Synaphaï: Gene Gaudette's Blog

Roger Muraro has confirmed to the NY Times that Yvonne Loriod has died in Saint-Denis. Best known as Olivier Messiaen's muse and the most prominent champion of his piano music, she was also one of the greatest French piano pedagogues of the later 20th century.

Details at Classical Source.

David Randolph was a dynamic figure in New York City's local classical music scene, best known as a choral conductor, but also an erudite and affable presence on WNYC for decades. The NY Times' Margalit Fox has a detailed obituary. Randolph was a frequent concertgoer, and one would frequently see him chatting with multiple colleagues, friends, and singers before concerts and during intermission. As one can easily discern from the obit, he was much-beloved not only here in New York but around the region.

The Los Angeles Times reports that hyperkinetic maestro Gustavo Dudamel injured himself Thursday night while conducting the finale of Dvorák's Cello Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The orchestra is about to embark on a national tour, and here's hoping Dudamel recovers in time for departure. In the meanwhile, he might consider reviewing some vintage action footage of Fritz Reiner, whose economy of movement is almost as legendary as his notorious podium temperament, which could run the gamut from withering to tyrannical.

Just back from the all-Stravinsky program with Valery Gergiev guest conducting the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall — part of the orchestra's "The Russian Stravinsky" series, and the orchestra's 15,000th concert!

Yes, as it turns out…