As medici.tv’s Chief Content Officer I spend a lot of time thinking about classical music—and a lot of time on the internet. Here’s my selection of the top five news items you need to see this week if you want to stay in the know.
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What happens in a pianist’s brain while performing? (NYT)
Nicolas Namoradze is at the forefront of new research into what goes on in the brain during a piano performance, harnessing recent technological advances like the Spirio player piano, which captures physical movement in astonishing detail, and wearable EEG caps to track brain activity. As the NYT discovered, Namoradze is uniquely suited for this role: several years into a successful career as a concert pianist, he went back to school to study neuropsychology: “Most amateurs would struggle to maintain his degree of accuracy, even finger-syncing to a player piano. And many concert pianists are far too physically animated to take part in EEG studies in which the data is contaminated by the slightest head movement.”
Hilary Hahn undergoes surgery for cervical spinal disc herniation (The Strad)
Celebrated violinist Hilary Hahn recently underwent surgery to address a cervical spinal disc herniation that had repeatedly hampered her ability to perform in recent years. On social media, Hahn shared that her neck is now pain-free with healthier alignment and her long-term prognosis is promising.
Dynamic pricing has come to opera—what’s at stake? (Opera Now)
In Opera Now magazine, journalist (and regular Page Turner contributor!) Andrew Mellor took a look at the dynamic pricing model some opera companies are starting to explore, reflecting on what’s at stake for the art form and how this financial strategy fits in with broader discussions on inclusivity and reach.
Classical music and the dying art of paying attention (The Guardian)
“Classical’s blessing and curse is that it demands our unmediated attention and our time, making it unfit for purpose in the second quarter of the 21st century. What to do with hour-long symphonies and evening-length operas in a cultural feedback loop of ever-shorter attention spans and a media landscape in thrall to the playlist, the reel, the image, the moment? Who has time for time?” In the Guardian, Tom Service argues that instead of chipping classical music into bite-sized pieces, it’s an opportunity to appreciate long form art—and the art of concentration.
The new ballet shoes using sneaker technology (NYT)
“Everything starts at the feet,” says ballet dancer Seth Orza, a former professional ballet dancer and the mastermind behind the latest development in dance gear: ballet shoes that incorporate the shock-absorbing tech common in the sneaker industry. The NYT sat down with Orza to talk about what it’s like bringing game-changing design to a centuries-old tradition.
