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Call for Scores: Royal Northern Sinfonia, Lars Vogt Seek Chamber 'Mozarts of Tomorow'

Having stirred the personnel pot earlier with the appointment of pianist Lars Vogt as music director, the Royal Northern Sinfonia--the United Kingdom's only full-time chamber orchestra stationed there at Sage Gateshead--is now challenging young U.K. composers to stir up its repertoire. Yes, the well-established tradition of prominent ensembles hosting rigorous competitions for emerging voices is summoned once more. This time, though, it's more of a mandate.
By Steve Nagel

  • PREMIERE: Watch Lang Lang 'In Paris,' Making Of Video with Chopin, Tchaikovsky (Sony)

    For us Classicalites, the intimate splendor of Chopin and Tchaikovsky's solo piano music still resonates well across the centuries. And the transcriptions. There's a kind of beauty, even a turmoil, inside its sounding realm, as well as outside of it.
    By Ian Holubiak

  • How the 'Now' Generation Caused the Death of Sheet Music Retail

    The encroaching "paperless society", while stubborn and elusive, has stepped forward to deliver a devastating blow. Frank Music, the last devoted sheet music retail store in New York City, has closed down. It had a 78-year run. As The Guardian's virtual obituary for the shop reveals, it met with a sorrowful end. Pitifully recalling the days in which a single customer failed to enter the shop, the aged booksellers made no pretenses about their final day in business: there was no silver lining.
    By Steve Nagel