New York Philharmonic

(Well, "live" as in via the PBS website, which is streaming video of the concert.) 4:08am: The Philharmonic has taken the stage, and is playing both the North Korean and American national anthems. They play both standing up, from memory. Impressive. The hall is filled with party officials, but no Kim Jong Il - at least not in plain sight. 4:14am: After playing Wagner's Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin,   Maazel speaks from the stage, introducing Dvorak's New World Symphony. He tells everyone that the Philharmonic commissioned and premiered in 1893. He finishes by speaking a brief phrase in Korean, to the audience's ... Read Full Story

I About a year and a half ago a 15-year-old violinist named Shannon Lee came to town and blew away listeners while performing works by Bach, Vitali, Kreisler and Bazzini. Then came Prokofiev, Chopin and Wieniawski for the encore. The impressive recital in an Anthem Country Club home was part of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Connoisseur Series. It was the first time a Las Vegas audience had seen Lee and it was quite a treat. Lee is back to perform Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 on Saturday with the Las Vegas Philharmonic as part of its fourth Masterworks concert of the season. Lee, who ... Read Full Story

[ Ushaka KaSenzangakhona: An epic in music and poetry on Shaka, son of Senzangakhona; National Symphony Orchestra of SABC; Robert Maxym, Conductor; Mzilikazi Khumalo, Choral Director; Sony CDCSL 8047 (1997)] ArtZone.co.za: “ A right royal ending for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 25th anniversary season. The expansive music epic cantata, uShaka KaSenzangakhona, which is based on the dramatic story of the Zulu King uShaka KaSenzangakhona has been chosen as the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s World Symphony Spring Season finale to take place with a host of soloists and choirs, in the Durban City Hall at 7:30pm on Thursday 13 November 2008.” “ Composed by respected South ... Read Full Story

[ Oregon Festival of American Music Presents William Grant Still; Oregon String Quartet; Victor Steinhardt, piano; Fritz Gearhart, violin; Koch 3 7546 2H1 (2002)] Voices: Celebrate black history Chronicle-Tribune Composer’s work featured at next MPO show BY MARY KIRBY executive director, Marion Philharmonic Orchestra Published: Sunday, February 1, 2009 1:09 AM EST “Feb. 21, the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra will present the William Grant Stil l Symphony No. 2 — Song of a New Race. This wonderful symphony is especially appropriate for Black History Month and even more special as we just inaugurated our first African-American president. William Grant Still (1895-1978) was an African-American classical ... Read Full Story

In 1932, Josef Stalin presided over one of the worst man made famines in world history. During the years 1932-1933, Ukrainian peasants, who were instrumental in making Ukraine the "breadbasket of Europe" were forced into a network of collective farms. They were completely stripped of all personal property, from agricultural implements to jewelry. They were left with no cushion against the displacement that would have occurred even during a well planned and consensual transition to collective farming. The forced collectivisations were neither well planned nor consensual. They were strongly opposed by the Ukrainian farmers whose way of life was brutally disrupted. Anyone who attempted ... Read Full Story