Musical landscapes, Big Sur, and me

I’ve posted a new entry on the Pittsburgh Symphony blog, “Music, stories, and the world around us.” It’s in response to this weekend’s concerts, which featured The Dharma at Big Sur conducted by the composer, John Adams. Adams has said he wrote the piece to reflect his feelings on coming to Big Sur for the …

Encore! More of my conversation with John Adams

The three remaining segments of my interview with Pulitzer-prize winning composer John Adams are online at the Pittsburgh Symphony website. Part 4: John describes the feeling of releasing a book in the current market, how he came to write the book Hallelujah Junction, and why he wrote a book like this. Part 5: John talks …

How technology is changing classical music — part 3 of my conversation with the composer John Adams

The third part of my interview with John Adams, the PSO’s Conductor of the Year, is available on the PSO blogs. In this segment, John discusses how new technology has affected the way music is made, music itself, and the business of classical music. Read part 3 here. I’m posting this interview over several days, …

Lamenting the lexicon of musical invective — part 2 of John Adams interview

The second part of my interview with John Adams, the PSO’s Conductor of the Year, is available on the PSO blogs. In this segment, John talks about blogging and history, not being recognized, and what it’s like to sit in the audience when his works are performed. Read part 2 here. I’m posting this interview …

Interview with John Adams, part 1

In November, I had the chance to interview John Adams, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Conductor of the Year. John shared his thoughts on contemporary and classical music, audiences, writing his autobiography, Pittsburgh, the PSO and Heinz Hall, and more. I’ll be posting this interview over several days over at the PSO blogs, in anticipation of …

Pittsburgh Symphony Insider with John Adams — talk to one of America’s most admired and respected composers

Saturday morning, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will host a Talkshoe interview with John Adams, PSO Composer of the Year. Listen to and participate in a FREE live podcast with PSO Composer of the Year John Adams! Ask questions of this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and get insights into the concerts he will conduct of his own …