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Monthly Archives: February 2011

SET LIST 2/28/11, MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

2/28/11

Melburnians come ready to party, y’all. That was some festive audience we had tonight! I had a fantastic time (with the exception of a very unpleasant piano), and Rachael Beck sang so beautifully – looking forward to the rest of this Aussie tour. Audiences in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane have a lot to live up to! All Things In Time I Could Be In Love With Someone Like You Long Long Road Stars and the Moon (Rachael Beck) One More Thing Than I Can Handle (Rachael Beck) When You Say Vegas Anywhere But Here (Rachael Beck) Still Hurting (RachaelRead More »

ASK JRB: INTERPRETING THE SCORE

2/21/11

Some of you may have already read Georgia’s blog, in which she responds to questions about performance practice and score interpretation posed by our friend, Bruce Mayhall (who we met when he was the conductor of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles). As it happens, Bruce sent the same questions to me, and I thought I’d post my answers as a complement to Georgia’s. Interestingly (or predictably), Georgia and I say a lot of the same things, but my answers are much more pretentious and overthought, which is probably reflective of our relationship in general. So, first: what wouldRead More »

JRB on NPR: Sing Out Mr President!: Honest Abe, Bullets and Voting Booths (2/11/11)

2/11/11

Tom Huizenga and Ashalen Sims’s article, with a recording of the full round and several interview clips, can be found here. “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” —Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln led the country through its most violent internal struggle — and left behind some famous words. Throughout February, hear new works by contemporary composers based on words of 16 American presidents, in premiere recordings by conductor Judith Clurman and Essential Voices USA. Today: words from Abraham Lincoln set by Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown. There are few Americans more iconic than Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president. Mention hisRead More »

John Lithgow stars in Trumpet of the Swan at the Kennedy Center

2/10/11

Andrew Gans’s article on Playbill.com here. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will present The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony for two performances only in the Concert Hall March 27 at 2 PM and 5 PM. Joe Calarco directs. Tony Award winner John Lithgow will star in the production, which is based on the book by E.B. White and adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, who will also conduct. Lithgow will play the boy Sam in a cast that also features local award-winning actors Naomi Jacobson as Mother Swan, Jason Lott asRead More »

JRB & Anika Noni Rose in NYC in April!

2/9/11

This’ll have to be a quick one, because I’ve got so much going on that I don’t have time for a long update. The big news: after last year’s smash success run at Birdland and an amazing sold-out stand in London, the glorious Anika Noni Rose and I are coming back to New York to do our show with The Caucasian Rhythm Brass Band, eight pieces strong. And we’re doing it at the very hip Abrons Arts Center at Henry Street Settlement, in the heart of the Lower East Side. The dates are April 28, 29 & 30. Shows areRead More »