The Arts Blog

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John Pitman Review: Jonathan Biss completes Beethoven journey

February 12, 2020

As a part of the celebrations this year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig Van Beethoven, program director John Pitman is interviewing some of today’s top artists involved in the newest recordings of his music. American pianist Jonathan Biss has just completed a 9-year journey exploring the piano sonatas of Ludwig Van Beethoven. …

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Nine Black Women Who Changed Opera Forever

February 4, 2020

In this list, we’ll celebrate some of the great Black opera singers who have passed on into history, and paved the way for Black artists who are still with us. Their stories and recordings are a treasure for listeners and an epiphany for vocalists. Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield (c.1819-1876) was born into slavery …

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John Pitman Review: Silenced Voices

January 23, 2020

String Trio debuts with “Silenced Voices” (Black Oak Ensemble) 2020 (specifically, January 27) marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the WWII concentration camp that is symbolic of the persecution and murder of millions of Jews and other groups by the Nazi regime.  In addition to the handful of people who survived the camps, …

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John Pitman Review: Sound of Silence, Miloš returns

January 10, 2020

The Montenegro-born guitarist Miloš has just released his fifth album, and the first in about 3 years. Sound of Silence (Decca) is, in a way, autobiographical: in 2016, just after the release of his Beatles-inspired disc, Blackbird, Miloš began experiencing a tightness in his hand that affected his ability to play. He eventually stepped away …

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The Stories of Twelve Famous Carols

December 20, 2019

When it comes to traditional Christmas carols, separating history from legend can be as tricky as detangling holly and ivy. Looking forward to our Festival of Carols, we’d like to share some of the true stories behind our favorite carols. The First Nowell It is thought “The First Nowell” originated as a Cornish gallery carol. …

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Is a Cassation a Crustacean?

December 17, 2019

A Play On Words by All Classical Portland’s Music Researcher & Archivist Emma Mildred Riggle When I was a kid my little brother and I liked to play Name That Tune when we turned on the radio in the middle of a classical piece, because we were geeks with a bad case of sibling rivalry. …

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Classical Composers’ Holiday Gifts

December 13, 2019

What’s more meaningful than a homemade gift – especially when the giver is a composer and the gift is music? Here’s a list of five classical compositions that were given as holiday gifts! Johannes Ockeghem (c.1410-1497): An Illuminated Chanson Johannes Ockeghem was a brilliant 15th-century Franco-Flemish composer. Gifted with a deep and beautiful bass voice, …

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John Pitman Review: Violinist Margaret Batjer and the LA Philharmonic

December 10, 2019

Violinist Margaret Batjer has been associated with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a number of years. In their first CD for the Swedish BIS label, Batjer and the LACO begin with a new violin concerto by Quebec-born composer, Pierre Jalbert. With movements titled “Soulful, mysterious”, and “With great energy”, Jalbert’s concerto is in good …

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Classical Music Inspired By Young People

November 19, 2019

Inspiration for classical music comes in endless forms. Here’s a look at five classical music pieces inspired by young people. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): The Well-Tempered Clavier Johann Sebastian Bach was surrounded by children for most of his life. In addition to fathering more than twenty (!) kids, he also taught choirboys at the St. …

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