Classical Music Has a Problem with the Roma

I was having a conversation last week with a small group of people who are quite knowledgeable about classical music. For some reason, they started to talk about “gypsies,” which of course is another name for Roma people. The people I was talking with talked about the...

What the Heck is Avant-Garde Music?

Most of us think we know what avant-garde music is. It’s music that is ahead of its time, right? Music that sounds like music will sound in the decades or centuries that follow it.The problem is, that definition is wrong. You see, most avant-garde music doesn’t sound...

Are Operas Really Longer than Movies?

“Mary Poppins” – Would you rather spend two hours and 20 minutes watching this, or the same amount of time seeing Aida? Your choice. When you invite your friends to go to see an opera with you, do they whine “Okay, but how LONG will it be?” I’ve had that happen. I...