On the same weekend, hiding indoors from the cold, we were fortunate to catch two live shows dedicated to music -- both bristling with talent and energy. The radio show was on Friday, a live performance from Carnegie Hall, featuring Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Mutter Virtuosi, her ensemble of young musicians. The show was broadcast by WQXR-FM, the gem of a classical station which has recently enlarged its program of live performances. Not only that, but the station often assigns two of its assets, Jeff Spurgeon and John Schaefer, to be co-hosts. (Spurgeon is known for his witty three-minute synopses of upcoming operas; Schaefer is known for his esoteric taste in new recordings.) The two were posted in the wings of the historic hall, as the musicians walked toward stage, nervous tension crackling through our Bose FM radio at home. Because the concert was on the radio, we could not see which of her bright gowns Mutter had chosen, to go with her energy (and, dare I say it, her beauty) but the music reminded us why Mutter has been one of the best violinists in the world, for four decades, since her mid-teens. Mutter was the driving force in pieces by Vivaldi, Unsuk Chin, and Saint-Georges, a composer of Senegalese ancestry, who was a few years older than Mozart. The co-hosts told us that Saint-Georges is the subject of a forthcoming movie, “Chevalier,” due to be released in April. After the break, Mutter led the ensemble through a bristling version of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” and then the audience (this was, after all, Carnegie Hall) was treated to three encores. Finally, the musicians filed off the stage, punctuated by shoes scuffling and satisfied fragments of chatter. Schaefer likened himself to a sports broadcaster in a clubhouse, watching and interviewing athletes after a good performance. Mutter herself stopped and gave a proud baseball manager’s critique of her players, generous with her time for Spurgeon and Schaefer. In our living room, my wife and I applauded – for the leader, for the ensemble, and for the two hosts. Bravo, WQXR. Bravo! *** Two evenings later, we found a warm corner in our house to watch the Grammy awards. We are acutely aware of being, how can I say this, out of it. We don’t know the contemporary pop music that our kids and grandkids choose, but my wife has been an early fan of Adele, and I had heard that Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson were on the card, and that Bonnie Raitt was up for a few awards. Quite enough. We marveled at the star power of Lizzo and her group -- "Big Grrrls" – and we could detect the intelligent sizzle from Taylor Swift – and I wondered why the dynamic singer from Puerto Rico is named Bad Bunny – and we frankly didn’t think Harry Styles has much of a voice. Or does that matter?
But Stevie Wonder had the same impact that he did 50 years ago when he was “Little Stevie Wonder” – and Smokey Robinson could still rock. When Grammy-winner Kim Petras announced that she was the first trans woman to win an Oscar, I could not help but wonder what Gov. DeSantis of Florida – that scowling, ignoramus latter-day George Wallace wannabe -- was thinking, if he was watching. Will he ban the Grammys next year? Or CBS itself? Then came the spectacle – an anniversary celebration of hip-hop – 50 years? Really? A lot of gents with attitudes and costumes, names and faces I sort of recognized, came bounding onto the stage, chanting things that merited a quick and frequent network finger on the bleep key. Frankly, I was spellbound by the procession. Wish I had somebody to explain who they were and what they stood for. But…but…I liked them. Keep bouncing, guys. Beyoncé arrived late. The word was that she got stuck in LA traffic. I didn’t believe it for a minute. Beyoncé merits a squad-car escort with red-lights flashing. Late is fashionable. Beyoncé is fashionable. She can do better than that excuse. The Grammys honored dozens of music people who passed in the last year, starting with a sweet tribute to Loretta Lynn by Kacey Musgraves, singing her signature, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” My whole family, watching here and there, pinged its approval and why wouldn’t they? Auntie Loretta invited me to help write her autobiography—and put our three kids through college. Thank you, darlin’. Nearly three hours into it, First Lady Jill Biden came out to present the award for the best song. The announcement seemed to legitimately stun her fellow septuagenarian, Bonnie Raitt, who somehow managed a kind and coherent acceptance speech. I have been a fan of Raitt for decades, particularly for her “Road Tested” double album -- one of the most played albums on my iPod – with heart-touching songs like “Longing in Their Heart” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me” qualifying me as a flat-out Bonnie Raitt groupie. As poleaxed as she seemed, Raitt found the grace to mention John Prine, her friend who died of Covid nearly three years ago, who wrote the song “Angel from Montgomery,” on that same “Road Tested” album. Bonnie Raitt, thanking John Prine. With an hour to go on the Grammys, I clicked off the tube. Quite good enough for me on this long, cold and highly musical weekend.
Ed Martin
2/6/2023 07:22:07 pm
Great column,George, made me smile throughout. Coincidentally, Peggy and I heard a great concert last night, the Sarasota Symphony, which has become more than a regional symphony as the City has grown over the last 20 years, and a brilliant pianist Noboyuki Tsujii, born blind, won the “VAN CLIBURNE” international award in 2009, played the Rachmaninoff Piani Concert # 2 in C Minor, Opus 18.
George
2/7/2023 09:24:13 am
Ed and Peggy, we came to appreciate regional orchestras in our couple of years in Louisville....Glad you are enjoying the Sarasota orch.
Ed
2/7/2023 03:58:58 pm
We enjoyed the LI Philharmonic in our LI days, strong because of plentiful NY area musicians, Marin Alsop was conducting. Sarasota was comparable and is now stronger as is LI, I expect. (1990s)
Altenir Silva
2/6/2023 07:46:49 pm
Dear George: I love WQXR-FM. I always write my texts while listening to this amazing radio station.
George
2/7/2023 09:32:46 am
Dear Altenir: You are a true New Yorker, in southern Brazil. (The memorable christening of Neo in the church in the Village!)
Walter Schwartz
2/6/2023 10:15:50 pm
In the mid-70's I was one of five elected officials who sat on the board of our village in Westchester County. Oddly, two of us were named, Walter, which often contributed to confusion. I was the lone Independent and did not hesitate to share my minority views even though neither my Democrat or the Republican colleagues would never dare to adopt them. That's politics for you! But my namesake, Walter Neiman, who just happened to be president of WQXR at the time, and previously served as its program director and general manager was by far the most articulate, and a very kind, considerate and helpful gentleman. Sadly, he died in 1983 while still station president and only 57. Even now, when I think of WQXR, I often think of him.
GV
2/7/2023 09:42:05 am
Chief, how sad, passing at 57.
Martin Goldman
2/6/2023 10:28:40 pm
Dear George and Marianne,
GV
2/7/2023 09:49:40 am
Dear Martin: I just noted Alsop in my note to Walter, above.
Marcia Kramer Gitelman
2/7/2023 01:01:58 am
I just learned something. WQXR through the Internet. Why didn’t I think of that. After living in the land of Eastman School for so many years, Florida music seemed like a wasteland. We had pretty good live music until Covid hit. A lot of touring foreign orchestras. This year because of the war in Ukraine two canceled, but not the Ukrainians orchestra. Figure that one out. A big tree outside blocks my satellite music reception so that stops that method which works well if I am in my car I guess I don’t understand hip-hop. Last night’s broadcast was a bit difficult for me. Now when I am writing on my computer I will try WQXR
GV
2/7/2023 09:54:45 am
Hi, Marcia: how's that -- three straight comments from Jamaica High classmates. As for Florida music, my friends Ed and Peggy are enjoying the Sarasota orchestra....Marianne and I used to drive down to Miami when we stayed in Boca Raton, pretty nice concert series there. Good luck with WQXR-FM. Marty in Colorado and Altenir in Brazil report success! best, GV 2/8/2023 10:49:26 am
Andy Tansey
2/8/2023 09:55:30 pm
George et al., lots of great ideas about music here. I could go on and on about my spiritual beliefs and music's role in them. I'll just spout a theory. I believe I note that more and more newly arrived churches have great music and, dare I sound cynical, I bet a good portion of the worshippers are drawn by the music. As counterintuitive as it may seem, I don't believe that's a bad thing - as long as folks realize it. Music is one of the greatest - and my personal favorite - of the gifts of creation.
GV
2/9/2023 05:10:04 pm
Andy, great post. I totally agree. 2/9/2023 06:35:06 pm
George-- there are all kinds of great world music to listen to, but some have a special feeling when listening to them.
Andy Tansey
2/11/2023 10:13:58 am
Certainly, Alan, some New Orleans blues and dirges resonate in proof of your comment about a funeral. A lengthy Louis Armstrong compilation, "Gold," includes a couple from his early years. In ~2011, Eric Clapton joined Wynton Marsalis and members of his band at the Jazz at Lincoln Center hall for a blues-themed weekend, and Taj Mahal joined them at the end of the set. Until recently, I had been able to find only a couple of numbers on YouTube. A couple of weeks ago, I saw that the entire show was up there. I thought it was the most wonderful watch. At least two of those numbers, I think, could be characterized as dirges, Joe Turner's Blues, and Clapton's smash hit Layla, which they arranged to a dirge tempo. Riveting stuff but hard to keep one's fanny riveted and feet from dancing. If you are interested, enter the search terms "Clapton" and "Marsalis" in YouTube, and you should find it. Maybe an hour and a half.
Ed Martin
2/11/2023 06:53:37 pm
Andy, gang. Jazz91.1 FM is Canadian Broadcast Co. all Jazz fm station, I enjoy on my IPad. The NY area Jazz station was 88.3, from New Jersey, Newark, I think, not sure if it as still airing Jazz, we’ve been gone for so long.
GEORGE VECSEY
2/11/2023 05:40:17 pm
Alan, Andy,et al: we're on the same page. On Feb 2, 1972, the NYT sent me from my base in Louisville to Chicago for the funeral of Mahalia Jackson. Everybody was there, and one of the singers, Clara Ward, said the same thing Alan just did, when a photographer asked her to smile. (see link below) GV
Ed
2/11/2023 06:57:22 pm
Mahalia on 331/3 is in our cabinet under our record changer, (yes, that’s right and it works.). She was our intro to real Gospel in Bama and we also have a Mahalia Christmas Album, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.”
Andy Tansey
2/12/2023 09:35:32 pm
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."
Ed
2/13/2023 01:16:32 pm
Andy, Comments are closed.
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