BACKGarrett Snedeker named Trinity Laban Fulbright Scholar
American pianist Garrett Snedeker has received Trinity Laban’s 2019/20 Fulbright scholarship to pursue postgraduate study. Snedeker, a recent graduate of Washington State University, will be part of Trinity Laban’s Faculty of Music, and will study piano with professor of piano and composition Douglas Finch. He will also work closely with Dr Sophie Fuller, programme leader of Trinity Laban’s Masters programme. As part of his Fulbright tenure, Snedeker will create a one-hour lecture recital presenting the final Beethoven piano sonatas as examples of progressive 21st-century gender ideologies. This project will demonstrate concepts of gender fluidity and gender role flexibility through a performance and discussion of the first movements of three sonatas, using Beethoven’s music as a cultural and educational tool to help others empathise with and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Operndiva Jessye Norman ist tot
Die US-amerikanische Opernsängerin Jessye Norman ist tot. Die Sopranistin starb am Montag (Ortszeit) im Alter von 74 Jahren in einem Krankenhaus in New York, wie unter anderem die „New York Times“ und der Radiosender NPR unter Berufung auf einen Sprecher ihrer Familie berichteten. Auch die New Yorker Metropolitan Opera bestätigte der Deutschen Presse-Agentur den Tod der Sängerin.
Ursache dafür waren ein septischer Schock und Multiorganversagen infolge von Komplikationen nach einer Rückenmarksverletzung, die sie 2015 erlitten hatte.
Norman gewann in ihrer Laufbahn vier Grammys für ihre Aufnahmen und einen für ihr Lebenswerk, zudem die Ehrenmedaille National Medal of Arts. Die Afroamerikanerin feierte als eine der ersten dunkelhäutigen Künstler in der Opernwelt Erfolge.
Opera diva Jessye Norman is dead
The American opera singer Jessye Norman is dead. The soprano died on Monday (local time) at the age of 74 years in a hospital in New York, including the “New York Times” and the radio station NPR, citing a spokeswoman for her family reported. Also, the New York Metropolitan Opera confirmed the German Press Agency the death of the singer.
This was due to septic shock and multiple organ failure due to complications after a spinal cord injury that she had suffered in 2015.
Norman has won four Grammys for her recordings and one for her life’s work, as well as the National Medal of Arts Medal of Honor. The African-American celebrated success as one of the first dark-skinned artists in the opera world.
Un “‘Impromptu” de Schubert joué à Saint-Sulpice pour Jacques Chirac
Le “service solennel” consacré à Jacques Chirac ce lundi 30 septembre 2019 s’est terminé en musique. Au piano, le chef Daniel Barenboim a interprété “L’Impromptu” Op.142 de Franz Schubert dans l’église Saint-Sulpice, à la demande d’Emmanuel Macron.
Composés en 1828, l’année de la mort du compositeur autrichien, les “Impromptus” sont une série de quatre pièces d’une dizaine de minutes chacune, écrites pour le piano. Elles représentent pour les spécialistes de la musique classique l’exemple parfait de la lutte de Schubert contre les modèles académiques de l’époque.
Et le choix de voir le chef Daniel Barenboim jouer cette œuvre ne s’est pas fait par hasard. Si les autres textes et musiques ont été décidés par la famille de l’ancien président de la République, c’est Emmanuel Macron en personne qui a opté pour ce moment-là.
An “Impromptu” by Schubert played in Saint-Sulpice for Jacques Chirac
The “solemn service” dedicated to Jacques Chirac on Monday 30 September 2019 ended with music. At the piano, conductor Daniel Barenboim performed Franz Schubert’s “L’Impromptu” Op.142 in the Saint-Sulpice church, at Emmanuel Macron’s request.
Composed in 1828, the year of the Austrian composer’s death, the “Impromptus” are a series of four pieces of about ten minutes each, written for piano. For classical music specialists, they represent a perfect example of Schubert’s struggle against the academic models of the time.
And the choice to see conductor Daniel Barenboim play this work was not made by chance. If the other texts and music were decided by the family of the former President of the Republic, it was Emmanuel Macron himself who decided for that moment.