The music crime wave continues: first Mahler graffiti in Toronto, now a Nono burglary in Vienna.... There's been an explosion of commentary on Richard Taruskin's behemoth New Republic article: Geelhoed, Boring Like a Drill, Guerrieri, Smith, Sandow, AC Douglas, and more. Me? If I were to address the same subject, I might employ a different style, but I agree completely with Taruskin's main argument.... In the preface to Best Music Writing 2007, Robert Christgau, editor of the anthology, explains why he picked several pieces covering music he can't stand: "Far from leading me to new music, these essays saved me from it. With a good writer, reading about music you don't like often beats listening to it. You gain cultural grasp with no loss of ear time." Hear, hear!.... In conjunction with Carnegie's massive Berlin in Lights festival, WNYC is presenting several weeks of Berlin-themed programs. Soundcheck's John Schaefer and Brian Wise are blogging now from the Other City. And on Nov. 14 the station will broadcast live a Berlin Philharmonic concert that pairs Das Lied von der Erde with Thomas Adès's immensely gripping new work Tevot.
