We occasionally offer reviews of books, movies, recordings, games and even gadgets, as they cross our path and appear relevant to our readers.
UPDATED: Sadly, the Vatican decided to cancel the entire tour for the Sistine Chapel Choir just weeks after this post. No real explanation was given. Chorus Angelorum, however, will continue on their own. Stay tuned for details on their activities this fall. Southern California Vocal Events from Jim Eninger’s Clickable Chamber Music Newsletter from the … Read more
by Natalie Mann, Lister reviewer As the pop song lyrics say, “Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing,” and it seems to apply doubly when hearing classical ensembles live. The King’s Singers have built an amazing oeuvre of gorgeous recordings throughout the years, ranging from high art to Beatles arrangements. But nothing prepared me for the experience … Read more
A review of Sarah Robinson’s new book on taking classical music to alternative venues by Kristen Toedtman Take a look at the websites of orchestras in any major city and you’ll see various ways in which venerable institutions are attempting to bring not just new, but specifically younger, audience members to the concert hall. (We … Read more
The new and expanded edition of one the nation’s business best-sellers has been released into the wild, and it contains some very Listerly ideas… With Never Eat Alone, author Keith Ferrazzi has honed in on essential tenets of life in and beyond business. What is unusual about his approach to relationship-building is that he somehow … Read more
This spring, Icon Books released You Are The Music: How Music Reveals What It Means to Be Human by Victoria Williamson. It’s a fascinating title, and a cutting-edge topic, as new research is bringing into question the 90s-era “Mozart Effect” that caused a global stir and sent parents hurtling toward tummy-hugging headphones, all sorts of … Read more
The “Poor Me” Manual: Perfecting Self-Pity – My Own Story, by Hunter Lewis Axios Press — New release: March 2014, 80 pgs, $12.00 This unusual book came to my attention a few weeks ago, and I started reading with the hope that it would be a useful exploration of a malady afflicting far too many … Read more
Amazon is in pilot season again, floating their second batch of first episodes and taking feedback from viewers before deciding which to greenlight. The war for original series supremacy has gotten more heated with the recent Emmy noms and win for Netflix, and with Bezos’ crew already aiming for world domination in so many other … Read more
How does one prepare for success as a professional classical singer? As author Carol Kirkpatrick puts it, “There are three things that are essential in any endeavor: Know the name of the game you want to play. Know the rules of that game. And most importantly, you have to know how the game is actually … Read more
