Monthly Archives: March 2014

Spring in Napa Valley: Olives, Wine, Rauschenberg & Wisteria

26 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Food, LA International New Music Festival, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized

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The Napa Valley.

The Napa Valley.

California anchors the world. As the home of two of the most important developments of the 20th century – film and technology – discovering the Golden State is important for everybody.

Anchoring California is a natural landscape of ocean to desert to mountain ranges. And vineyards. In 1973 Chateau Montelena in Napa Valley put California on the international wine map when even the French agreed the wine was great (though a blind tasting didn’t hurt). I’d not been here for over 20 years and was overdue for another visit.

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Confucius & Columbus: From Chinatown to North Beach in San Francisco

22 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by in Big Sur, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Travel, Uncategorized

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A mural on the wall of Eastern Bakery in San Francisco.

The Buddha & The Dragon mural on the wall of Eastern Bakery in San Francisco.

I believe in mystery. Describing cultural magic is tricky. But like you, I know it when I see it or learn of its presence.

As in my mom telling me about the wedding reception in Hollywood she served at Chasen’s for Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall (yes, missing her I now cry a little inside every time I see them on TCM…). Street food in Hanoi. Sigmund Freud’s house in Vienna. Washington Square in Greenwich Village. Tanglewood. Cherry blossoms in Kyoto. Schoenberg’s living room in Los Angeles. Everything in Paris. Tea in Taipei. Visiting Elliott Carter at his apartment on W. 12th St. in the Village. Big Sur. The Star Ferry in Hong Kong. Diego Rivera murals in Mexico City.

And the energy of a bookstore and its neighborhood in Chinatown and North Beach in San Francisco. City Lights. Vesuvio Bar and Caffe Trieste. Eastern Bakery. The Buddha Bar.

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One Ocean, Two Coasts: The Dragon Bridge of Taiwan and the Bixby Bridge of Big Sur

17 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by in Big Sur, Composers, Contemporary Music, Elliott Carter, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Taipei, Travel, Uncategorized

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The Pacific Ocean touching Big Sur.

The Pacific Ocean touching Big Sur.

A few weeks before he passed away, Toru Takemitsu wrote postcards to his friends with a poignant message concerning his approaching reincarnation.

“I’d like to become a whale that swims in an ocean that knows no east nor west.”

I’ve reflected on this idea often since my friend Peter Grilli made me aware of Takemitsu’s last thoughts.  As you know, I’ve been traveling up Highway 1 from Santa Barbara to Big Sur for an important meeting about the next LA International New Music Festival. Jan and I have been talking about Elliott Carter with his friend Virgil Blackwell near Pt. Lobos and Big Sur. Composing brilliantly until 103, Carter is one of the greats. There is a sage wisdom in all the late works waiting to be explored. And we will be doing just that as part of future festivals.

Finding Carter in Big Sur and Pt. Lobos felt just right.

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On the Road to Big Sur: California Dreaming on a Cold Winter’s Day

05 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Composers, Contemporary Music, Elliott Carter, Evan Hughes, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vietnam

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Moonstone Beach in Cambria, CA.

Moonstone Beach in Cambria, CA.

Sooner or later this was bound to happen….

We have an important meeting in Big Sur about our next LA International New Music Festival. Our friend Virgil Blackwell has relocated from New York City to Highway One on the Pacific Coast after taking care of Elliott Carter during his final years. 

Since my blog is now read in 74 countries and has 3,100 followers, I’m looking forward to sharing tips about the Golden State in numerous blog posts as we go “on the road” to Big Sur. Wineries. Landscapes. Seacapes. Rock formations. Farmer’s markets, more wineries, restaurants and a few days in San Francisco.

Wish you were here…..

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