Howard Smith discusses his book Note For Note: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Note For Note: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
An interview with author and amateur pianist, Howard Smith

Howard Smith has had a top-flight career in the world of computing and computer programming. On approaching retirement, he decided to leave his career and try something completely different – learn to play the piano. Howard had started the learn to play the piano as a child but was uninspired by the rigid approach adopted at that time and did not continue with his studies. In his book, Note For Note – Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered he describes the new and creative approaches which his teachers adopted to enable him to engage with the process of learning to play.

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Virtuoso tour de force from Carolin Widmann in Germany and streamed from Louth in Ireland

IrelandIreland  Hildegard von Bingen, Julian Anderson, Telemann, Salvatore Sciarrino, Bach, George Benjamin – Another Prayer: Carolin Widmann (violin). Recorded in March 2021 in St Martin Church, Audigast, Saxony, German and streamed from Louth Contemporary Music Society website (click here), 18.4.2021. (RB)

Carolin Widmann (violin)

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‘Old Life was Rubbish’: music by Cornelius Cardew and Laurence Crane makes a strong impression in Dundalk

IrelandIreland Cornelius Cardew, Laurence Crane – ‘Old Life was Rubbish’: Fiona Kelly (bass flute), Michael McHale (piano), Apartment House (Heather Roche [clarinet], Anton Lukoszevieze [cello], Sam Cave [electric guitar], Simon Limbrick [percussion], Kerry Yong [piano]). Streamed from Louth Contemporary Music Society website (click here), 17.4.2021. (RB)

Fiona Kelly (bass flute) and Michael McHale (piano)

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Conor Mitchell’s new opera for children is not without a dark side

IrelandIreland Conor Mitchell’s The Musician: A Horror Opera for Children: Soloists, The Belfast Ensemble / Tom Brady (Conductor), Livestreamed from Belfast’s Lyric Theatre as part of 2021 Belfast Children’s Festival, 12.3.2021. (RB)

Conor Mitchell’s The Musician: A Horror Opera for Children (c) Neil Harrison

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Social distancing is no bar to an excellent La bohème from Irish National Opera

IrelandIreland Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Irish National Opera / Sergio Alapont (conductor). Livestreamed from the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, 13.3.2021. (RB)

Merūnas Vitulskis (Rodolfo) and Celine Byrne (Mimì) (c) Ros Kavanagh

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Pianist and author Jack Kohl discusses his new book of essays with Robert Beattie

Robert Beattie in conversation with pianist and author Jack Kohl  Jack Kohl is a pianist and writer from the north shore of Long Island, New York. In 2019 he published a series of essays, Bone over Ivory: Essays from a Standing Pianist. In 2021 he follows this up with a new series of essays, From … Read more

Irish National Opera present twenty new compact operas inventively addressing themes of today

IrelandIreland 20 Shots of Opera: Cast of Irish National Opera, RTÉ Concert Orchestra / Fergus Sheil and Elaine Kelly (conductors), filmed in Gaiety Theatre, Dublin and broadcast on Irish National Opera Website 17.12.2020. (RB)

Fergus Sheil

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