Celebrities have all the fun! 4 Months ago
BBC2 is premiering a new show where stars get to conduct an orchestra as part of a competition, the end result being a conducting stint on the final night of this year's Proms. How lucky for them, and exhilirating. You can find the article here: http://living.scotsman.com/features/Taking-up-the-baton.4378227.jp
Although I can't read music for the life of me (American public school education), I still love the idea of leading a group of musicians through the peaks and valleys of a piece of music. I have thought many times about what I would conduct my first time out. I have settled on Smetana's 'Vltava' to open, a great piece of music by any standard. To show off accompaniment chops, a traversal of Berlioz's 'Les Nuits d'ete,' one of my favorite song cycles. Then to conclude, Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Symphony. I love the music and I think it would be an amazing experience to really read through and study these pieces (with the help of a master, just like on the show).
The British have all the fun. I remember watching on BBC America the show about the regular John and Jane Q. Citizen getting to sing on an operatic stage. I would have liked to try that too.
Although I can't read music for the life of me (American public school education), I still love the idea of leading a group of musicians through the peaks and valleys of a piece of music. I have thought many times about what I would conduct my first time out. I have settled on Smetana's 'Vltava' to open, a great piece of music by any standard. To show off accompaniment chops, a traversal of Berlioz's 'Les Nuits d'ete,' one of my favorite song cycles. Then to conclude, Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Symphony. I love the music and I think it would be an amazing experience to really read through and study these pieces (with the help of a master, just like on the show).
The British have all the fun. I remember watching on BBC America the show about the regular John and Jane Q. Citizen getting to sing on an operatic stage. I would have liked to try that too.
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- James Rogers wrote:
- These shows where "celebrities" try their hands at things are now getting ridiculous over here though ! We've had ballroom dancing, ice dancing, gymnastics, living in the jungle and now this. At least it bring classical to a wider audience I suppose. Did you see the Classical Stars series? where young musicians competed for a contract etc - it was fascinating check it out at http://www.bbc.co.uk/classicalstar/series1/ James
- 4 Months ago