http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin RSS Feed for Inq Col Peter Dobrin en-us Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:01:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120211_A_gifted_night_for_conductor.html Charles Dutoit always has been a canny curator, but deep significance seems to lie beneath his repertoire choices between now and the last of his days in Philadelphia. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120210_Nero_and_Pops_make_most_of_Oscar_theme.html The theme from Summer of 42. "Days of Wine and Roses." The Liberty Bell March. Peter Nero and the Philly Pops are back. Not that they were gone long. After becoming entangled in the Philadelphia Orchestra Association's bankruptcy, the Pops missed its usual launch last fall. After a run of holiday concerts in December, the 2011-12 subscription season opened in Verizon Hall Wednesday night, all the usual touches intact. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120209_The_pianist_who_puts_the_blogger_in_the_shade.html Musicians today are writing and blogging, speaking directly to their public, involving readers in, yes, process - but also gathering up fans and a cache of personal investment that may or may not have anything to do with the music itself. Does it really matter what the pianist had for breakfast? Friend me, the classical world pleads. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120131_Encouraging_progress_in_orchestra_fund-raisingBut_much_depends_on_musicians__staying__and_Nzet-Sguin_excitement_.html The Philadelphia Orchestra Association has made incremental but encouraging progress in the campaign to finance its reorganization and operations for several years beyond an expected exit from bankruptcy. But it still has a "mountain of money" to raise. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120129_Academy_of_Music_keeps_its_155th-anniversary_party_right_at_home.html For as long as anyone can remember, the last Saturday night in January has played out in the same slightly paradoxical way for Philadelphia's Grand Old Lady of Locust Street. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120121_An_evening_of_Beethoven__quiet_power.html In an age that seems perpetually restless, where silence for some is an unnatural state of being, everyone deserves to experience the peace that arrived Thursday night in the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20120116_Philadelphia_Orchestra_negotiating_split_with_pension_fund.html After months of sparring in bankruptcy court, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association and the national musicians' pension plan from which the orchestra is withdrawing are negotiating the terms of their split. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20111230__ArtsWatch_.html Inquirer critic and culture writer Peter Dobrin tells you who's making news, noise and splash in the Philadelphia arts world and beyond at www.philly.com/philly/blogs/artswatch http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/135076318.html Stanford Thompson could have taken his prestigious Curtis diploma in 2009 and started auditioning. But his conscience pulled him three miles west of his alma mater, to St. Francis de Sales School at 47th Street, to an after-school music program for children from poor neighborhoods. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/peter_dobrin/20111206_Recycle__Tunefully.html Play On, Philly! is seeking donations of musical instruments - strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion are all welcome. In addition, the program is in need of other kinds of equipment, such as reeds, strings, and mouthpieces. Donations are tax-deductible. Information: 215-531-4876, www.playonphilly.org