TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR WITH FIREWORKS at the HOLLYWOOD BOWLBy Jonathan Widran and Jessica TaylorAs Gustavo Dudamel’s long tenure as Music & Artistic Director of the LA Phil enters its final year, anticipation was high during the Hollywood Bowl’s Forever Summer schedule for his first appearances as conductor in early August. This meant July was a grand opportunity for the city’s classical music fans to experience the grandeur, grace and adventurous excitement of guest conductors from various countries across the globe, who brought their unique styles and cultural aesthetics to lead the orchestra through the enduring works of many beloved composers. These include Carlos Miguel Prieto, a Mexican conductor making his second appearance at the Bowl (after last year’s Ballet Folklórico de México) leading the annual audience favorite Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks and Tabita Berglund from Norway, making her debut with the LA Phil for a program of Brahms & Grieg. Starting with the lighthearted and lilting, Rome-inspired 15-minute fantasy for orchestra “Capriccio Italien Op. 45,” the multi-faceted Tchaikovsky program presented a high contrast in dynamics between the sweet, graceful and timeless storytelling of Swan Lake (featuring members of the San Francisco Ballet) and the familiar boisterous crescendo of the closing 1812 Overture. During this segment, the LA Phil was joined by the USC Trojan Marching Band as the vibrant fireworks display lit up the sky behind the band shell. Conducting these works, Prieto showcased the range of his refined and sophisticated artistry, also allowing us to feel the joy and passion of his heritage.  

As much as the crowd anticipates and loves the fireworks, nothing on this night was as magical and uplifting as the opportunity to experience the fluid, dreamlike interplay between the LA Phil and the SF Ballet as they presented three of the most compelling segments of Swan Lake – the White Swan Pas de Deux, Act II, Black Swan Pas de Deux Act III and Dance of the Cygnets, Act III. In the Pas de Deux (a dance for two), the male dancer showcases the beautiful ballerina, making her look light and ethereal, particularly during the lifts and spinning pirouettes. He is strong but makes lifting her seem effortless, allowing her angelic nature to shine and making it appear she is floating through the air, then assisting her as she lands with perfection.    The White Swan, the female lead of the ballet symbolizing good, danced with grace and heavenly beauty, transcending to the magnificence of a swan with solo harp accompaniment. Her male counterpart was the prince falling in love with the princess who had been transformed into the white swan. A gentle violin accompanied them as they danced together. In the second Pas de Deux, the Black Swan, representing evil, used her stylish moves to try to trick the prince and make him fall in love with her instead. Contrasting with the gentle movements of the White Swan, the Black Swan’s dramatic dance, full of jumps and turns, reflected her demands for more of the prince’s attention. The orchestra’s blend of softly charming passages and more emphatic, percussive strings perfectly reflected the seduction.  

It's likely that no other dancer or athlete can display elegance in motion as well as ballerinas performing Swan Lake, a notion most perfectly displayed on one of the ballet’s most renowned piece of choreography, “Dance of the Cygnets.” In synch with the high spirits and great whimsy of the orchestra, it featured four ballerinas (white swans) dancing together in unison, breathtakingly imitating the way petite swans huddle and move together with perfection for protection. The swimming effect created as they danced across the stage hid the hard work it takes to move in such perfect synch, much like we don’t see the intense movement of a swan’s legs under the water because they make it look so smooth on the surface. The need for the precise timing between the music and the cygnets’ movements was so great that Prieto would often look over his shoulder to make sure the orchestra was on point with them. While perhaps not the marquee event the Tchaikovsky Spectacular was, the Bowl’s presentation a few nights earlier of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor Op. 15 (the composer’s first performed orchestral work) and Grieg’s Peer Gynt was majestic and inspiring in its own special way. Besides the opportunity to hear these grandeur-filled works, perhaps the greatest revelations of the night were the elated and elegant conducting of the exuberant, internationally acclaimed Norwegian Tabita Berglund and the stunning, flawless and richly complex playing of French piano virtuoso Hélène Grimaud. Bringing much needed, insightful and intuitive feminine energy to a realm whose roles are traditionally filled by male conductors and soloists, Berglund and Grimaud regaled the audience with alternating moments of both softness and extreme intensity as they shared the ageless classical wonder of Brahm’s three movement concerto.Not surprisingly, the highlight of the post-intermission presentation of Peer Gynt was its most famous piece, “Morning Mood,” which Grieg composed to depict the rising of the sun in the Moroccan desert in Act 4 of Henrik Ibsen’s play (also named Peer Gynt). Beginning with subtle clarinets, flutes and a single lyrical oboe, it built on a symphony of multiple violins, which often convey a more solemn feeling, but here were extraordinarily uplifting, like seeing the first sunrise after God created his beautiful earth. Photo credits: Elizabeth Asher, courtesy of the LA Phil.The post TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR WITH FIREWORKS at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Substack isn’t the right model for music. But there’s still a future to believe in.MBW Views is a series of exclusive op/eds from eminent music industry people… with something to say. The following comes from Matt Jones, CEO of Medallion and former CEO of Songkick. Jones has spent over 15 years building direct-to-fan platforms and has facilitated hundreds of millions in artist revenue through various fan engagement models. Substack … Continued
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Vivid Seats sinks as ticket resales drop 900,000 in 3 monthsHave we reached peak ticket presale or is Vivid Seats just not as good is its competitors? The company is clearly struggling, reporting that its marketplace ticket resales fell to 2.2 million compared to 3.1 million in Q2 last year.
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Grow Spotify Streams with the Power of Super ListenersYour most valuable Spotify fans aren't just streaming, they're fueling your growth and income. Here's a guide on how to attract, retain, and activate super listeners to level up your audience and grow Spotify streams.
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PRS Guitars Announces Four Fresh Colors for the SE Silver SkyPRS Guitars released the SE Silver Sky Rosewood in four new colors on Tuesday, "created in collaboration with Grammy award-winning PRS Signature Artist, John Mayer. The fresh finishes, offered for the first time on any PRS model, are Derby Red, Trad Blue, Laurel Green, and Dandy Lion (a brilliant and eye-catching yellow)."“The new Silver Sky SE lineup features four new colors inspired by traditional American fashion. These are time-tested hues that have been popular through decades, and I’m excited to share them with the world as the latest SE colorways,” said John Mayer. "The SE Silver Sky is a familiar iteration of the original Silver Sky model that was first introduced with John Mayer in 2018," a statement reads. "The SE starts with a poplar body, bolt-on maple neck, and rosewood fretboard with PRS trademark bird inlays. The 22-fret, 25.5” scale length neck features the original 635JM carve and an 8.5” fretboard radius. It is anchored by three single-coil 635JM “S” pickups, a two-point steel tremolo, synthetic bone nut, and vintage-style tuners.""The SE Silver Sky Maple colorway is also being updated to include two new finishes previously offered on the rosewood-equipped model. The SE Silver Sky Maple's new color palette is Moon White, Stone Blue, Summit Purple, and Nylon Blue.""PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025. Stay tuned to see new gear and 40th Anniversary limited-edition guitars throughout the year. For all of the latest news, click www.prsguitars.com/40 and follow @prsguitars on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, X, and YouTube."

The post PRS Guitars Announces Four Fresh Colors for the SE Silver Sky first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Exclusive: Kobalt’s AI deal with Suno rival ElevenLabs guarantees publishing ‘parity’ with recorded musicMBW has confirmed details of this potentially precedent-setting deal, which could reshape the music industry's approach to generative AI licensing.
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New Amazon Music Insights can turn Fans into MarketersAmazon Music is turning a fan's listener history into something they can brag about, and that's good news for artists. By making them easy to share, Amazon Music Insights can turn fans into marketers.
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Metal and Hard Rock ticket sales are exploding says Live NationMetal and Hard Rock ticket sales grew significantly over the last year, according to Live Nation. Hard rock concerts are up 15% in 2025.
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Classical Highlights for July 2025The key to a good recording is something that really engages the listener without the visual aspect of seeing a performance live or on film. This month there were many albums that stood out as something worth hearing, with music ranging from the medieval age to the 2020s. Explore these aural presentations and many more in our July classical review roundup.

Bob Moog Foundation Marks 20th Anniversary of Bob Moog’s Passing With a Month of RemembranceTo carry on the legacy of pioneer synthesizer, Bob Moog, the Bob Moog Foundation is honoring the 20th anniversary of the musician’s passing with a month-long dedicated celebration including special offerings and remembrances. For the month of August, the foundation will release a series of commemorative videos chronicling Moog’s impact with his synthesizers titled Voices for Bob, which will feature insight from members of the music world in regards to Moog’s contributions. The month will additionally offer a streaming of the Synth Legends symposium and a limited edition poster and portrait of Bob Moog on the foundation’s store online.The post Bob Moog Foundation Marks 20th Anniversary of Bob Moog’s Passing With a Month of Remembrance first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Rafael Ricardo Jiménez-Dan on building Rimas, staying independent, and why he’s all in on music publishingThe founder of one of the world's most important independent labels speaks out on its foundations, and the future of the business
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Instagram restricts going live to accounts with 1000+ followersInstagram restricts going live to public accounts with at least 1,000 followers, as of last week. It's part of a trend among social and music platforms making it harder for new musicians and creators to build a following.
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What is a Stream Worth in 2025? [MIDiA Report]What is a stream worth in 2025? The value of a music stream is shifting as passive listening becomes the norm and streaming revenue plateaus. Check out MIDiA's recent report on why artists must look beyond stream counts and focus on building genuine fan connections.
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US District Judge denies Shira Perlmutter’s preliminary injunction motion in Copyright Office disputeUS District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled on Wednesday (July 30) that Perlmutter failed to demonstrate irreparable harm warranting emergency relief
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Indie Musician News Last Week: Health, Playlists, Websites, MoreCalling all independent musicians! Check out last week’s posts of tips and guides to navigate the industry. We’ve got info on optimizing your music website, mental health practices, Spotify playlists,. Continue reading
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