Classical Notes: September 9, 2008 Archive

Mahler and Metallica: Closer than you think

Posted at 11:45 AM on September 9, 2008 by Gillian Martin

I love scientific studies like this one: researchers at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, have found "a distinct correlation between people's personality traits and the style of music they enjoy."

In particular, they found that heavy metal fans and classical music lovers have common personality traits:

"Aside from their age difference, they're basically the same kind of person," he said. "Lots of heavy metal fans will tell you that they also like Wagner, because it's big, loud and brash. There's also a sense of theatre in both heavy rock and classical music, and I suspect that this is what they're really trying to get at when they listen."

But where does that leave fans of Haydn string quartets, or Bach keyboard suites, I wonder? Anyway, read the whole article here. (And thanks to artsjournal.com for the tip.)

Minnesota Orchestra + Osmo Vanska = Perfect 10, x 2 !

Posted at 9:55 PM on September 9, 2008 by John Birge

Kudos to Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra!

Their new Beethoven CD gets a perfect 10 for performance (plus another perfect 10 for recording quality) from David Hurwitz at classicstoday.com. He writes:

"Brilliantly engineered, utterly natural sonics in all formats provide the finishing touch on a Beethoven cycle that stands with Barenboim's as a modern reference edition, and that features a Seventh that just may top them all."

This is one of the most glowing reviews I've read of any classical CD!
You can read the whole review here, and buy the CD here.