Classical Notes: January 16, 2009 Archive

Thank you, sir, may I have another?

Posted at 10:35 AM on January 16, 2009 by Gillian Martin

Once upon a time, if an audience at a concert applauded enthusiastically enough for a piece, or even a movement of a piece, that piece or movement would be repeated, in it's entirety, immediately. (This was in that same magical time when clapping between movements was not only allowed, but expected.)

Well, there was a twist on that concept earlier this week when violinist Itzhak Perlman repeated a piece because the audience hadn't applauded enough. Read about it here.

Mendelssohn at the Movies

Posted at 4:41 PM on January 16, 2009 by Rex Levang (2 Comments)

The other day Gillian Martin mentioned the latest Mendelssohn allegations, which, as she notes, could be the basis of a tabloid article.

They could also be the basis of one of those composer biopics that Hollywood used to make, with titles like "Song of Love" and "Song to Remember." There's the story itself, plus an interesting cast of supporting characters: composers, royalty, even P. T Barnum, who brought Jenny Lind to America. Any ideas on casting? Who could play Mendelssohn himself? (I've penciled in a couple of names already.)

Felix Mendelssohn: ???
Jenny Lind: Scarlett Johansson? Kate Winslet?
Fanny Mendelssohn:
Queen Victoria: Keira Knightley
P. T. Barnum: John Goodman
Robert Schumann:
Clara Schumann:

For a title--what about "Song Without Words"?

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