by Daniel Hathaway
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
We have just two anniversaries to mark today. The first is that of Swiss American composer Ernst Bloch, who died on this date in 1959 in Portland, Oregon. Bloch served as founding director of the Cleveland Institute of Music from 1920-1925 before moving on to the San Francisco Conservatory. After a hiatus back in Switzerland, he helped found the Music Academy of the West, and taught in the summers at the University of California, Berkeley.
Among Bloch’s music based on Jewish themes is his tone poem about King Solomon, Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque. Listen here to a live Blossom Festival performance in 1980 by cellist Janós Starker with The Cleveland Orchestra, led by Eduardo Mata. Or click here to listen to a January, 2019 performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music by Lydia Rhea, with pianist Evan Solomon.
Another CIM performance, this one by Cleveland Orchestra first assistant cello Richard Weiss, features the first of Bloch’s trio of solo suites, inspired by Bach and composed between 1955 and 1957. Click here to watch the video from September, 2009.
The second is that of English composer Harrison Birtwistle, born on this date in 1934 in Accrington, Lancashire. His 1986 Earth Dances have been compared to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Christoph von Dohnányi recorded the work in 1996 with The Cleveland Orchestra for Decca (listen here), but there’s also a video of a performance by Cologne’s Gürzenich Orchestra led by Marcus Stenz.
TODAY ON THE WEB AND AIRWAVES:
In a normal summer, Ohio Light Opera and Kent Blossom Music Festival would be in full swing. In this abnormal season, both institutions are offering blasts from the past in place of live events. This afternoon’s OLO Virtual Summer Festival features the 2020 company in selections from Jacques Offenbach’s 1875 Voyage to the Moon, inspired by Jules Verne. Tonight, the third concert in Kent Blossom’s Virtual Music Festival features members of The Cleveland Orchestra, festival young artists, and Kent State faculty in music by Barber, Nicolas Roussakis, Jean-Michel Damase, Mendelssohn, Erwin Schulhoff, and Brahms.
Today’s Lunchtime Special from The Cleveland Orchestra includes Sibelius and Brahms, and tonight’s episode from the MET Opera Archives is a production of Puccini’s Turandot from 2009 led by Andris Nelsons. Check our Concert Listings for details.
BITS AND PIECES:
Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute attendees — at least those who came to study keyboard and bass instruments — will fondly recall the nightly continuo classes taught by University of Michigan professor Joseph Gascho and Toronto lutenist and guitarist Lucas Harris. Beginning on July 27, the two figured bass gurus are offering a two-week online course that reveals the mysteries of Basso Continuo “for all musicians.” There’s a fee attached, but the experience is priceless. Read about it here.
Who knew that avant-garde composer John Cage was also an enthusiastic mycologist (expert on mushrooms)? In today’s New York Times Food section, Florence Fabricant gives details about the reissue of a limited (but affordable) edition of Cage’s 1972 mushroom book.
And in the latest episode of Musical America unscripted, violinist Jennifer Koh talks about picking a favorite composer, the rewards after a strong performance, and stress baking. Watch the brief video here.
