daunting — and besides, bets if you made some last night you’re probably already toying with the notion of breaking them.

Among other things Krall talks about the letter she wrote to Oscar Peterson when she was just a teenager (he later became one of her mentors) and why she no longer feels like the “peel me a grape girl.”

Amfortas and his Knights must find a way to outwit the fallen knight Klingsor, and keep the lad Parsifal from clutches of the Sorceress Kundry. It’s a battle of good vs. evil, dark vs. light and passion vs. abstinence, as the knights who draw their power from the Holy Grail battle the evil magician.

For an intimate performance by Myles on your radio, tune in today to Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) in the third hour of the programme, when he joins Rich to play a couple songs from his most recent recording, On the Line. (He and Rich will likely have lots to discuss — the multi-instrumentalist Myles has also played trumpet with Buck 65.)

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Well this week on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera’s (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) broadcast of Verdi’s opera, at the very least it’s a quartet of all-star singers, including Sondra Radvanovsky (Leonora), Dolora Zajick (Azucena), Marcelo Alvarez (Manrico) and Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Count Di Luna).

The documentary came out in 1965, and it’s a real time capsule — of culture, filmmaking, Montreal and of course, of Cohen. At that time he was still best known as a poet and novelist, and the focus is on that rather than music, but you still get a glimpse into Cohen as a performer.

Continue reading “Death In Venice” »

Continue reading “Daniel Lanois Concert Tonight!” »

You may have noticed, if you are the sort of person who notices these things, that the photo accompanying this post is of none of the above.

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With ways to win on both Tonic and Canada Live, this may qualify as a mini-extravaganza. So let’s bring you up to speed, and count the ways today’s Canada Live podcast can help you win…

Recently, in an article by Robert Everett-Green in the Globe, he concluded with something Oliver Schroer once said that sums this up — I’m paraphrasing here, but it was something like this: “I don’t play music, I catch it as it passes by.”

The song itself was originally written by Vigneault as a commission from the National Film Board in 1964 , for Arthur Lamothe’s La Neige A Fondu Sur La Manicouagan.

“This is the best music I’ve heard in months. Thanks CBC radio 2 for augmenting our ears to such fresh music.”

So in a tip of the hat to Tom’s short list, here, from a 1970 live performance, is one of his top Mitchell songs. She’s pretty (and strong) in pink, and takes no prisoners with her dulcimer playing.

Mon March 30: Juno Songwriters’ Circle
Tues March 31: Leonard Cohen Live in London
Wed April 1: Gordon Lightfoot Tribute
Thurs April 2: Ian Tyson; Corb Lund
Fri April 3: Emm Gryner; City And Colour

On today’s show, for example, she covers classical advent calendars, online musical relationships, and (drum roll) Turkey Baster Music. Click on the link if you don’t believe me.

Following the opera, host Bill Richardson speaks to British filmaker Tony Palmer, and to composer John Adams, whose work Doctor Atomic will be presented next week on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera.

–> May 13, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Debussy and Cocoa: Together at last! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-13-09 at 04:10 PM 

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She calls herself a painter first and a musician second. But even with music as her self-proclaimed secondary title, Joni Mitchell has created a whole new genre.

So it’s fitting that the theme of the Evolution composer competition, underway at the Banff Centre, has been revealed as “Inspirations by Darwin and Evolution.” Fitting because the competition is an exploration of the evolution of composition.

It’s been quite a time at The Met for cast changes lately, as a recent NYTimes article points out. Quite possibly it’s also the first time the CFL has been written about in connection with The Met:

1) I like Ian Tyson’s new album. I like Ian Tyson. In good times, as we sort of still were back in January of ‘08, someone like Ian Tyson is a reminder to keep our feet on the ground. He’s been through hard times, and hung on. He still gets up and works, every day, hard, and is thankful for it. And, he’s more and more himself all the time. We could all ask so much. Yellowhead To Yellowstone And Other Love Stories is one great thing from 2008.

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–> Battle of the Amazingly Old Instruments Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-11-09 at 10:59 AM 

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–> Newfoundland’s Tom Power Guest Hosts Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-27-09 at 10:30 AM 

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“It’s not like there’s a radio station around here that plays his kind of music. Heck, Beck’s a genre unto himself, a swampy blues swilling, hip-hop swaggering, retro-loving, edgy rock tinkering kind of a guy. He’s made eight major label albums over the past 14 years and not a one of them sounds alike.” -Pullen My Blog

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The saying goes that April showers bring May flowers. Well, now that we’re a whopping six days into May, the tulips may be blooming but the showers remain. That’s because today, as Tempo presents the latest in its series on Canada’s talented young Classical artists (called Next!), we’ll hear Edmonton’s Andrew Wan telling the story of Brahms’ beautiful Rain Sonata with his virtuostic violin skills.

–> Can you spot the CBC Radio Drive hostjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 5-09 at 10:50 AM 

–> Katie Malloch’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-16-08 at 11:00 AM 

Here are just a few of the recent additions to CoD:

3. You’ve been called Buck 65, DJ Critical and “the new Tom Waits.” Why not stick with one of thesejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “Inspired By Evolution” »

2. Nagano on human nature: we inherently appreciate “that which is extraordinarily refined.”
(Conductor Kent Nagano Invigorates OSM)

What this means is Lang Lang will perform concerts with the TSO, do book signings, and a solo recital which will be recorded by CBC Radio 2 on Friday, and broadcast on Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) on Oct 6, and then again on Nov 9th on Sunday Afternoon In Concert (Sunday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT).

Where: Raised in British Columbia and South Africa, currently resides in T.O.

One answer: Charles Spearin’s Happiness Project. It’s a series of interviews about happiness, set to music. Oh, but that doesn’t do it justice, you have to hear it. And you can — a live version too, recorded at the Music Gallery in Toronto, broadcast tonight on The Signal.

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So, is Serena Ryder’s “Sing Sing” stuck in your head yetjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Are you stomping and clapping your way homejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Montreal’s Oliver Jones was just a kid when he heard the music that stopped him in his tracks. By that time, the young player was already known as a pianist in his own right. He’d been playing radio tunes from pure memory since he was three, and by five had already performed at a local church.

7. What would you most like to ask the composerjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

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Two years ago a young graffiti artist named Sophie Backhouse pleaded guilty to damaging property in her hometown of Liverpool. But what a difference a year or two make — now she’s sought after to do things like creating eye-catching designs commissioned by The Manchester Camerata , work that “challenges the borders between high art and so called urban art.” (You can see more of Backhouse’s work at here.) Really it’s not just about the so-called “high art” of classical music vs. graffiti though — Backhouse’s designs themselves are hybrids of contemporary street art and art nouveau.

Best 35 euros I spent last summer – for two coffees and an ice cream – but it allowed us to sit close to the canal in St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

Continue reading “The Wide, Wide World Of Vocal Ensembles” »

Some unkind reviewer once said that Erich Korngold, a composer famed for his Hollywood scores, was “more corn than gold.” Har har. But plenty of people love Korngold’s music. In fact in recent years his music has had a bit of a renaissance.

–> November 05, 2008 Tanya Tagaq & Apostle Of Hustle On Drive Thursday Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 5-08 at 11:01 AM 

Continue reading “Christmas Eve On Radio 2″ »

And this year’s winner is very good. If not the singer of the world, she certainly is one of them:

Recent Honour: Renegade Rocker, nominated for a Best Reggae Album of the Year at the Junos.

The original two-act opera The Magic Flute has been given countless productions and dozens of adaptations for film, stage, and the printed page. Surely one of the most popular adaptations is this year’s one-act production at The Met. Julie Taymor (see previous post for accolades) has created a spectacular production complete with her trademark giant puppets and gravity-defying set and costume designs.

Continue reading “Joel Plaskett is Live Times Five… on Drive!” »

You’re probably wondering why a photo of a U.S. army personnel is on this post. Well, he’s one of the guests on this week’s edition of The Nerve, heard on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT, also on R1 Sundays 8 p.m, 9:00 AT, 9:30 NT.)

Continue reading “Serena Ryder On Wednesday’s “Drive”" »

“I was often fascinated by the minute details of and subtle characteristics of these unconventional sounds. So often, the magic of what enthralls a performer is hidden or inaccessible to the audience. This recording is a way of allowing those sounds to be heard.”

The thing about going to murder mystery parties is that they’re always so ridiculous that you’re never *really* scared.

“On my way to the concert hall, the full moon is at its zenith, just above Buffalo Mountain, which stands out against the horizon like a spot of black ink on a sheet of rice paper. It looks like a giant Chinese-shadow show. The sounds of saxophones, flutes and pianos come drifting down from the rehearsal booths, disappearing into the cold night.”

For a brief plot synopsis please see the previous blog post — or go to the end of this post for the entire detailed story. But in one line, it focuses on J. Robert Oppenheimer (sung by Finley) and his team and the creation of the world’s first atomic bomb — and the crisis of its use in Japan.

Working with people across the country means that sometimes you get impressions not actually founded in daily life, “how are you today and isn’t the weather terrible” reality. Such is the case with my colleague Tim Tamashiro, the Calgary-based weekend host of Tonic. But although our relationship is entirely based on email correspondence, his “5 Greats” came as absolutely no surprise, right in character. Chipper and entertaining, that’s Tim Tam.

But plenty of people are working overnights, counting sheep or getting up to feed them when Nightstream (1:00 a.m./1:30 NT) is on the airwaves. These days the programme is hosted full time by Philly Markowitz, doing her usual weekend Nightstream gig in addition to filling in for weekday host Jowi Taylor, who is on a leave of absence.

This afternoon it’s Diana Krall, and if you miss the broadcast you can also hear it (as well as Jian’s interviews with David Foster, Gordon Lightfoot, Bruce Cockburn and Leonard Cohen) streaming online at Radio 2 Drive.

2. Can you share your “house concert rider” in advance, so potential contest winners know what to have on handjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Please continue reading for full cast and character details, as well as the always handy plot synopsis.

Like this one: a live performance from London of “Suzanne”. Cohen still “has it,” as you’ll see and hear by clicking on that link. (I can also attest to this from the concert I was at in the last leg of his tour — he was brilliant!)

Continue reading “RPM: Indispensable Canadian Albums” »

–> January 03, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots La Bohème Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 3-09 at 10:00 AM 

Continue reading “k.d. Lang @ Massey Hall Tonight” »

joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots is a big year for any number of reasons. It’s not 2008, that’s one. Another is that it’s the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Joseph Haydn. And for those interested in “Haydnmania,” there is a blog of that name that is a good resource for Haydn celebrations and related.

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Continue reading “Neko Case is Live Times Five… on Drive!” »

And even though the actor and singer was not one of the Manitobans whose home was left with more than just memories of the water levels, it was Tom Jackson who spearheaded Rise Again joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots:The Red Cross Manitoba Flood Relief Concert.

Continue reading “Classical Juno Fever” »

Frank Zappa always seems to be in the news in one way or the other — no small feat given he died in 1993.

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The folks at the International Year of Astronomy chose to set the above beautiful montage to music by Sigur Ross Ros. Which brings me to Sky Music, a special this Sunday on Inside The Music (12pm/1230 NT). The topic — music inspired by the stars and planets and night sky. The producer tells me it’s a kind of “galactic musical crazy quilt.”

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–> March 27, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots k.d. Lang @ Massey Hall Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-27-09 at 02:30 PM 

Guests include David Harrington of the Kronos Quartet, throat singer Tagaq, tabla master Zakir Hussain and Bruce Cockburn (pictured here) among others — a really interesting group of people to talk about this subject.

I admire a performer who is engaging in an honest and genuine way; performers who truly show you what they love to do.

It’s the music of love– and heads– lost, in today’s installment of Peter and the Symphony.

Continue reading “Pointing To Winners” »

Boxing Day at last. Don’t get me wrong: I love the special warmth that one feels on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but Boxing Day is the reward for all the hard work that led us there in the first place.

Continue reading “Neko Case On Tuesday’s Drive” »

You can do so today with the broadcast of Rigoletto from The Met, heard on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT), featuring George Gagnidze, Aleksandra Kurzak and Giuseppe Filianoti. Plus a few other people, as you will see by squinting at that photo.

You’ll also want to tune in for details about a contest involving Ron Sexsmith. Hint: Does the phrase “House Concert” mean anything to youjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> October 24, 2008 RPM: Joni’s “Blue” Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-24-08 at 03:00 PM 

Today is the bicentennary of Felix Mendelssohn, as celebrated on Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) with five Mendelssohn symphonies in five hours. (Over the rest of the week Tempo will also play some of the other key Mendelssohn compositions including the Octet, excerpts from the oratorio Elijah, and the Violin Concerto.)

That’s the charming Halifax based singer songwriter, David Myles, singing his charming When It Comes My Turn in his living room. (I don’t know if his living room is charming, though it looks it. But the man and his song definitely are.)

Mendelssohn blogging turns up some good roundups including this nicely illustrated look at his life, from AllMusic, and recording recommendations from Culture Catch.

Let’s start with some vintage Hawksley Workman quotes:

Continue reading “Building Obama’s Playlist” »

And now to the music from the WSO New Music Festival where Pat Carrebré was on stage last weekend hosting. The Signal was also recording and you can hear some of the results this evening — many of them premieres.

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One of the best concerts I’ve been to in the past few years was by Marcel Khalife, pictured here. He plays the oud, which is most frequently likened to the lute. It’s a wonderful sounding, expressive instrument. And as a not irrelevant aside, a concert by Khalife is on the Radio 2 website as a Concert On Demand.

As you’ll hear today — there’s a lot more to The Romantic than the famous hunting scene of the third movement. And to Bruckner the man, a “country bumpkin,” a pious Catholic, a “naive oddity,” as Mr. Friesen describes him. And for all that — a genius.

First things first. You may want to have a look at the NYT’s slide show of photos from the opera, broadcast today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT). There are just seven shots — but they’ll put a visual image in your head of the style of the production. (Unless, of course, you prefer to simply imagine, as befits the medium of radio.) As to the voices you’ll hear on today’s broadcast — the opera stars two much talked about singers, Stephanie Blythe as Orfeo and Danielle De Niese as Euridice.

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–> September 07, 2008 Farrago With Jurgen Gothe Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 7-08 at 11:05 AM 

Dutch composer Mayke Nas describes herself as a “composer, searcher, slow-food cook, Bach fugure player.” And she’s brought all those interests to bear on a fascinating piece we’ll hear tonight, called, “La Belle Chocolatière.”

He also says the show will be: “Quirky without being weird, eclectic without being outré, amusing without being silly. (Well, maybe just once or twice, here and there.)” Can’t top that, so I won’t try.

-Somewhat limited, musically speaking, but interesting potato P.O.V.: The Potato Song

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But right now Katherine shares the following personal reflections as part of the ongoing series which began last Monday on the blog, with Radio 2 hosts recounting a few positive memories of the past year.

You can click here to find out more about the new lineup on both Radio One and Radio 2, rolling out on June 29.

The tortoise approach paid off…

1. How far have you climbed to listen to a radiojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> Andrew Wan is Next! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 6-09 at 10:00 AM 

Of course Austria, Haydn’s country of birth, is Haydn central this year — the Austrian Mint has issued a “200th Anniversary of the Death of Joseph Haydn” coin, for example:

–> May 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Neko Case is Live Times Five… on Drive! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-21-09 at 01:20 PM 

It was tempting to title this post “Weasels Ripped My Flesh,” but I thought it might be too distressing for some, so I’ve buried it in the lede. However, for admirers of Frank Zappa this will instantly trigger curiosity — and the following shall satisfy.

Best song with an architectural reference: Mansard Roof, Vampire Weekend

Those Wainwrights aren’t alone — Canadian jazz also has its musically acclaimed siblings, saxophonist Christine Jensen and her trumpet playing sister, Ingrid Jensen. Tonight, the sisters in jazz perform in a concert recording broadcast by The Signal, featuring the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra.

And while many have suggested music to play while cooking (or eating), Classics Today takes a different approach. They suggest music first — and then recipes that might accompany, and call the feature Classical Gourmet.

–> September 10, 2008 Spotlight: Kent Nagano Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-10-08 at 11:00 AM 

It’s all about spaces for the Great Lake Swimmers.

–> November 14, 2008 RPM: Broken Social Scene’s “You Forgot It In People” Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-14-08 at 03:42 PM 

With the oodles of press coverage his latest record, Three has received, it’s a question songwriter and performer extraordinaire Joel Plaskett has been posed many a time.

Continue reading “The It Girl Of 1744jerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

1. Getting a voice mail message from Teresa Stratas saying no, in a very nice way, to an interview request for a show we produced in honor of her 70th birthday.

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“If all the electricity went out forever, stride pianists would be just fine.” -Jon Webber, as quoted in Bebopified.

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–> November 17, 2008 What Do You Think Gordon Lightfoot Should Write cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall bootsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-17-08 at 08:00 AM 

Continue reading “Oh! Henrys!” »

This fall the WSO opens its season (Sept 26/27) with James Ehnes performing the Korngold Violin Concerto. For those of us not in the gateway to the west, we can tune into Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) today when Julie plays the Grammy/Juno winning recording of that music.

Say what you want about musical charity endeavours. While some of them can seem so slapped-together that they result in little more than fodder for jokes… others can result in new innovations, new artistry, and new help for those who really need it.

Probably that idiosyncratic musical nature is why he’s not a household name — and yet has iconic status. He’s a single malt, not a blend, you might say. (We won’t get into whether he’s an Islay or a Highland.)

Continue reading “A 27-Hour Concert. Yep. You read it right.” »

For the most part Canada Live (8 p.m.) is devoted to concerts by Canadian musicians, but every now and then a non-Canadian artist is featured — from a Canadian festival. That’s the case with one of this evening’s concerts, which was recorded at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. It features one of the most lyrical bass players in jazz, Charlie Haden.

–> February 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots First We Take Brooklyn Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-21-09 at 03:30 PM 

Continue reading “Tubular Bells, The Backstory” »

It’s where I also first came across the now widely circulated Bars & Tones, which is pretty great. Just in case you haven’t seen/heard it, here it is for your viewing/hearing enjoyment:

But not only Breit — the guitarist is playing with Harry Manx, who does with blues and Indian ragas what no man has done before. He plays an instrument called the the Mohan Veena, a modified archtop guitar with drone strings, so it sounds kind of like a slide guitar crossed with a sitar. Together with Breit, the two enter their own musical zone that’s impressive for any number of reasons — including their combined, formidable chops.

–> June 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Coming Soon To A Computer Near You Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-28-09 at 08:10 AM 

–> September 28, 2008 The Soul Of The Fiddle Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-28-08 at 10:00 AM 

Burt Bacharach has had an interesting career “trajectory,” as they say, from writing very popular music that was frequently the object of fun-poking (some considered his music sappy), to a new kind of hipness in the latter part of his career. That’s partly down to a genuine recognition of the beauty of his songs, and his influence — he’s had an impact on many younger musicians, from Elvis Costello to Jarvis Cocker, Michael Stipe, Ron Sexsmith, the list goes ever on.

It’s difficult to better Bone Man Slim, but one way of generating your own blues name is by going to the Blues-Name-O-Rama. Just click on “Create A New Blues Name” once you get there. (Mine is “Digital Earl Thornton.”)

Tonight Canada Live (8 p.m.) broadcasts a concert that is more recent than either of those events though — k.d. Lang recorded at Massey Hall featuring songs from her recent album, Watershed. As you’ll know, if you’re a k.d. follower, most of her previous recordings tend to be somewhat themed — but not Watershed. And this is how k.d. herself views it.

–> June 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Ulysses By Twitter Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-16-09 at 03:30 PM 

Let’s do this chronologically then, starting with Farrago. Jurgen calls today’s edition of his show Finger Pickin’s Faves: Fahey and Beyond. He’ll feature music by Bob Hadley; tracks from Joel Fafard’s CDs (two of which mention trout, but that’s another story, old trout) and also music from the mighty John Fahey, naturally. All that and the proverbial more.

–> June 01, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Oh! Henrys! Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 1-09 at 02:00 PM 

A few weeks back Final Fantasy, a.k.a. violinist Owen Pallett, gave away apples in New York. Really, go to Brooklyn Vegan for proof.

Neko Case, who is Rich Terfry’s guest on Tuesday’s Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) is kind of an honourary Canadian herself, having lived and worked here before. And in the aforequoted Paste Magazine feature called 17 Things I Love, by Neko Case she makes it clear how and why she feels connected to Canada. (Also to bats and iced tea, but Canada is still #1.)

In an interview with Pitchfork from a couple of years ago–which I’m not linking to for explicit-language reasons, but is very entertaining if you take the time to look for it– Case confessed that she stops taking an artist seriously when she hears “auto tune” in a recording.

Continue reading “Of Earth Mothers and Flower Pots…” »

Continue reading “Your Mind Is On Vacation…” »

We could go on, Mr. Workman typically has interesting things to say in interviews. One such interview can be heard tomorrow on the Radio 2 airwaves (Thursday November 27th), on Rich Terfry’s Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.). As always with Rich’s interviews there is also in-studio music performed as well, so Workman fans or Workman curious, tune in during the third hour of the programme.

Best place to see a show: The Blacksheep Inn, Wakefield Quebec

Well, a new CBC R2 series called The Nerve, in its second week tomorrow on Inside The Music Saturday Edition(12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT, also on R1 Sundays 8 p.m.) takes a look at the past few years of hot debate over changing ideas of music and evolution, with an episode called In The Key Of DNA.

5. Being in Calgary for the Calgary Opera production of Baby Doe, and meeting Leyna Gabriele, the very first Baby Doe, now in her vigorous mid-80’s.

Continue reading “When Harpo Played, It Was Like A Dream” »

Well then, you should know that we’re pretty excited today to say a very Happy Birthday today to Queen Victoria! Yes, it’s that mourning 19th century monarch that we have to thank for this statutory holiday.

Continue reading “Madama Butterfly” »

Speaking of those visuals though, if you click on that last link you will see what all the chatter is about — and it will lead you to video clips as well.

Best comfort food for a damp fall and early winter: Korean stone bowl anything.

It’s hard to imagine a world without chocolate. But try to think back, to the late 17th Century, when chocolate was still a new discovery. An exotic treat from an exotic land. One that even had exotic consequences for dear old Henry Purcell…

“The feeling we have as instrumentalists is to play the exact opposite of what he wrote, because it feels so good, but it really cheapens the music!” says Zukerman.

Just click on Listening To Past Interviews & Performances — it will take you to the Drive interviews.

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–> November 30, 2008 When Harpo Played, It Was Like A Dream Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-30-08 at 11:00 AM 

CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in a new window.

10. Mantra for the new radio seasonjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

But now people who formerly sneered at dance (not to mention anything with the words “reality” and TV”) are flocking. And this means some amazing dance videos are surfacing — if you like dance, you must click on that last link and watch them — really interesting on a dance, musical, and sociological level.

Care And Feeding Of The Oud, via rick nash olympic hockey jersey,archie manning jersey,ugg boots on sale !oud etc.

Surely the top three top hobbies are: 1. Wasting time at the computer 2. Snacking 3. Listening to train songs. Jurgen Gothe knows this, since since he devotes today’s Farrago (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) to #3.

“Experimental composer Anthony Braxton, Andy Summers of The Police, the progressive chamber ensemble Kronos Quartet and a synthesizer duo called Thelonious Moog: They’ve all recorded entire albums’ worth of Monk’s music. One tribute project brought out Peter Frampton, Dr. John and John Zorn on the same disc.”

–> May 06, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots McRae and Brubeck Take Five… Live! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 6-09 at 03:43 PM 

The great tenor Enrico Caruso once said that all one needs for a first-rate performance of Il Trovatore are the four greatest singers in the world. A mere bagatelle.

Tonight, let Canada Live take you to the lovely Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario, where Sophie Milman performs tunes from her much-lauded new album, “Take Love Easy.”

Last week Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) started something new on the Radio 2 website, posting audio from some of the interviews they’ve been doing. In the hurly burly of the typical daily show rush they arrived on the website with little fanfare, something I’d like to correct now.

The reviews for CoDs are coming in from Europe now, how nice. For example:

–> December 13, 2008 Name That Tune Contest! Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-13-08 at 04:30 PM 

It’s not much of a limb to go out on to say Foster has had an incredibly successful career as a producer/writer.

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Whyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Why would anyone in our zero-attention-span age release a triple albumjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

The poet and playwright looks at love through music and poetry, and he’ll share some of the poems and songs that have touched his own heart most deeply. Musically this means he’ll take you from 15th century China to 1960’s Italian pop; from Bollywood hits to Billie Holiday.

As for the photo, which also features his producer, Lauren Hancock, they tell me it comes from “Chili Day.” (I don’t know what all they get up to at CBC Calgary!)

As for the story itself, here goes: The Duke of Mantua has a wandering eye. Various court nobles are not best pleased. The hunchbacked Court Jester, Rigoletto, tries to keep his darling daughter Gilda away from the wolf while at the same time mocking victims of his conquests.

Alas there is no video (yet! hopefully they will do one) of this collaboration between Tagaq and Apostle Of Hustle. But there is a quite wonderful video of the Kronos Quartet working with Tagaq — posted below. It’s part performance, part process, and having been at one of the concerts that followed, I can attest to some pretty marvelous results. (No dog sleds on stage mind you…)

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–> March 15, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots What A Concept Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-15-09 at 04:00 PM 

You may be thinking, “a great agent,” or “a great grand,” and both these things may be true. But there are other unsung heroes in any pianist’s life. Like, say, piano tuners and page turners. Today you can hear from some of “the little people” of the piano world, on Sunday Afternoon In Concert.

But, like chocolate and strawberries and… a third tasty topping (whipped cream, anyonejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)… the three began to wonder if their individual ingredients might not be even more extraordinary if they were presented all together…

And while getting a geography and history lesson - YOU the listener discover some fabulous Canadian vocal talent in this production of l’Opéra de Montréal. Seredipitous, I’d say!

When Oliver Schroer passed away there was a real outpouring of emotion — some of that expressed right here on the R2 Blog. But for those who don’t know his music, today’s doc is one glimpse into a unique man and musician.

Concerts On Demand continues to be, casting modesty aside, a fabulous source of live music. Or, as Paul Wells put it in a recent Macleans piece, a “gorgeous repository of recent recordings of live performances by Canadian artists in every musical genre.”

But not enough! No indeed — we have questions, ten of which are below. Fortunately Rich also has answers, and here they are — thanks Rich.

–> October 04, 2008 To Hell…And Back Again: Monteverdi’s Orfeo Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 4-08 at 11:00 AM 

But what’s with this CFL designation of Winnipeg being in the eastjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! That’s just crazy. Burton Cummings, Neil Young, The Weakerthans, eastern musiciansjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! No no no. So for west, we will break with the silly CFL marker — the west begins with Winnipeg. Have you ever heard anyone say “Winnipeg is the gateway to the eastjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” No, you have not.

Continue reading “Classical Gourmet” »

For info about the documentary, please keep reading.

Note that you can also download the music on the Radio 2 website (via iTunes) right here.

Humility.

I’m listening to So Long Marianne as we speak, which always makes me nostalgic for Montreal, moonily standing in Little Portugal Square by rue Marie-Anne, thinking that Cohen might suddenly appear. (Difficult, since he no longer lived there.) But the nostalgia factor aside — there are some really excellent performances in this concert.

Continue reading “Jill Barber On Drive Today” »

SATO presents Alban Berg’s decadent swan song, today: Lulu, which was nearing completion at the time of his death in 1935.

Jon Hopkins only had two recordings to his name until this new one — but musicians from Herbie Hancock to Coldplay have already worked with him.

For more details, including the plot synopsis, please continue reading:

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Best Time I Had At Work: Putting together In Tune every week — it’s always a fantastic challenge, and we really get to be playful and slightly irreverent while having the pleasure of searching out a top-quality, varied and beautiful collection of classical music for our listeners.

Please feel free to share your memories of Willie P as well. Meanwhile we’ll start with a memory from Morgan Davis, about music, Willie P., an Austin Mini….and a canoe!:

Why spacejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! The new year is fast upon us, and joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots has been named the International Year of Astronomy. Tempo is light years ahead of the rest of us in celebrating though, and more specifically Julie is asking listeners the following: “Imagine a space flight between the Earth and Mars…it’s a long trip, and you’ll be doing a lot of stargazing. What’s the one piece of classical music you’d pack in your suitcase on a space odysseyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! “

Speaking of, the music that astronauts really do decide to take with them into space is an interesting subject in and of itself.

Ah, one minute of loveliness from Daniel Lanois. To hear far more than one minute (and more recently recorded minutes!) tune in tonight forr Daniel Lanois at Massey Hall, on Canada Live (8 p.m.)

I think Tom’s excitement for music old and new shines through this list. Here’s Tom Power’s 5 Great Things from a Crazy Year:

A full synopsis of today’s opera follows.

–> Placido Domingo, 41 Years Later Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-21-09 at 10:25 AM 

But before that concert you can hear them Thursday November 6th with Rich Terfry on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) They dropped by the Drive studio the other day, and the interview and performance will be broadcast in the third hour of the show.

Continue reading “At Least 76 Trombones” »

Biggest influence: 70s and 80s reggae releases — think King Tubby. (But updated.)

“For me, it’s important to bring humanity back into my job, because it really doesn’t exist. To do the rock ’n’ roll game well, you’re subjected to constant humiliation. The making and playing of music is the one dignified element.” 2006, Jam!Showbiz

Big hair is definitely my friend. If I’m in a crowded room and someone needs to find me, or if I’m meeting someone for the first time, I always say, “Look for the big hair!” or “I’m the one with the big hair!”

Recently I listened to all three CDs back to back, and it really does hold up. Good songs, and enough musical diversity so you’re not thinking, ‘hey enough already.’ But what do others in the music blogosphere have to say about Joel Plaskett’s recent, bold movejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “Opera In Vanity Fair; The Taliban Dances” »

False - I didn’t aspire to be one. I was one. Chili, soups, fajitas… I did all that. It was the high-end Russian cuisine I aspired to - for six whole weeks. Then the truth was revealed, and I had to find another way to pay the rent.

–> September 23, 2008 Lang Lang Adopts Toronto Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-23-08 at 11:00 AM 

–> December 16, 2008 Lily Frost On Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-16-08 at 04:00 PM 

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Collett is the man of the hour though, or at least of the third hour tomorrow, Tuesday, when he the “Drive Live” on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.). So this is your head’s up to tune into Drive tomorrow to hear Jason play some music, and have a chat with host Rich Terfry.

If you would like to hear Diana Krall in concert, now you have a chance to win two tickets/flights etc. to do just that! If, that is, you listen to Radio 2 Morning (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) or Tonic (6 p.m.) between now and Feb. 15th.

If you’re curious about what that sounds like check out the Canada Live Podcast, this Tuesday’s edition features Eccodek, as well as jazz singer Yvette Tollar.

You can hear an MP3 of the song here, and it’s pretty easy to imagine kids singing it — fun and infectious, not to mention lending itself nicely to being sung in a round. Not sure if the kids will wail with the same intensity that she does, towards the end of the song, but I’m pretty sure they’ll love the message “don’t you hold nothin’ back…”

Continue reading “When Instruments Become Family” »

Continue reading “Robert Harris’ Messiaen Documentary ” »

Continue reading “Harry Manx & Kevin Breit, Alex Cuba Concerts Tonight” »

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Disclaimer: No accordions were used as weapons in the making of this programme. (Or thrown under any trucks, as is the case with E. Annie Proulx’s accordion). No, Jurgen’s title is a tip of the hat to the musical group, Accordion Crimes, who will be heard on today’s show alongside of many other accordion players. (Including Brave Combo and Those Darn Accordions.)

As many of you in-the-loop blog commenters have noted, we’ve announced a few scheduling changes here at Radio 2.

–> December 15, 2008 Bill Richardson’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-15-08 at 11:15 AM 

Continue reading “David Myles Live On Drive Today” »

However, there is an opportunity tonight to hear her on the Radio 2 airwaves, as Canada Live (8 p.m.) broadcasts a concert Alanis (she does go by the uni-name) recorded in Ottawa at Thanksgiving in front of what the Can. Live team describes as “an enthusiastic crowd of friends, family and diehard fans.” She sings a cross section of songs from her whole catalogue, although right now she’s touring in support of her latest, Flavors of Entanglement.

So you can hear about why the brain translates some sounds as music and others as noise, what the relationship is between anticipation and satisfaction in music, and how rhythm, harmony, melody and timbre play in that dance with the brain.

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The cast includes Swedish Soprano Katarina Dalayman and German tenor Christian Franz — described by the NYTimes as singing with “honesty, crisp rhythmic delivery, stylistic understanding and unflagging energy.”

If you visited The Radio 2 Blog during the week you will know there was a lively discussion about Which Guitar Guru Deserves Greater Recognitionjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Probably even as we speak someone is adding yet another guitarist to the list.

Continue reading “Gregory Charles Has A Secret” »

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Host Kevin Courrier (who has written books about Zappa and Randy Newman) focuses on Cockburn’s 1981 recording, Inner City Front. It was a pivotal recording in Cockburn’s career — until 1980, he was pretty much viewed as a folk musician.

Continue reading “Diana Krall Contest! ” »

Sounds like an excellent early Sunday evening, dinner-making, trying to ignore the fact that the weekend’s almost over show. Or, as Jurgen himself describes it: “Easy to listen to, but not easy-listening.”

The story was adapted by Berg himself from Frank Wedekind’s plays Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, 1895) and Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora’s Box, 1904), and tells of Lulu’s steady decline from unfaithful wife to mistress to murderess to fugitive and prostitute. Yet she exudes a particular kind of attraction - Sir Andrew Davis, music director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, was so smitten by the character and the score that he named his dog Lulu!

There’s no question that we respond emotionally to music, and that as individuals we feel that music creates a certain emotional response within each of us. We use music to shift moods, to set a mood, to retreat from an unwanted mood.

It takes the interviewing touch of an old pal to really get to the bottom of Plaskett’s prolific-ness. Which is exactly why you should join us this afternoon on Drive, when Rich Terfry and his buddy Joel met up for a chat and performance in our studio.

Some musicians are getting in on it — noticed that the other day Mark Berube commenting on the Miss Emily Brown concert, saying, “Very very beautiful Emily. Great idea with the music box. Bravo.”

But then his buddy Corb Lund convinced him he should — and the result was Yellowhead To Yellowstone And Other Love Stories, and a renewed performing career. And now he sings in his “new voice,” as you’ll hear tonight. The broadcast features music from one of five sold out shows in January held at one venue, Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove Alberta, plus an interview with Tyson, and comments from other musicians and friends.

–> January 15, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Next! The Up-And-Comers Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-15-09 at 03:30 PM 

–> Diana Krall Contest! Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 5-09 at 09:35 AM 

Continue reading “Lucia Di Lammermoor” »

The second of an eleven-part series exploring some of the greatest symphonies ever written with Toronto Symphony Orchestra music director Peter Oundjian and series host Eric Friesen. Today: Mozart’s Jupiter.

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–> April 18, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Ring Cycle: Siegfried Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-18-09 at 09:30 AM 

But one thing about Lanois — whether it’s his production with musicians including Peter Gabriel, U2, Bob Dylan or Emmylou Harris, or his own songwriting and singing — Lanois is utterly distinctive.

Continue reading “The Ring Cycle Begins” »

–> September 13, 2008 Regina: “A Toxic Tale Of The Old South” Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-13-08 at 11:00 AM 

Today’s inaugural edition features string trios, or more specifically, the considerable musical variety that springs forth from this small assemblage of instruments.

Today Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.), Julie Nesrallah’s new classical music show, has its much anticipated debut. So we at the Radio 2 Blog (actually there is no “we,” a few supportive colleagues aside, but it allows me to fantasize that I have minions, and who wouldn’t want minionsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!) thought it timely to have a virtual get-to-know Julie. For those who don’t know, Ms. Nesrallah is a very accomplished singer as well, which will explain some of her responses.

Continue reading “Concerts Demanding To Be Heard” »

The headliner is east coast songwriter Dave Gunning, who the Toronto Star called the “next big thing in the True North of Song.” In this concert he’s joined by another excellent songwriter (and guitar player) Stephen Fearing.

Of course Seeger’s birthday is being noted in many ways — including a gala at Madison Square Garden Sunday (Bruce Cockburn is one of the invited performers). But the Inside The Music doc will give you a special glimpse into Seeger the elder — MacInnis recently spent time with Pete at his cabin north of New York City.

Putting aside who won the Grey Cup last night, the question that Tom Allen asks this week on Radio 2 Morning (6 a.m.-10 a.m.) remains the same:

Actually, it’s the Name-As-Many-As-You-Can-Tunes contest, courtesy of Sunday Afternoon In Concert (Sunday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT), the Christmas version. To qualify, you just need to identify as many tunes as you can, then send your entry into saic@cbccheap mlb jerseys,patrick kane team usa jersey,ugg boots, to be entered into a draw. In other words — you needn’t name all nine, just some of them. (None of them will not do though.)

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Stuart McLean of The Vinyl Cafe chose to go with an all music list, and a fine one it is. As I read through, I imagine Stuart reading the list out loud using his best story-telling-on-the-radio voice - you know, the one with the little smile in. The one that announces this year’s Arthur Award winner. The one that says “don’t get ahead of me” to the audience.

If you’d like to hear a clip of music/interview with GBS, just go to the end of the post. Also, as a bonus, here’s a video of them doing a great song first popularized by Oysterband, if memory serves: When I’m Up I Can’t Get Down:

When the floods raged in Manitoba this year, the story was at the top of every newscast and on the front page of every paper. Then, as the waters drained away, so did much of the reporting… and the thoughts of many Canadians who weren’t waterlogged in Winnipeg.

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“WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!! What a fabulous evening!! In addition to jumping, screaming, singing, clapping, stomping, what really made an impression on us was the diversity of the crowd. My husband and I are 45 (ishjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!), in addition to our 16 year old daughter, we were sitting beside a large group of 16 - 20 year olds, behind was a family with 3 young kids (under 10) and in front were 3 older couples (75ish)!!” — A Fan (You expected otherwisejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

In what is admittedly a total coincidence there are two shows exploring men’s voices today on Radio 2. Inside The Music (Sunday Edition 12:00 p.m., 12:30 NT) is running a documentary called Where Have All The Tenors Gonejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

6. Favourite music to make tabouleh tojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Earlier this winter there was a concert in celebration of CBC’s 60 years in Cape Breton, held at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay. And three of the performers in that concert are featured tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.) — including headliner, country singer/guitarist par excellence Gordie Sampson (recently nominated for five East Coast Music Awards — a.k.a ECMA’s).

Bright, up, and…full of it.

Peter And The Symphony features Maestro Oundjian in conversation with veteran broadcaster Eric Friesen. Together they’ll take you into the heart of the awe-inspiring musical form called the symphony.

Continue reading “Can you spot the CBC Radio Drive hostjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

I’d have to say Beethoven — it makes me chop the parsley faster.

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Continue reading “Lily Frost On Drive” »

Bell Orchestre are one of the featured bands tonight on The Signal (10 p.m.), with music from their much anticipated new recording, As Seen Through Windows. If you’re not familiar with the band, the quickest way to describe them is to say that they are an instrumental band.

–> December 25, 2008 Soul Christmas Redux Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-25-08 at 03:16 PM 

The notion that music is inherently happy or sad is a highly debatable one — although it would be interesting to find out how many people reading this had a music teacher at some point say, “if it’s in a minor key it’s sad music.”

“I am a Girl, a Lady, a Woman, a Queen and everything I can dream. I’m still the little girl from Jane & Finch who dreamt the dream that I am currently living and was fortunate to have the right people to guide me along the way.”

This video opens with Frankie And Johnny, and then Brown launches right into talking about the bass and how he plays it — a revealing glimpse into the world of jazz bass (history, technique etc.) through the eyes of one of the masters. (With loads of little demos featuring some remarkable bass playing from Mr. Brown.)

This lyric reflects a challenge facing many a young Canadian blues musician. Can one really play the blues when the only heat one feels is blasting from your parents’ furnacejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! While waiting to hear Jurgen attempt to answer this question, plaguing parents across the land, you may want to turn your thoughts to blues names.

Antonin Dvorak’s Rusalka was inspired in part by the Hans Christian Andersen story The Little Mermaid, and today you can hear the operatic version of the folk tale from the Met on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT). It stars American soprano Renée Fleming in the title role and Latvian tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko as Rusalka’s beloved prince. The NYTimes calls this production “one of the company’s finest offerings this season.”

Featured artists on the show include Vancouver Island’s Doug Cox, and American dobro master Jerry Douglas, among many others.

5. True or False: You ride your bike around the atrium of the Broadcast Centre in the wee small hours.

Mike Oldfield was also a teen when he wrote Tubular Bells — he was only nineteen. Nineteen! Now he’s in his mid-fifties, and still dealing with the consequences of that 1973 hit.

What would you be if you were a moviejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! According to one writer Rupa Marya of the group Rupa And The April Fishes would be “Amélie meets Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown meets Latcho Drom meets Do the Right Thing.” Let’s see, a beautiful young misfit in Paris unravelling to the soundtrack of Roma music in Brooklynjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Apparently Montreal has taken over from Calgary as the Pipe Organ Capital of Canada. This based on the fact that the once thriving Calgary International Organ Competition has resurfaced in Montreal as the Canadian International Organ Competition, and the inaugural edition is on right now — as Katherine discusses today on In Tune (Saturday 5:00 p.m., 5:30 NT).

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1. Most exciting thing about launching Tempojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

But while the harp is certainly used in many styles of music, it’s probably safe to say it’s not typically the jokiest of instruments. Of course, there is one famous exception — although as this video shows, sometimes what starts as a gag ends in real beauty.

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It moves the focus away from who wins what at the Junos and trains it strictly on the music. As Jim Cuddy said in a recent interview about the Junos, it always is, for the musicians, more than just about the awards.

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The other day I heard Rich Terfry, host of Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), describe his new show (I’m paraphrasing here) as “the house that Joni, Leonard and Neil built,” the place where “younger singers come to worship.” Simple but eloquent — and it should tell you something about the man behind Drive.

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Continue reading “La Bohème” »

Join us tonight starting at 10 p.m. when The Signal chases down the killer in a murder mystery with Montreal’s Bill and Bob.

I guess I’m a compartmentalizer. It helps me think. Does that make sensejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

If you’re interested in reading more about Gould’s “contrapuntal radio,” (as he described it) you may want to look at the section devoted to this part of Gould’s work in Kevin Bazzana’s book, Wondrous Strange: The Life And Art Of Glenn Gould. Among other things, Bazzana points out that in Gould’s mind “contrapuntal radio” was actually a form of music. (And interesting to think about in terms of what would later come to music via sampling.)

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Wood is someone who constantly thinks about music — but also creativity:

As promised earlier, Glenn Gould’s thoroughly entertaining (and beautifully sung) So You Want To Write A Fugue — in honour of what would have been his 76th birthday today. On Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) Julie will be marking the day with various selections of music performed by Gould.

So it’s a bit of a look at a pretty dark but fascinating subject this week. Some really interesting guests on the show, like C.J. Grisham, the U.S. army master sergeant pictured here, as well as someone in Intelligence Operations at the National Defense University (didn’t even know such a thing existed) in Washington D.C. For the complete list, go to the bottom of this page. No bagpipes will skirl as you scroll down, I assure you.

Please continue reading for more details…

Join us this afternoon for a concert with Simone Osborne as we feature highlights from the BC Scene program at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.

“What about the Montreal Jazz Festival in Julyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! For my money, free and paid concerts, variety, stars, unknowns, food, atmosphere, the best in the world.”

Well, if you go to this kind of murder mystery party, anyway.

And like or loathe Valentine’s Day, (though how can you not like those silly little candy hearts), love as impetus for art is endlessly fascinating. “V Day” provides an opportunity to explore that, something George Elliott Clarke does Saturday on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) with a special called The Soul Of Love.

But what about other world leadersjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! It seems there is no comprehensive “Playlists Of World Leaders” website, let alone a “World Leaders Recommenders” service. You’d think that’d be a hit. You know: “Queen Elizabeth likes The Beatles. If you do too, you may also want to listen to _______________.” (Note, we hope the Queen is also a fan of The Tragically Hip, shown here shaking her hand.)

Continue reading “Non-Invasive Piano ” »

Should you wish a glimpse at both sides of the coin about this production, broadcast today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT), two prominent New York publications provide.

If you’re feeling that low, you’ve got the blues. But today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) the blues Jurgen explores are of a slightly different order. Here’s the explanation:

Specifics on both concerts follow, but first why not enjoy a little music from the great Duke Ellington band. From 1943, It Don’t Mean A Thing… with a sweet intro from jazz violinist Ray Nance.

NOTE: This page is no longer being updated, but is available for reference purposes. To see the new Radio 2 blog program highlights, visit the Radio 2 home page.

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Cohen, the producer said, was everything you would expect (and hope) him to be. Gracious and thoughtful — treating every member of the crew with equal respect. The interview happened at Cohen’s place in Montreal, an unassuming place he’s had for years, although he seldom spends much time there these days. The house was sparsely decorated, simple, and unmistakably the house of an artist.

Fats Waller probably said something like that once. And it’s true — as you’ll hear today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT). Jurgen is calling this week’s edition of the show Stride & True, as it features stride and ragtime piano. “There are few things more lovely than ragtime,” Scott Joplin may have once said.

Continue reading “Sarah McLachlan — “Quite Amazing”" »

But back to her music. She has a new recording coming out March 3rd, called Middle Cyclone — her first since 2006’s excellent Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. If you’re curious about the new recording, you’ll want to watch this — a sample of some of the music on the new recording — as well as shots of the barn it was made in with its many, many pianos:

Continue reading “Thomas Hampson & Karita Mattila In Eugene Onegin ” »

My perfect Boxing Day is a day spent doing nothing at all. I like to enjoy the entire day clad in a housecoat and slippers, eating leftovers and enjoying the rare treat of not hearing “I’m bored” - even once - from the kids. In my home, Boxing Day is a day for jigsaw puzzles, board games and crosswords; a day for making soup and eating turkey sandwiches; a day for movies and music. It is not a day for getting out in traffic and lining up for sale buffalo sabres jerseys, at the mall or at the returns counter of the nearest big-box store. If I’m really motivated and the sun is shining I might just get dressed and go outside for a walk - but no more than that.

And Clash fans do take note. Tomorrow, that’d be Saturday February 7th, Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) presents The Clash: Revolution Rock.

Feel free to try and gamely narrow it down to one Mitchell song — will pass along any suggestions to Tom — by Friday he’s hoping to have a definitive best/most popular Mitchell choice to play on the show. Nervy, he is.

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Continue reading “The Ring Cycle: Siegfried ” »

Continue reading “Bruce Cockburn At Thirty” »

And yet clearly what is moving to one is not necessarily to another. I recently had an intense first hand experience of this as a juror for the Polaris prize — in a small group of music journalists, all of whom cared passionately about music, what moved one person to raptures could completely irritate another. (And the astonishment that someone else could not have a similar reaction to the same piece of music was at times acute.)

–> April 26, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Quirky Music The Third Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-26-09 at 11:00 AM 

But back to bass players taking over the world. It’s an idea that seems to be insidiously creeping its way into the very fabric of our musical society. First, there’s the song by Trout Fishing In America, with its inflammatory lyrics:

Lily Frost, who is a talented songwriter (with jazz as well as pop sensibilities) tends to inspire comments like the one that opened this post. In fact, here’s a little round up of what you could call “Lilyisms.”

Carmen is one of the (seemingly many) operas that had a rocky start, but went on to become hugely popular. The main issue was Carmen’s overt sexuality, not to mention her apparent ease at going through men like cigarettes. Speaking of — women in the chorus smoking (and fighting) on stage also posed an issue for some delicate, late 19th century sensibilities. And then there’s the murder.

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Today on Drive: a hip-hop darling and a hip-hop demon. You can always count on K-os (Toronto rapper/dj/producer) for lyrics that are at once profound and provocative, pushing the hip hop community to bust out of its radio-friendly complacency, rise up, and be the music it should be.

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–> October 30, 2008 “Never Be Ashamed Of A Melody” Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-30-08 at 11:00 AM 

Funny how some subjects lend themselves to song. Like love. Or lack of love. Or unrequited love. Mustn’t forget love gone wrong. Oh, and then there’s the grape. (In fermented form.)

An interesting guide, although I strenuously object to point #7:

I played my very first note - a low C, second space, bass clef - in my mother’s kitchen. Here I discovered sound as sensation, and the accompanying sympathetic resonances of the accordion’s sound. So began my journey with the accordion as an artistic medium.” –Joseph Petric.

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Continue reading “Today On Drive: Stars” »

But in the case of Gilles Vigneault, I’ll throw caution to the wind and say it has to be the following song. Sadly I cannot find a performance video of it, but for those of us who love snow (and the song), it’s quite a restful outlook (snowplows aside). For those who don’t, just close your eyes and listen.

Tonight, on Canada Live: some really great guitar music on some really great guitars.

So what is it about Bacharach’s writing that’s had such an impactjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! The answer lies in one word: melody.

The Broken Social Scene has never struck me as being particularly broken. I mean, there are any number of musicians who are constantly identified as being “sometimes BSS-members,” or “presented by BSS.” Maybe the point of the name eludes mejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Regardless, some who have been in that social scene, broken or otherwise, include Brendan Canning, subject of yesterday’s NYTimes “A Night dallas stars jerseys,women’s classic tall ugg boots ! With,” (an odd but undeniable marker of success in certain circles), and Jason Collett.

That’s an excerpt from a recent piece by Ms. Black called Who Is Jully Black — and it’s a candid first person account of her story to date.

Episode one is called Wired for Sound (Music & the Brain). In it you’ll hear about the creation of sound as it travels through the air to the outer ear, cochlea, etc. But it’s not just about the mechanics of sound — it’s also an exploration of how and why hearing evolved, and how the human ear is designed to react to certain sounds.

Next, to Kuerti the younger.

Continue reading “Sky Music” »

Its composer, John Adams, is no stranger to contemporary and controversial subjects. His first opera in 1987 was Nixon In China, and in 1991 he wrote The Death Of Klinghoffer. He’s also a Pulitzer prize winner — which does not necessarily mean his music is always met with understanding though! (See Composer Adams Still Fighting An Uphill Battle For Acceptance.)

True. At least, it was true, before CBC Security decided a bicycle is a global threat. It’s ridiculous. If they’re willing to leave Jowi Taylor in here without supervision in the middle of the night I don’t see why I can’t bring in my bike.

But on Farrago (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) Jurgen Gothe celebrates the trombone in all its glory. For instance, the classic, 76 Trombones — played by 76 trombones. Great Canadian trombones, or at least trombonists, with Alain Trudel and Rob McConnell and Ian McDougall.

The Hele in question is CBC documentarist Hele Montagna, who delved into Claude Vivier’s life in her documentary, In Search of Claude Vivier.

Randy Jackson apparently once said slap bass was the ketchup of the bass playing world. (Take that, Seinfeld theme.) Tonight on The Signal, it’s more like the Dijon of the bass playing world, when Laurie features what The Signal Team calls “otherworldly double bass dexterity.”

As to what Jason Collett’s music is all about, I quite like this summation by the Georgia Strait’s Alex Varty (Jason Collett Tackles Issues Close To His Heart And ):

Here’s a little quiz to try and sway you help you make up your mind.

Want to enterjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! It’s easy! (Sorry, that was a real infomercial moment, but it really is easy.) Just email In The Key Of Charles with a link to a video that relates to youth. It could be your youth, perhaps the youth belonging to a total stranger, or just youths, en masse. And tell Gregory what the music and the video mean to you — he’ll be posting responses on In The Blog Of Charles next week.

But why the oud talkjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! This is why. Today Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) celebrates the oud with a show called Oudistry.

1. Nagano’s first big break in music was given to him by Frank Zappa.
(Nagano Grooves)

Continue reading “What Do You Think Gordon Lightfoot Should Write cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall bootsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

It reads like some 1040’s movie headline: “Soprano Anna Netrebko Loses Mind At The Met!” Of course Anna Netrebko doesn’t, not literally, but her character (the Lucia of Lucia Di Lammermoor) famously does, as you will hear today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT)

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Tomorrow, Thursday the 29th, a couple of composers from a much different time and musical place will be on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) to talk about their interest in Korngold. Better known in the realm of contemporary singer songwriter/pop, Danny Michel and John Southworth are collaborating with the ever-enterprising Art Of Time Ensemble on work inspired by the music of Korngold. (Specifically his Suite For Piano, Two Violins And Cello.) So mark your calendars, fans of any of the above Canadian musicians — and/or Korngold. But for those who don’t know a jot about Korngold, read on:

–> September 06, 2008 Fidelio: The Power Of Pure Love Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 6-08 at 11:00 AM 

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For the past two weeks fifteen women and thirteen men have gone voice to voice for over $150,000 in grants and engagements — including a $30,000 first prize. Ms. Noah, a Canadian singer who will be singing in the Canadian Opera Company’s upcoming production of Madama Butterfly, was the second place winner, Angela Meade, a soprano from the U.S. came in first.

3. For someone used to playing to crowds in concert halls, what’s the challenge of playing to crowds on the sofajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

To view the rest of the Ray Brown master class, offered sequentially, go to a blog belonging to Matthew Wengerd (Bassist, Student, Educator), and a post called Back In Brown.

Bruce Cockburn: Lovers In A Dangerous Time, Stan Rogers: Barrett’s Privateers, Les Cowboys Fringants: Toune d’Automne, Spirit Of The West: For A Rest, Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Complainte Pour Ste. Catherine, The Arrogant Worms: The Last Saskatchewan Pirate, Great Lake Swimmers: This Is Not Like , Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Hockey Song, Gordon Lightfoot: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Neil Young: Keep On Rockin’ In the Freeworld, Gilles Vigneault: Mon Pays, The Tragically Hip: Wheat Kings, k.d. Lang: Hallelujah…

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Continue reading “Mozart. That Copycat.” »

Continue reading “Tom Power’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year” »

Silky renditions of the title track (from Duke Ellington) and “Love For Sale” by Cole Porter are matched with pizazz by newer tunes such as Joni Mitchell’s “Be Cool” and Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.”

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Continue reading “The Wordsmiths” »

Continue reading “The Dijon Of The Bass World” »

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You may have heard about the Juno Songwriters’ Circle, which was broadcast live on Sunday, and again last night.

Continue reading “Sheila Jordon At Eighty” »

In the Radio 2 Blog’s ongoing holiday, year-end series, today it’s Ms. Julie Nesrallah’s short list. As one listener who wrote into the Tempo blog said, Julie is a “bright and positive force,” and as you will see from her “5 Favourites,” she is also a force to be reckoned with. (As the Viennese know!) Over to you, Julie:

Continue reading “Puccini’s La Rondine” »

As for the Radio 2 Exclusive bit, here’s the story: Alex Cuba (a.ka. Alexis Puentes) learned to speak English by listening to Blue Rodeo. Oh no doubt there were a few other lessons in there too, but back in 1996, before he spoke English, his new Canadian in-laws introduced him to Canadian music by playing him Blue Rodeo’s recording Five Days In July. He fell in love with the song Bad Timing, and set about learning it.

Continue reading “Tunes For Troubled Times” »

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–> C’est Fantastique! Peter And The Symphony Continues… Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-24-09 at 10:00 AM 

Jenn Grant is “a mixture of Kate Bush and Feist with an east coast tinge.” (bolachas grátis)

This is the first time. It feels weird. I don’t feel like much of a prize.

In a way it’s a question jazz has asked since it began. Think of Ellington, he wrote arrangements borrowing from his musicians favourite improvised licks. He also wrote “charts,” as those jazz cats say, that were designed to feature the improvising strengths of his soloists.

–> September 11, 2008 Ron Sexsmith Inaugurates “Drive Live” Friday! Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-11-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “RPM: Bruce Cockburn’s Inner City Front” »

On Saturday’s broadcast you’ll hear range of opinions from people of various faiths about how music heightens or informs the religious experience — as well as yes, enchants and entrances. Some of those guests include Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian (pictured here) whose own spiritual pilgrimage to Armenia is partly told through music in the film about that journey, A Long Journey , Daniel Lanois, Richard Dawkins, and others.

4. Some of the music on your beautiful new recording, Exit Strategy Of The Soul is described as “shadow gospel.” Lovely description…but what does it meanjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Think of this as a Jenn Grant Facebook Status update:

The New York Times says “Franco Zeffirelli’s overblown Bohème returns to the Met for its regular airing” while the New Yorker heralds the return of “Franco Zeffirelli’s bustling and beloved production of La Bohème.” But neither carp about stars Maija Kovalevska as Mimi and Ramón Vargas as Rudolfo, in fact the former mini-review says:

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And here’s the plot in ten sentences or less. (Actually am not counting, but best guesstimate of how long it will take):

I make the best pancakes in the world.

–> June 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Singer Of The World Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-19-09 at 03:30 PM 

So in his inimitable Jurgen Gothe way, in this week’s edition of Farrago (Sunday 5pm/5:30 NT) Jurgen is not devoting the show to the guitar, but to a close cousin, the dobro. Called “Dobrology,” the show features the steely slidey sound of the dobro.

Composer Brian Harman has spent some time thinking about the modern-day relationship between humans and technology — and how to reflect that in music. A composition broadcast tonight on The Signal (10 p.m.) is a case in point — it’s called Gregarious Machines. (Great name, ehjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! He also wrote a piece called Deep-Fried Burrito, not sure what the impetus is for that one.)

Continue reading “Tonic Jazz Fest Contest Begins!” »

Ah, the scintillating sounds of a finely tuned flower pot. Sure, for some they may just hold flowers (p’shaw…). But to composer Frederic Rzewski they hold music– and even life!

Continue reading “”He Brought The Blues To A Spiritual Level”" »

Continue reading “Peter And The Symphony Continues…” »

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It’s a tribute to “the only band that matters,” as their nickname has it. And it goes back to the band’s early art- school beginnings to its rise to meteoric punk heights. So you’ll hear both recent and vintage band interview clips with Clash members Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon. As for the music, it’s a mix of previously unreleased live tracks along with the classics.

You can hear The Nerve on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT on Radio 2, with a repeat on Sunday Sept. 28 on Radio 1 at 8 p.m., 9AT, 9:30 NT).

–> October 09, 2008 The Tonic Of Monk Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 9-08 at 11:00 AM 

Reading CoD reviews is of course one way of finding out about some of the best concerts. Or if not full reviews, at least some pithy waxing ecstatic, as is the case with this comment about blues guitarist Chris Chown’s concert:

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Korngold’s life story is pretty dramatic, almost like a musical itself, and no surprise there is one, Farewell, Vienna. But if you don’t know anything about the guy, here’s a very brief snapshot:

I don’t know if Mr. Clarke will include any of his own fine poetry, so I thought it appropriate to share a poem he wrote that’s a celebratory and sensual look at love:

–> November 11, 2008 Remembering…Then, And Now Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-11-08 at 10:30 AM 

Where do the best songs in this country come from, east or westjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “The Whole World In Newfoundland” »

But just when you thought it was time to put your feet up and go back to just feeling so-so about music (as if!), we have one special concert coming your way that will no doubt convince you that Music Monday should be Music Everyday.

Here’s how Bergmann, who first listened to Tubular Bells as a teen, sees the piece:

And now to the laureates. First it’s the Laureates of the 2008 Montreal Symphony Orchestra/Standard Life Competition, featured on Sunday Afternoon In Concert. The broadcast includes clarinetist Hubert Tanguay-Labrosse with music by Carl Maria von Weber, and trombonist Keith Dyrda performing Henri Tomasi’s Concerto For Trombone. (Plus Marc Wigglesworth leads the MSO in Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27.)

Everyone seems to like winning. But what is a winner in musicjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! How do you quantify what is the “bestjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” (Judging music makes determining the strike zone in baseball seem like a science.)

“…to be sure, there are unquestioned exemplars: e.g., The CPR Line, The Fireman’s Lament, Wreck of the Evening Mail. But what about songs that mention railways only peripherallyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! For example, should songs celebrating the exploits of Bill Miner be considered railway songs, simply because he chose to rob trainsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!”

“And even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the lord of song, with nothing on my tongue, but hallelujah.”

Continue reading “Greatest Canadian Guitar Players: The List” »

Yesterday you may have heard Jian Ghomeshi’s interview with David Foster — if not — hear it streamed at Radio 2 Drive. (Note All Jian’s interviews broadcast this week at 5pmish on Radio 2 will stream at Radio 2 Drive.)

–> November 13, 2008 Daniel Lanois On Drive Friday Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-13-08 at 10:00 AM 

Ian Tyson badly damaged his voice some years ago, through trying to out-sing a bad PA system. And then he got a virus which further damaged it to the point he thought that was pretty much it — he wouldn’t record new songs again, not with that rasp.

–> October 03, 2008 Music And Identity Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 3-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “Slipping Into The Nightstream” »

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–> May 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Canada Live and the Art of the Joni-Mitchell Tribute Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-10-09 at 03:29 PM 

“I attended Zappa’s concert at the Montreal Forum in 1972 and listened to some of the most inspiring music and here nearing the midway point of my 5th decade I am still enthralled.” -kgb858ab

“It’s the voice of a landscape, a geographic and emotional space that only seems to get wider and more mysterious the more we explore it.”

Following the opera, Bill Richardson will host a discussion about meeting the demand for new operatic works for children. Dean Burry is the composer of works such as “The Hobbitt” (created in 2004 for the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus) and “Pandora’s Locker,” an opera for high-school audiences inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Pandora’s Box. Singer-songwriter Veda Hille is the composer and librettist of “Jack Pine,” an environmental opera based on the children’s book of the same title by Christopher Patton with illustrations by Cybèle Young (Groundwood Books). It will be presented through the Vancouver Opera in Schools program beginning in February joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots.

AND THE REST:

–> September 12, 2008 Music: “Auditory Cheesecakejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-12-08 at 04:07 PM 

The Operalia competition was begun by Placido Domingo, (pictured here), and here’s why:

As the Signalites describe it, the piece has two primary musical “building-blocks,” which he calls “machines.” One machine is subtle and quiet (woodwinds representing humans), the other abrasive and loud (strings representing technology). It’s a way of posing some interesting questions through music — How do these musical machines interactjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! How has the use of technology affected our social habitsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! How has our use of technology altered our consciousnessjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

When New York Times jazz writer Ben Ratliff asked “what do you think is the best jazz festival” one reader said:

These days there are also many videos of Monk playing — difficult to choose one for the Radio 2 Blog, but the above is short and sweet (at least in one sense of that word). Forgive the chopped ending, the previous few minutes are worth it! And again, tune in Friday to Tonic (6 p.m.) for more Monk.

Continue reading “After the Flood: On Canada Live” »

Schafer says the piece, called Dream-E-Scape, makes us “witness one image, now another — shocking, alluring, repellent, voluptuous, risible — totally without consistency or order.”

People (OK, music bloggers/critics) sometimes criticize the Juno Awards. You’ll hear them muttering things like “the Nickelback awards.” But if you have a look at the line up of Juno nominated artists broadcast in concert this week on Canada Live (8 p.m.) you see (and will hear) a different picture:

To get to the nuts and bolts, here are the ensembles participating (with broadcast times) — Canada’s Les Violons Du Roy with La Chapelle de Québec wrapping things up:

Already even the notion of such a playlist has sparked lots of interesting conversation.

Continue reading “George Elliott Clarke’s Soul Of Love” »

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–> December 09, 2008 Great Big Sea On Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 9-08 at 11:00 AM 

–> January 01, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Musical Intentions Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 1-09 at 12:18 PM 

Laurie, idiosyncratic host of idiosyncratic show that she is, sent me her list in reverse order, from # 5 to #1. Somehow this seems very solstice-y itself, since it may be the shortest day of the year, but it it also means we’re moving towards the return of light.

But a few years ago backstage at the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, waiting to produce an interview with Ms. Lang, I heard her sound-check, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah — and was completely awestruck. I don’t think there was a soul in the place who wasn’t in tears, or near to it. The version posted here, from 2004 on Britain’s Jools Holland show, will give you some idea.

8. Quality you most admire in a musicianjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Often regarded as somewhat implausible, the plot is nicely summed up by the Washington Post: “Young girl loves boy, sleepwalks, is found sleeping in strange man’s room, regains trust of lover.”

For more details and the plot synopsis, please keep reading:

–> May 09, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Death By Chocolate. No, Really. Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 9-09 at 03:00 PM 

Continue reading “Placido Domingo, 41 Years Later” »

Continue reading “Roxanne Potvin On Drive Today” »

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–> May 30, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Competing Voices — The Montreal International Musical Competition Posted by Li Robbins on May-30-09 at 10:11 AM 

Continue reading “Twilight Of The Gods” »

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Meanwhile, here’s the truth about the David Myles’ lip synching abilities as well as his knowledge of poutine and other edibles:

–> Daniel Lanois is Live Times Five… On Drive! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-20-09 at 12:59 PM 

As you’ll know, if you’re a k.d. Lang follower, most of her previous recordings tend to be somewhat themed — but not Watershed. And this is how k.d. herself views it.

–> May 25, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Montreal’s Electronic Signature Posted by Li Robbins on May-25-09 at 05:04 PM 

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–> November 01, 2008 Wagner’s Rienzi Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 1-08 at 10:45 AM 

Continue reading “And They’re Off And Composing!” »

LISTEN TO MARTHA WAINWRIGHT INTERVIEW HERE!:

Tonight, The Signal is having a bit of a murder mystery party of its own. And this one doesn’t have a “how-to” list. It just has creepy, ethereal, musical storytelling that is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Speaking of which… warning: the Youtube is a little bit creepy!

You’ll hear erhu as part of Canada Live’s Asian Heritage Month celebrations, featuring performances by the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, and the eclectic pan-Asian ensemble, Tandava. And erhu isn’t the only ‘ancient instrument deserving greater recognition’ on the broadcast.

A tavern, a smugglers hide-out, a bullring and cigarette girls behaving badly — yup, today it’s Bizet’s Carmen. Saturday Afternoon At The Opera presents a production from the Vienna State Opera, featuring Bulgarian soprano Vesselina Kasarova as Carmen, and Argentine tenor José Cura as Don José.

–> December 27, 2008 Tom Power’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-27-08 at 02:41 PM 

–> January 23, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Zappa Inspired Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-23-09 at 02:45 PM 

How’d they do on that tourjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Here’s how:

Today the final installment of the series running between 5-6pm on Radio 2 Drive: Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…

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–> February 14, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Classical Gourmet Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-14-09 at 03:55 PM 

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If it cooks, it’s on the menu.

-2008 is International Year Of The Potato. I didn’t know that either, until this morning. Anyway, an old, very moving potato song (don’t laugh, it is) is the Irish song, The Praties They Grow Small — just listen to Carolyn Hester’s version.

Continue reading “Rigoletto From The Met” »

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Please keep reading for more details about the opera.

Nothing like a little overstatement from time to time — as the folks at the Cardiff Singer Of The World Prize know. (They could have called it “The Cardiff Singer Of The Western Hemisphere, This Calendar Year,” but hey, “singer of the world” has a better ring to it.)

–> Guitar Gurus Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-18-09 at 08:30 AM 

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–> June 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Of Laureates And Prizes Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-21-09 at 12:00 PM 

Continue reading “Bet #2: Gilles Vigneault” »

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Rich Terfry’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year

As informal recommender services go, listener concert reviews at Concerts On Demand increasingly help steer anyone who cares to be steered to some good live music.

Anyway, the issues, according to a report from The Guardian (Frank Zappa’s Widow Loses Battle With German Festival) are in part about merchandising (Zappa’s image, if not as ubiquitous as Che or the New York Yankees logo, is still iconic). But also about accurate representation, freedom, and a whole bunch of issues Zappa himself would have no doubt had much to say about. It’s probably safest to say the situation is not uncomplicated.

Plot synopsis coming up:

Tito Puente, Samba Squad or Tower of Power

Today he celebrates through song the creature who occasionally deigns to make eye contact, in a programme he calls “Caterwaul.” The show includes music from the late Norm Hacking’s tribute CD, the soulful When Cats Go Wrong. (The dog people among us might ask ‘when do they go rightjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!’ But that too is another episode.)

Probably most of us have woken from a dream wishing we could somehow capture the sensation in waking life. The startling and incongruous things that happen: a friend from childhood shows up with a goldfish that turns into your boss. Stuff like that.

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So today Jurgen samples, noshes, and otherwise gets into some good grub, Food-Music wise, with songs like Hampton Avenue’s Shoofly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy (what is “pan dowdy,” anywayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!), James Gordon’s Donut Life, Tourtiere from La Bottine Souriante etc. etc. It’s not all baked goods and comfort food though, Jurgen also plays Nancy White’s classic protest song Stickers On Fruit.

“I am often asked how Operalia came into existence. Throughout the years, I have always taken a special interest in promising young singers and the enormous difficulties these artists face as they start out their careers. It has become clear to me that talent alone is not enough; it is also essential for young singers to come to the attention of those impresarios, managers, casting directors, conductors and stage directors who can further their professional careers.”

Continue reading “Critics On Demand” »

This week the new version of the song has its premiere on Radio 2 with Cuba singing it in Spanish — on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.). Tomorrow, December 2nd, he’ll drop by both the Radio 2 Morning and Drive studios to talk about the long and winding road that has brought him to this happy moment. (And as I say, on Drive he’ll also perform the song live.)

Of course, Tom doesn’t put aside the Grey Cup:

For the complete plot synopsis please continue reading. And note that after the opera, Bill Richards will be heard in conversation with the mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli, who has been performing in Canada of late.

The series focuses on The Band’s Music From Big Pink, Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Bruce Cockburn’s Inner City Front, Daniel Lanois’ Acadie, and You Forgot It In People by Broken Social Scene.

There’s just something about the tango that stirs the passions and constrains them in the same moment… It’s a street dance with the class. A style that takes parlour music and turns it as sultry as a hot Buenos Aires night. Is it the complex mix of 19th Century European dance, African rhythm, and the yearning of struggling workers in Argentina that makes it so compellingjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Or is it the romantic mystique of… the free reed wind instrumentjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! (Which sounds about as seductive as Groucho Marx with a rose between his teeth…)

She sure isn’t just the “peel me a grape girl” anymore, nor do her fans relate to her that way.

Which Guitar Guru Deserves Greater Recognitionjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! There are some great answers to that question (and stories about guitars and guitarists) in the blog comments — thank you all.

The second concert on the show features Alex Cuba.

The other day on The Radio 2 Blog I posed this question: Why Do You Singjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! It got some very interesting responses, as you’ll see if you click on that link and scroll down to the comments.

Today the weekly Radio 2 Video Fest gives up its hotly contested “airtime” over to wagering what the sure-things for Obama’s Playlist will be. As I said yesterday when putting my (pretend) money down on Leonard Cohen with Hallelujah, in some instances, it’s not so difficult to predict the singer as it is the song.

–> November 03, 2008 Which Joni Mitchell Song Will Stay With You Alwaysjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 3-08 at 12:10 PM 

As for Mr. Cockburn in conversation with Mr. Ghomeshi, here’s something of a poem about one listener’s experience of hearing this interview — quite charming:

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Bright, up, and fresh.

“It’s a joy…a masterful trawl through his towering back catalogue (including the aptly-named Tower Of Song.) -The Sun

This weekend, in the second part of Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums, host Kevin Courrier looks at Mitchell’s classic 1971 album Blue, which predated her turn towards jazz and more abstract pop music. As the producer of the series puts it, Blue “presented audiences with Mitchell’s sensibility: a deep, honest perspective of love and romance from a woman’s point of view.”

(That’s probably why it stayed on his mind for so long…)

And just a reminder, this afternoon on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), Rich will play songs about war and peace from Kevin Hearn, Dubmatix, Jakob Dylan, Sinead O’Connor, Corb Lund, Belle & Sebastian, Daniel Lanois and Kathleen Edwards.

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And that means it’s the final day for you to enter for our double-whammy Sophie Milman give-aways…

Proof is on The Signal this evening when the Art of Time Ensemble, with accomplices Danny Michel, Martin Tielli and John Southworth, interpret Korngold’s Suite For Piano, Two Violins And Cello.

Please continue reading for more details about the opera and today’s production:

Why (Music): “I have early memories of music holding this esteemed position in our household, because most music was banned in South Africa during Apartheid. There were these mixed tapes that went underground that became lifelines to the world around us.” — Official bio

And as well as the nuttiness at the top of the post, here are some trombone resources of a more serious nature. Sort of.

The aforementioned host, Kevin Courrier (who has written books about Zappa and Randy Newman) and producer/archivist John Corcelli, have created striking portraits of some of the most important LPs in Canada’s rock, pop and folk history.

–> December 20, 2008 Katherine Duncan’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-20-08 at 03:00 PM 

Acadie was an album about finding and exploring Lanois’ own roots – with songs like Jolie Louise and O Marie, influenced by his French-Canadian upbringing. But it spoke to a broad audience — Rolling Stone said the songs were like “…aural movies, etched with razor-sharp guitars….like a filmmaker using light, Daniel Lanois maneuvers sound to serve atmosphere.” Nice.

Well, at least there was a “back again,” rightjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Today on SATO you can hear Monteverdi’s version of the Greek legend of Orfeo, who followed his beloved wife Euridice to hades, where he appealed to the Gods for their safe return.

Some 400 years after its first production, the Montreal Baroque Festival decided to go beyond the score as published in 1609, and recreate the original ending - a scene in which a gang of vulgar drunks mob and lynch a demi-god. Matthias Maute has composed music to the text of the original libretto, thus making THIS Orfeo a world premiere.

Claudio Monteverdi’s masterpiece, with a libretto by Alessandro Striggio, was first performed at the ducal palace of Mantua on Feb 24, 1607. According to writer Roland de Candé it is “an authentic musical drama, the oldest real opera, the first in which balance of form, unity of text and music, musical and dramatic interest, and humanity of characters still can move people in our time.”

The production stars Charles Daniels as Orfeo, and Samantha Louise-Jean as Euridice. For more details and the ever-useful plot synopsis please keep reading.

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Continue reading “The Singer Of The World” »

(note: Days of W&R plot brief — Jack Lemmon falls in love with Lee Remick, a non-drinking secretary. They marry, he introduces her to Brandy Alexanders; it’s all downhill from there…)

Yeah, it’s a slippery slope.

9. Obscure talent you’ve yet to “share with the classjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!”

Even Phillip, Jurgen Gothe’s producer, couldn’t resist sending me this quote from Daniel Roth in Fortune magazine who once wrote: “Nothing says ‘dropping out of society’ like learning the banjo.”

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Visual, warm, thoughtful.

We know from the Rolling Stone article that President-Elect Barack Obama is a fan of Stevie Wonder, Dylan, Jay-Z, Yo-Yo Ma and Howlin’ Wolf, among others. We know that Radio 2 listeners would like him to be a fan of Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, Oscar Peterson, Robert Charlebois, Kathleen Edwards, the Gryphon Trio…among many others.

Continue reading “RPM: Broken Social Scene’s “You Forgot It In People”" »

5. True or False: You have a fabulous tabouleh recipe.

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“Bayreuth’s Wagner productions no longer set the standard as they once did. But Stefan Herheim’s production of Parsifal, which opened this year’s Bayreuth festival, redresses the balance at a stroke.”

–> October 22, 2008 Prison Music Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-22-08 at 03:45 PM 

According to our friends over at the weather centre, temperatures are showing that it’s spring pretty much everywhere in Canada now. (Sorry, Iqualuit… you’ll get there someday…) The grass is greenish, the birds are out. Shoveling is to some a distant memory, and to others (Yes, you, Victoria) it’s just a joke.

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I remember the first time I saw k.d. Lang. It was in the early days, when she was channeling Patsy Cline, helping to invent cowpunk, and enjoying a good humoured poke-in-the-eye attitude about what a country singer had to look like. It was a lot of fun.

Who do you think of on Remembrance Dayjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! In response to this question asked by Tom Allen, host of Radio 2 Morning , there have been many moving thoughts and comments, which you can read here.

So today on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) Kelly and Rich play some music from the upcoming, yet-to be-released Stompin’ Tom recording. Speaking of Stompin’ Tom, and of potatoes (is there anyone who says “potato” quite the way he doesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!) here’s a little round up of potato songs. What, you didn’t know it was a genrejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! It is now.

Continue reading “Julie Nesrallah’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

Continue reading “K’naan on the move… artistically speaking” »

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I am, by nature, a creative person and performer, and stage and radio allow me to tap into many different aspects of my artistic temperament. Ultimately, I am most interested in making a connection with people in an honest and down to earth way.

–> May 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Pacifika on Canada Live: Changing the meaning of “World Music” Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-12-09 at 04:25 PM 

From PopMatters: “Lily Frost is a loopy and lovable Canadian gal who crafts exquisite little pop songs.”

The Canadian Opera Company production, which was recorded last spring, stars Pavlo Hunka, Isabel Bayrakdarian and Russell Braun.

So do tell us about your most inspiring music teacher. (And of course, how they inspired you!)

–> Great Lake Swimmers are Live Times Five… on Drive! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-19-09 at 12:30 PM 

But first, today on Sunday Afternoon in Concert we meet a lady who could be her Operatic doppleganger: an equally young, powerful, talented, sultry (I could go on…) vocalist who is taking the Classical world by storm.

And speaking of Douglas — here’s a window into the world o’dobro, in this case played solo, and beautifully.

–> March 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots And They’re Off And Composing! Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 2-09 at 06:00 PM 

It’s a double bill of powerhouse Canadian R&B tonight, with concerts from Jully Black and Divine Brown on Canada Live (8 p.m.).

Recently in the Globe there was a pretty damning piece about Steve Martin’s work of late in the movies: Where’s The Steve Martin We Tell atlanta thrashers jerseys,ugg classic tall boots Kids cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall bootsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! So, maybe you won’t tell them cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots his turn as Inspector Clouseau. Maybe you’ll tell them about Steve Martin and the banjo.

–> April 22, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Bruce Cockburn Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-22-09 at 01:24 PM 

–> May 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Opera In Vanity Fair; The Taliban Dances Posted by Li Robbins on May- 2-09 at 03:29 PM 

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If someone says to you “London Calling” what’s your first reactionjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! That you have a transatlantic phone calljerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Or do you start singing “…to the faraway towns, now war is declared - and battle come down. London calling to the underworldjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” (Or at least, what you can remember of the lyrics.) If it’s the latter, you are a Clash fan.

–> October 14, 2008 David Myles Live On Drive Today Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-14-08 at 10:30 AM 

Sarah McLachlan may be “canonized forever more as the founder of The Lilith Fair tours,” as The Windy City Times recently put it. But she’s lionized by her fans — old and new — for her own live performance, and tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.) you can hear a live concert featuring McLachlan accompanying herself on guitar and piano.

–> October 31, 2008 RPM: Bruce Cockburn’s Inner City Front Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-31-08 at 03:34 PM 

Note that you can also hear the doc streamed online at the Inside The Music Audio Archives. It must be said that people loved the first two parts. There, it has been said. So tune in Saturday to hear why. And for a précis of the documentary, please continue reading:

Since coming together in early 2005, it’s been all bows (as in, string-) and bows (as in, “take a–”) for The Janaki String Trio. The group has continuously racked up international awards and titles. No less than The New York Times have called them “magnificently polished” and a group with “an irresistible electricity.” And, now, they’re up NEXT!

I’m hearing a lot of great music I didn’t know before. It’s impossible to know it all, but I’m getting closer. Yesterday I heard a Beatles cover by the Cowboy Junkies I hadn’t heard before and it was amazing. Even sinister!

Continue reading “Operalia” »

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Guitar Gurus concludes Saturday with concerts on Canada Live (8 p.m.) from Colin Linden and Roxanne Potvin.

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–> April 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Daniel Lanois Concert Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-16-09 at 04:30 PM 

Live from the Met and broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) today, one of the most famous operas of all time, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

So here’s what happens with Foscari Sr. and Jr.: Falsely accused of crimes, Jr. is persecuted by Venice’s other governing body, known as the Council of Ten. The Doge struggles for a balance between the demands of his political office and the parental urge to smooth the way for Jr. Naturally there is also a woman involved, Jacopo’s excessively loyal wife, Lucrezia.

It’s true that Rupa & The April Fishes are a kind of circus of sound, as you can hear tonight on Canada Live. The band cites influences as “French chanson, Argentinean tango, Gypsy swing, American folk, Latin cumbias, and even Indian ragas.” (If you like Lhasa you will find this music particularly interesting.)

A little while ago an email came in with the subject heading: The Old Prince Goes Viral. Had I not known that one of Canada’s most interesting hip hop artists, Shad, has a recording called The Old Prince I might have been concerned. However, the “viral” part of the subject heading did naturally make me (and everyone else who got the email, thus leading to more viralness) watch the video for his hit from that album, The Old Prince Still Lives At .

Continue reading “Ancient Strings” »

For full cast and character details buffalo sabres jerseys,upside tall boots plot synopsis please continue reading.

This is the first Canadian incarnation of the competition, taking place in Quebec City, and it will be hosted by SATO’s Bill Richardson, broadcast tonight at 8 p.m., and repeated on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) this weekend, on September 27th. For more information on CBC’s presentation of Operalia, please go to CBC Operalia

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–> May 18, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots It’s a First! Tonight on Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-18-09 at 04:54 PM 

Tonight Canada Live (8 p.m.) features two tributes, one a re-creation of a famous gig he did on Danish television in the 1960s, the other a celebration of some of his great songs.

It’s probably a safe bet that France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy likes the music of Carla Bruni — certainly she says he is “very supportive.”

Continue reading “Ian Tyson At 75″ »

A few quick factoids before getting to the ensembles. The first Euroradio Christmas Day took place on December 21st 1996, and has been enjoyed ever since by folks in twenty-some countries, including Canada. The EBU estimates there will be around 3.1 million listeners! Neat to imagine folks in other parts of the world listening in too.

–> January 25, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Stride And True Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-25-09 at 12:22 PM 

The all too currently relevant Food Safety Music.

“Capacious, intimate and brimming with both whimsy and tension, Bell Orchestre is what classical music might sound like from some advanced alien civilization.”

–> September 14, 2008 The God Of Harmony Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-14-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “Daniel Lanois Concert Tonight” »

Lightfoot, along with Cohen and Cockburn (the “other top-floor residents in the Canuck tower of song,” as the Winnipeg Free Press recently put it), has been having something of a renaissance of late.

Today Saturday Afternoon At The Opera ( Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) launches the new opera season with Beethoven’s Fidelio, a production of the Vancouver Opera, starring Carol Wilson as Leonore, and Richard Margison as Florestan. In this incarnation, the opera is set in eastern Europe at the height of the Cold War.

From the bluest of blues to inspirational gospel, to dirty thirties jazz and dust bowl ballads — tonight Canada Live (8 p.m.) reminds us that music is a great way to cope with the “R” word.

“..cheap mlb jerseys,patrick kane team usa jersey,ugg bootstching young bluesman Jonny Lang on TV was like being hit by lightening — Lang led her, curiosity working overtime, to the music of B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and dozens of others — from Howlin’ Wolf to Aretha Franklin. At 15, she got her first guitar. ‘It was a white Japanese Telecaster,’ she remembers now. ‘It had a buzzing in the strings they couldn’t fix, so I returned it to the store, and got another Tele, an American-made cream one that I still play today.’ — Beaches Jazz

Why “Three” you may ask, (thinking vaguely about Portishead). The short answer — it’s a THREE disc set…of all new music. But it also seems there’s a bit of a numerology thing going on — each disc has nine songs. And note that the release date March 24 joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots has numbers divisible by three! (Three three three, the distant neighbour of the beast.)

4. Three words that describe the essence of the music “Drive” will playjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> May 31, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Romantic — Peter & The Symphony Posted by Li Robbins on May-31-09 at 02:59 AM 

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“Ian Tyson At 75″, a special presentation tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.), features the “new voice,” of Ian Tyson. Literally.

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She was speaking to the Chronicle Herald (see Barber’s New Cuts) — Halifax still likes to claim her for their own, though she’s based in Vancouver now.

As for the Inside The Music Documentaries, currently you can hear all five parts of RPM, Indispensable Canadian Albums, which focuses on the following five seminal recordings: The Band’s Music From Big Pink; Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Bruce Cockburn’s Inner City Front, Daniel Lanois Acadie, and Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People.

Anyway, the staging will not figure highly into the radio broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) of course. There you can just enjoy the singing.

–> May 20, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Biggest Pop Stars Under the Radar: Tonight on Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-20-09 at 06:47 PM 

mkarnold says: “Mon Pays by Gilles Vigneault. Canada is a diverse country, East and West, North and South, plain and mountain, coast and inland, city and country, English and French and beyond. What unites us is the cold winter and our ability to survive it. I can’t think of a better song articulating this than Mon Pays.”

Currently three of the semi-finalists have been announced — if you click on that last link you can hear their submissions. Stirring stuff. (Almost enough to make me watch hockey even! And it’s difficult not to be charmed by thirteen-year-old Robert Fraser Burke, playing his theme at the piano.)

Radio 1: Sunday October 26 on Radio 1 at 8 p.m. in Ontario, Quebec, Central, Mountain and Pacific; 9 p.m. in Maritimes; 9:30 p.m. in Nfld.]

Andrews considers both Django Reinhardt and Haydn musical visionaries, and this arrangement is a nice tip of the hat to their musically adventurous spirits.

–> October 27, 2008 Roxanne Potvin On Drive Today Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-27-08 at 11:00 AM 

Continue reading “Met Broadcasts Resume With Faust” »

Why do we have an affinity for some instruments more than othersjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Not sure that this question is answerable, but one can always ask.

Does that not fill you with the desire to be some place very beautiful with the sound of music wafting through pure night airjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Radio-Canada’s Philippe Santerre wrote that recently from the Evolution Composer’s Competition out in Banff.

For the record, heh, once again you can hear the entire interview (and Lanois performing his own music) tomorrow, Friday, in the third hour of Rich Terfry’s Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.)

It’s a pretty major anniversary for the festival this year too — their 30th.

In a completely tangential direction, this leads nicely into this (not very) scientific exploration of some other musical capitals — we’ll say “of the world” rather than Canada just to be more globally minded. But as you will see, there is little agreement in these matters:

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The Signal celebrates Bloomsday too tonight, not by enacting Ulysses in studio, there wasn’t quite enough time, but with music inspired by the book. It’s a concert called Tales of Brave Ulysses, and it pairs Winnipeg actor Arne MacPherson with new music group Groundswell Ensemble.

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But it is still conceivable that there is someone reading this who knows nothing about Tom, or that someone who does might enjoy a few lighthearted words from Mr. Allen anyway, thus this little Q&A. (By the way, I was so glad he did not deny the veracity of question # 5, as I have an eye witness to the event, a.k.a. the R2 Blogger…)

I rest my case. No, wait a minute, I don’t, I dance my case, and listen to it — this video featuring Itzhak Perlman playing with assorted klez luminaries is fabulous!

Of course there are exceptions, and Sheila Jordan is one of them. An odd, almost wispy voice, a propensity (don’t you just love that word, propensity) for singing original lyrics. And like the others of her unusual ilk (Mose Allison for example, written about recently on The Radio 2 Blog — see Your Mind Is On Vacation) she’s famous for it. She was also the first singer Blue Note ever signed. So there you go, bucking the trends has a certain advantage — when you can pull it off.

It was recorded in concert in Montreal, and the piece is a threnody, a lament, written in response to the protracted civil war and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Intense stuff.

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Years ago, at a wedding where the Flying Bulgars played, I remember thinking — klezmer is the best dance music in the world. Some might contest this declaration, but I don’t think anyone would dispute that at the very least klezmer ranks right up there with the world’s finest party music.

Jenn Grant is inspired by farm animals and cowboys. (Canada.com)

This is a somewhat older example of this ensemble in performance, but it will certainly give you a sense of their oeuvre:

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One Cat, One Vote, One Beer!

Little ‘k,” little “d!” Tonight a concert from Juno nominee Lady k.d. Lang on Canada Live (8 p.m.) from a not so little venue — Massey Hall. It features music from her recording, Watershed. (For which Ms. Lang has received Juno nominations in both the Artist Of The Year and Producer Of The Year categories — Watershed is her first self-produced project.)

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In fact, Freddie Pelletier’s six-string named “Gurdy” [pictured] is celebrating her 100th birthday this year! Which got us thinking…

Guitar lovers probably just had a little adrenaline rush reading those names. Yup, four masterful guitarists kick off Guitar Gurus, a week long celebration of matters six string, with concerts tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.).

3. She can do a Leonard Cohen cover (on Letterman, no less) that has what Lou Piniella allegedly told his players they didn’t have. We can leave that up to your imagination. Suffice it to say, she performs with real conviction.

The Met’s new production of Bellini’s La Sonnambula has been getting mixed reviews. (Like this one.) But not for the singing — for the staging. (I confess I am going to see for myself today. Not to New York, sadly, just the local movie theatre.)

“I’ve been converted to the Church of Dans,” says blogger M On The Side. No, not a new cult, but a response to a concert featuring Dan Mangan and Danny Michel — a concert you can hear on this week’s Canada Live Podcast.

–> March 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Madama Butterfly Posted by Li Robbins on Mar- 7-09 at 10:08 AM 

“Imagine an N.F.L. game in which the starting quarterback is replaced a day before kickoff. And his substitute, flown in from, say, the Canadian Football League, has to be fitted for a uniform, learn the plays and meet his backfield for the first time. When substitute singers are called on, there’s a good chance that the Met’s wig department already knows their head size. Happens all the time at the Metropolitan Opera.”

–> Peter And The Symphony Begins Posted by Li Robbins on May- 3-09 at 08:00 AM 

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Terrifying, fun, revealing.

Continue reading “Puccini Double Header: Turandot & Gianni Schicchi” »

Anyway, I haven’t heard the recording(s) yet, but an early bird review from The Coast waxes ecstatic, speaking of the impact of this new Plaskett music:

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“You may have the universe but let Italy remain mine!” was Italian General Ezio’s comeback to the invading warrior, which wasn’t much of a deterrent. Three people step up to the plate in an attempt to defeat the oppressor: the aforementioned Ezio, a Knight named Foresto and a fearless female prisoner, Odabella, whom Attila has taken as his concubine. (Serves him right.)

goldencanuck says: “Mchicago blackhawks jerseys,ugg upside tall bootsT have some of The Tragically Hip on the 49 for Obama list… Wheat Kings (life on the Prairies and a Canadian injchicago blackhawks jerseys,ugg upside tall bootstice), Three Pistols (on some of Canada’s great artists), Fifty-Mission Cap (a bit of a recognition of Canada’s military service as well as some hockey references), Fireworks (for the obviochicago blackhawks jerseys,ugg upside tall boots hockey references).”

Borrowing from one of the eternally youthful movies, The Wizard Of Oz, today’s edition of In The Key Of Charles (Sunday 10:00 a.m., 10:30 NT) is dedicated to “the Young In Heart.” Also to those who are still young — in conjunction with Montreal Matters 2008, (a CBC programming endeavor centered around the theme of youth). As part of that celebration Monsieur Charles launches the “YouthTube” challenge today on the show.

Why the accordion questionsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!
Here’s why:

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Trombones, perhaps more than any other instrument, seem to inspire unusual reactions in people. For example (disclaimer: the following links contain scenes of general silliness, near-nudity, and pseudo violence): Trombone Night In Canada Beach Trombone Babes and demolishing trombones in the name of science.

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Tom Allen’s Five Great Things From A Crazy Year:

Continue reading “Evolution Evolving” »

Continue reading “Two Starlets, One Day” »

Earlier today Brianna blogged about the harp and its longevity. Another stringed instrument with significant history is featured on Canada Live this evening — the Chinese erhu. (How’s that for a seguejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!!) The erhu has been in China for about a thousand years but it’s believed to date back to the 10th century.

Alicia Keys. Madonna. Shania Twain. None were spared from the authenticity-fueled wrath of Case.

My girlfriend saying ‘yes’ when I asked her to marry me: great.

For full cast details plus the synopsis, please continue reading.

But there’s another kind of laureate on the show too — American poet Rita Dove.

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Continue reading “Musical Intentions” »

Continue reading “One Cat, One Vote, One Beer!” »

Continue reading “Guitar Pickin’ & Winnipeg New Music Festival” »

It was 2 years ago today that the world lost a musical great: James Brown. In his memory, I offer you 2 Christmas videos.

Presumably the secret is not whatever words he was speaking into that microphone though. Perhaps he once had a secret lovejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Or maybe, in his secret life, Gregory just likes mystery in music, I don’t know. Whatever the reason, “Secrets” is the theme of this week’s In The Key Of Charles (Sunday 10:00 a.m., 10:30 NT), which you can read more about this weekend on The Blog Of Charles.

Best film that continues to make my cry even when I watch the trailer: Man on Wire.

It’s based on Lillian Hellman’s 1939 play The Little Foxes, if you’ve ever seen it you’ll instantly have an idea of the prevailing atmosphere. As for the music, here’s what the background material on the work says: “Marc Blitzstein’s adaptation intertwines jazz, blues, ragtime, spirituals and dance forms with hints of Copland and Bernstein, to create a new genre — American Verismo — as delicious as apple pie with a chaser of bourbon and arsenic.”

And here’s a Blog’s Eye View on Rutledge’s latest:

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Unless you run in musical circles (sounds like a fun band warm-up, nojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!), you’d be forgiven for not knowing about Daniel Lanois. He’s one of those artists that’s a musician’s musician, a producer’s producer…

So you’ll hear music and comments from Philip Glass (who wrote an un-recorded opera about Galileo). And music from composers who have created modern “music of the spheres” via computer (including Canadian composer Barry Truax). And of course Holst, and Inuit legends and music…it really is a “galactic musical crazy quilt.”

This weekend you can hear the last episode in the fine series, Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums. It focuses on Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People, described on the band’s own website as “a pop record designed to remind us that music has room to be recreated.” And it goes on to say, “The album flows like a compilation of sounds for the wounded.”

You can hear the interview on air at 5pmish, or streaming online — in fact if you miss any of the interviews (David Foster, Gordon Lightfoot, Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Diana Krall) you can also listen at your computer. (At Radio 2 Drive.)

“It’s hard to be a bluesman….in a renovated home.” (It’s easy, however, to have the blues if you’re trying to write a blog in the midst of home renovations, but that’s another song.)

For the plot synopsis, please continue reading.

Continue reading “Everything You Always Wanted To Know cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Operalia But…” »

–> November 28, 2008 In Search Of Claude Vivier Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-28-08 at 03:00 PM 

–> June 03, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots White-Hot Dramatic Sweep Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 3-09 at 06:30 PM 

It would have to be someone I think I could actually get along with. I’ve met famous people, and once you’ve said “I have all your albums” and they’ve said “Thanks” there really isn’t anything else to it. So: Bach’s out - too busy. Beethoven - too moody. Cole Porter - all style and no substance. Richard Rogers - a grump. Bird, Coltrane, Hendrix and Elvis all had other distractions. Ray Charles could be prickly, John Lennon, too. Pete Townsend is deaf. Sting is a corporation. Kurt Cobain - are you crazyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Alright, alright… I’ll pick three: Dizzy Gillespie for wit and humour, Steve Reich for intellect and a love of trains, and Tom Waits for the unexpected. Oh, and there had better be a woman around, just to maintain poise. Saphojerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Hildegard von Bingenjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! No, wait! I’ve got it - Shirley Bassey.

–> The Radio 2 Blog Bookies Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 8-09 at 10:45 AM 

The first is a fan video featuring the Godfather of Soul in his prime. The song is Soul Christmas, recorded for the album James Brown’s Funky Christmas. The footage of his fancy footwork comes from a concert he gave in Boston in 1968.

Jurgen Gothe might agree, since he goes into the doghouse today and plays a whole hour of bass music on Farrago (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT). It’s the second time he’s done this, so he calls today’s programme, “Basses, Too.”

LISTEN TO BECK INTERVIEW HERE!:
(Photo Note: That’s Rich with Beck. Rich is not wearing a purple hat.)

–> January 22, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Women With The Blues Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-22-09 at 03:00 PM 

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Nope, Ron is Friday’s “Drive Live” to talk about hockey….AND music. Yes, Ron is a die-hard Canadian music fan. And as well as talking about music (and hockey) Ron will also play D.J., picking some of the tunes he’s really into these days.

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“atlanta thrashers jerseys,ugg classic tall boots Tosca, Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, was imperious and imposing, mercurial and gorgeous, impetuous and smitten. A Diva-in-Full. She has a creamy mid-range, a crystalline top, solid anchoring, she projects effortlessly, she’s got power to burn. In a world in which the value of an extended ovation has seen continuous hyperinflation, the cheering she received for ‘Vissi d’arte’ was fully earned. Desperate lyricism defined.” (OC Register, 19 May 2008)

Tim Tamashiro’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year

I like to write on my old upright piano at home. It’s slightly out of tune but in a good way I think.

Bill Richardson took the plunge first, his “5 Greats” all musically related. (As you’ll see in the days to come, some of the lists are not, covering everything from belly dancing, to getting engaged, to comfort food.)

As you’ll see here, some are modified with strings and things, some are played “as is”.

As a little accompaniment the Radio 2 Blog posted Who Are The Greatest Canadian Guitar Playersjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! And in response to that a couple of you asked to see the entire list of great Canadian guitar players as suggested by Radio 2 listeners/blog readers.

And, sure, you could just tune in tonight at 8 p.m. and enjoy the show. But with a few clicks and listens, you could win some Sophie swag for yourself, thanks to Canada Live and Tonic…

Continue reading “What A Concept” »

Ron will also chat a bit about the hockey song contest, which is ramping up. He’ll be hosting the Hockey Night In Canada Anthem Challenge this Saturday on CBC TV at 9 p.m. eastern, where’er you are. That’s when the five semifinalists will be introduced with a recording of their respective entries — produced by the legendary Bob Rock, no less — and performed by full orchestra.

–> February 13, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots George Elliott Clarke’s Soul Of Love Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-13-09 at 03:00 PM 

That’s what Magnet Magazine says about Bell Orchestre, the band from Montreal who, to turn to an apt cliché, “defy categorization.” Today on In Tune (Saturday 5:00 p.m., 5:30 NT) Katherine shares news about Bell Orchestre’s upcoming collaboration with the Brooklyn Philharmonic (known for being adventurous). They’ve invited Bell Orchestre to perform in a concert “designed to show that all types of music, no matter what the genre, have an impact on the entire musical community.”

It’s called Sing Sing, which is this year’s song for Music Monday. Music Monday is a growing annual event that involves thousands of kids across the country (really, like a hundred or so thousand!) all performing concerts in public places on the first Monday in May. This year, they’ll sing Serena’s song, the same song you can hear her singing on Drive tomorrow. (WHOOPS! Update: Turns out Serena decided NOT to sing the song on Wednesday’s Drive, but you can still hear her on the show singing some other material!)

Continue reading “Musical Time-Wasters ” »

One final note, if all this has inspired you to write your own fugue, just remember “Now the only way to write one is to plunge right in and write one. Just forget the rules and write one. Just ignore the rules and try.”

Continue reading “The Day The Bass Players Took Over The World” »

Here’s a great little description of what it was like being there:

This will be my last blog post of the year (yikes!) as holidays beckon. (Well, they don’t actually raise up a hand and wave, but I am taking some regardless.) The talented Philly Markowitz (see last post!) will be hosting the blog Christmas Day through New Year’s Eve. I hope you will welcome her with open virtual arms. I sure do — thanks, Philly, have fun.

Something serendipitous in today’s opera… Serendib is the ancient Persian name for the island nation of Sri Lanka, located south and east of the coast of India.

In 1505, a Portuguese fleet was exploring the coastline of India. An adverse windstorm blew up and the fleet commanded by Lourenjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!o de Almeida into a port. Almeida received a friendly audience from the king of Kotte, Vira Parakrama Bahu, and was favourably impressed with the commercial and strategic opportunities there. He started the colonization of the island, and set up a roaring trade in tea, cinnamon, sugar, coffee, and rubber.

The Idea Of North is the inspiration for the featured concert you’ll hear tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.) In honour of Glen Gould’s 75th birthday, and the 25th anniversary of his death, CBC Ottawa commissioned artists from across the country to respond to Gould’s radio doc. The performers include Tanya Tagaq, The Flaps, The Creaking Tree String Quartet, Veda Hill, Catherine MacLellan, and Grand Analog. You can hear the music, of course, but also excerpts from Gould’s documentary, as well as on-stage interviews with the artists.

The documentary looks at four extraordinary violinists, Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli, Jean Luc Ponty and the late Canadian fiddler, Oliver Schroer. The interviews come from over three decades, but there’s a common thread — they touch on the distinctive individual musical terrains of each man, but also the shared perception that human beings are really channels for the music.

For one thing, it managed to make the quirky 5/4 groove of the song so popular that the otherwise odd beat became almost natural to listeners’ ears. It’s one of those “earworms” that get stuck in your head… That silky saxophone melody just looping and looping…

–> Live Times Five… on Drive! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-18-09 at 11:20 AM 

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There’s something very satisfying for those of us with a taste for dance (including what some would see as the lowbrow end of the artform) to see a kind of dance fever sweeping North America. Much of it is courtesy of So You Think You Can Dance, now with its Canadian edition. Until recently trying to get non-dance people to watch has been kind of like telling an unrequited love that you know he/she would love you if he/she just tried harder.

–> December 12, 2008 Gregory Charles Has A Secret Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-12-08 at 03:36 PM 

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“Hoy-yoh-toh-oh!” Yup, an attempt to write down what is one of the most widely recognized passages in opera — from Wagner’s Die Walküre, broadcast live from the Met today on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera. (If you’re trying to recall that theme here’s a quick reminder.)

Continue reading “First We Take Brooklyn” »

First, Jamaican Echoes: A History of Dub Music., dub being the instrumental counterpart of reggae, earmarked by its unmistakable echoey reverby sound, although the music today can take many shapes.

Here are Pat Carrabré’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year:

Is it herejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Or isn’t itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Sure the trees are green, but some chilly mornings you half expect frost on the doorstep. But here’s some musical certainty about spring at least — a great duo performance of Clifford Brown’s Joy Spring, played by Billy Taylor and Monty Alexander, side by side at the grands.

Few things got the music & evolution theorists’ knickers more knotted than when Steven Pinker famously came out with the expression “auditory cheescake” to describe the place of music in evolution. It was red flag to bull, and people are still charging.

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Paolo Pietropaolo is guest host for today’s performance, which is a production from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and WFMT in Chicago.

Continue reading “The Biggest Pop Stars Under the Radar: Tonight on Canada Live” »

Monty Alexander is an amazing live performer, as you can also hear tonight on Tonic — this is just a warm up:

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The above are just a fraction of the musical suggestions pouring in for President-Elect Barack Obama’s Canadian music playlist — assembled by you, Radio 2 listeners/Blog readers. You can nominate your favourite Canadian music for the 49 Songs From North Of The 49th Parallel playlist by clicking on that link which will take you to the website, or email obamasplaylist@cbccheap mlb jerseys,patrick kane team usa jersey,ugg boots, or phone 1-877-222-8166 (Press: 1)

As for the Hens themselves, armed with a kona and other slide guitars (plus instruments like the conch shell, quarter-tone trumpets, who knows what else) this group goes where no band has gone before — at least not in that inimitable Henrys way.

For more about The Ring, this current production, and the all important plot synopsis, please keep reading:

Since the news broke of his death there have been some lovely insights into his playing written by musicians who knew him well. He was one of those players who was hugely respected in the Canadian jazz community - but not much known outside of that. Many have speculated that if he had left Montreal and taken up residency south of the border, he would have been much better known.

Tonight Canada Live celebrates the Canadian songwriter with three concerts, two coming to you from the Ironwood Stage in Calgary, known for its singer-songwriter showcases (and its beer, cheddar and bacon dip). Sadly can’t share the latter on the radio, but the former — here’s what you can expect:

–> Sophie Milman on Canada Live tonight! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-17-09 at 03:00 AM 

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So here’s another stab at it. Bell Orchestre play contemporary, visually evocative, intelligent (and instrumental) music.

re: Beck in recent performance:

Today SATO presents the opera from Vienna’s Konzerthaus, with baritone Leo Nucci as the Doge of Venice, tenor Francisco Casanova as his son, and Canadian soprano Manon Feubel as Jacopo’s wife, Lucrezia. (Pictured here on the cover of her CBC Records recording.)

Continue reading “Puccini Double Header!” »

Understatement of the day: It’s difficult keeping up with new releases. In any genre, let alone if you happen to be a fan of many. That’s one reason why Monday nights Laurie likes to play tracks from new releases on The Signal. Tonight’s new new sounds come from musicians who are not strangers to Signal-land, including Hanne Hukkelberg, Jon Hopkins, Grizzly Bear, and A Broken Consort.

–> June 06, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cigarette Girls Behaving Badly Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 6-09 at 12:00 PM 

This weekend The Nerve tackles the subject, with the penultimate episode: myTunes: Music And Identity.

Granted they are probably safe bets. But the real gamble is, certainly in the instance of today’s bet, which songjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! It’s a gamble I’m willing to make — that despite the Democracy lobby, the “winner” will be Hallelujah.

Today’s production features soprano Patricia Racette as the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, and tenor Marcello Giordani as the visiting U.S Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton. Even if you don’t know the story you can probably guess with that set up –heartbreak ensues.

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–> Thomas Hampson & Karita Mattila In Eugene Onegin Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-14-09 at 10:01 AM 

Certainly Verdi’s career was well and truly launched with the success of Nabucco, which was his third opera. It follows the plight of the Jews as they are exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nebbuchadnezzar, a.ka. Nabucco. (Reflecting the political climate in Italy at the time.)

Continue reading “The Radio 2 Morning Grilled Cheese Invitational: Results Today!” »

If you haven’t heard him lately, by this point you’re probably wondering what the heck he sounds like! Brian D. Johnson’s description in MacLeans magazine is apt:

And just to cap things off, here’s Mr. S.T. Connors himself with, what else, Bud The Spud.

“And on that day the world it was finally set free,
All the creatures they hung out together and interacted fretlessly,
And the air began to vibrate with such a deep tonality,
The day the bass players took over the world.”

But he didn’t — as it says in the description of Mary Ellen Davis’ documentaries about Symonds (written while he was still alive), “Symonds has turned down possibilities of playing elsewhere; he likes Montreal.”

–> June 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Joy Of Spring Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 2-09 at 03:00 PM 

“I think that playing an instrument, especially like drums, it’s so physical that the outlet ends up being a very passionate outlet, similar to sex… It does feel like that with drumming or with singing too, cause it’s so much about your body and about making sound, you’re the instrument, it’s very sensual, it’s very euphoric.” 2001, Only Angels Have Wings

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–> April 27, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Tunes For Troubled Times Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-27-09 at 04:41 PM 

For more on the cast, characters etc., please continue reading.

To listen to any of those documentaries in full, go to the Inside The Music Audio Archives.

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–> December 07, 2008 Your Mind Is On Vacation… Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 7-08 at 02:30 PM 

–> Concerts Demanding To Be Heard Posted by Li Robbins on May-28-09 at 11:00 AM 

That’s just to further tantalize you — since tonight on Tonic Katie Malloch announces the winners of the Tonic Montreal Jazz Festival Contest. If you entered, tune in this evening to see if you won. If you didn’t, lots of good music on the show anyway, of course, including: John Pizzarelli, Nina Simone, Diana Krall, Sophie Milman, Boz Scaggs, Blossom Dearie, Scott Hamilton, Sonny Stitt, and Horace Silver.

She’s 26, she’s collaborated with John Hiatt, Bruce Cockburn, Daniel Lanois…and today she’s on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.).

Katherine Duncan’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year

Frank Zappa continues, as the above indicates, to inspire strong feelings. As well as busts from Lithuania donated to Baltimore. And entrances to men’s restrooms. And his son Dweezil.

Avishai Cohen, who, as you can see, is so dextrous he doesn’t necessarily require an actual instrument. (The bass of the mind.) But seriously, that’s just his latest album cover — what Cohen specializes in begins with jazz and takes you many places, some with bass and voice — singing in Hebrew, English, Spanish and Ladino.

“The Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska is an affecting Mimi, singing with a fluid, dark-hued voice, earthy timbre and powerful top notes. Ramón Vargas is an ardent Rodolfo, and the excellent baritone Mariusz Kwiecien is a standout as Marcello. Susanna Phillips makes her house debut as a sassy Musetta. The French conductor Frédéric Chaslin leads a lithe, aptly paced reading of the score.”

This Saturday on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) you can hear a documentary called Funkytown: The Montreal Disco Era that explores that time period. A colleague of mine who heard the documentary over the holidays told me that it just bowled him over, it was so good.

Joel Plaskett’s new CD called Three comes out Tuesday, March 24th, and he’ll be on Radio 2 Drive that very afternoon.

One other thing I should mention — “JJ,” the publisher of the popular opera blog Parterre Box Presents La Cieca appears on SATO today. “Small Towners Crash Big Time Radio!” the headline screams. Hopefully “JJ” will not. Although what “JJ” has to say may be a scream, if the blog itself is any indication.

For more on the opera, please keep reading…

–> K’naan on the move… artistically speaking Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 7-09 at 03:00 AM 

You can also hear music from Ry Cooder — a song about the adventures of a cat named Buddy — that’s where the cat/vote/beer song comes from. Perhaps Jurgen will play the Weakerthans’ most recent song from the perspective of a cat as well, Virtue The Cat Explains Her Departurejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Although that said — quick aside for the musical-resolution-making types: Should you need some inspiration you may want to have a look at Not Just Another New Year’s Resolution — resolutions regarding New Brunswick based music — joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Musical Resolutions — resolutions specific to violin players — or AskMen — celebrity resolutions regarding playing piano like Chris Martin of Coldplay.

Continue reading “Canada Live and the Art of the Joni-Mitchell Tribute” »

And second, the surprisingly appealing music of Bars & Tones.

–> April 01, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots A Celebration Of Gordon Lightfoot Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 1-09 at 04:30 PM 

–> Musical Time-Wasters Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-26-08 at 08:35 AM 

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Continue reading “Ladies And Gentlemen… Mr Leonard Cohen” »

Not having seen his playlist at time of bloggin’, I also can’t say if he’s planning to play this particular cat song, (which I think Ry Cooder also covered, coincidentally) so I thought I’d share it here in all of its from-another-era glory — Three Cool Cats:

First, Bruce Cockburn, currently touring solo in connection with his latest, Slice O’ Life. And in fact the show you can hear this evening features Cockburn solo with acoustic. It was recorded at the Eric Harvey Theatre at the Banff Centre and by all accounts wowed ‘em..

“Inspired by the 1982 book by Guy Vanderhaeghe, Man Descending follows ten characters down certain half-deserted avenues of their lives where they encounter alternate sides of themselves of which they are relatively unfamiliar. As each character reevaluates their lot in life, the songs tend to function as questions rather than answers.”

Allison, with his piano style, those deathlessly funny lyrics, and even just the way he sings has always struck me as a total anomaly in the world of jazz, but that doesn’t make him any less significant. (If anything, perhaps it makes him more.) And here’s a nice summation of that — and of another aspect of his appeal:

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Continue reading “”I Want To Play Like Jascha Heifetz”" »

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Dylan fans mark your calendars — this Saturday on Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12:00 p.m., 1:00 AT, 1:30 NT) you can hear Patti Smith hosting a four-part series about Bob Dylan. The series is called Bob Dylan, Blowin’ in the Wind .

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One of Jurgen’s perennial favourite quirky groups gets a spin today too, and for anyone who has not yet experienced their unique instrumentation have a look at the following. It’ll get you right to the roots of the quirky music of the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra.

Last year the Cowboy Junkies went into Massey Hall and recreated that recording, live, playing the songs in the same order as the originally appeared on the album. So tonight you can hear new versions of those songs, Sweet Jane and Walkin After Midnight and the rest, featuring Margo Timmins’ intense, hushed vocals.

Continue reading “Extreme Cello” »

Please continue reading for more on the opera(s), including full cast details and the ever useful plot synopsis.

Continue reading “Cockburn, Cormier, Ross and McKee…Concerts Tonight!” »

As mentioned earlier today on the Radio 2 Blog, this evening you can hear Burt Bacharach in concert on Canada Live (8 p.m.), recorded at Pop Montreal in the Eglise de St. Jean-Baptiste, performing a relatively intimate show for around 1,200 people.

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And what have the responses been so far to her tour of the new (and some older) materialjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Well, here’s just a sample from her U.K. performances:

In responding to the question: Which Guitar Guru Deserves Greater Recognition, one listener said Kevin Breit, (”Sisters Euclid, Folkalarm, Supergenerous, recorded with Wailin’ Jennies, Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones…”) because he’s a “drop dead amazing” player. And so he is, as you can hear tonight on Canada Live (8 p.m.).

Tonight, Canada Live brings you to a benefit concert which takes the Philou project a few musical steps further, with duos, trios, and more.

Please keep reading for more specifics about Music Monday:

Her new recording, No Love For The Poisonous, is out this week, thus the timeliness of her appearance on Drive. Speaking of that song, if you go to Potvin’s website you can hear it — actually sounds pretty Lanois-ish to me — and that’s a good thing. For those curious about her b.g., here are a few interesting outside observations:

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In Donizetti’s prolific (67!) opera career, Lucia Di Lammermoor remains one of the few that is frequently produced. For its music and for its story — here’s the movie trailer version of the latter:

–> Philly Markowitz’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-24-08 at 10:35 AM 

–> June 20, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Reality Twisted To Extract Maximum Emotional Effect Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-20-09 at 12:16 PM 

Before we go any farther, can we hear (and see) some Mose, livejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Yes, we can:

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So much more will be played today on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.), and Rich will be talking with the man behind Caribou about his Polaris win, live on the show.

But back to Lang Lang. On Sunday he spoke at a public forum at the Royal Ontario Museum, and according to the Toronto Star report gave several reasons he chose Toronto — TSO music director, Peter Oundjian, ‘a great maestro and friend,’ Roy Thomson Hall, and the Chinese community among them. Lang Lang is quoted as saying “this city has lots to offer and is open to many different world cultures. You need an international city to do this kind of residency.”

Continue reading “Provisions & French Horns” »

But if you like you can ignore the advice of Frank Zappa (”Shut Up ‘n’ Play Yer Guitar”) and keep those Guitar Guru suggestions coming!

–> June 13, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots High, Low, Whatever: Art Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-13-09 at 03:00 PM 

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It’s called The Pipe, The Drum & The Thunder Run (Music & War), and that is exactly what it is about — music as intimidation, music used as propaganda, music to get the boys fired up. Bet you’re already thinking, hmm, Apocalypse Now, Wagner. And actually that was based on real military techniques and was used during the Vietnam war and since — I remember reading an account of it being used in Iraq much more recently.

–> February 15, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jurgen Goes To The Dogs Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-15-09 at 12:45 PM 

Continue reading “Great Big Sea On Drive” »

If you are curious as to what Carter has to say on his one hundreth, just watch the following. It features reminiscences about music (and radio), not to mention that wonderful smile of his…quite charming.

You can find out more about Korngold at this (unofficial) Korngold website if you like, and you can also read about his significance as seen through the eyes of conductor/pianist Alexander Frey in a blog post called Thinking cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Erich Wolfgang Korngold (posted last year — 2007 was the 50th anniversary of Korngold’s death).

–> September 25, 2008 So You Want To Write A Fuguejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-25-08 at 10:30 AM 

You can hear Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums on Inside The Music:

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–> November 06, 2008 Who Are The Greatest Canadian Guitaristsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 6-08 at 11:04 AM 

Glenn Gould, talking about The Idea of North, among other things. Fascinating.

You can hear Messiaen: The Colours of a Soul, tomorrow, December 7th on Inside The Music (Sunday Edition 12:00 p.m., 12:30 NT).

“Until you’ve experienced the Jazz Festival in Montreal, you can’t believe what it’s like! It takes place in a beautiful part of the city, the streets are closed to traffic, the atmosphere is friendly, and there’s an incredible range of music being offered on a variety of stages…. It’s like a Disneyland for people who love jazz.”

When: Tune in to the 3rd hour of Drive on Friday.

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Here’s what we have so far — though feel free to send in more suggestions to this post, because obviously this is only a partial list.

What would Boxing Day be without… well, boxesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> Fleming, Hampson And Schade Star In Thajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!s Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-20-08 at 10:05 AM 

“One hundred is not so old. Not when you’re writing music of pristine freshness and energy, and have found a language that you can live in as easily as air, and mold like a sculptor. That’s what counts: not your astonishing creative lifespan, but the music you’ve written.” (”Pristine freshness and energy,” an apt description of Carter’s music as I know it.)

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The festival has been “a hit at the box office,” as they say. Well, as the Ottawa Citizen says. They also say that the performance of Symphony No. 1, which you can hear today on Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.), was “uncommonly lucid and engaging.”

Continue reading “Next! The Up-And-Comers” »

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Actually, it’s a Puccini Double Header this weekend and next. This weekend opens with one of the biggies, Tosca. (Did you know that of his twelve operas Tosca, La Boheme, and Madama Butterfly consistently rank in the top five in terms of popular operasjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Not sure who was doing the surveying, but apparently it is so.)

By his own MySpace admission, Royal Wood sounds “as if a singer-singwriter like Ron Sexsmith was a bus and ran into a piano cabaret songwriter like Rufus Wainwright.” But don’t think about the bus part of that equation. Think about lovely songwriting, intensity, piano…and inevitably the word “romantic.”

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This because Steve Martin has released his first non-comedic all-banjo recording, and it’s one that Tom Power will feature on Deep Roots (Saturday 11:00 a.m., 12:00 AT, 12:30 NT) this weekend.

“I must be a masochist, but I quite enjoy competitions.” -Yannick-Muriel Noah

Last fall, 16 Canadian jazz pianists participated in “Berceuses pour Philou”: a charity CD to raise funds for the Centre de Répit PHILOU, which is a respite centre for severely handicapped children under the age of five in Montreal.

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Certain songs just get in your head and stay there. Daniel Lanois’ Here Is What Is is one of those songs. (Granted, the album version more than the live one that link will take you to.)

But the trade secrets of page turners are just one part of today’s piano extravaganza. There’s also a passel of great concerts. First, from someone who has been called “the greatest pianist you’ve never heard of.”

One of the happy surprises about the televised awards is that members of the “project” Eccodek will be performing, in a collaboration with Great Big Sea and Hawksley Workman.

So what do you think Gordon Lightfoot should write aboutjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Send in your suggestion via Comments right here, on the Radio 2 Blog, or via the Radio 2 Morning Blog, and they will be forwarded to Mr. Lightfoot at the end of the week — a kind of belated birthday present.

Radio hosts tend to be people you want to have at your dinner parties — they’re story tellers. Whether verbose or folk of few words (rare, but it happens) that’s part of their charm.

While at a mental glance you might not expect such disparate musicians to come together, they are all of a collaborative bent — Tagaq with the likes of Bjork and the Kronos Quartet, the members of Apostle Of Hustle with Broken Social Scene, Feist, Peter, Bjorn & John among others.

Sergiu Popa has pretty much always known what to do with an accordion. Coming from a dynasty of Roma accordion players in Moldova, their stories, phrasing, and joy of the instrument have always been a well-supplied commodity for him as a youngster with a squeezebox on his knee… even as he eked out life in the poorest and smallest of countries in Eastern Europe.

Continue reading “Robert Harris Time Travels On Tempo” »

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If you’re someone who loves Lanois’ production, whether it’s with U2 or Bob Dylan, or Peter Gabriel or any of the other great artists he’s worked with, here are some thoughts from the land of Lanois that reveal a little bit about his approach to producing:

Continue reading “Regina: “A Toxic Tale Of The Old South”" »

“I am often asked how Operalia came into existence. Throughout the years, I have always taken a special interest in promising young singers and the enormous difficulties these artists face as they start out their careers. It has become clear to me that talent alone is not enough; it is also essential for young singers to come to the attention of those impresarios, managers, casting directors, conductors and stage directors who can further their professional careers.”

Either way you have the opportunity to hear the cycle beginning this weekend and continuing over the final three Saturdays in April on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) as The Metropolitan Opera presents it in its entirety.

Continue reading “Zappa Goes On” »

“So easy, when you know how.” -Fats Waller, as quoted on one of those quote websites.

That Serena Ryder has such a bluesy, soulful voice sure helps convey all of that emotion. But when she comes into the Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) studio (broadcast Wednesday Nov. 19th in the second hour of the programme), one of the songs she’ll be singing has a different kind of focus.

The documentary looks at four extraordinary violinists, Yehudi Menuhin,
Stefan Stéphane Grappelli, Jean Luc Ponty and the late Canadian fiddler, Oliver Schroer. She gathered the interviews over three decades, and they touch on the distinctive individual musical terrains of each man, revealing a commonality — becoming channels for music that gave them all a timeless joy.

At 12:30 today and tomorrow you can hear two more “temptations,” and for the mouth watering visuals, go to the Tempo Blog.

Daniel Lanois is the featured artist this weekend with his great Acadie recording from 1989, in part four of Revolutions Per Minute: Indispensable Canadian Albums (Broadcast details at end of post.)

Despite this, Jurgen is fearlessly forging ahead today with a show devoted the instrument. And I’ll just come out of the closet right now — I love the banjo — in the right hands, that is. Some of the hands it will be in on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) include Craig Korth’s, Bela Fleck’s, Alison Brown’s and Pete Seeger’s.

Kevin Breit, Antoine Dufour, Frank Marino, Pat Travers, Rik Emmett, Alex Lifeson, Oscar Lopez, Pavlo, Bobby Cameron, Eddie Patterson, Chuck Beal, Jack Semple,Los Angeles Kings jerseys, Grant Siemens, Matt Monsoon, Damon Mitchell, Chris Carmichael, Chris Sawell, Jason Nowicki, Rick Taylor, Don Ross, Madagascar Slim, Bruce Cockburn, Scott Arnold, Norbert Kraft, Ari Lahdekorpi, Colin James, Ed Bickert, Dale Kavanagh, Marc Atkinson, Ken Hamm, Big George Moody, David Gogo, Lenny Breau, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy James, Gordon Lightfoot, Erick Turnbull, Gerald Garcia, Andres Segovia, William Beauvais, Colin Cripps, Jason Fowler, Danny Michel, Stephen Fearing, Julian Bream, Jimmy Page, Sue Foley, Martin Simpson, Andres Segovia, William Beauvais John MacArthur, Norman Liota, Rob Wright, Bill Henderson, Rachelle VanZanten, Preston Reed, Leo Kottke, Stanley Jordan, Shawn Kellerman, Joni Mitchell, Randy Bachman, Rick Fines, Ford Pier, Martin Tielli, Richard Thompson, Phil Keaggy, Joe Bonamassa, Valdy, Bim (Roy Forbes), Tuck Andress, Amos Garret, Ted Quinlan, Django, Greg Keelor, Jim Cuddy.

We’ll start with the near-households: Grizzly Bear. (They were just in Canada, and Feist joined them on stage in Toronto, which you can view at Stereogum in all its hand-held glory.) Best line from another source about Grizzly Bear and their new recording: “Grizzly Bear, favourite band of Fleet Foxes, are riding high on the folk-harmony wave.” Quite an image, that.

–> Through the Opera Gateway Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-27-08 at 10:32 AM 

Continue reading “C’est Fantastique! Peter And The Symphony Continues…” »

But there is no need to ridicule the concept of a concept album itself — there are some excellent examples (Sgt. Pepper’s, anyonejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!). And today on Farrago (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) Jurgen has a concept about the concept album: why not celebrate itjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! And celebrate it through cover versions.

Because today Jurgen celebrates “the doghouse,” as the acoustic bass is sometimes called, on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT). He calls today’s edition of the show “Basses Loaded” (so actually you can blame the pun on him, not me) and on it you’ll hear heavy hitters (ditto) from Mingus to Slam Stewart to Michel Donato.

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‘Fer instance, this review by a listener with the handle “Hodgkins,” of the sitar-led group Ragleela:

Continue reading “The Ultimate Femme Fatale - Lulu” »

Continue reading “Dylan Doc Hosted By Patti Smith” »

So today…”Papa” Haydn and the birth of the symphony, according to Peter Oundjian…

–> Music Monday Continues! Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May- 4-09 at 10:30 AM 

Jenn Grant is on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) today.

Here’s how she sees it: “I think music should be evocative…I think my songwriting tends to be very romantic, and I feel like romance is missing from a lot of modern music. You listen to those classic songs, and they’re just full of romance and lush, beautiful arrangements, and they’re unabashedly romantic.”

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–> May 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots When Instruments Become Family Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-16-09 at 04:37 PM 

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It’s probably one of the most recognizable pieces of music from pop culture of the past few decades — and for some, hard not to think, “creepy” when you hear it. (The inevitable Exorcist connection.) Not for others, like Calgary pianist Marcel Bergmann. He arranged Tubular Bells for four pianos — you can hear that music in concert this evening on The Signal (10 p.m.).

Is a composition only a composition if it’s written downjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Is it a composition if an improvisation creates certain musical elements revisited in subsequent performancesjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! These are some of the questions the Instant Composers’ Pool Orchestra inevitably provoke. They’re based around pianist Misha Mengelberg and drummer Han Bennink, and tonight you can hear them on The Signal, recorded at the Guelph Jazz Festival.

–> The Canada Live Podcast: More ways to win with Sophie Milman Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-12-09 at 03:00 AM 

Tonight Canada Live (8 p.m.) broadcasts a concert featuring the one man band (famed for creating sonic layering through looping his violin through foot pedals and singing over the music — it’s quite an arresting sound).

Rigoletto may not have been a groundbreaking work, but Verdi sure knew how to pick a story. He knew his literature, and he had a great dramatic sense. But the bottom line, if you will, is that Rigoletto has some of the best loved standards of Italian opera, and people continue to thrill to it.

Canadian baritone Gerald Finley is indeed the star of today’s production of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic at the Metropolitan Opera this afternoon, broadcast on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT).

Here’s Stuart McLean’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year. Read the list slowly and be prepared to smile at the end.

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But in the meantime, here’s a handy cheat sheet on Matt and the band. In fact if you’re really pressed for time this could be the How To Talk cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Books You Haven’t Read equivalent. (With its delightful epigram courtesy of Oscar Wilde: “I never read a book I must review; it prejudices you so.”)

But here’s a thing I’ve sometimes wondered about, not being a harpist. How the heck do people travel with the thingsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> February 07, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Lucia Di Lammermoor Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 7-09 at 10:31 AM 

As for Mr. Bacharach, which song in his body of work is his own favouritejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Even though he claims it’s mostly about Hal David’s words:

Long Story: Colin Linden is a producer (including artists like Lucinda Williams), songwriter, guitar player (he’s played on something in the neighbourhood of 300 albums) who has a strong solo career as well as being part of the Canadian roots-rock “supergroup” Blackie And The Rodeo Kings.

Canada traditionally has a considerable amount of geographical musical diversity. East coast Celtic. French traditions in Quebec. And, um, then there’s the west. (OK, so you see which side the Radio 2 Blogger is coming down on.)

Continue reading “Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Leonard Cohen” »

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Continue reading “The Joy Of Spring” »

The Yankees! It’s true. But my body is wrecked now. I threw a few balls down at the Exhibition over the weekend and was in pain for the next three days. Sad.

Long story short: I was thrilled when I discovered that there was going to be a new roots music disc show on CBC R2 and that it would be hosted by the multi-talented and yes - very young - musician and story-teller Tom Power. How young, you askjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Well, Tom and I have become Facebook friends, and I’ve noticed his status updates often refer to his ongoing studies at MUN. While Tom brings a young man’s passion to his show, Deep Roots, he also draws on his knowledge of centuries of east-coast folklore and music. I learn something every time I tune in to the show.

But never mind praise. Bono did much more than just plain old “recommend” the music of Emm Gryner. No, Bono listed her song “Almighty Love” as one of the six he wished he had written…

Continue reading “Parsifal” »

This week, “Wordsmiths,” a Canada Live (8 p.m.) celebration of Canadian songwriters who spend plenty of time in that tower. It’s a terrific lineup of live concerts featuring iconic Canadian songwriters, as well as some of the new generation:

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To get that hotline warmed up, you can call Julie to say which piece of classical music you would take into space. It doesn’t matter if you’re not planning to go into space, you can still call (or go to the Tempo blog) to say which piece of classical music you would take were you donning a little Star Trek type outfit and strapping in.

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French composer Olivier Messiaen is not known the way, say, his contemporaries Benjamin Britten or Aaron Copland are. But to musicians and composers and close listeners of 20th century music his impact and influence is astounding. And the excitement over celebrations connected to his 100th birthday are too — just google Messiaen centenary to get an idea. Or better still, listen to Radio 2 on Sunday, when much of the programming is devoted to his music.

There are few things that a certain breed of music person likes to jaw over more than Desert Island/Most Essential/Top 10 List recordings. (See 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before…).

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Today, David Foster talks about his career as a hit-maker, explains why he took part in the Princes of Malibu, (which takes some explaining) among other things. He also takes to the piano and plays a bit, and altogether it makes for great listening. (NOTE: If you missed the radio broadcast — have a look at the Radio 2 Drive page where the audio is streamed online.)

Continue reading “Joel Plaskett: Tuesday Drive Live ” »

joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots marks many anniversaries. The 100th anniversary of Albert R. ‘Cubby’ Broccoli. The first use of “cat’s-eye” reflective road studs, 75 years ago. And of course, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

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The production is getting mixed reviews, but the New York Times (Playing Love And Potions For Laughs, Italian Style) was pretty hot on Gehorghiu, saying: “Her conception of a cool, wily Adina who only gradually softens was convincing; her singing, though a shade undersize at times, was stylish and technically secure. Ms. Gheorghiu’s scenes at the heart of Act II…were unquestionably the dramatic high points of the evening.”

Continue reading “Debussy and Cocoa: Together at last!” »

The Signalites describe the music as “reflective, evocative, mystical,” and as I listen now at COD, I totally agree (although I’d also add “intense” to that list). It features the work of Canadian composers Kelly-Marie Murphy, Ka Nin Chan among others, as well as Ukrainian composers Valentin Silvestrov and Bohdana Frolya.

–> June 25, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Shocking, Alluring…Risible Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-25-09 at 03:37 PM 

However I do have this fun list from Ms. Malloch, who shares some personal and heartfelt notes as part of the ongoing holiday/year end revelations from Radio 2 hosts. So take it away, Katie:

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Philly Markowitz’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year:

One blogger who was there said Ms. McLachlan was “the big surprise” of the event, which was part of B.C.’s 150th birthday celebrations:

–> November 04, 2008 Jill Barber On Drive Today Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 4-08 at 11:13 AM 

Continue reading “Cheers! ” »

“Pushed to its hoarsest extreme, the instrument counters such grating sounds with absolutely delicate luminescence; a persistent march is contrasted with an insistent serenity.”

Continue reading “Katherine Duncan’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

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Anyway, she becomes ‘Fidelio.’ She goes to work for Rocco, the jailer. With courage, compassion, love and other noble qualities Leonore navigates the infatuation of Rocco’s daughter (that’s what’ll happen when you dress up in men’s clothing) and gains access to Florestan’s cell. Risking her life, Leonore stands up to Pizarro, frees her husband, and liberates the entire prison.

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So You Want To Write A Fugue was originally part of a 1963 CBC TV series created by Gould — the final episode was called The Anatomy Of A Fugue. In it he covered as much as one could cover in an hour about the history of the fugue — the Maria folks would be pleased to know that he attempted a fugue based on Do Re Me from The Sound Of Music.

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Honesty and directness.

P.S. Yes, that is Rich with Jenn…

–> May 19, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Lady that Bono Looks Up To: On Canada Live Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-19-09 at 03:37 PM 

So here’s the peanut version: The alluring Semele is in love with the god Jupiter. And she wants to be immortal. (Always a mistake.) Things get ugly when Jupiter’s wife Juno (who sets the bar for jealous spouse behaviour) schemes to rid her world of Semele.

Nathalie Paulin stars as the alluring one, Benjamin Butterfield as Jupiter and Anita Krause as Juno. For more about the opera including a PDF of the programme booklet, please keep reading.

So far, the recipes look amazing (that’s Chef David Ferguson of Montreal’s Jolifou’s Poached Chinook Salmon, inspired by The Drunkard In Spring from Mahler’s Das Lied Von Der Erde).

If you’ve been following our lead-up to Music Monday you already know that this is the day Canadians shower appreciation on their music teachers present and past, and honour the special role that music plays in our lives. This all culminates in an amazing trans-Canada concert, where groups large and small raise their voices at the same time (10 am Pacific time, 11 am Mountain time, 12 pm Central time, 1 pm Eastern time and 2 pm Atlantic time, and 2:30 in Newfoundland) to sing out out Serena Ryder’s inspiring tune, “Sing Sing.”

For those who don’t know him and would like a little more info, PLchicago blackhawks jerseys,ugg upside tall boots a clip from the interview, read on…

Why do people love The Henrysjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Here’s why:

Alex Cuba has been called “the man with the best sideburns in Canada,” and “the man with the biggest hair in Smithers B.C.” and both claims are probably true. (Though the sideburns were rather restrained at the time this photo was shot.) It’s also true he’s an excellent musician who is creating his own style of Cuban-based pop music.

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The episode title for this week’s edition of The Nerve: Music & The Human Experience might start out sounding a tad like a Cole Porter song, but it’s all in the parentheses: Enchanted, Entranced (Music & Spirituality).

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If you’re interested in how art and technology intersect, one very fun column to keep tabs on is Boing Boing’s Gadgets. It’s not so much connected to composition and technology as it is to visual (and sometimes audio) explorations that use actual objects in various and quite often provoking or delightful ways. But some of their posts do connect directly with contemporary composition, such as Tettix’s Rites, Free Electronic Album “Remodelling” Stravinsky.

–> September 03, 2008 Ten Q’s For Rich Terfry Posted by Li Robbins on Sep- 3-08 at 11:00 AM 

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Continue reading “Great Lake Swimmers are Live Times Five… on Drive!” »

And of course WWI and WWII are foremost in many minds — this day is really focused on the men and women involved in those wars. But there are also current conflicts that people think about on this day, and in view of that you may be interested in this song simply called Afghanistan, written by J.P. Cormier after performing for the troops in Kandahar.

But that’s just one critical response — you can make your own this afternoon. And if you don’t know the story, particularly given it is not a frequently produced opera, here you go:

Continue reading “Pacifika on Canada Live: Changing the meaning of “World Music”" »

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But its finale was what really brought the house down, (as much as a house out in front of the TV screens can be brought down), his own composition as performed above, a five minute fugue (which actually is a bit of a history of the fugue itself).

–> December 29, 2008 Stuart McLean’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-29-08 at 02:55 PM 

September 29 marked the launch of the Ron Sexsmith Contest — the prize, Ron Sexsmith comes to your living room to play a private concert. And Ron was kind enough to virtually drop by the Radio 2 Blog and answer a few questions as the contest launched. [NOTE: Contest is now closed.] Modest, to the point, and only requiring coffee — here’s Ron:

–> October 16, 2008 RPM: Indispensable Canadian Albums Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-16-08 at 03:10 PM 

Shari Ulrich, Tom Taylor and Barney Bentall had all been kicking around the Bluebird North song circles for a while. They all had their own ideas and their own sounds and their own decades of experience in the music community.

Continue reading “The Listening Habits Of World Leaders” »

Here’s another, a performance he did at St. Bart’s Church in Gibsons B.C., based on the music he created while walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, which led to his Camino recording, and to this piece, The Field Of Stars .

A happy surprise because televised music awards tend not to feature performance from non-mainstream bands like Eccodek, who describe what they do as “the sound of cultures mingling, borders dissolving.”

And its entirety is pretty entire — Der Ring Des Nibelungen is four operas: Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Gjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!tterdjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!mmerung (Twilight of the Gods).

It’s staggering in every way: length, the gods and mortals, giants and dwarves, valkyries and other mythological creatures that make up the characters, and its story that covers the gamut: love, power, incest, murder and the end of the world.

“What a visionary. I liked Hele’s approach of walking with the listener as you discovered him with us, letting us in his circle and theory. Thank you for introducing me to this remarkable mastermind.”

They’re spending a month out there, writing music, contemplating the mountains, presumably exchanging ideas, who knows maybe even sharing a beer or two. (Since despite the intense demands at least one of them is on record saying they’re hoping not to “live like hermits.”)

This weekend, Inside The Music Saturday Edition (12p.m., 1 AT, 1:30 NT), presents a documentary about Seeger hosted by Canadian author, doctor and undersea explorer Joe MacInnis, and produced by Ideas host Paul Kennedy: “90th Birthday Celebration Of The Life And Times Of Pete Seeger.”

From June 15 to 21, tune into Tonic from 6–8 p.m. and listen for the daily “jazz question.” All you’ll have to do is send in the correct answer (answers are found on the Montreal Jazz Festival site) to Tonic Contest for your chance to win airfare, accommodations, plus tickets to the John Pizzarelli and George Wein concerts. AND you get to meet weekday Tonic host, Katie Malloch. (She’s so nice. You want to meet her.)

–> November 09, 2008 “Big, Plummy, Manly Voices” Posted by Li Robbins on Nov- 9-08 at 11:00 AM 

Brahms enthusiasts take note — starting today, CBC Radio 2 celebrates the music of Johannes Brahms with a series of special broadcasts featuring one of Canada’s finest orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Even if you are the sort of cook whose idea of pasta sauce means opening a jar and pouring it into a saucepan, chances are you have music playing while waiting for it to warm up. For some reason cooking and music go together like, well, cooking and music.

Photo of Yannick-Muriel Noah by G. Gamper

–> April 23, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Leonard Cohen Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-23-09 at 01:24 PM 

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You need the Self-Playing Accordion.

If you’ve never listened to virtuosic accordion in new music this concert is a great introduction. In other words, get over the accordion jokes, already! Yes, sadly it’s true that the accordion = ha ha perception lingers on. But the music of Petric and others continues to work against this stereotype.

Please continue reading for cast & character details, as well as the plot synopsis.

But she’s not the only lady that gets Birthday Shout-dallas stars jerseys,women’s classic tall ugg boots !s from Mr. Terfry today: Hats off, too, to songstress Melissa McClelland– who not only celebrates the big 3-0 today (woohoo!) but also helps us kick off a week-long series highlighting some of the very best of our live sessions at Drive!

Arnaldo Cohen is from Brazil (his parents were Persian and Russian immigrants). Maybe part of the reason you may not have heard of him is because to date he’s also taught physics, maths, played professional violin and cocktail piano. And oh yeah, he was also the first-prize winner of the 1972 Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy. Now he lives in the States, but today’s recital comes to you from Canada — Salle Louis-Frechette in Quebec City, where he was a guest of Le Club Musical De Québec.

And this brings me to a note about how you can keep track of such things — CBC R2 now has an online Concert Calendar, which makes it possible to see both what R2 is recording, and broadcasting, concert-wise.

Note — if you are a Neko Case fan and a fan of the cardigan (as many of us are), you must also see Ten Great Cardigans That Neko Case Might Also Love. (That “Theory” cardi is pretty sweet.)

So you’re sitting around with Buffy Sainte-Marie, Doc Walker, Jacob Hoggard of Hedley, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, Ndidi Onukwulu and Sarah Slean, listening to Hawksley Workman getting all of them to share songs and stories. Oh, and Rich Terfry is there too, just hanging out.

But only one, I believe, operates in the vocal ensemble sub-genre of “shouting.” This is not when the conductor snaps at the sopranos for talking while he/she is working with the tenors. This is legitimate, musical shouting. You may sniff and think, ‘huh, novelty.’ Perhaps it is. But it is still surprisingly riveting novelty, and certainly not without real musical consideration, as well as being demonstrative of a warped sense of humour.

2. Three words that describe how you feel when you get up at 4 am to go to workjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

“As a solo artist, Broken Social Scene’s Jason Collett can be dauntingly hard to categorize. On his fourth solo release, Here’s to Being Here, there are touches of Fleetwood Mac–influenced pop rock, Rolling Stones–style grit, Dylan-esque balladeering, and Bob Marley–brand reggae. Obviously, he’s not beholden to any one particular musical genre—but he is the child of one particular decade.”

This weekend Inside The Music is preempted on Saturday for an extended version of SATO (for good reason — the most popular opera of Wagner’s Ring Cycle — Die Walküre). But on Sunday’s Inside The Music show you can hear a special that sounds really interesting: “Three Years Of Provisions And Two French Horns - Music Of The Moravian Inuit”

And that brings me to this important note for fans of the show who have been looking for more info on a weekly basis — Gregory now has an In The Key Of Charles Blog. And over on that blog he’s got one of the odder dance videos I’ve ever seen, at a post called We Can Dance If We Want To.

Continue reading “Coming Soon To A Computer Near You” »

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“Watershed is like a culmination of everything I’ve done …It really feels like the way I hear music.”

Depending on your schedule, you may or may not be aware of what happens on CBC Radio 2 in the wee sma’s. For myself, in a former life when I was directing morning radio shows, I was well and truly if sleepily familiar with whatever was on the radio at the 4:00 a.m. rise. These days less so.

One tribute, hosted by Jerry Gray of The Travellers fame, is broadcast tonight on Canada Live. Way back when Seeger suggested The Travellers do a Canadian version of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land. They did — and it was a hit. (And why we sing from Bonavista to Vancouver Island instead of from California to the New York Island.)

Well, it feels like a spiritual album without all the guilt and rhetoric that tends to come with most religions. “Shadow Gospel” is not my term actually. Someone on the internet had described one of my older discs as shadow gospel and it seemed to fit in general with this record too.

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And as with any of Radio 2’s shows to see the details of the playlist please click on over to the logically named Playlists, also accessible via the menu located on the left hand side of the R2 website.

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With each response, he seems to live up to his reputation of being the friendliest, nicest, most well-adjusted and gee golly nice musician you’ve ever seen. He had a lot of material. He saw some patterns with threes. But still, whyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!jerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!jerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

The series airs Sundays on Inside The Music (12pm, 12:30 NT), and will be available to stream online after the broadcasts go to air. Today’s episode begins with some of the history of the symphony, with a focus on one of the many Haydn symphonies (No. 44 In E minor, The Trauer).

Continue reading “Alanis Morissette Concert Tonight” »

Continue reading “Justin Rutledge On Drive Today” »

–> April 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…Gordon Lightfoot Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-21-09 at 01:24 PM 

Continue reading “Changing Perceptions, One Accordion At A Time” »

Continue reading “In Search Of Claude Vivier” »

Continue reading “Trip For Two, Montreal For You” »

Continue reading “Wired For Sound: Music And The Human Experience” »

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Handel and Mendelssohn are both being fêted in joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots (the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death and the 200th of Mendelssohn’s birth). We present one of Handel’s most celebrated scores, the pastoral opera Acis and Galatea, but in a 19th century arrangement produced by Mendelssohn. Conductor Nicholas McGegan leads the world premiere recording from the Gjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!ttingen International Handel Festival, with tenor Christoph Prégardien as the tender shepherd, Acis, and Julia Kleiter as the water nymph, Galatea, who falls in love with him. Their happiness is thwarted by the jealousy of Polyphemus, the giant cyclops (sung by bass Wolf Matthias Friedrich) who is determined to have Galtea as his own.

Mendelssohn was 19 when he made the adaptation of Handel’s score at the request of his composition teacher. Years earlier, an 11-year-old Felix created a dramatic Singspiel as a birthday gift for his father. Die Soldatenleibschhaft (The Soldier’s Sweetheart) was subsequently staged in the 120-seat theatre of the family home, complete with orchestra, soloists and chorus. The “singing play” was a treasured score for the family, but it lay unpublished until his Bi-centennial celebrations.

Both works receive contemporary premieres in these recent productions from Germany.

–> December 26, 2008 It’s Hip To Be/Play A Square! Posted by Philly Markowitz on Dec-26-08 at 01:55 PM 

That’s because it requires at least five or six really good tenors, and as anyone who sings in choirs knows, they tend to be as scarce as hen’s teeth. Whyjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Where have all the tenors gonejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! This documentary explores that very question.

Continue reading “Fleming, Hampson And Schade Star In Thajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!s” »

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Today on SATO — Debussy’s only opera Pelléas et Mélisande. It’s based the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, and this is the crux of the subject matter:

Continue reading “Sisters In Jazz” »

For now though, something from a little ways back, guesstimate is the late 1980s. One of things Jordan is famous for is acknowledging the performers who went before her, notably Charlie Parker, and Billie Holiday. And this ballad is in fact a Billie Holiday tribute:

The number to call for Tempo (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) does not require mugging for the camera though, merely an announcement here and by Julie on the show — the brand new Tempo hotline is 1-877-222-8166.

Saturday on In Tune host Katherine Duncan will introduce you to the singer in the video, Singer of the World winner Ekaterina Shcherbachenko (which is easier to say than it looks). Some are already calling her “the next Renee Fleming.”

Tuneinto InTune for this and other stories Katherine is following this weekend:

TOP TWELVE GUITARISTS AS PICKED BY DRIVE LISTENERS:

Continue reading “Tonic Contest Winners, Coming Up ” »

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Tonight’s Canada Live really is a special treat. Of course, the show always brings you the best of live music from across Canada every night of the week. But today, we’re going to do take all that good work we usually do over seven days, and compress it into one super-concentrated and super-unmissable concert event.

Of course there are a lot of songs out there cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots food, as a quick scan through All Mixed Up — Songs cheap hockey jerseys ,ugg coquette boots,ugg upside tall boots Food will show you. Some minor revelations there too — did not know that Jimmy Buffett sang a song called I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever. What a thought. (Strangers In Your Soup is another compelling title.)

Once you have your blues name, you may wish to embrace a full-on blues lifestyle, which you can do at the Blues Lifestyle Guide. They’ll sort you out about appropriate blues transportation etc.

–> March 16, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Evolution Evolving Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-16-09 at 06:00 PM 

For more about Steve Martin’s world o’banjo, here’s a recent feature interview he did with the New York Times: Jokes And Films Are Fun But He Loves His Banjo.

When I listen to The Signal on the weekends, I’m struck with the thought that Pat Carrabré is - like me - someone with omnivorous and curious taste in music, someone willing to follow music wherever it leads. His acute observations about the music he plays on the show often make want to say “yes!” or “spot on!” back to my radio.

Coffee. That’s about it.

And although that word “magical” gets overused (guilty as charged) — there really is something magical about some of their music. Here’s a very brief snippet — from a video that won the Best Experimental Short at last year’s SXSW festival. (Be patient, the bombastic SXSW intro thing lasts but a few seconds.)

“If you’re anywhere East of the Perimeter in Winnipeg’s West End,” says Tom, “Your fullback is Cookie Rankin and Leonard Cohen is your tight end. If you’re anywhere West of Headingley, MB, when you roll out to pass, Sarah Mclachlan is mowing down defenders for you, and when you unleash the Hail Mary, it’s to Doc Walker, or to Spirit of the West. “

Continue reading “Verdi’s Attila” »

–> September 27, 2008 Operalia Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-27-08 at 11:00 AM 

–> January 26, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Daniel Lanois Concert Tonight! Posted by Li Robbins on Jan-26-09 at 03:33 PM 

Best Moment of 2008 (that’s right) - Odetta at the 2008 Ottawa Folk Festival. She took oxygen before she went onstage, and when she came offstage. Her performance was easily the most moving musical experience of my live and will stick with my flashbulb memory.

–> October 21, 2008 “He Brought The Blues To A Spiritual Level” Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-21-08 at 03:30 PM 

–> November 27, 2008 Alanis Morissette Concert Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-27-08 at 03:30 PM 

–> June 04, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Non-Invasive Piano Posted by Li Robbins on Jun- 4-09 at 06:59 PM 

–> A Double Celebration, An Operatic Double Bill Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-16-09 at 11:42 AM 

Radio 2 Drive Presents “Jian Ghomeshi In Conversation With…” Today the ellipsis is the brilliant guitarist and songwriter, Bruce Cockburn.

–> May 22, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Whole World In Newfoundland Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-22-09 at 05:33 PM 

Continue reading “East Or West — Where Is Music Bestjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!” »

–> December 04, 2008 Radio 2 Celebrates Olivier Messiaen Posted by Li Robbins on Dec- 4-08 at 10:42 AM 

–> January 09, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Afropop Worldwide: Declaration Of Human Rights Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 9-09 at 03:00 PM 

Join us this afternoon for the fourth of an eleven-part series exploring some of the greatest symphonies ever written with Toronto Symphony Orchestra music director Peter Oundjian and series host Eric Friesen. Today: Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique.

Continue reading “Celebrating Duke Ellington — Tonight” »

–> November 12, 2008 Calling All Concert (On Demand) Fans Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-12-08 at 11:00 AM 

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Having chatted with the producer about the programmes I can tell you it promises to be fabulous listening. And great news — Peter And The Symphony will also be available as podcasts after the shows go to air.

If “Adriana Lecouvreur” is not ringing any bells you are probably not alone. The opera was written by Francesco Cilea in 1902, and as Anthony Tommasini says in a review of this production, “not many opera buffs would argue that [it's] a great work.” But that doesn’t mean some opera buffs don’t want to hear it, or budding buffs too.

–> October 19, 2008 Bas(s)es Loaded Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-19-08 at 11:03 AM 

You could call her the “it girl” of 1744. Or not. Either way, the character of Semele makes for good drama. Today you can hear the mythological tale in the form of baroque opera by Handel, when Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1pm, 1:30 NT) broadcasts Semele in a Pacific Opera Victoria production.

* in no particular order*

–> March 14, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots The Little Rusalka Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-14-09 at 10:30 AM 

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You might think this was an opera based in the 21st century, but no, it’s the 15th — Verdi’s I Due Foscari. It’s based on a real life, 15th-century doge (essentially the chief magistrate) of Venice, Francesco Foscari, and his ill-fated son, Jacopo. (Thus the title, the “two Foscaris.”)

–> February 26, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Powerhouse R&B Double Bill Posted by Li Robbins on Feb-26-09 at 11:15 AM 

One day last week Rich Terfry, host of Drive, happened to muse out loud (how else would he muse on air, come to think of it) about what a top 10 greatest Canadian guitarists list would look like.

Placido Domingo encores the role of his Met debut as Maurizio in the four-act opera Adriana Lecouvreur — today from the Met on Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) — with a mere 41 years between the current and the original production. Adriana is performed by soprano Maria Guleghina, and mezzo soprano Olga Borodina is in the role of the scheming Princess.

It’s not a happy story. But when The Signal’s producer sent a note about the piece referring to it as “prison music,” it led to thinking about some positive and current stories about music not inspired by prison experiences, but in prisons. Partly triggered by a memory of a project Billy Bragg is involved in called Jail Guitar Doors. (They provide instruments for inmates serving time “in Her Majesty’s prisons.” The name is from the b-side of the Clash’s 1978 single Clash City Rockers.)

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And thus launches the first of four podcasts featuring NAC Music Director and world famous violinist Pinchas Zukerman and CBC Radio 2 host Bill Richardson, talking and playing their way through Brahms symphonies. (Well, Bill hums once or twice.) It’s a musician’s eye look at Brahms, thoroughly engaging. To hear the podcasts, just go to CBC Radio 2’s Brahms page.

Continue reading “The Elixir Of Love” »

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As all you dedicated listeners know, every Monday at CBC Radio 2 is a “music Monday.”

Stage directions are sometimes prosaic, sometimes not. Take Wagner’s directions for the final moments of Parsifal: “A ray of light: the Grail is fully radiant. A dove floats down from the dome above.”

Continue reading “Every Banjo Has Its Day” »

Chan thinks the music on this recording is a kind of “aural anaheim ducks jerseys,ugg upside tall boots” of the techniques she uses to coax unexpected sounds from the piano. Here’s how she sees (or hears) it:

You know how sometimes when someone’s talking you hear it as melody, or as a rhythmic phrasejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Charles Spearin took that idea and ran a long way with it — creating a highly imaginative musical interpretation of the melodic qualities in speech. He’s not the first musician to fool around with the concept, but his project is one of the most musically accessible. Another part of what makes it so satisfying to listen to is the specific topic — happiness.

“She’s an undeniably saucy Canadian singer,” says one blogger, and that’s a nice succinct summation (a saucy one even) of Lily Frost.

–> October 10, 2008 Gonna Take, A Sentimental Journey… Posted by Li Robbins on Oct-10-08 at 04:00 PM 

–> SATO: Bizet’s Pearlfishers Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-23-09 at 10:33 AM 

Here’s how you can weigh in with your Haydn thoughts — right here via commenting; or here, or toll-free at 1-877-222-8166, or by email.

–> October 05, 2008 In The Key Of Charles “YouthTube” Challenge Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 5-08 at 10:00 AM 

Continue reading “Haydn Symphonies, One At A Time” »

“The string quartet has occupied a strange place in the American musical landscape. While it was the medium of choice for the deepest and most profound thoughts of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Shostakovich, it has served more as a one-off venture for many American composers.”

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You may recall the spate of excitable speculation over the Obama family canine question. (Portuguese waterhound or a labradoodlejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!) This led to a stirring composition called “First Dog,” with its deathless opening lines — “Now I’m in the shelter, sleeping on cement. One day I’m gonna wake up in the house of the President.” Again, in the c’est vrai department — just continue reading for audio proof:

And the entire long and short of it is that Linden is on Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.) tomorrow, Friday Oct. 17th in the second hour of the programme. He’ll also be joined by another great Canadian bluesman, Paul Reddick — his latest CD is just out, and Linden’s new recording is coming in November.

The saying “everyone’s a critic” was never more true than in these webby/wiki/bloggy times. Anyone and everyone can weigh/debate/judge — in the biggest public forum imaginable. So it’s not a surprise that Radio 2’s own Concerts On Demand (CoD) are providing a place for people who like to not only listen to concerts online, but also comment on what they’re hearing.

I heard this story about the dear departed “Arlo” on Friday — and it seems appropriate to start this post with it since today on Farrago (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) Jurgen celebrates the dog (finally — he did a cat show in October, for goodness sake),New York Rangers jerseys, with a programme he’s calling “Doggerel.”

Today and tomorrow it’s Newfoundland’s Tom Power, host of Deep Roots. Tom has excellent taste in music, is a fab story teller (and has a lovely accent to boot). He’s also a musician — as you may have gleaned from the photo.

“I remember a cool, crisp and brilliant morning, the shimmering sunlight playing through the red and golden leaves of a Canadian autumn. My father walked me to my first accordion lesson. We brought home a little Suzuki-sized accordion, an instruction book and my first assignment.

Continue reading “Pat Carrabré’s 5 Great Things From a Crazy Year” »

–> Listen To Cohen Concert Online Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-26-09 at 03:01 AM 

Continue reading “From Moldova to Montreal… and back again” »

“When I started working on the arrangement for 4 keyboard instruments, I naturally needed to take a much closer, analytical look at this music. During the process of deciphering the various, simultaneous layers which make up the fabric of Tubular Bells, I realized how much of the opening pattern can be found throughout the whole first part –it often reappears quasi ‘in disguise, altered in terms of register, meter or tonality. It serves as a kind of connecting element, which links the various ideas together and creates a bigger overall context and structure.”

Continue reading “Il Trovatore” »

Continue reading “A Celebration Of Gordon Lightfoot ” »

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Of course there is more to secrets and music than misunderstanding lyrics or songs about secret love, there’s also the business of trying to unlock the secrets of music itself. (Which leads to such things as “band in a box” a.k.a. the Casio.)

And Zubin Mehta, one of the world’s most in-demand conductors, will lead Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and will conduct Brahm’s Violin Concerto with Pinchas Zukerman as soloist.

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The other day, after a conversation about Beethoven going deaf, talk turned to Joni Mitchell. This because she wrote an amazing song about just that (lyrics at the end of this post). It got me thinking yet again about what an extraordinary poet and musician she is.

Shad At The Mod Club — of whom one of you said “If hip-hop is dead Shad is giving it CPR.”

–> September 26, 2008 Enchanted, Entranced (But Not Bewildered) Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-26-08 at 03:35 PM 

(Feel free to argue among yourselves.)

And Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) is focusing on “big, rich, male voices,” in a show Jurgen calls Vox Grandioso.

–> November 18, 2008 Serena Ryder On Wednesday’s “Drive” Posted by Li Robbins on Nov-18-08 at 11:00 AM 

Here’s some first hand proof as to his “serious” banjo cred: Martin with Bela Fleck and Tony Trischka, playing the title track from The Crow (also recorded by Tony Trischka).

–> December 24, 2008 Christmas Eve On Radio 2 Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-24-08 at 03:11 PM 

Although it is so beloved, twas not always thus. Its premiere at La Scala in 1904 wasn’t quite a Rite Of Spring moment, but there was enough hostility (in the form of disruptive cat calls) that Puccini withdrew the score for a few months. People got over it though. (For the full story of the creation of the opera, please visit Madama Butterfly Opera Background at the Met.)

It included the premiere his C Minor (No.5) and Pastoral (No.6) symphonies as well as his Fantasia for Piano with orchestra and chorus. There are many, many stories associated with the concert. For example, there is the account given by Beethoven’s friend, musician and composer Ferdinand Ries (referring to the performance of the Fantasia):

It’s been 60 years since the United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are no fool proof methods of managing the way we treat each other, sadly, but the UN declaration is considered to be the first truly global initiative setting a minimum standard, post World War ll. Whether or not that is observed is a whole other can of political and social worms, issues that are not the focus of The Radio 2 Blog.

Among the quirk is The Bobs version of Lennon and McCartney’s Helter Skelter, The Bonzo Dog Band, The Goons and Elvis…..sung in Latin. (Yes, Latin, and I’m betting that the singer is from Finland.)

You can still hear old Moravian hymns (sung in English and Innuktitut) on the Labrador coast. But until the Memorial University Brass Ensemble (pictured here) revived some of the band music recently, it was all but lost.

As one blogger said, writing about the annual Women’s Blues Revue “Each year that I manage to attend this, I think ‘this is the best concert ever!’ It really does just keep getting better.” This year’s concert can be heard this evening on Canada Live (8 p.m.) — the 22nd edition of the event.

They released Fortune’s Favour back in June, and have been doing tons of touring since then, from pubs to massive concert venues — Doyle estimates on one stint they played for more than 50, 000 people in just three days. (And had their names in lights in Times Square!)

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It being the double decade celebration of both Cowboy Junkies and Skydiggers, tonight’s Canada Live double bill makes perfect sense.

Continue reading “The Little Rusalka” »

Julie Nesrallah’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year

But when Popa arrived in Montreal in 2002, things looked especially bleak: the twenty-two-year-old had only sixty dollars, a leaky bottle of cognac, and a priceless accordion to his name…

Bill Richardson is the host of Saturday Afternoon At The Opera (Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT) and Sunday Afternoon In Concert (Sunday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT)

And Friday some of the artists and ensembles you’ll hear include the Orchestre Symphonique De Quebec conducted by Yoav Talmi, the Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal conducted by Kent Nagano, singers Shannon Mercer (pictured here as Nannetta in Verdi’s Falstaff), Karina Gauvin and pianist David Jalbert.

–> April 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Wordsmith Of The Day: Ian Tyson Posted by Li Robbins on Apr- 2-09 at 05:00 PM 

What’s interesting about message boards is not the recounting of set lists (possibly the most sleep inducing thing since the invention of sheep). It’s the way fans sometimes write about music — at its best it makes for reading that is as or more interesting than any journalist’s review. For instance:

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This is what Katie Malloch says about the Montreal Jazz Festival:

–> The Church Of Dans Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-28-09 at 10:30 AM 

Foster, Cockburn, Lightfoot, Cohen, Krall — all week long you can hear Q host Jian Ghomeshi’s interviews featuring that list of musicians, in the third hour of Radio 2 Drive (3 p.m.-6 p.m.)

Continue reading “Music Documentaries, Comin’ Up ” »

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Continue reading “Women With The Blues” »

Continue reading “Tempo Hotline” »

The day is upon us, — the European Broadcast Union’s beloved tradition, Euroradio Christmas Day, also known as Joy To The World. This year’s edition of the special broadcast is presented by Radio 2’s Peter Togni.

Continue reading “It’s Hip To Be/Play A Square!” »

And, though he’s been so powerful and prolific behind the scenes, it’s been the acts he works with that so often get the glory. You know, little bands like U2.

Whatever constellation of qualities are required to make a classical musician big on the international circuit — these three guys seem to have it: Swedish clarinetist Martin Frost, Canadian conductor Julian Kuerti, and Canadian pianist David Jalbert.

Cape Breton music may no longer have the high-beams of the world on it as intensely as it once did, but the music is quietly flourishing — as representation in the upcoming ECMA nominations indicates. (And as reported in the Cape Breton Post.) Of course saying “Cape Breton music” is totally general, but it’s true that a lot of people still jump to the conclusion that means traditional/Celtic. With some justification — that music still continues to inspire new generations.

The connection between dogs and music is always making news of course, although not all dogs respond as did Arlo. “Mario,” the Chihuahua who won Best-of-Breed at the recent Westminster dog show, remained silent during the broadcast of The Star Spangled Banner. But get this — “he looked up at the flag during the entire song,” his owner claims. “No other dog did that.” (Don’t believe mejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Source.)

The challenge is to not switch on the TV which is what I normally do when I’m on a sofa.

The opera itself has “long been considered Puccini’s problem child, his sole venture into crossover, an attempt to write an Italian operatic equivalent of a lightly comic, bittersweet Viennese operetta,” as Anthony Tommasini puts it in the review of this production. (Puccini and Operettajerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! He Does It His Way.) He goes on to give mixed reviews of its stars, but still gives the nod to the production, which “makes a strong case for La Rondine as sophisticated, charming and poignant.”

Of course, there is a lot that happens before that (poetic) moment as you will hear if you tune in today to Saturday Afternoon At The Opera ( Saturday 1:00 p.m., 1:30 NT). The production, with Christopher Ventris as Parsifal, comes from this year’s Bayreuth Festival. Many reviews of the production, of course, including this five star review from The Guardian, which begins:

In Jurgen Gothe’s case, it’s the harp that’s stolen his heart, and today on Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) you can hear all manner of harp music, from artists like Lori Pappajohn, Alan Stivel, Edmonton’s Terry McDade, and Gayle Tapper from St. John’s, among others.

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And here are some more right hands, two right hands literally speaking, since this video features two superb banjo players — Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, with one of Washburn’s idiosyncratic and rather haunting songs, A Fuller Wine.

For details on each concert, please continue reading:

They’ve also been blogging over on the Evolution website.

A review in The Vancouver Sun of the production called it “one of the high points of Festival Vancouver,” and went on to describe it thusly:

It’s the passing of the blog baton today — thanks to Brianna Goldberg for doing a great job the past three weeks. (Insert applause here!)

That’s one reason he was so excited to work with Eric Friesen on Peter And The Symphony — it’s a perfect opportunity for him to talk about his great musical love: the symphony. Today Inside The Music broadcasts part five of eleven episodes in this series, focusing on Symphony No. 4 by Anton Bruckner, nicknamed The Romantic.

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And to all who celebrate any of the end-of-December holidays, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus for the Restofus, International-Eat-Lots-Of-Cookie-Dough-Day, have a lovely time. For those who do not, ignore the whole thing. And for those who are working and wishing you were holidaying, this too shall pass.

–> April 28, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Charlie Haden’s Quartet West In Concert Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-28-09 at 04:30 PM 

Phew! With all the special programming we had here at CBC Radio 2 to help you celebrate Music Monday, it’s been quite the day. One full of music-teacher-appreciating, music’s-importance-acknowledging, all-around-music-loving goodness.

Continue reading “Calling All Concert (On Demand) Fans ” »

In part it reflected some dramatic changes in his personal life, moving from rural Ontario to Toronto, and changes in his musical thinking — it was a full-on electric album with a band, not Cockburn with guitar. Musically it was a hybrid of rock, jazz, electronica and reggae, and today’s show makes a case for the album signaling a seismic shift in Cockburn’s life and art. (It also was an indication of the political direction he’d move in throughout the eighties.)

–> June 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots What Music Is Like Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-10-09 at 12:00 PM 

The Juno Awards website has a very nice feature this year where they’ve put up sound clips of each of the nominated artists, so if you click on any of the following links you can hear excerpts of performance from each of the nominated classical artists:

Continue reading “It’s a First! Tonight on Canada Live” »

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Tonight’s show is in honour of the tenth anniversary of Montreal’s Mutek Festival of Digital Creativity and Electronic Music. The Signal will also be at this year’s festival — mark June 9th on your calendars, since highlights will be broadcast that evening. (The festival itself runs from May 27th to May 31st.)

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This doesn’t mean wine songs rule the roost everywhere though, some prefer Irish Drinking Songs For Cat Lovers, or Beer Drinking Songs For Hell Raisers (Are there any other kindsjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!)

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The Soul Of The Fiddle is the name of a special one hour documentary by Canadian documentarist Cindy Bisaillon (who has done work for CBC Radio’s Ideas, btw).

At the end of last week I noted the passing of Canadian jazz guitarist Nelson Symonds. If you didn’t know his playing, you can hear some of it this evening on Tonic (6 p.m.) when Katie features some of his music, as well as no doubt sharing her own memories of Symonds, who was based in Montreal. (As is Tonic, and Katie.)

You can read more about the set up for the event here on The Radio 2 Blog, and fellow blogger Kevin Chong over at cbccheap mlb jerseys,patrick kane team usa jersey,ugg boots news has some “reax” at the joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Juno Awards Blog. Here’s an excerpt, which will give you an idea of what you can hear, once you download the podcast:

They always say you shouldn’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry; possibly the same should apply to listening to today’s edition of Farrago With Jurgen Gothe (Sunday 5:00 p.m. 5:30 NT) since the theme is good things to eat — Jurgen calls the show Foodie Tunes. (Like Looney, but different.)

–> January 02, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Journey Into The Soul Of The Fiddle Posted by Li Robbins on Jan- 2-09 at 03:19 PM 

–> June 18, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Pointing To Winners Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-18-09 at 03:50 PM 

And while we’re on the subject, just to keep you accordion fans entertained, here’s a video from my favourite Basque diatonic accordion player, Kepa Junkera , having some fun with sticks and horns. And do they swing!

Musicians love covering Monk, for better or for worse, as is pointed out in the pithily named Monk Tribute Albums That Aren’t Terrible:

Continue reading “Tom Allen’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

Meanwhile, here are the special programmes you can hear tonight as part of CBC Radio 2’s Christmas Eve broadcast:

–> Juno Songwriters Circle, By Podcast Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-31-09 at 10:30 AM 

Whatever the case likely you are no match for Jurgen Gothe. He has an extraordinary mental storehouse of musical “quirk.” So today he unleashes Quirky Songs Part lll, but we are assured it will not be like the third Godfather movie. No, this edition of Farrago (Sunday 5pm/5:30 NT) is quality stuff, jam packed with interesting musical oddities.

Great, ehjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! (Or as one commenter over on YouTube said: “man u gotta love them classics!” Man u do.) And now for the full details about tonight’s Ellington Extravaganza on Canada Live (8 p.m.):

In case you’re wondering about the content of the new recording — it’s a double live album featuring songs from across the years, but all acoustic. (Plus some snippets of sound check takes and things like that.) One final Cockburn news note:

And one more broadcast note — on the subject of matters bohemian, following the opera host Bill Richardson takes a look at “the bohemian life.” (Plus he plays some music from sound restoration guru Ward Marston.)

While not typically a betting woman, I will go out on a limb over the next while and lay a few musical bets on the line re: Obama’s Playlist. Rest assured there is no insider trading going on — I am basing these bets on the input about the playlist from Radio 2 listeners/blog readers.

–> February 03, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Happy 200th, Felix Posted by Li Robbins on Feb- 3-09 at 10:07 AM 

–> The It Girl Of 1744jerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on May- 2-09 at 10:29 AM 

If you count yourself as a fan of music documentaries you’ll want to know that this weekend there are two very good documentaries broadcast on Inside The Music.

–> March 26, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Classical Juno Fever Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-26-09 at 03:02 PM 

–> April 14, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Harry Manx & Kevin Breit, Alex Cuba Concerts Tonight Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-14-09 at 06:00 PM 

That lovely song Dreamer, by the way, is from her previous recording, Orchestra For The Moon — today she talks about the new recording, Echoes. In fact, here’s a clip from her interview with Rich, re: why “Echoes.”

And while Gjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!tterdjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!mmerung is a mammoth undertaking with its prologue and three acts, as my Saturday Afternoon At The Opera colleague puts it: “The pace is fast and furious as the rope of destiny is paid out and a poisonous potion of love, jealousy and betrayal brings the drama to its cataclysmic end.”

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5. The thrill on the hill - pre-prorogue - the thought that things could change radically and instantly in Ottawa - a place not traditionally hailed for innovation and movement was exhilarating.

–> September 21, 2008 In The Key Of Dance Posted by Li Robbins on Sep-21-08 at 09:00 AM 

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The idea of almost any singer releasing three CD’s worth of new music at once might strike you as, well, a bit much. (Or maybe “crazy” was the word that came to mind.) But sometimes it works. Joel Plaskett, best known as frontman of Joel Plaskett & The Emergency, is a recent example that it can.

Now, I wish I could post a video of Ehnes playing Korngold, but there doesn’t seem to be one available, and besides, I might be stealing Julie’s thunder. However, you can do a little contrast and compare if you like, with this interpretation of the first movement, performed by Hilary Hahn.

Continue reading “”The Best Music I’ve Heard In Months”" »

9. Musician you would you most like to meet, dead or alivejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

–> March 21, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Controversial Sleepwalker Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-21-09 at 10:50 AM 

But of course, warm-n-cuddly host Pat Carrabré will keep you feeling just the right mix of safe and intrigued.

–> April 12, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Cheers! Posted by Li Robbins on Apr-12-09 at 11:30 AM 

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–> May 27, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Changing Perceptions, One Accordion At A Time Posted by Li Robbins on May-27-09 at 07:00 PM 

Today on SATO, a production of the opera from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam featuring Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov as Attila, King of the Huns, and Hasmik Papian as the fearless female prisoner, Odabella. (That’s her in the photo, clearly not as the fearless female prisoner, but a great shot of her in La Traviata. ) Today’s performance is with the Netherlands Radio Chorus and Orchestra directed by Jaap van Zweden.

For more details, see Peter And The Symphony.

Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Jeff Healey
Luke Doucet
Robbie Robertson
Lenny Breau
Rik Emmett (Triumph)
Steve Dawson
Martin Tielli (Rheostatics)
Colin James
Colin Linden
Neil Young
Bruce Cockburn

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Ten Questions for Julie:

The Soul Of The Fiddle is a special one hour documentary by Canadian documentarist Cindy Bisaillon (who has previously done work for CBC Radio’s Ideas), running this Sunday on Inside The Music (Sunday Edition 12:00 p.m., 12:30 NT). If it sounds vaguely familiar that’s because it is — it was aired once before on Radio 2 to a very positive response, for example one listener said the following: “Fantastic program. Some of the music played during this program (like the last piece) was absolutely stunning. I also appreciated the discourse around musical genres interbreeding to produce such beauty.”

So go ahead, press play, pen (or computer keyboard) in hand:

–> December 22, 2008 Laurie Brown’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-22-08 at 04:00 PM 

–> October 07, 2008 From Stompin’ Tom’s House — To Drive Posted by Li Robbins on Oct- 7-08 at 11:00 AM 

If you’ve ever been to a Toronto Symphony Orchestra performance you know that Peter Oundjian, their music director, likes to chat with the audience about the music. It’s refreshing, informative, and makes you feel like you’re part of the experience.

If you just concluded the subject heading by singing, “and your mouth is working overtime” you must be a Mose Allison (or maybe a Van Morrison or Elvis Costello) fan. Or at least a fan of that song (a personal favourite) which also has the gem of a line “if talk was criminal, you’d lead a life of crime.” (Boy, don’t we all know people we could could apply that to. But then, maybe they look at us and think, “If grumpy silence was criminal…”)

What happens at Stompin’ Tom Connors’ housejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! I imagine music, and maybe talk of potatoes and hockey, but I could just be turning to stereotypes. Anyway, CBC Radio 2 producer Kelly Cutrara has some inkling since she recently spent an afternoon at Stompin’ Tom’s place listening to songs from his new album, The Ballad Of Stompin’ Tom. (It comes out on October 28th and is apparently somewhat autobiographical. Well I should hope so, with a name like that.)

Oh, Montreal! How you’ve impressed the world with your cutting-edge sounds, of late!

There is much Messiaen on the airwaves this weekend, and in fact every night this week as well, on The Signal (10 p.m.) But I wanted to make special note of a new documentary airing Sunday about Messiaen, by one of CBC’s veteran broadcasters, Robert Harris.

–> June 17, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots What Is Happinessjerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots! Posted by Li Robbins on Jun-17-09 at 03:57 PM 

–> May 15, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots A 27-Hour Concert. Yep. You read it right. Posted by Brianna Goldberg on May-15-09 at 03:00 PM 

-Cuban-Canadian-Klezmer
-Japanese Klezmer
-Hip Hop Klezmer
-Queer Klezmer
-Bluegrass Klezmer
-Klezmer/Woody Guthrie

Continue reading “Jason Collett, Drive Live ” »

But Dancing To The Northern Lights is also the name of a 4-part radio series focusing on the music of Canada’s north. It traces “fifty years of northern music and the CBC.” CBC’s northern service began in 1958, and it soon became very involved in documenting northern music of all kinds. (Today it exists as CBC North.)

2. I think I can do it, once I expand my range beyond a fifth. What’s the repertoirejerome iginla team canada jersey,sidney crosby team canada youth jersey ,discount ugg boots!

Continue reading “The Singer And The Universe” »

–> March 29, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,ugg upside tall boots Junos Songwriters’ Circle — Live Broadcast Posted by Li Robbins on Mar-29-09 at 12:36 PM 

One thing that seems certain is that at the very least prestigious music prizes indicate a significant level of excellence, talent, artistry. The Jules Leger Prize, for example, an award for Canadian composers writing a new piece of chamber music. Past winners include James Rolf and Chris Paul Harman — proof positive.

It’s pretty funny. (Or, as one viewer put it: “dooooooooooooooope!!!”) Go to 2:25 for the best bit…though you do kind of need the build up to really appreciate it it.

–> December 23, 2008 Rich Terfry’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year Posted by Li Robbins on Dec-23-08 at 11:00 AM 

As a result, I’m listening to the Ragleela Concert On Demand as we blog. And very nice instrumental music to work by it is — sitar, guitar, percussion, nice groove. Consider my ears augmented.

Continue reading “Philly Markowitz’s 5 Great Things From A Crazy Year” »

Here is the updated list as of 10 a.m.-ish. April 21th:

–> January 10, joe sakic team canada jersey,rick nash team canada jersey,