Sound bites
We all fall down
Classical music history is full of tales of conductors who have failed to keep their trousers on. Rarely, however, have they lost them mid-performance, a fate that recently befell Muhai Tang. As he was conducting the La Scala orchestra at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, a belt malfunction meant that the maestro’s boxer shorts were briefly revealed to orchestra and audience alike. His players dutifully carried on.
Honorary mention
No such worries at Concerto Köln which, over its 35 years in existence, has always operated without a chief conductor. Things are set to remain that way, but the acclaimed period instrument orchestra has, at least, recently announced that it is to appoint its first honorary conductor: namely Kent Nagano, with whom the ensemble has enjoyed a long partnership.
Not good friends
Nagano is soon to retire as music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, a post he has been in since 2006. Don’t, however, go putting any money on the role being filled by András Schiff. A break down in relations between the pianist and the MSO players during rehearsals led to Schiff opting not to guest conduct the second halves of their two concerts in late October. He did, though, fulfil his obligations to play Haydn and Beethoven concertos in the first halves.
Mollifying Mozart
With all this stress in the air, maybe the answer is, yes, to listen to a little music! Research conducted at the British Academy of Sound Therapy has led to the conclusion that a daily amount of 78 minutes a day is recommended to keep ourselves on an even emotional keel. The research recommends works such as Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 to help combat anger.