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DSO Music Director Laureate Leonard Slatkin leads the ensemble this weekend in works by Hector Berlioz, Mohammed Fairouz and Modest Mussorgsky/Maurice Ravel. WRCJ’s Peter Whorf speaks with Maestro Slatkin at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall about Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition…and DSO concerts later this season celebrating Slatkin’s 75th birthday…
Seamus Heaney died in 2013. Had he lived tomorrow would have been his 80th birthday. Heaney was a rare writer - a poet both beloved and respected. He was an eloquent advocate for the place and craft of poetry. Who would have thought Beowulf could be a modern day bestseller? Seamus Heaney's translation was. He made a profound social impact, too, and at the time of the Good Friday Agreement President Clinton memorably quoted his lines from 'The Cure at Troy' '...once in a lifetime/ The longed-for tidal wave/ Of justice can rise up,/ And hope and history rhyme.' Front Row this evening is devoted to Heaney's work, life and continuing inspiration. Kirsty Lang talks to Leontia Flynn, one of the leading younger writers of the North of Ireland; to his friend the poet Bernard O'Donoghue, who is working on a new edition of Heaney's Collected Poems with Rosie Lavan - from whom we hear, too. The composer Mohammed Fairouz explains how he set some of the poems in his piece for choir and viola, 'In a New Light', which will have its European premier performance tomorrow in Bellaghy, where Heaney was born, and is buried. And, from the BBC's archive, there is the wonderful voice of the poet himself, introducing and reading his work. Presenter: Kirsty Lang Producer: Julian May
Maria Popova & Claudia Bedrick curated an anthology of letters and original illustrations by 121 of the most interesting and inspiring culture-makers alive today. "A Velocity of Being," Popova's project that was eight years in the making, asked each contributor to write a letter to a young reader about the power of reading. To celebrate the book’s release, contributors took to the stage at The New York Public Library to share what they wrote. Featured readings and performances by: Jad Abumrad, Sophie Blackall, Alexander Chee, Mohammed Fairouz, Adam Gopnik, Paul Holdengräber, Sarah Kay, Dawn Landes, Morley, Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, and Naomi Wolf. All proceeds from "A Velocity of Being" will benefit the public libraries of New York City. Read more about the book on Brain Pickings.
Mohammed Fairouz is a US-Emirati composer - a youthful artist who has spent much of his creative life defying boundaries and stereotypes. His work ranges from symphonies to opera, to unique fusions of music and poetry. He's an Arab educated and resident in the West; an outspoken advocate for creative freedom who nonetheless rails against western cultural imperialism. His aim is to foster cultural crossover rather than confrontation; but can this artist avoid taking sides?
Mohammed Fairouz is a US-Emirati composer - a youthful artist who has spent much of his creative life defying boundaries and stereotypes. His work ranges from symphonies to opera, to unique fusions of music and poetry. He's an Arab educated and resident in the West; an outspoken advocate for creative freedom who nonetheless rails against western cultural imperialism. His aim is to foster cultural crossover rather than confrontation; but can this artist avoid taking sides?
He’s been called a post-millennial Schubert. Mohammed Fairouz has composed four symphonies and an opera while still in his 20s. He invokes John F. Kennedy and Anwar Sadat, Seamus Heaney and Yehuda Amichai in his compositions. He sees “illustrious language” as a form of music — and as a way, just maybe, to shift the world on its axis.
Mohammed Fairouz is a composer whose opera and symphonies have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center. His 11 albums include “Native Informant,” “In The Shadow of No Towers,” “Poems and Prayers,” and, most recently, “Follow, Poet.” This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Mohammed Fairouz — The World in Counterpoint.” Find more at onbeing.org.
Episode 75: To Memorize or Not To Memorize, That is the Question Upcoming Events: May 25 – Six Bach Violin Concertos for the Montreal Chamber Music Festival, May 30 – Bartok Concerto No. 2 with the Gottingen Symphony in Germany, June 1 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montpelier, Vermont (sonatas by Beethoven, Mohammed Fairouz, and Strauss, and lullabies by Brahms, Ysaye, Rebecca Clarke and William Grant Still) Inquiries from my Inbox: A student at a master class asked, “What is your favorite time of day to practice?” Random Musical Thought: If children dress as ballerinas to attend the ballet, why don’t they dress as concert violinists to attend the symphony? Main Topic: A conversation with harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa about the pros and cons of performing with and without sheet music. To learn more about Paul, please visit www.paulcienniwa.com Total playing time: 00:51:59 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to be featured on Violin Adventures? Just send your question via text or as an MP3 attachment to rachelbartonpine@aol.com and listen for your answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.twitter.com/rbpviolinist www.facebook.com/rachelbartonpineviolinist www.youtube.com/RachelBartonPine Violin Adventures with Rachel Barton Pine is produced by Windy Apple Studios www.windyapple.com
Episode 67: Native Informant – Composer Mohammed Fairouz Upcoming Events: February 2 – concert with the New York Chamber Soloists Orchestra in St. Augustine, Florida (works by Paganini, Bach, Albeniz, Piazzola, and Mozart), February 8 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montpelier, Vermont (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Mohammed Fairouz, and Strauss), February 9 – recital with pianist Matthew Hagle in Montreal (works by Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, William Grant Still, and Strauss) Inquiries from my Inbox: Hannah asks: “How important do you think it is to have an urtext edition as opposed to International or another cheap one?” Corey asks: "Do you practice with a metronome or are you able to dictate the tempo as the sheet music notates it?” Random Musical Thought: Can a violin be considered a co-commissioner? Main Topic: A conversation with talented young composer Mohammed Fairouz, including a discussion of the five-movement unaccompanied violin sonata written for Rachel Barton Pine entitled “Native Informant,” with musical excerpts. For more information about Mohammed Fairouz, please visit www.mohammedfairouz.com Total playing time: 00:54:01 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON I-TUNES! Would you like to be featured on Violin Adventures? Just send your question via text or as an MP3 attachment to rachelbartonpine@aol.com and listen for your answer on Inquiries From My Inbox! Thanks for listening! www.rachelbartonpine.com www.twitter.com/rbpviolinist www.facebook.com/rachelbartonpineviolinist www.youtube.com/RachelBartonPine Violin Adventures with Rachel Barton Pine is produced by Windy Apple Studios www.windyapple.com