BISQC Blog:

A smattering of media

Posted by Jim Swanson
Thursday, 2 September 2010

William Littler is music critic of the Toronto Star. His article summarizing BISQC should appear on their website after the competition. Littler has attended most of the BISQCs, including the first in 1983. He recalls the 1992 competition, won by the St. Lawrence, who were scheduled to continue to a competition in Tokyo on which Littler was a juror. “I thought they would go on to win, but they decided not to go. I’ve been angry at them ever since.”

Kenneth DeLong is professor of musicology at the University of Calgary and music critic for the Calgary Herald and Opera Canada. His current assignment is for Strings Magazine, which has asked him to provide an article on the overall atmosphere, nature, and feel of BISQC.

Helmut Mauró of Süddeutschen Zeitung (SZ) is writing an article about the competition and spending a few days looking around Banff area. “I hope to bring together aspects of art, especially music, and the special spirit of the area.” His article might be available on the website of SZ, published in Munich and the largest German daily newspaper.

Bill Rankin of Edmonton is Canadian correspondent for American Record Guide, America’s oldest classical music review magazine. His report on BISQC will appear in the print magazine, published every two months. About the competition, he says, “No sooner have you made up your mind that a group isn’t going to be there on Sunday, than you hear a performance that changes your mind.”

CBC Radio producer Matthew McFarlane is posting to CBC’s BISQC Blog. Matthew works out of Vancouver for “In Concert” and “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera.” Blogging is a departure for him — his usual tasks include hosting a weekly quiz show and producing documentaries. This is his first BISQC: “All the quartets are so good. I love the rich, fun atmosphere. And during the performances the audience is so quiet.”

Thomas Migge represents the German pubic radio broadcasters Deutschlandfunk (national) and Südwestrundfunk (southwestern states). He is preparing two transmissions, on the quartets and on the results of the competition. His impressions thus far? “I just arrived last night. The airplane was cold — it was for Canadians.”

Matthew Rye writes for The Strad, the world's leading string magazine, published in London but international in scope. He’s composing a “letter from Banff” about his first visit to BISQC for the November print edition, which will probably be available to subscribers only. He describes settling in among the elk in Postcard from Banff.

Freelance journalist Franco Soda works throughout Spain and Italy. At BISQC he is preparing five-minute radio spots for Vatican Radio. The spots, covering the quartets, the jury, and BISQC director Barry Shiffman, should appear around the end of September and will be available on the Vatican Radio archives.

Banff Centre head of photography Don Lee can be seen at most events, capturing salient moments on camera. His photographs appear on the BISQC blog and on the photo gallery page. Helping Don are assistant photographer Laura Vanags and photographic work study Kim Williams.

Brian Leonard and Allegra Young of The Banff Centre’s Film and Media department have been working under Theresa Leonard, director of audio programs, producing podcasts that will appear on The Banff Centre’s iTunes site. All the morning lectures will be posted to the site, as well as pieces on audience reactions, the audio team behind the BISQC productions, and a special on Ana Sokolovic’s commissioned quartet.

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