Born and raised in Washington, D.C., I couldn't help but develop a keen interest in politics, but music, theater and visual art also proved great attractions. Music became my main focus after high school. I thought about being a cocktail pianist, but I hated taking requests, so I studied music history instead, earning a B.A. in that field from Eisenhower College (Seneca Falls, N.Y.) and an M.A. from Occidental College (Los Angeles). I then landed in journalism. After freelancing for the Washington Post and others, I was classical music critic for the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida, where I also contributed to NPR. I've written for the New York Times, BBC Music Magazine and other publications, and I'm a longtime contributor to Opera News. My book, The NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music (Perigee, 2002), can be found on the most discerning remainder racks.
I joined the Baltimore Sun as classical music critic in 2000 and, in 2009, also became theater critic, giving me the opportunity to annoy a whole new audience. In 2010, my original Clef Notes blog expanded to encompass a theatrical component -- how could I resist calling it Drama Queens? I hope you'll find both sides of this blog coin worth exploring and reacting to; your own comments are always welcome and valued (well, most of them, at least).
Think of this as your open-all-hours, cyber green room, where there's always a performer or performance to discuss, some news to digest, or maybe just a little good gossip to share.
Note: Tim Smith now writes about the fine arts at
baltimoresun.com/artsmash. This blog will be kept in place as an archive for an indefinite period. Please visit the new location to get the latest Mid-Atlantic arts coverage.
View the Artsmash blog
Comments
Yeah, Lenny could be a glacier _and_ a fireball, and he usually made complete sense in either case, even in music that many do not consider to be his absolute forte. (He certainly never bored _me_!) One thing's for sure: he brought a _tremendous_ amount of character to his interpretations. While we have a large recorded legacy, I definitely miss him.
(He also never talked _down_ to people when explaining music.)
Speaking of dynamic interpreters, I'm currently listening to the newly-released Bruckner cycle from Volkmar Andreae on Music & Arts (recorded in 1953), and I _must_ say that this is a _major_ reissue! Talk about loads of verve and character -- this man was, without question, a master Brucknerian, and these recordings are full of _very_ distinctive touches (Andreae was influenced by "early" Bruckner performance practice, so to speak). In short, this isn't your father's Bruckner, nor your grandfather's -- it's your great-grandfather's Bruckner, and my, oh my, is it positively _alive_! I've listened to 4-9 so far, and this man could give Furtwängler a serious run for his money...
Thanks for the report on the Bruckner recordings, which I do not know. One more discovery I'll have to make. TIM
Posted by: Doug Halfen | August 28, 2009 1:19 AM