Do Musicians Need To ‘Suffer’ In Order To Play Emotionally Challenging Works?

Wait, You Need to Suffer Some More Musicians Grapple With Beethoven January 2, 2015  |  The New York Times “Which master managed, as Beethoven did in his late music, to weld together present, past and future, the sublime and the profane?” Alfred Brendel wrote in his recent book for piano ...

Look East, West and Inward Challenges Test Turkey’s Classical Music Ensembles July 10, 2014   |   The New York Times ISTANBUL — On a recent evening here, young people tossed Frisbees on the grassy lawns of an American-style college campus, while elegantly clad patrons sipped wine before a concert featuring ...

Istanbul Deftly Takes Contrasts in Its Stride Rumi Is an Inspiration at the Istanbul Jazz Festival July 7, 2014   |   The New York Times ISTANBUL — During one particularly eclectic afternoon here at the end of June, I watched the whirling dervishes in their serene ritual at the 15th-century Mevlevi ...

Ostad Elahi (1895-1974), an Iranian judge and a tanbur master. Photo credit: Nour Foundation. Honoring an Instrument of Few Strings With the Strength of a Symphony Ostad Elahi, a Tanbur Master, Is Celebrated at Met Museum August 29, 2014   |   The New York Times Most mystics begin their lives ...

...

Sacred Chants Reverberating Once Again August 4, 2010   |   The New York Times TBILISI, Georgia – On a swelteringly hot morning in this elegant capital city recently, worshippers crammed in the ornately frescoed sixth-century Anchiskhati Basilica. Women in colorful head scarves prayed and kissed icons as the venerable Anchiskhati Choir sang ...