Sarah Hicks

3 Oct 2010

Inside the Classics

…Friday’s live stream of Theater Basel’s Calixto Bieito production of Verdi’s Aïda . Let me explain why. Live streaming performances are nothing new. Yes, it’s exciting to see something happening across the Atlantic in real time, but that’s n...

Ordinary (Unpleasant)

3 Oct 2010

Inside the Classics

Over the last couple of decades, it’s become at least somewhat standard for orchestra musicians to fill out some sort of written evaluation of visiting conductors. Such surveys are usually relatively informal, and intended for some higher authorit...

That’s Not Rust. It’s Character.

1 Oct 2010

Inside the Classics

It’s been hard to find things to write about in this space lately, mainly because so much of the news coming out of the orchestra business (and, let’s face it, nearly every other business) has been downright dismal, thanks to the American econom...

Short takes

30 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

We’re a Groupon Deal of the Day ! President Obama: classical music lover (and Maria Callas fan), according to his recent Rolling Stone interview (see the second paragraph).

The many faces of Paganini

29 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

I’m bereft of deep (or even coherent) thoughts this week, so I’ll leave you with this bit of amusement:

Geniuses? Maybe. Saints? Absolutely.

28 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

I’ll admit, I rarely pay much attention to the annual bestowing of the so-called MacArthur Genius Grants . Officially the MacArthur Fellowship Awards, these are the half-million dollar grants awarded each year to “talented individuals who have sh...

…and a difficult job it is

22 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

To continue with the theme of of “great words written by someone else” (and also, not so coincidentally, brought to my attention via Facebook), here’s a very eloquent piece by the associate concertmaster of the Syracuse Symphony on what it tak...

Arts Jobs Are Still Jobs

20 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

Over the weekend, a short Facebook note started to pop up repeatedly in my news feed. It wasn’t written by anyone I knew, but nearly everyone I do know who works in or around the arts business seemed to be reposting it. Having nothing better to do...

Slightly More Than Half of Everything.

17 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

Okay, so Mothers’ Day was months ago, and there’s nothing remotely orchestra-related in this song, but let’s just file this in the category of “things Sarah or I think are too cool not to share.” A childhood spent memorizing Tom Lehrer songs abou...

If you’re gonna be snarky, at least get your facts straight

17 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

There’s been much written recently about the ever-dwindling numbers of classical music critics, and while I generally agree that this is a Bad Thing, occasionally I read a review that makes me reconsider. Case in point: a recent review in the ...

Train Wreck

14 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

There are mistakes in every performance, of course. Most go unnoticed by the majority of the audience, and many others that are noticeable are quickly dismissed as unimportant to the larger concert. Even a performance full of technical errors can ...

Tlhingan mah! Part 2

10 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

Remember that Klingon opera I was telling you about ? Well, it had it’s (Terran) premier yesterday (in Holland). I’m kinda sorry I missed it…

Long-term marriages

9 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

It’s that time again; inaugural concerts of new music directors. Last year it was Alan Gilbert/New York Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel/LA Philharmonic; this year we’ve got Riccardo Muti/Chicago Symphony and Christoph Eschenbach/National Symp...

There Is, However, Such A Thing As Bad Self-Promotion.

8 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

So there I was on my bike, earlier this evening, headed downtown to meet up with a friend and take in the Twins game. (Quick aside: I still can’t quite believe that Target Field is really ours. After all those years in the HumpyDome , watching ...

No Such Thing As Bad Press

5 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

No one ever believes performers who claim not to read reviews, and I’d certainly never make such a claim for myself, but I do understand the impulse. Arts criticism is an art in itself, and like every other art form, the truly great practitioners ...

The right kind of intersection

2 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

I’ve always been fascinated by the varied intersections of music and technology – some (potentially) successful , some less so . This one definitely goes into the former category. Those of you who skip over these tech-heavy blog posts, please...

Post-Post Game Wrap: Prom 57

1 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

The Times of London has the words I lacked four days ago . Their website is behind a paywall, so I can’t link you to the review. Ordinarily, I respect paywalls, but since most of you reading this couldn’t buy a copy of The Times if you want...

By The Skin of Our Teeth

1 Sep 2010

Inside the Classics

For our hardworking staff and stage crew, tours are essentially an exercise in waiting for something to go horribly wrong. A cargo truck transporting our instruments and wardrobe trunks from one city to another could have an accident. A musician c...

Post-Game Wrap: Edinburgh

29 Aug 2010

Inside the Classics

This is going to be a quick post, because it’s been a very long couple of days, and quite honestly, I need a drink. But despite my blatant attempt to jinx tonight’s concert, we all made it to Edinburgh on time and, after grabbing a bite wherever...

Post-Game Wrap: Prom 57

28 Aug 2010

Inside the Classics

I don’t really have words for it right now, which I think we can all agree is unusual for me. Let’s just say that it was a night to remember, and I hope you had the chance to listen in. If not, the BBC’s got you covered here and here with an a...

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