Weekly Music Roundup - Week Ending May 24th

Wow, what a week! The opera world exploded with the story of Tara Erraught, the Irish mezzo-soprano who was brutally attacked by several music critics writing for prominent publications. You can read my thoughts on that here and here. Most music blogs and publications are abuzz with this story, and rightfully so. Why shouldn't opera be about the voice? That in mind, here are the other stories in music news this week:

Weekly Music News Roundup: Week Ending May 9th

It's been a busy week for me, networking with organizations, writing articles for Persephone Magazine (where many of this blog's articles are cross-posted), and valiantly trying to defeat writer's block (and failing). Here's the top 5 (in my completely objective, unbiased opinion) musically notable news stories from the past week:

-Barbara Padilla, the operatic singer who was the runner-up in season 4 of America's Got Talent, is releasing her new album on May 27th. It will be a fusion of opera and pop, and I can't wait to hear what she's accomplished. (Source)

-Lindsey Stirling is outselling classical violinists by a huge margin, and some people are freaking out: a classical instrument playing pop and dubstep is obviously the end of civilization. (Source)

-NPR did a fantastic interview with the iconic Jessye Norman about racism and diversity in opera and classical music, and everyone should read it. (Link)

-Apple is looking to purchase Beats Music, manufacturers of high quality headphones and owners of a somewhat successful music streaming service, for $3.2 billion. And here I am, scrounging change from the couch to get some halfway decent headphones since mine snapped in half last week. (Link)

-Chuck Berry will be receiving the Polar Music Prize, which is arguably the music equivalent of the Nobel Prize. (Source)

That's it for this week - come back every weekend for more of my very important opinions about music. If you know of any notable music news stories, hit me up on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo. Until next week!

Music News Roundup - Week Ending May 3rd

Happy May! Spring is almost here even in the coldest reaches of the Northern hemisphere, festivals are preparing, venues are announcing 2014-2015 programs, and the music world is abuzz with excitement.

-The nominations for Tony awards were released this week, and there weren't too many surprises. I was happy to see so many nominations for Raisin in the Sun! The nominees for Best Musical are: Beautiful the Carole King story, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Aladdin (ugh), and After Midnight. (Source)

-Forensic testing of hair and bone fragments suggests that Beethoven lost his hearing due to lead poisoning, which likely came from the huge quantity of wine he drank. Oops. (Source)

-Tenor Javier Camerena joined a very prestigious club of singers whose performances prompted an encore at the Met in New York. It's said that the audience rose to their feet in thunderous applause, which I'm sure was very well deserved. (Source)

-NPR lists the top ten American classical music festivals, none of which I will be able to attend, sadly! (Link)

-Spring cleaning worth doing: organizing your music library. (Link)

-iHeartRadio had an awards ceremony, which included an award for "Best Instagram." Okay. (Link)

-The Colorado Symphony announced a series of concerts which will welcome cannabis users, in light of the recent legalization 5 months ago. (Source)

That's your truncated music news roundup for this week! Stop by every weekend for more news in music, and hit me up on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo if you know of a story or a project that needs a little bump! Till next week, readers! Auf Wiedersehn!

Weekly Music News Roundup - Week Ending April 26th!

It's been a busy week here in Dublin - music, art shows, and lots of networking! Take a look at this week's most notable stories in music:

-The New York Times' Corina da Fonesca-Wollheim wrote a brilliantly researched and written article on the history and emergence of the contemporary concert intermission. (Link)

-Patrick Freyne explains how to make music and influence no one. (Source)

-Someone built a music machine...out of Legos. I wish I was that cool. (Link)

-Boston startup Groupmuse is reinventing how we market classical music to millenials, and it is excellent. (Source)

-The guy who got a "musical tattoo" is helping to revolutionize how music is written, and in the process discovered something that could save lives. (Source)

-Cultural Appropriation abounds in Avril Lavigne's "Hello Kitty" music video, and <sarcasm> LOL you guys, she's *TOTALLY* not racist...</sarcasm> (Source)

If you know of anything musically notable - articles, fundraisers for projects that need a boost, or groundbreaking new music, hit me up on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo. That's all for this week, tune in next time for more music news roundup!

Music News Roundup: Week Ending April 19th

Most of us have a delectable 4 day weekend coming our way, starting today! Enjoy your time off (unless you're a church musician, then good luck), and catch up with this week's music news:

-The Strad has an excellent article on how to memorize music - an absolute must read for any performer. (Link)

-I normally hate Buzzfeed's clickbait, but this tribute to African American opera singers is informative and fun. (Source)

-Upcoming game release, Destiny, will not be postponed due to composer Martin O'Donnell's termination, which he says was "without cause." (Source)

-Coachella has more all-women bands and women solo acts than ever before! 16...out of 166 acts. Sigh. (Source)

-Pandora Radio is being sued for copyright infringement....again. (Source)

-The Guardian wrote a tribute to Robert Moog, patron saint of electronic music. Awesome!

-To absolutely no one's surprise, Samsung's Milk music service will soon have a similar price structure to other music radio services. (Source)

That's about it for this week - enjoy your time off, if you get any, and check back here next week for more music news! If you have any stories that need a feature, hit me up on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo. Happy 4 day weekend!

Weekly Music News Roundup: Week ending April 12th

We are one week closer to clearance Easter candy, and one week closer to summer holidays. Sure, we complain about how it's still cold now, but just wait until July when we all clamour for November to arrive. Here's this weeks music news: 

-Fiddle virtuoso Mark O'Connor drops and seriously damages instrument seconds before a concert, and requests to use the concert master's violin - if I were that concert master, I would be terrified to let my instrument into the hands of someone who just did likely irreparable damage to their own. (Source)

-Even the world's top violinists can't tell a Stradivarius from a high end new violin- but I bet an insurance claims adjuster can. (Source)

-How do you know when a composition is done? When do you stop editing? (Answer: when it is forcibly ripped from your hands.) (Source)

-All musicians have "day jobs." This article is inspirational and makes you feel like slightly less of a failure. (Link)

-To no one's surprise, Ian Campbell was booed last Sunday when he came out to announce what may be the final San Diego Opera production. (Source)

-In a world first, Kristine Opolais had her debut in two Met opera productions within one day. I cannot imagine the nap she took after she was finished. (Source)

-Johnny Cash's son, John Carter Cash, says he will never let his father's music to be used to advertise drinking or smoking, and I think that's awesome. (Source)

-Everyone thinks that music was better in their day. Surprise! (Source)


That's the news for this week, check back every Friday for more current events in music! If you know of a story that needs some publicity, you can contact me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Weekly Music News Roundup - Week Ending April 5th, 2014

It's finally April - the monsoon season of the northern hemisphere. With spring tidings comes music festival news, announcements, and gigs galore. Take a look:

-M.I.A and Janelle Monae are set to do a bi-coastal hologram concert and usher us into the 21st century. I feel like I'm living in Back to the Future! (Source)

-David Byrne asks an important question: Can musicians make a living off of streaming services?

-United Music Publishers has entered liquidation: a sad day for music. (Source)

-Song of the Lark's Emily Hogstad gives crucial and thorough coverage of the continued Minnesota Symphony troubles here.

-Sally Whitwell has a Pinterest account dedicated to women composers, and it is amazing. (Link)

-Violin legend Itzhak Perlman received terrible treatment by Air Canada at the Toronto airport - they left him to carry his own luggage and violin, even though he made his disability clear. (Source)

-The Sphinx competition for young Latino and Black musicians seeks to break the glass ceiling or traditional orchestras, and it is the most beautiful thing I've seen all week. (Source)

-The Guardian published a brief but accurate article about the state of whiteness in orchestras.

-There is a new app to create ambient music by waving your hands at your Mac, and I think it's safe to say that we all desperately need it. (Source)




That's the news for this week, check back every Friday for more current events in music! If you know of a story that needs some publicity, you can contact me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Weekly Music News Roundup - Week Ending March 28th

Another week, another Friday! It's been a busy week for music news, so let's get started: 

- The San Diego opera workers seek a legal injunction to stop the selling-off of assets after their last performance. (Source) Here's hoping they are successful because it would be a shame to see a financially viable opera house close down! 

-Toronto native Rachel Mahon named the new organist for St. Paul's Cathedral in London. (Source) Am I alone in thinking that in 2014 we shouldn't still be having "firsts" where women are concerned? Why is she the first to play an instrument that is 320 years old?

-Alice Farnham is spearheading a new "girls-only" conducting course for young musicians in London. (Source) Sian Edwards is also involved in teaching these young conductors. Brava! 

-Science has figured out why our brains like repetition in music. (Source) Does this also apply to Phillip Glass? 

-Kate Bush's 22 performance dates sold out in less than 15 minutes, and we are all devastated. (Source) 

-Rock band Can is releasing an official biography! (Source)

-This just in: Lollapalooza continues to be dull and lifeless. (Source) This is the festival's fourth year in a row of not featuring a woman as a headliner; the last woman to headline at Lolla was Lady Gaga in 2010. 

-The Soil, a new vocal group from South Africa, is taking the world by storm. (Source)

-MusicBox is a new FREE service that delivers new, FREE music straight to your inbox. (Source)

Here you have it, this week's biggest and best stories in music. Stop by every weekend for your Musically Notable digest! If you have a story or a project that deserves mentioning, please submit your ideas to me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Music News Digest, Week Ending: March 22nd

Another week, another week end! As we near the end of March, spring and summer music festivals are just around the corner, and we are all counting down the days to flip flops and t-shirts! Here's the run down of news in music this week: 

-Why aren't people writing love songs any more? SMH discusses this trend.

-Hear ye, hear ye: Kate Bush announces first tour in 35 years! (Source)

-Chordify is a new service that translates streaming or uploaded music into sheet music...kind of. 

-A modern "Sound of Music" story is taking place on Italy's 'The Voice.' (Source)

-Forbes explains why streaming music services can never revitalize the music boom of the 90's.

-The Huffington Post wants you to know that you are pronouncing that composer's name incorrectly.

-Germany has an excellent high-tech plan to foster more enthusiasm in music education! (Source)

-For some reason, we are still arguing about whether classical music is "dead" or not. (Source)

-Polish mezzo-soprano Ewa Gubańska has won the coveted Handel Singing Competition. (Source)

-Alexander Armstrong wonders if the out-of-tune orchestral parts in 60's pop music was intentional.

-Why did Ralph Ellison hate modern jazz? (Source)

Here you have it, this week's biggest and best stories in music. Stop by every weekend for your Musically Notable digest! If you have a story or a project that deserves mentioning, please submit your ideas to me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Music News Digest, Week Ending March 15th

Happy Friday! Here's what's new in music news this week - 

Salon.com suggests that practice may not make perfect: is there such a thing as a "natural?"

Neil Young's PONO Kickstarter has raised $2.5 Million in the 48 hours it's been live - PONO will be a high quality audio player that will likely debut this autumn. (Source)

The suspect in the hit-and-run killings of 2 people at the SXSW festival in Austin is a would-be music producer from Fairbanks, Alaska. (Source)

Than fancy new Amazon Prime music streaming service is going to cost you: yearly subscription is being raised to $99. (Source)

Jennifer Lopez is accused of "objectifying men" in her new music video for "I Luh Ya Papi." As always, don't read the comments. (Source)

Q: Where does Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"  appear, other than in Messiah? 

A: In the "Founding Hospital Anthem," written for an orphanage. (Source)

Lady Gaga fights the allegations that her Born This Way foundation spent funds irresponsibly. (Source)

Conductor Leon Botstein urges classical musicians to ditch their snobbery and try to help classical music be a community effort again. (Source)

Here you have it, this week's biggest and best stories in music. Stop by every weekend for your Musically Notable digest! If you have a story or a project that deserves mentioning, please submit your ideas to me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Musically Notable Weekly Digest, Week ending March 8th

Greetings and Happy Friday! I was actually able to go outside without a coat today, so it would seem that Spring is within our grasp! Here are the top stories of this week:

• Brainpickings.org wrote a piece on how to bust through writer's block!

• Brandon Nelson wrote a great overview of Franz Liszt on the Polonious Sheet Music blog.

• The American Academy of Arts and Letters have pieced Charles Ives' music studio back together, and the results are fantastic. (Source)

• Reports of opera's death have been greatly exaggerated: (Source)

• Manuela Hoelterhoff gives her opinions on the Met - (Source)

• NPR reports that Robert Ashley,the  innovative opera composer, died March 3rd.

• Spotify has purchased Echo Nest, a company that specializes in music recommendations. (Source)

• Scientists have identified a condition called "musical anhedonia" which can cause some people to be indifferent to music. (Source)

• Mamoru Samuragochi, the composer who faked a disability and used a ghost writer for 20 years, made his first public appearance since the scandal broke, has apologized.

Here you have it, this week's biggest and best stories in music. Stop by every weekend for your Musically Notable digest! If you have a story or a project that deserves mentioning, please submit your ideas to me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!

Musically Notable Digest - Week Ending March 1st

This week, Kay Perry's new "Dark Horse" music video is under fire for Islamophobic content - specifically, burning a pendant reading "Allah" with lightening from her fingertips. (Source: Independent.ie)

"Music and the Jews," a three part series beginning March 9th on BBC Radio 3, takes a unique look at the history and evolution of Jewish music and the taboo of singing: (Source: TheGuardian.com).

Livia Tortella guest-posting for Billboard.com wants to know why there aren't more music-related Oscar categories: (link).

It looks like Amazon is boarding the streaming music train - the service will likely be included in their Prime membership. (Source: inc.com)

Lost opera by Spanish composer, Enrique Granados, is found and slated for several performances in Spain this year. (Source: ucrtoday.ucr.edu)

Indiewire has sifted through the ashes of Oscars past and come up with the 5 best and worst musical Oscar performances: (link).

"How Music Varies from State to State, Region to Region" from Huffington Post.

Carrie Underwood laments how hard it is for women to break through in country music, which is still a male-dominated genre: (link).

And finally, if you haven't heard about the Sing for Our Planet project yet, you can check it out here.  The project is focusing on new music for community choirs, with a focus on environmental conservation.

Here you have it, this week's biggest and best stories in music. Stop by every weekend for your Musically Notable digest! If you have a story or a project that deserves mentioning, please submit your ideas to me on Twitter @AngelinaPanozzo or through my website, AngelinaPanozzo.com. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic weekend!