I Choose To Celebrate The First

The NPR classical music blog Deceptive Cadence just finished up a week devoted to "First Loves" - stories by famous musicians about the moment when classical music grabbed on and wouldn't let go. Tim Munro on Ives, Nico Muhly on Byrd, Zuill Bailey on Rostropovich, Nick Cords on Nadien, Jason Vieaux on Villa-Lobos, and Marian Alsop on Brahms.

That's quite a line-up - but maybe my favorite part of this feature is the invitation extended to blog readers to post their own "first loves". It'll warm the cockles of your heart.

And They Say That A Hero Will Save Us

Michael Tilson Thomas talks re: Mahler.

UE Mahler Interviews: Michael Tilson Thomas from Universal Edition on Vimeo.

Michael Tilson Thomas: sometimes I call him MTT, but only when I know he's not listening.

(via openculture)

Beans Beans The Wonderful Fruit

This is how I conduct, too. Please see other members of Spring '09 Conducting I class for references.

Every Little Thing She Does

It's a little unclear whether this article is talking about conducting batons or magical wands.
Just kidding: clearly conductors ARE magical.
Accio orchestra!