In light of the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, I thought it would be appropriate to point out that donations to the New Zealand Red Cross may be made via the following LINK.

Thoughts, concerns, and well-wishes are sent to all involved.

Back when the Howard Shore Festival in Lucerne and the FOTR: Live performances in St. Louis were announced, several of you questioned how such a thing would be possible, since the dates seemed to place conductor Ludwig Wicki in two contents at the same time. Today, all has been made clear. Erik Ochsner, who has been the cover conductor at each and every live performance of Shore's LOTR music, will be stepping into the spotlight to lead the St. Louis Symphony on April 1, 2, and 3.

This will be a true treat for all involved. Congrats, Erik!


Original press release below:

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- New York-based Erik Ochsner will conduct performances of the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring: Live to Projection at Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis, MO. The performances feature Howard Shore's Academy Award®-winning score performed live, synchronized to film.

Erik Ochsner, known for his clear, powerful conducting presence and attention to detail, is one of today's promising and gifted conductors. He is the music director/founder of SONOS Chamber Orchestra, winner of the 2003 American Scandinavian Society's Cultural Advocacy Award. Ochsner led the ensemble in six U.S. premieres, including Karl Jenkins' Requiem, and two world premieres. This season, Ochsner will conduct the U.S. premiere of Fredrik Sixten's Requiem.

Ochsner is the cover conductor for the worldwide tour of the Lord of the Rings films projects. He was the assistant conductor/chorus master for the Shanghai workshop of Tan Dun's The First Emperor (a Metropolitan Opera World Premiere Commission), and the World premiere of Dun's The Map with Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Ochsner studied with Marin Alsop, Charles Bruck, Erich Kunzel, Helmut Rilling, and Robert Spano.

"I grew up listening to recordings of the famous St. Louis Symphony, so this is like a dream come true to work with this truly world class orchestra and chorus," said Ochsner.

The music of The Lord of the Rings is among film music's most complex and comprehensive works. This unique performance sets the score to the film, but allows the music to bear the narrative weight, creating a wholly new and dramatic live concert experience.

Howard Shore's score captures the sweeping emotion, thrilling vistas and grand journeys, and echoes the very construction of Tolkien's Middle-earth. Styles, instruments and performers from around the world provide Tolkien's cultures with a unique musical imprint. In operatic fashion, these musical worlds commingle, sometimes combining forces for a culminated power, other times violently clashing ... and always bending to the will of the One Ring and its own ominous family of themes.

"This amazing music and fantastic drama have moved me since day one: it is always thrilling and moving," Ochsner described. "What an amazing satisfaction at the end of each and every performance!"

POWELL SYMPHONY HALL, ST. LOUIS

Friday/Saturday, April 1-2, 7PM

Sunday, April 3, 2PM

Tickets: http://www.stlsymphony.org/

I've been plagued by all manner of technological maladies this past two weeks ... everything from modems to video cards and so on. I know I'm behind on emails, posts, responses, etc. so please bear with me until the whims of electricity are once again in the my corner. I think I'm almost back to full strength now ... knock on wood!

In the meantime, I'll be answering questions on TheDunedain.net's podcast tonight. Please feel free to send them a question or two, if you wish. Let's just hope that Skype decides to buck recent trends and fully cooperate this evening.

Fingers crossed ...

J.W. Braun, author of The Lord of the Films, has just posted his video review of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films via TheOneRing.net's new YouTube channel!





Thanks, J.W.! Of course, I would hasten to add than the Annotated Score in the book is, in fact, not the same as the Annotated Score that was online, since great pains were taken to make sure it was expanded and re-shaped. But then, you folks know that already. So no harm, no foul -- and the kind words are deeply appreciated!

I'd hoped to time this month's Ongoing Discussion thread with an exciting bit of news, but alas and alack, the news isn't yet ready for the world. And since this thread is already over a week behind, I'm not going to hold it up any longer. But rest assured: while things have been sleepy in blog-land, there's a good bit of wheeling and dealing happening behind the scenes. I'd advise you all to 'hang in there,' but you have to be used to the waiting game by now, so I'll put my trust in your patience!

In the meantime, GeorgeKelly.org has just run a nice new mini-review of the book, and I'm due to be a guest on TheDunedain.net's podcast in the near future. Details should be forthcoming.

Oh, and speaking of forthcoming details, I hear that good news regarding the NY performance of ROTK should announced soon as well. I don't know when they plan to go public, but it shouldn't be too terribly long.

Back with details as soon as possible. Chat it up as you wait; the board is yours!

D

This interview is currently available to UK residents on BBC 5's site. Those in the rest of the world can hear the piece embedded below. (Don't panic if it takes a moment to load).