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.
Pioneering director Robert Wilson passed away (The Guardian)
Renowned stage director, playwright, and artist Robert “Bob” Wilson passed away at the age of 83 this week. In the classical music world he will be remembered for his striking, often minimalist operatic stagings, as well as his role in creating Einstein on the Beach alongside composer Phillip Glass in the 1970s—a now-iconic twentieth-century masterwork that revolutionized modern opera. Learn more about his legacy in this obituary from The Guardian.
The Met Opera tricked by fake millionaire with a fraudulent donation (NYMag / Operawire)
NYMag published a fascinating exposé on Matthew Christopher Pietras, a prominent figure of the NYC cultural elite—and also it seems a skilled con artist. Pietras was a longtime board member of The Metropolitan Opera but this spring, the first payment of a $15 million donation was flagged as suspicious, and two days later, Pietras was found dead in his apartment. The article traces the fall-out in the weeks after, which left The Met scrambling to save face and readjust its budget. (The article is behind the paywall; Operawire has a quick summary of the key points.)
John Williams takes on the piano concerto (New York Times)
Hollywood legend John Williams is trying his hand at one of classical music’s most monumental—and intimidating—genres: the piano concerto. Despite Williams’ training as a pianist, the instrument did not figure prominently in his classical output (which includes concertos for other instruments like violin, cello, flute, and bassoon). Williams spoke to The New York Times this week about finally taking the leap: “So much in the history of music, piano, keyboard, digital, fingers — that anyone would be daunted, I think.”
Beethoven’s Für Elise the soundtrack of Taiwanese garbage trucks (Classic FM)
This is not really news but it is news to me: this week I learned that garbage trucks in Taiwan play an excerpt of Beethoven’s Für Elise as they roam the streets, signalling to residents that it’s time to pop out and hand over their garbage. Video proof in this article from Classic FM.
What if opera characters had Instagram? (Instagram)
This clever and charming Instagram post from @gleb.countertenor, which has been making the rounds on the medici.tv slack this week, imagines what beloved opera characters like Violetta, Carmen, and Cherubino would have posted on social media.
