CANTO: Phrase it Like a Singer?
In his Canto column, historical oboist Geoffrey Burgess argues that modern circumstances too often take us far from the collaborative nature of early music and the shared goals of singers and instrumentalists. Understandably, many singers feel the need to become generalists. But now is the time to re-evaluate our current practices.
New Leaders, Fresh Perspectives
Two first-time artistic directors of esteemed early-music ensembles — Priscilla Herreid at Philadelphia's Piffaro and Liza Malamut at Chicago's Newberry Consort — are countering social and economic trends with fresh attitudes and new concert ideas. They're part of a cohort of leaders bringing historical performance in line with today's audience expectations.
Nurturing New Ensembles in the Arizona Desert
Early-music presenting organizations mostly hire touring ensembles. Yet many programs that foster the next generation focus on talented individual musicians. So Arizona Early Music created the Emerging Ensemble Residency, where a young group is set up with a mentor and works on both performance and the business of being a professional touring ensemble. The inaugural award goes to Montreal’s Le Consort laurentien, whose residency starts this month.
‘Versailles Spectacles’ Celebrates 400
Versailles, celebrating its 400th anniversary, attracts some seven million tourists each year. The Versailles Spectacles, a private corporation, sells millions of tickets to its deluxe entertainments: from fireworks and fountains to horse shows and DJ techno under the stars -- and all of it helps subsidize the palace's Opéra Royal.
Why Attend a Summer Workshop?
Anne Timberlake, guest editor for this week's E-Notes newsletter, has compiled everything you need to know to get started at an early-music summer workshop. A veteran recorder player and teacher, Timberlake says these workshops are all about making music in community. But what can you expect from the experience? She has some answers.
In Memoriam: James Nicolson
We remember harpsichordist and virginalist James Nicolson, who passed away last week. He was lauded as one of the most esteemed figures in America's early-music community.
Party on for Ockeghem’s 600th
An Ockeghem marathon, coming next week to the Met Cloisters in New York, is the latest event celebrating the composer's 600th. New recordings and new approaches to 'the hardest composer' of the 15th century is helping lift his reputation from mystical and complex to something more universal: 'it's just fabulous music.'
Canto: Ending the Stigma of Singers and Hearing Loss
'We’re all keenly aware of the stigma in classical music about people with hearing loss,' writes tenor Thomas Cooley. 'The doctor asked why I was crying. I responded: I just don't know other singers who use hearing aids.'
Letter to the Editor: Climate Crisis Showmanship
'I was offended that EMA would give publicity to the climate-change activism of John Mark Rozendaal...he bragged about interrupting a performance at the Met Opera for some 22 minutes. EMA gave voice to disturbing protest methods and, I believe, condoned this behavior...'
National Endowment for the Arts Awards $25,000 to EMA
Early Music America is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25,000. This grant will support the 2024 EMA Summit in Cleveland, October 20-22. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants.
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