Culture Monster: Recent Episodes
Jonathan Gresl
Curious, Cultural Conversation from Calgary and Beyond! CULTURE MONSTER delivers intriguing stories about the giants from the past and introduces you to fascinating figures from the present. Hear what art-makers think about their work in their own words, and listen to host Jonathan Gresl bring to life some forgotten tales from the worlds of music, film, literature and more. There is always more to explore on CULTURE MONSTER.
Episode 18: American Conductor Leonard Slatkin
For the Culture Monster season finale, I speak with conductor Leonard Slatkin about his remarkable career and his new book, “Classical Crossroads.” I also endorse music by David Lang and Alan Hovhaness.
LINKS
The film “Olympia” documenting the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
https://thesportjournal.org/article/leni-riefenstahls-olympia-brilliant-cinematography-or-nazi-propaganda/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3LOPhRq3Es
David Lang is an American composer known for his association with “Bang on a Can”
https://www.npr.org/2011/01/24/89442735/david-lang-wins-music-pulitzer
https://bangonacan.org/about_us/
“Cheating, Lying, Stealing” originally for chamber ensemble, heard here in a later version for band.
https://davidlangmusic.com/music/cheating-lying-stealing-arr-band/
Leonard Slatkin conducted the premiere of Lang’s first orchestral work with the Boston Symphony in 1991.
“International Business Machine”
https://davidlangmusic.com/music/international-business-machine/
Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000)
https://hovhaness.com/hovhaness-biography.html
Mysterious Mountain- Symphony no. 2
https://hovhaness.com/hovhaness-mysterious-mountain.html
“Five Sacred Trees” Album from John Williams & London Symphony Orchestra which includes “Mysterious Mountain”
https://open.spotify.com/album/4pjd4sL03OuKTp9nxsyAJo
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/hovhaness-mysterious-mountain/263090524
Leonard Slatkin is an internationally acclaimed conductor, most recently Music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
https://www.leonardslatkin.com/timeline/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Symphony_Orchestra
in 2016, Slatkin made a series of videos showing how conducting works.
Conducting School 1.0
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2_S0hFw3zDl47TtV7iYbu-XhiuSrkgaW
Slatkin’s latest book is entitled “Classical Crossroads.”
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538152225/Classical-Crossroads-The-Path-Forward-for-Music-in-the-21st-Century
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/classical-crossroads-the-path-forward/9781538152225-item.html?ikwid=classical+crossroads&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=83201876771428de3e0ddae5987b9caa
Slatkin wrote about his appearance at the Aspen Music Festival at his blog
https://www.leonardslatkin.com/august-2021-a-tale-of-two-orchestras/
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has had many differing interpretations
https://medium.com/the-gleaming-sword/socially-distant-beethovens-fifth-symphony-5b457b0bb019
Leonard Slatkin referred to Leonard Bernstein’s deconstruction of Beethovens’s fifth for a 1950s Television show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu2HJerMp8A&t
Julia Perry “Short Piece for Orchestra”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/short-piece-for-orchestra/554425306?i=554425313
Brahms Serenade no. 1
Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11
Copland “Organ Symphony” recorded by Leonard Slatkin and the St Louis Symphony Orchestra
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/copland-dance-symphony-short-symphony-organ-symphony/1362101560
Mason Bates “B-Sides” performed by Leonard Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrnsy9KHdwQ
Slatkin also recommended music by James Lee III
https://www.jameslee3music.com
Support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
Published August 2021
https://www.culturemonster.ca
I speak with Holly Mathieson about her personal musical journey and endorse a Giller Prize winner.
LINKS
NYTimes on subway chimes:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/13/arts/subway-train-sounds.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUyYiZ_tU1Gw5CRWySB4B991re1b-Wm_s1nGPlazOIQylL3qEJGYGB_QLWYrdla8B13yieQJUJFo4Tc8FI770VOV1xGU7vo52YlY4MKDk0t4_0Bjxu08KdBL59rTS3Pizkc-wkge3nsUjDbmbtXKbf1yd1cQwysoIlIQ_xoQEAxqjCGuBw0tZ-zK1hUsg8HWFcEXHM6_r4CBx-OMGEZwXc6GQ1XeJYWTLSmr2M-u5KMVUSWR-dEiQJsStr48hcOdgUIK_0MxckHcL7ir8SAWZtR5y7pmYAt83CIxgl0vBWC_GFfg∣=url-share
Do Not Say we have nothing, by Madeline Thien
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/259732/do-not-say-we-have-nothing-by-madeleine-thien/9780345810434
Interview with the Author in The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/08/madeleine-thien-interview-do-not-say-we-have-nothing
R. Murray Schafer
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/r-murray-schafer-emc
50th Anniversary of the World Soundscape Project
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/world-soundscape-project-1.4640278
Acopolypsis-2015
https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/the-end-is-nigh-apocalypsis-production-to-blow-people-s-minds-1.3129522
A CBC story about another long-running participatory project
https://www.cbc.ca/music/why-people-gather-each-year-in-the-haliburton-forest-to-take-part-in-murray-schafer-s-wolf-project-1.5406731
Holly Mathieson is music director of Symphony Nova Scotia
https://www.hollymathieson.com
https://symphonynovascotia.ca
Excerpts from R Murray Schafer’s Trio for Flute Viola and Harp-performed by Trio Verlaine
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/trio-for-flute-viola-and-harp-ii-slowly-calmly/905067700?i=905067733
https://open.spotify.com/album/4rEp8TtftbHqIaK6GJNdiI?si=Nihhj1O-S960-sQiDPKH9A&dl_branch=1
Holly Mathieson recommended——
William Grant Still - Symphony No. 5 “Western Hemisphere”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/still-w-g-symphonies-nos-4-autochthonous-and-5/332767908
https://open.spotify.com/album/6H5G9x9y5suBLveGNtq3zk?si=0CmfLQ2ZSUqrAmiox9hjEA&dl_branch=1
Franz Schreker - “Der Geburtstag der Infantin” (Birthday of the Infanta)
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/zemlinsky-die-seejungfrau-schreker-der-geburtstag-der/1562851792
Thea Musgrave “Phoenix Rising”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/thea-musgrave-phoenix-rising/1440067691
Franz Schreker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schreker
William Grant Still
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Grant_Still
Rebecca Thomas (Halifax Poet Laureate 2016-2018)
https://www.dal.ca/about-dal/dalhousie-originals/rebecca-thomas.html
Published August 2021
https://www.culturemonster.ca
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
I speak with conductor Dina Gilbert about her life and career and tell the story of the great Olympic Hymn by Richard Strauss, that time forgot.
LINKS
Darius Milhaud was a busy well-known composer during the 20th Century.
The New Yorker published a guide to his music in 2017
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-indomitable-humanism-of-darius-milhaud
Arthur Fiedler conducted the Boston Pops for 50 years.
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1217.html
The “Boston Pops” an offshoot of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is one of the most recorded ensembles in the world—known for its association with Arthur Fiedler, John Wiliams, and current conductor Keith Lockhart
https://www.bso.org/brands/pops/about-us/historyarchives/the-history-of-the-boston-pops.aspx
Richard Strauss was an important German composer who lived from 1864-1949
ClassicFM’s 15 facts about Strauss
https://www.classicfm.com/composers/strauss/guides/facts-gallery/
“Olympische Hymne” by Richard Strauss was premiered August 1, 1936 during the opening ceremony of the Berlin Olympics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympische_Hymne
Photo of Strauss in rehearsal at the Olympic Stadium
https://web.archive.org/web/20091027074318/http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Studio/2891/olympia.htm
Dina Gilbert is Music director of the Kamloops Symphony
http://www.dinagilbert.com
https://www.kamloopssymphony.com
Gilbert is also directrice musicale of Orchestre Symphonique de l’Estuaire
https://ose.qc.ca
and principal conductor Les Grand Ballets’ Orchestra
https://grandsballets.com/en/
Kent Nagano is a notable American conductor who was Music Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 2006-2020. https://www.kentnagano.com/about-kent/
The english language version of his memoir “Classical Music: Expect the unexpected” is published by McGill-Queen’s University Press
https://www.mqup.ca/classical-music-products-9780773556348.php?page_id=73&
Samy Moussa is a busy Canadian composer with a long association with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
http://www.samymoussa.com/biography
Moussa’s Violin Concerto has been recorded by Andrew Wan-with Nagano conducting the OSM
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/ginastera-bernstein-moussa-works-for-violin-and-orchestra/1533874089
https://open.spotify.com/album/6nTReYFzI0mZHhco5cX7Q3
Dinuk Wijeratne is an award-winning composer who lives in Nova Scotia
https://www.dinukwijeratne.com/biography/
Dina recommended his Tabla Concerto
https://www.dinukwijeratne.com/tablaconcerto/
You can support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
Published August 2021
Episode 15: Paul Dornian and spectacle of the Olympics
As he exits his role at the Calgary Philharmonic, Paul Dornian chats with me about his life and career. Also
LINKS
“Rhapsody in Blue” from the 1984 Olympic opening ceremony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylUF32pwvtI
Premiere of John Williams “Olympic Fanfare and theme”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF0fEAFBOoM&t=168s
Lighting the 1984 Olympic Cauldron, featuring music by Philip Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbbVk3AGVhE
“The Raven Conspiracy” by Carmen Braden, performed by members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphtKI_Mg6M&t=135s
The Edmonton Symphony returns to perform in Symphony under the sky
https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/visit/symphony-under-the-sky/
Paul Dornian has been CEO of the Calgary Philharmonic since 2015
https://calgaryphil.com
In August 2021, the Calgary Philharmonic announced March Stevens would be its new CEO
https://calgaryphil.com/portfolio-items/marc-stevens/
Carmen Braden is an award-winning composer/performer from Yellowknife, NWT
https://www.carmenbraden.com
Paul Dornian mentioned the CalgaryPhil Project “an Orchestra Adventure with Maestro Karl and friends”
https://calgaryphil.com/kids-project/
support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
Published August 2021
I speak with violist Nick Pulos about his life and career, and recommend a new novel heating up the Alberta Bestseller list.
Unlocking, by Amy Leblanc — published by UCalgary Press
https://press.ucalgary.ca/books/9781773851396/
Amy Leblanc received the 2020 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award:
https://artsawards.ca/artist/amy-leblanc/
Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa was formed in 1969.
https://nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra/about/history
Nick Pulos was principal violist of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for many years.
https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/
Josef Suk “Into a new Life” March
performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Vaclac Talich, conductor
historical performance from 1938 available here
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/v-novy-zivot-into-a-new-life-op-35c/369420608?i=369420621
Support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
published Aug 2021
I speak with multi-instrumentalist and conductor Jeremy Brown about his varied career and endorse a book which isn’t a book. Also, can cats compose?
LINKS
Zez Confrery, jazz pianist and composer:
https://syncopatedtimes.com/zez-confrey/
Sacrlatti, “Fuga del Gatto”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhCBn3-4JKI
Amy Beach, American Composer (1867-1944):
https://www.amybeach.org/about/biography/
Jeremy Brown is a professor at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, University of Calgary:
https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/scpa/profiles/204-29912
His book “The Wind Band Music of Henry Cowell”
The Wind Band Music of Henry Cowell
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781351239264/wind-band-music-henry-cowell-jeremy-brown-michael-budds
Audio of Andrew MacDonald’s Concerto for tenor saxophone “Orchid Garden” featuring Jeremy Brown, Ottawa Symphony orchestra, Alain Trudel, Conductor:
https://ottawasymphony.com/rejoyce-episode-9
Kelly Marie Murphy is a Canadian composer:
https://kellymariemurphy.com
“I will dream Beyond the Stars” for Band:
https://kellymariemurphy.com/i-will-dream-beyond-the-stars/
“Fallibility, Logic, and the Return of Wonder” Alto Saxophone Concerto, commissioned by Jeremy Brown:
https://kellymariemurphy.com/fallibility-logic-and-the-return-of-wonder/
Fantasy for saxophone and string quartet by Nova Pon:
http://novapon.com/music/chamber-music/fantasy
Jeremy Brown is on the board of JazzYYC:
https://www.jazzyyc.com
Jeremy Brown is music director of the Calgary Wind Symphony
https://calgarywindsymphony.com/about-cws/directors/jeremy-s-brown/
Claude Lapalme is music director of the Red Deer Symphony:
https://www.rdso.ca
Listen to the complete archive of Culture Monster:
https://www.culturemonster.ca
June 2021
Episode 12: A chat with Grant Harville | “Papa Bach”
I speak with Grant Harville about making music in the heart of Montana, and make a recommendation for your next visit to Hamburg Germany.
LINKS
Minitur Wonderland, Hamburg:
https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com
Watch the world record wining train performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBNHmUT3GPg&t=17s
Behind the scenes of the trick:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfNEzpjY2Ho
“The Motherland hears the Motherland Knows”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uacEN-JtB9Q
Grant Harville is the Music Director of the Great Falls Symphony, Great Falls Montana.
https://www.gfsymphony.org
https://www.grantharville.com
De Boek Symphony in G:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/boeck-symphony-violin-concerto/19447673
Julia Perry Short Piece for Orchestra:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/short-piece-for-orchestra/554425306?i=554425313
Andrew Norman “Play”:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/andrew-norman-play/951454831
excerpts of Bach performed by Jeremy Brown and Su Jeon from the album “Ornamentology”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/ornamentology/1530844818
https://open.spotify.com/album/7GzcuF70VNOkYlYy7kRXJQ
Support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
see the complete Culture Monster Archvie at:
https://www.culturemonster.ca
Published June 2021
I speak with Red Deer Symphony Conductor Claude Lapalme about his career and what does a conductor do when he can’t conduct for a year? Also the strange life of Adolphe Sax, and the German composer who got himself on the cover of TIME magazine.
LINKS
TIME Magazine’s 1938 article featuring Richard Strauss:
http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19380725,00.html
“Ben Folds Composes a Song LIVE for Orchestra In Only 10 Minutes”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BytUY_AwTUs
Adolphe Sax’s 201st birthday doodle:
https://www.google.com/doodles/adolphe-saxs-201st-birthday
The Metropolitan Museum has a collection of instruments associated with Sax:
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2014/celebrating-sax
Public Radio International’s report on Adolphe Sax
https://www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-03/meet-dangerous-belgian-who-invented-sax
Claude Lapalme is the music director of the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra:
https://www.rdso.ca/musicians
“Behind the Red the Red Door” for String quartet composed by Arthur Bachmann and presented by the RDSO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX-TUNSS9dM
Claude is artistic director of the baroque ensemble Rosa Barocca:
http://www.rosabarocca.ca/home.html
Claude Lapalme’s recommendations—
Mahler Symphony No.5:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/mahler-symphony-no-5/1566087845?app=music
https://open.spotify.com/album/4HfSZiDvcUOcoaLdLpZWIP
Mahler Symphony No.4:
https://open.spotify.com/album/35QVkJzvDOxwQWRISo0Ndc
https://music.apple.com/us/album/mahler-symphony-no-4/1466028476
Corigliano Clarinet Concerto:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/barber-third-essay-corigliano-clarinet-concerto/393436361
https://open.spotify.com/album/4CBEI9htRG14HfzM1aOGuq
Liberson King Gesar:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4CBEI9htRG14HfzM1aOGuq
Vincent Ho Arctic Symphony:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2x8qSrgsS711NH93Tj4xM3
https://music.apple.com/us/album/vincent-ho-the-shaman-arctic-symphony-live/1293250081
John Estacio: Orchestral Works:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/frenergy-the-music-of-john-esacio/320290175
Jan Zelenka:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/zelenka-pisendel-concerti/361263786
Early Italian Masterpieces:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/perla-barocca-early-italian-masterpieces/913838720
Support the podcast at
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
excerpt from Richard Strauss: Don Juan performed courtesy of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony
excerpt from Jakob Dont: Caprice arranged for tenor saxophone, courtesy of David Hernando Vitores
excerpt from Bach, performed by Jeremy Brown
https://www.culturemonster.ca
First published June 2021
I speak with conductor, vocal coach and pianist Kimberley-Ann Bartczak about her journey to the podium and what making opera in Canada is like. Haydn’s skull was very useful to him while he was alive, but also had an unusual time after he was dead. Plus a double-dose of Culture Monster recommends…
SHOW NOTES
Kimberley-Ann Bartczak is Principal Coach and Accompanist, Pacific Opera Victoria:
https://pacificopera.ca/person/kimberley-ann-bartczak/
The Terminal (2004) directed by Steven Spielberg:
https://letterboxd.com/film/the-terminal/
CBC Radio “As it Happens” original story about Hassan al Kontar:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-friday-full-episode-1.4618548/syrian-stranded-at-malaysia-airport-says-canadians-renewed-his-hope-in-humanity-1.4618550
CBC Radio update on his book:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-monday-edition-1.6038621/he-spent-7-months-living-in-an-airport-until-canada-took-him-in-now-he-s-written-a-book-about-it-1.6038622
“Man @ the_airport” book website:
https://www.manattheairport.com
Other people who have lived in airports:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_lived_in_airports
work from the Pacific Opera Civic Engagement Quartet can be found here:
https://pacificopera.ca/event/music-alive/
POV’s two recent opera films are here:
https://pacificopera.ca/event/the-italian-lesson-bon-appetit/
Kim’s recommendations:
Toothpaste by Alexina Louie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSAsn9u3e8U
Burnt Toast by Alexina Louis (sequel to Toothpaste)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DrN57bRe4Y
The Argument by Alexina Louis (part of Burnt toast 8 mini-opera)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LXUrnVdV7M
CHEESE!
https://youtu.be/fTgm36y884c
The Queen of the night aria by Mozart referenced during the conversation is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuBeBjqKSGQ
Haydn excerpt courtesy of Wikicommons.
John Williams excerpt courtesy of US Marine Band
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
complete Culture Monster archives at
https://www.culturemonster.ca
Originally published May 2021
Episode 9: Tim Shantz | Bach, Handel & Eye Surgery
I tell the story teased from the beginning of Culture Monster—what is the connection between Bach, Handel and eye surgery? I also speak with notable choral conductor Tim Shantz on the power of ensemble singing, and recommend a British novel from the 1990s.
LINKS
News story on the Toronto Gallery heist:
https://cp24.com/four-pieces-of-art-worth-combined-265-900-stolen-from-gallery-in-toronto-1.5395704…
Medical Journal article on Bach’s eye problems:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/417322
University of Wisconsin Medical School’s version of the story:
https://www.med.wisc.edu/news-and-events/2009/december/handel-bach-blinded-18th-century-quackery/
Tim Shantz is a faculty member at the University of Alberta Department of Music:
https://www.ualberta.ca/music/index.html
Tim Shantz is founder and artistic director of the Luminous Voices:
https://luminousvoices.com/artistic-director
https://luminousvoices.com
He was also the former director of the Spiritus Chamber Choir and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus:
http://www.spirituschamberchoir.ca
https://calgaryphil.com/orchestra/chorus/
The most recent Luminous Voices recording is “Sea Dreams”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/sea-dreams/1522347176
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gmIVzH2KgF8vPJyQh6DEZ?si=h68Hh305SxiPKBj5vbkoYg
Tim Shantz and the Luminous Voices have recorded “The Far West” by Zachary Wadsworth
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/zachary-wadsworth-the-far-west/1525796302
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0pPYLosqkFmokl5C5lOzIu?si=ZCyNRaniT7mahlzpPhVQGg
Tim also mentioned
Frank Martin “Mass for Double Choir”:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/frank-martin-choral-works/69170555
Monteverdi “Vespers 1610”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/monteverdi-vespers/418622377
J.S. Bach “St John Passion”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/bach-st-john-passion-bwv-245-johannes-passion-deluxe/1087775578
The excerpt of Handel’s “Total Eclipse” is provided by the Internet Archive, and was performed by Richard Lewis.
HIs 1963 Calgary recital is available here:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/in-recital-calgary-1963-live/1386196451
Episode First published April 2021
https://www.culturemonster.ca
I tell the story about how the difference between VON and VAN really messed up Beethoven’s day. Plus my conversation with the articulate music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
Also, some updates on previous stories.
LINKS
“Soul” on Disney+
https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/soul/77zlWrb9vRYp
Digital Purchase:Soul
Petition to honour George Bridgetower with a historical plaque in Bath:
http://chng.it/XM2c6J4TPp
Calgary Opera’s Opera Labs:
https://calgaryopera.com/operalabs
the video about the first Lab project, “Namwayut”
https://vimeo.com/527922945
Gordon Gerrard Homepage:
https://www.gordongerrard.com
Gerrard is music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra:
https://www.reginasymphony.com
Composer Jocelyn Morlock
https://www.jocelynmorlock.com
Aeromancy appears on the album “Halcyon”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/halcyon/1236925047
My Name is Amanda Todd appears on the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s album “Life Reflected”
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/life-reflected/1218008826
Composer Harry Srafylakis:
http://hstafylakis.com/shortbio/
“Never the same river”
http://hstafylakis.com/neverthesameriver/
Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy:
https://kellymariemurphy.com
Dragon Unfolding:
https://kellymariemurphy.com/dragon-unfolding/
Buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
Culturemonster.ca
First Published April 2021
Episode 7: Violinist Edmond Agopian & Sousa’s Secret Career
I speak with a musician of passionate curiosity, violinist Edmond Agopian. I also tell the story of John Philip Sousa’s secret career, and the mysterious tale of the artwork still on the Moon.
CBC website story on the Thorgy Thor | orchestra collaboration:
https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/features/drag-star-thorgy-thor-brings-her-star-power-to-the-world-of-orchestral-musi
CBC gem link to the complete film “Disruptor Conductor”
https://gem.cbc.ca/media/cbc-docs-pov/season-3/episode-5/38e815a-0119a7bfbd7?cmp=sch-disruptor
(note outside of Canada, the entire film might still be available here https://watchmoviesonlinenow.xyz/movie/752824/
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser page at the Toronto Symphony:
https://www.tso.ca/conductor/daniel-bartholomew-poyser
Slate Article on the tangled controversy that surrounded “Fallen Astronaut” past and present:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/12/sculpture_on_the_moon_paul_van_hoeydonck_s_fallen_astronaut.html
Another Artwork on the Moon:
https://www.openculture.com/2019/07/tiny-art-museum-on-the-moon.html
German gallery selling authorized replicas:
https://www.galerie-breckner.de/edition-paul-van-hoeydonck-man-in-space/
VOD film documentary on “Fallen Astronaut”
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thefallenastronaut?ref=tw-share
The United States Marine Band’s appreciation of its former director Sousa:
https://www.marineband.marines.mil/About/Our-History/John-Philip-Sousa/
Sousa and “The Transit of Venus”
https://copycateffect.blogspot.com/2009/02/sousas-transit-of-venus.html
More info about Sousa as a writer:
https://web.archive.org/web/20041021201305/http://wgpark.com/page.asp?pid=10
Edmond Agopian page at SCPA-University of Calgary
https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts
https://scpa.ucalgary.ca/manageprofile/profiles/edmond-agopian
Edmond Agopian speaking of Beethoven’s 250th birthday and his continued influence:
https://ckua.com/listen/honouring-two-hundred-and-fifty-years-of-beethoven/
UCalgary String Quartet Album “Far Behind I left My country” featuring Agopian’s arrangements:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/far-behind-i-left-my-country-klezmer-east-european/324074237
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XM84Glc4OAUIh6qr0LAJd
Livestream: Dvořák – Morawetz Connections II:
https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts/news-and-events/school-events#!view/event/event_id/289813
Livestream: A Celebration of Music by Black Composers II:
https://arts.ucalgary.ca/creative-performing-arts/news-and-events/school-events#!view/event/event_id/289893
Chausson: Symphony in B-Flat:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/chausson-symphony-in-b-flat-major-op-20-franck-le-chasseur/1166131594
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bItTskYxH3Q6TgwIi1Uj0
Enescu: Poème Roumain
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/enescu-po%C3%A8me-roumain-vox-maris-voix-de-la-nature/403125669
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6bOXNXmNOhAd9vqTlStKsz?si=df433a123c0c4ef2
“President’s March (Hail Columbia)” courtesy of the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/presidents-march-rights-man-death-general-wolf-rights/394209001?i=394209028
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5Oxxso8ZLyfwd9BHZnVsvB?si=ba4b62b637a446f8
“Transit of Venus March” by John Phillip Sousa, courtesy of the US Marine Band
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/transit-of-venus/1021275726?i=1021275907
“Ukrainian Dance” from Far Behind I left my Country featuring UCalgary String Quartet:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/far-behind-i-left-my-country-klezmer-east-european/324074237
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1XM84Glc4OAUIh6qr0LAJd
Episode published March 2021
CultureMonster.ca
Support the Podcast and help create future episodes at
buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
In 1803 a virtuoso violinist came to visit Vienna and Beethoven wrote a new Sonata to play with him that would change music history; so why doesn’t it have Bridgetower’s name on it? The great musical partnership that wasn’t.
I also speak with Rosemary Thomson about all of the things conductors have to keep in balance, and the importance of having a personal relationship with her audience as music director of the Okanagan Symphony.
NPR Obit of Lou Ottens:
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/10/975598869/lou-ottens-inventor-of-the-cassette-tape-has-died
British Library Webpage about the Beethoven/Bridgetower tuning fork:
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/beethovens-tuning-fork
British Library Webpage about George Bridgetower:
https://www.bl.uk/people/george-bridgetower
Rosemary Thomson is music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra:
https://okanagansymphony.com
Rosemary Thomson photo by Glenna Turnbull
https://www.glennaturnbull.ca
Bramwell Tovey, former music director, Winnipeg Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Opera:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramwell_Tovey
Hans Graf, former music director of the Calgary Philharmonic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Graf
Non-Profit Quarterly article about the CPO turnaround:
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/phoenix-in-calgary-how-the-calgary-philharmonic-survived-bankruptcy-and-flourished/
Composer Jocelyn Morlock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyn_Morlock
Orchestral Album featuring Morlock’s Music
Apple:https://music.apple.com/ca/album/jocelyn-morlock-cobalt/830562463
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4ct3kGzOF5upOu4dhvu2EQ?si=N9h0vaGrS-6PIE5h84eZeg
Composer R Murray Schafer
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/r-murray-schafer-emc
Composer Emily Doolitte article about Schafer’s “Wolf Project”
http://emilydoolittle.com/wolfpaper.pdf
Composer Dinuk Wijeratne
Dinuk Wijeratne - Dinuk Wijeratne
Composer Chistos Hatzis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christos_Hatzis
Album featuring Hatzis’ music
Apple:https://music.apple.com/ca/album/christos-hatzis-lamento-ecstasy/1493802947
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3B1rWPvxCXSaSdfzdLvCXP?si=AMBZD-8HR4uOr17RD5MaEg
Composer Allan Bell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Gordon_Bell
Beethoven music provided by Musopen.com
Released March 2021
CultureMonster.ca
Episode 5: The Shuttle, A Centennial, and Schupannzigh
Join me as I speak about a happy day for technology, a sad one for space exploration, and the difficulties of being Beethoven’s friend.
Arlington’s website describing the Challenger memorial:
https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Space-Shuttle-Challenger
Richard Feynman’s memoir where he discusses the investigation into the Challenger disaster:
https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393355642
Wikipedia page on RUR author Karel Čapek:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_Čapek
Canadian Space Agency information page about DEXTRE:
https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/dextre/default.asp
Lyrics to Beethoven’s song about Schupannzigh
"Schuppanzigh ist ein Lump.
Wer kennt ihn nicht,
den dicken Sauermagen,
den aufgeblasnen Eselskopf?
O Lump Schuppanzigh,
o Esel Schuppanzigh,
wir stimmen alle ein,
du bist der größte Esel,
o Esel, hi hi ha."
"Schuppanzigh is a scoundrel
Who doesn't know him
the fat sour-belly
the puffed up ass's head?
O rogue Schuppanzigh
O donkey Schuppanzigh
We all agree
that you're the biggest ass
O ass, hee-haw"
Jan Swafford’s Beethoven Biography:
https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/beethoven/9780618054749
You can support the podcast here:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/culturemonster
performances of Beethoven and Barrios provided by Musopen:
https://musopen.org
Episode 4: The Mystery of Carlos Kleiber & Conversation with Carlos Foggin
I explore the mystery of famed maestro Carlos Kleiber, and speak with Rocky Mountain Symphony conductor Carlos Foggin about Beethoven, the Organ, and how taking a basic first aid course changed his life.
The Polaris Centre is active on social media and is also here:
https://www.polariscentre.ca
Carlos Foggin is the Music Director of the Rocky Mountain Symphony:
https://www.rockymountainsymphony.ca
A Finnish Orchestra and conductor give a stirring performance of Sibelius Symphony No. 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIIfMjRMqRs
The Swan of Tuonela performed by Finnish Radio Orchestra conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3_H5YlgKFU
Deutsche Grammophon’s video series “Mesmerized by Carlos Kleiber”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjE9aOcqqc8
BBC Radio 3 audio documentary about Kleiber:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EUsV2UJ7M
Video of “Der Rosenkavalier” conducted by Kleiber
https://play.wiener-staatsoper.at/event/531d2c08-94d2-4a3f-acd8-3cfdc62888dd
Traces to Nowhere- full length documentary on Kleiber’s career:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta8Tqjn7Suo&t=68s
EPISODE 3: Mark Morash and the Shakespeare Riot
I speak with Interim Music Director of the Calgary Opera about his musical journey, the need for Opera companies to invest in R&D, and the emotional power of the human voice. I also tell the story of the time competing versions of “The Scottish Play” in New York City caused a riot.
SHOW NOTES and links!
The story of the battle of the film rights over agent 007 is told in Robert Sellers book “The Battle for Bond.”
http://tomahawkpress.com/battle-for-bond-banned-edition/
Stratford Festival productions at CBC GEM:
https://gem.cbc.ca/series/stratford-presents/all/8d5898e8-9215-4c97-8fe3-a10b30c89d58?cmp=sch-stratford
Stratford@Home:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/Subscription
The story about Astor Place Riot is told is several places, including this podcast from the Folger Shakespeare Library:
https://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/astor-place-riot
For a more complete telling, Nigel Cliff has written an entire book about the incident- titled “The Shakespeare Riot: Revenge drama and death in Nineteenth-Century America.” Cliff situates the incident in tensions between working class Americans and the wealthy elite class:
http://www.nigelcliff.com/?page_id=52
Richard Nelson dramatized the events in his play “Two Shakespearian actors.”
https://www.broadwayplaypub.com/the-plays/two-shakespearean-actors/
Calgary Opera’s page on Mark Morash:
https://calgaryopera.com/resident-artists
Wikipedia page on the San Francisco Opera Merola Opera Program for emerging artists:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merola_Opera_Program
Calgary Opera’s free videos:
https://calgaryopera.com/videos
The Operas Mark mentioned:
Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Man_Walking_(opera)
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/heggie-dead-man-walking/680688122
-On CD
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5208&name_role1=1&bcorder=1∁_id=102119
A Streetcar named Desire by Andre Previn
-streaming
https://music.apple.com/us/album/previn-a-streetcar-named-desire/1452174581
opening scene on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRG29gtyjQc
As One by Laura Kaminksy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_One_(opera)
-streaming
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kaminsky-as-one/1469926527
cd/download
https://www.brightshiny.ninja/as-one
For starting out in Opera with arias, Renée Fleming told ClassicFM her favourite 6 arias here:
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/renee-fleming-favourite-soprano-arias/
“Che Gelida” by Puccini (mentioned by Mark)
La Boheme - Pavarotti- "Che gelida manina" Fiamma Izzo d' Amico "Si, mi chiamano Mimi"
As always send you questions, queries, ideas for future episodes to Jon@culturemonster.ca
In this episode, I speak with Conductor and Pianist Rolf Bertsch about his Career and genius of Beethoven, and also relate my favourite Canadian crime story: now with a 2020 update. Also, a complete holiday piano performance from Han Ding.
SHOW NOTES episode 2
Piano Performances heard in this episode performed by HAN DING: https://www.handingonline.com
Theatre Calgary’s Official Christmas Carol page: https://www.theatrecalgary.com/shows/a-christmas-carol
The ICI-Tele broadcast of the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens “Nutcracker” https://ici.tou.tv/casse-noisette/S01E01?lectureauto=1
Official Royal Canadian Mint Page about the Million Dollar Coin: https://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/million-dollar-coin-1600006
ArtNews story on the theft: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/berlin-coin-theft-1783515
CBC NEWS: The Current Radio Story: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-29-2017-1.4044278/how-did-thieves-steal-gigantic-1m-canadian-gold-coin-from-berlin-museum-1.4045314
CBC NEWS: 2020 coin story update: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berlin-gold-coin-heist-raids-1.5843764
The story about the Premiere of Beethovens Third Piano Concerto is told is Barry Coopers excellent biography: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/beethoven-9780195313314?cc=us⟨=en&
Beethoven’s Piano concertos have been recorded many times
Two recent recommendations are—
Stewart Goodyear and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Andrew Constantine: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=858&name_role1=1&name_id2=24438&name_role2=2&bcorder=21∁_id=5651
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-the-complete-piano-concertos/1499010141
Mitsuko Uchida and the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Simon Rattle: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2277234
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-piano-concertos-1-5/1488447983
Rolf Bertsch is the current music director of the Calgary Civic Symphony: https://calgarycivicsymphony.ca/Our-Conductor
Rolf’s Recommendations:
Filmed performance of Beethoven Symphony #4 and Symphony #7 with conductor Carlos Kleiber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3-jlAamGCE
Herbert van Karajan - Beethoven Symphonies (1963)
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2190074
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-9-symphonies-recordings-from-1961-62/1440764800
John Eliot Gardiner - Beethoven Symphonies (1990s)
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=443080
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/beethoven-the-9-symphonies/1452587530
Bernstein— Bethoven Symphonies (1980s)
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2262757
https://music.apple.com/us/album/leonard-bernstein-beethoven-the-9-symphonies/1452492300
Thanks for listening. Send your feedback, questions, and/or ideas for future episodes to Jon@Culturemonster.ca
Culture Monster episode 1
Welcome to the first episode of Culture Monster!
I dive into the difficulty of Beethoven’s Birthday, a Canadian Art Scandal, and speak with Karl Hirzer about the skills needed to be successful as an orchestra conductor.
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Links and more useful info:
C-Monster bite of the day:
“Conductor breaks down scenes from movies and TV” (YouTube)
https://cutt.ly/UhOt3XY
Macleans article about the “Voice of Fire” Controversy
https://cutt.ly/ZhOqu67
Wikipedia article on “Voice of Fire” (Including image)
https://cutt.ly/QhOqfHm
Karl Hirzer’s bio on the CalgaryPhil.com
https://cutt.ly/ahOqnWy
Performance of Unsuk Chin: Graffiti (Soundcloud)
https://cutt.ly/ohOqeMr
BeethovenHaus, Bonn Birthplace and museum
https://www.beethoven.de
Performance of Beethoven “Moonlight Sonata” courtesy of Musopen
Karl Hirzer of the Calgary Philharmonic joins me for the first episode of Culture Monster. What did we talk about? Here is a quick taste.
it's almost time for Culture Monster the podcast to begin. This is place for Curious Conversations with musicians and artists of Calgary and beyond, as well as fascinating facts and stories of the giants from the past. Season 1 starts December 2020