La Cieca has coverage of the latest goofball German opera production, a Ballo in Maschera with a lady Hitler. If you read through the comments, you'll find an intelligent debate between La Cieca and her cher public on the subject of Regietheater. Warning: some images may be "not safe for work," as the kids say.... Robert Flanagan's recent report on the state of the American orchestra — the latest in a long line of dire forecasts — has inspired much interesting debate. Greg Sandow defends it; Matthew Guerrieri applies heady Marxian scrutiny.... For perhaps the first time, Arnold Schoenberg has hit #1 on the Billboard chart (classical), thanks to Hilary Hahn's splendidly expressive account of the Violin Concerto, with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting (DG). I noted Hahn's discussion of Schoenberg last year.... The evidence is almost overwhelming: Shostakovich invented hip-hop. (Via Geelhoed.) ... UbuWeb has posted Dave Soldier's Most Unwanted Song, a scientifically informed attempt at maximally unpopular music. People sipping coffee at their computers should beware. (Via Phil Ford.) ... According to his iTunes Celebrity Playlist, Mick Jagger is listening to the Salonen recording of Messiaen's Des Canyons aux étoiles. Keith, more conservative, picks Beethoven's Romances for violin and orchestra. (Via David Bruce.) ... Never mind the superdelegates: an English-horn player has endorsed Obama. (Via Patricia Mitchell.)
