I tell the story about how the difference between VON and VAN really messed up Beethoven’s day. Plus my conversation with the articulate music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. 

Also, some updates on previous stories.

 

LINKS

“Soul” on Disney+

https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/soul/77zlWrb9vRYp

Digital Purchase:Soul

 

Petition to honour George Bridgetower with a historical plaque in Bath:

http://chng.it/XM2c6J4TPp

 

Calgary Opera’s Opera Labs:

https://calgaryopera.com/operalabs

the video about the first Lab project, “Namwayut”

https://vimeo.com/527922945

 

Gordon Gerrard Homepage:

https://www.gordongerrard.com

Gerrard is music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra:

https://www.reginasymphony.com

 

Composer Jocelyn Morlock

https://www.jocelynmorlock.com

Aeromancy appears on the album “Halcyon”

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/halcyon/1236925047

My Name is Amanda Todd appears on the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s album “Life Reflected”

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/life-reflected/1218008826

 

Composer Harry Srafylakis:

http://hstafylakis.com/shortbio/

“Never the same river”

http://hstafylakis.com/neverthesameriver/

 

Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy:

https://kellymariemurphy.com

Dragon Unfolding:

https://kellymariemurphy.com/dragon-unfolding/

 

Buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster

Culturemonster.ca

First Published April 2021

Episode 7: Violinist Edmond Agopian & Sousa’s Secret Career 

I speak with a musician of passionate curiosity, violinist Edmond Agopian. I also tell the story of John Philip Sousa’s secret career, and the mysterious tale of the artwork still on the Moon. 

 

CBC website story on the Thorgy Thor | orchestra collaboration:

https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/features/drag-star-thorgy-thor-brings-her-star-power-to-the-world-of-orchestral-musi

 

CBC gem link to the complete film “Disruptor Conductor”

https://gem.cbc.ca/media/cbc-docs-pov/season-3/episode-5/38e815a-0119a7bfbd7?cmp=sch-disruptor

(note outside of Canada, the entire film might still be available here https://watchmoviesonlinenow.xyz/movie/752824/

 

Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser page at the Toronto Symphony:

https://www.tso.ca/conductor/daniel-bartholomew-poyser

 

Slate Article on the tangled controversy that surrounded “Fallen Astronaut” past and present:

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/12/sculpture_on_the_moon_paul_van_hoeydonck_s_fallen_astronaut.html

 

Another Artwork on the Moon:

https://www.openculture.com/2019/07/tiny-art-museum-on-the-moon.html

 

German gallery selling authorized replicas:

https://www.galerie-breckner.de/edition-paul-van-hoeydonck-man-in-space/

 

VOD film documentary on “Fallen Astronaut”

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thefallenastronaut?ref=tw-share

 

The United States Marine Band’s appreciation of its former director Sousa:

https://www.marineband.marines.mil/About/Our-History/John-Philip-Sousa/

 

Sousa and “The Transit of Venus”

https://copycateffect.blogspot.com/2009/02/sousas-transit-of-venus.html

 

More info about Sousa as a writer:

https://web.archive.org/web/20041021201305/http://wgpark.com/page.asp?pid=10

 

Edmond Agopian page at SCPA-University of Calgary

https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts

https://scpa.ucalgary.ca/manageprofile/profiles/edmond-agopian

 

Edmond Agopian speaking of Beethoven’s 250th birthday and his continued influence:

https://ckua.com/listen/honouring-two-hundred-and-fifty-years-of-beethoven/

 

UCalgary String Quartet Album “Far Behind I left My country” featuring Agopian’s arrangements:

Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/far-behind-i-left-my-country-klezmer-east-european/324074237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XM84Glc4OAUIh6qr0LAJd

 

Livestream: Dvořák – Morawetz Connections II:

https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts/news-and-events/school-events#!view/event/event_id/289813

 

Livestream: A Celebration of Music by Black Composers II:

https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts/news-and-events/school-events#!view/event/event_id/289893

 

Chausson: Symphony in B-Flat:

Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/chausson-symphony-in-b-flat-major-op-20-franck-le-chasseur/1166131594

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bItTskYxH3Q6TgwIi1Uj0

 

Enescu: Poème Roumain

Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/enescu-po%C3%A8me-roumain-vox-maris-voix-de-la-nature/403125669

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6bOXNXmNOhAd9vqTlStKsz?si=df433a123c0c4ef2

 

“President’s March (Hail Columbia)” courtesy of the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/presidents-march-rights-man-death-general-wolf-rights/394209001?i=394209028

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Oxxso8ZLyfwd9BHZnVsvB?si=ba4b62b637a446f8

 

“Transit of Venus March” by John Phillip Sousa, courtesy of the US Marine Band

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/transit-of-venus/1021275726?i=1021275907

 

“Ukrainian Dance” from Far Behind I left my Country featuring UCalgary String Quartet:

Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/far-behind-i-left-my-country-klezmer-east-european/324074237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XM84Glc4OAUIh6qr0LAJd

 

Episode published March 2021

CultureMonster.ca

Support the Podcast and help create future episodes at

buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster

In 1803 a virtuoso violinist came to visit Vienna and Beethoven wrote a new Sonata to play with him that would change music history; so why doesn’t it have Bridgetower’s name on it? The great musical partnership that wasn’t.

 I also speak with Rosemary Thomson about all of the things conductors have to keep in balance, and the importance of having a personal relationship with her audience as music director of the Okanagan Symphony. 

 

NPR Obit of Lou Ottens:

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/10/975598869/lou-ottens-inventor-of-the-cassette-tape-has-died

 

British Library Webpage about the Beethoven/Bridgetower tuning fork:

https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/beethovens-tuning-fork

 

British Library Webpage about George Bridgetower:

https://www.bl.uk/people/george-bridgetower

 

Rosemary Thomson is music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra:

https://okanagansymphony.com

 

Rosemary Thomson photo by Glenna Turnbull

https://www.glennaturnbull.ca

 

Bramwell Tovey, former music director, Winnipeg Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Opera:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramwell_Tovey

 

Hans Graf, former music director of the Calgary Philharmonic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Graf

 

Non-Profit Quarterly article about the CPO turnaround:

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/phoenix-in-calgary-how-the-calgary-philharmonic-survived-bankruptcy-and-flourished/

 

Composer Jocelyn Morlock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyn_Morlock

 

Orchestral Album featuring Morlock’s Music

Apple:https://music.apple.com/ca/album/jocelyn-morlock-cobalt/830562463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4ct3kGzOF5upOu4dhvu2EQ?si=N9h0vaGrS-6PIE5h84eZeg

 

Composer R Murray Schafer

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/r-murray-schafer-emc

 

Composer Emily Doolitte article about Schafer’s “Wolf Project”

http://emilydoolittle.com/wolfpaper.pdf

 

Composer Dinuk Wijeratne

Dinuk Wijeratne - Dinuk Wijeratne

 

Composer Chistos Hatzis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christos_Hatzis

Album featuring Hatzis’ music

Apple:https://music.apple.com/ca/album/christos-hatzis-lamento-ecstasy/1493802947

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3B1rWPvxCXSaSdfzdLvCXP?si=AMBZD-8HR4uOr17RD5MaEg

 

Composer Allan Bell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Gordon_Bell

 

Beethoven music provided by Musopen.com

Released March 2021

CultureMonster.ca

Episode 5: The Shuttle, A Centennial, and Schupannzigh

 

Join me as I speak about a happy day for technology, a sad one for space exploration, and the difficulties of being Beethoven’s friend. 

 

Arlington’s website describing the Challenger memorial:

https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Space-Shuttle-Challenger

 

Richard Feynman’s memoir where he discusses the investigation into the Challenger disaster:

https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393355642

 

Wikipedia page on RUR author Karel Čapek:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Čapek

 

Canadian Space Agency information page about DEXTRE:

https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/dextre/default.asp

 

Lyrics to Beethoven’s song about Schupannzigh

"Schuppanzigh ist ein Lump.

Wer kennt ihn nicht,

den dicken Sauermagen,

den aufgeblasnen Eselskopf?

O Lump Schuppanzigh,

o Esel Schuppanzigh,

wir stimmen alle ein,

du bist der größte Esel,

o Esel, hi hi ha."

"Schuppanzigh is a scoundrel

Who doesn't know him

the fat sour-belly

the puffed up ass's head?

O rogue Schuppanzigh

O donkey Schuppanzigh

We all agree

that you're the biggest ass

O ass, hee-haw"

 

Jan Swafford’s Beethoven Biography:

https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/beethoven/9780618054749

You can support the podcast here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster

performances of Beethoven and Barrios provided by Musopen:

https://musopen.org

Episode 4: The Mystery of Carlos Kleiber & Conversation with Carlos Foggin

I explore the mystery of famed maestro Carlos Kleiber, and speak with Rocky Mountain Symphony conductor Carlos Foggin about Beethoven, the Organ, and how taking a basic first aid course changed his life. 

The Polaris Centre is active on social media and is also here:

https://www.polariscentre.ca

Carlos Foggin is the Music Director of the Rocky Mountain Symphony:

https://www.rockymountainsymphony.ca

 

A Finnish Orchestra and conductor give a stirring performance of Sibelius Symphony No. 5:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIIfMjRMqRs

 

The Swan of Tuonela performed by Finnish Radio Orchestra conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3_H5YlgKFU

 

Deutsche Grammophon’s video series  “Mesmerized by Carlos Kleiber”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjE9aOcqqc8

 

BBC Radio 3 audio documentary about Kleiber:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EUsV2UJ7M

 

Video of “Der Rosenkavalier” conducted by Kleiber

https://play.wiener-staatsoper.at/event/531d2c08-94d2-4a3f-acd8-3cfdc62888dd

 

Traces to Nowhere- full length documentary on Kleiber’s career:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta8Tqjn7Suo&t=68s

EPISODE 3: Mark Morash and the Shakespeare Riot

I speak with Interim Music Director of the Calgary Opera about his musical journey, the need for Opera companies to invest in R&D, and the emotional power of the human voice. I also tell the story of the time competing versions of “The Scottish Play” in New York City caused a riot.

SHOW NOTES and links!

The story of the battle of the film rights over agent 007 is told in Robert Sellers book “The Battle for Bond.”

http://tomahawkpress.com/battle-for-bond-banned-edition/

 Stratford Festival productions at CBC GEM:

https://gem.cbc.ca/series/stratford-presents/all/8d5898e8-9215-4c97-8fe3-a10b30c89d58?cmp=sch-stratford

Stratford@Home:

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Subscription

The story about Astor Place Riot is told is several places, including this podcast from the Folger Shakespeare Library:

https://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/astor-place-riot

For a more complete telling, Nigel Cliff has written an entire book about the incident- titled “The Shakespeare Riot: Revenge drama and death in Nineteenth-Century America.” Cliff situates the incident in tensions between working class Americans and the wealthy elite class: 

http://www.nigelcliff.com/?page_id=52

Richard Nelson dramatized the events in his play “Two Shakespearian actors.”

https://www.broadwayplaypub.com/the-plays/two-shakespearean-actors/

Calgary Opera’s page on Mark Morash:

https://calgaryopera.com/resident-artists

Wikipedia page on the San Francisco Opera Merola Opera Program for emerging artists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merola_Opera_Program

Calgary Opera’s free videos:

https://calgaryopera.com/videos

The Operas Mark mentioned:

Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man_Walking_(opera)

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/heggie-dead-man-walking/680688122

-On CD

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5208&name_role1=1&bcorder=1&comp_id=102119

A Streetcar named Desire by Andre Previn

-streaming

https://music.apple.com/us/album/previn-a-streetcar-named-desire/1452174581

opening scene on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRG29gtyjQc

As One by Laura Kaminksy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_One_(opera)

-streaming

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kaminsky-as-one/1469926527

cd/download

https://www.brightshiny.ninja/as-one

For starting out in Opera with arias, Renée Fleming told ClassicFM her favourite 6 arias here:

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/renee-fleming-favourite-soprano-arias/

“Che Gelida” by Puccini (mentioned by Mark)

La Boheme - Pavarotti- "Che gelida manina"  Fiamma Izzo d' Amico "Si, mi chiamano Mimi"

As always send you questions, queries, ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

In this episode, I speak with Conductor and Pianist Rolf Bertsch about his Career and genius of Beethoven, and also relate my favourite Canadian crime story: now with a 2020 update. Also, a complete holiday piano performance from Han Ding.

SHOW NOTES episode 2

Piano Performances heard in this episode performed by HAN DING: https://www.handingonline.com

Theatre Calgary’s Official Christmas Carol page: https://www.theatrecalgary.com/shows/a-christmas-carol

The ICI-Tele broadcast of the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens “Nutcracker” https://ici.tou.tv/casse-noisette/S01E01?lectureauto=1

Official Royal Canadian Mint Page about the Million Dollar Coin: https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/million-dollar-coin-1600006

 

ArtNews story on the theft: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/berlin-coin-theft-1783515

 

CBC NEWS: The Current Radio Story: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-29-2017-1.4044278/how-did-thieves-steal-gigantic-1m-canadian-gold-coin-from-berlin-museum-1.4045314

 

CBC NEWS: 2020 coin story update: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berlin-gold-coin-heist-raids-1.5843764

 

The story about the Premiere of Beethovens Third Piano Concerto is told is Barry Coopers excellent biography: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/beethoven-9780195313314?cc=us&lang=en&

 

Beethoven’s Piano concertos have been recorded many times

Two recent recommendations are—

 Stewart Goodyear and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Andrew Constantine: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=858&name_role1=1&name_id2=24438&name_role2=2&bcorder=21&comp_id=5651

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-the-complete-piano-concertos/1499010141

 

Mitsuko Uchida and the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Simon Rattle: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2277234

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-piano-concertos-1-5/1488447983

 

Rolf Bertsch is the current music director of the Calgary Civic Symphony: https://calgarycivicsymphony.ca/Our-Conductor

 

Rolf’s Recommendations:

Filmed performance of Beethoven Symphony #4 and Symphony #7 with conductor Carlos Kleiber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-jlAamGCE

 

Herbert van Karajan - Beethoven Symphonies (1963)

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2190074

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-9-symphonies-recordings-from-1961-62/1440764800

 

John Eliot Gardiner - Beethoven Symphonies (1990s)

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=443080

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-the-9-symphonies/1452587530

 

Bernstein— Bethoven Symphonies (1980s)

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2262757

https://music.apple.com/us/album/leonard-bernstein-beethoven-the-9-symphonies/1452492300

 

Thanks for listening. Send your feedback, questions, and/or ideas for future episodes to [email protected]

Culture Monster episode 1 

Welcome to the first episode of Culture Monster!

I dive into the difficulty of Beethoven’s Birthday, a Canadian Art Scandal, and speak with Karl Hirzer about the skills needed to be successful as an orchestra conductor.

----more----

Links and more useful info:

 

C-Monster bite of the day:

“Conductor breaks down scenes from movies and TV” (YouTube)

https://cutt.ly/UhOt3XY

 

 

Macleans article about the “Voice of Fire” Controversy

https://cutt.ly/ZhOqu67

 

Wikipedia article on “Voice of Fire” (Including image)

https://cutt.ly/QhOqfHm

 

Karl Hirzer’s bio on the CalgaryPhil.com

https://cutt.ly/ahOqnWy

 

Performance of Unsuk Chin: Graffiti (Soundcloud) 

https://cutt.ly/ohOqeMr

 

BeethovenHaus, Bonn Birthplace and museum

https://www.beethoven.de

 

Performance of Beethoven “Moonlight Sonata” courtesy of Musopen

Karl Hirzer of the Calgary Philharmonic joins me for the first episode of Culture Monster. What did we talk about? Here is a quick taste.

it's almost time for Culture Monster the podcast to begin. This is place for Curious Conversations with musicians and artists of Calgary and beyond, as well as fascinating facts and stories of the giants from the past. Season 1 starts December 2020