When oboist, journalist, and author
Blair Tindall wrote her memoir, Mozart in the Jungle, she
tells us, she didn’t necessarily not think it would
become a TV show. But she did stop to marvel at the fact that
playing the oboe could lead to buying a dress for the
Golden Globes. Last night, the Amazon series based on her book
won two Golden Globes: One for Best TV
Comedy or Musical, and one Best Actor in a TV Comedy or Musical for
Gael García Bernal’s performance as conductor
Rodrigo de Souza. (The lesson here being that becoming a classical
musician will surely lead to fame and fortune.)
In
this Classical Classroom, MusicWorks episode, Tindall
talks about life as a classical musician, what led her to
write Mozart in the Jungle, and the
importance of debunking classical music stereotypes and
myths. We also discuss Jason Schwartzman’s impressive facial hair, hanging
out with Coppolas, and how an oboe rolls when
you drop it on the floor.
Music in this episode:
Symphony No. 1 “Low” (aka, the “Low” Symphony). Philip
Glass (based on David Bowie’s album, Low)
The Planets: Mars, the Bringer of War. Gustav Holst. Played by
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, James Levine conducting.
“Lisztomania,” from the album Wolfgang Amadeus
Phoenix. Phoenix. Arranged for orchestra by Roger Neill
and Suzie Katayama.
Audio production by Todd “BB-Todd” Hulslander with fluency in
over six million languages by Dacia Clay and editing by Mark
DiClaudio.
About the Podcast
There's a rumor going around that classical music is hoity toity. At Classical Classroom, we beg to differ. Come learn with classical music newbie Dacia Clay and the music experts she invites into the Classical Classroom.