Vivien Schweitzer via Matrix

Vivien Schweitzer I CURATE

Network Node

Name: Vivien Schweitzer
City/Place: New York City
Country: United States
Hometown: Mumbai/London

CURATION

from this node by: Criador acima/Creator above

Current News

What's Up? My first book, “A Mad Love: An Introduction to Opera,” was published on September 18, 2018, and named one of the ten best books of September by the Christian Science Monitor. It was a real joy to write “A Mad Love” – a chance to share my passion for the most visceral, crazy, and emotional of art forms! Opera can be daunting and complex for newcomers, so I have endeavored to explain how music, poetry and theater fit together, to explore the genre’s most important composers and works, and to introduce some of its most influential performers. Along the way I highlight some of the opera world’s fascinating historical figures, recurring debates, and trends.

Opera is evolving and frequently surprising, and I explore the genre as the living, thriving art form it is. I discuss the operas of some dozen living composers and explore the myriad ways (from traditional to wacky) that contemporary directors stage opera. I have created a Spotify playlist to accompany the book, which begins with music composed by Monteverdi in 1607 and ends with operas written some four hundred years later. There’s no quicker way to fall in love with opera than to listen to wonderful singers perform this gorgeous music.

Life & Work

Bio: I am a New York-based writer, photographer and pianist. My first book, “A Mad Love: An Introduction to Opera,” was published by Basic Books in Sept. 2018. I host and produce a podcast called “Parlando: Musical Matters with Vivien Schweitzer,” interviewing dynamic artists and administrators who are changing the narrative in classical music and opera.

As a music critic for the New York Times from June 2006 to June 2016, I wrote reviews, profiles and essays about a broad spectrum of classical, opera and world music. Some of my favorite articles include interviews with the composer Annie Gosfield, the pianist Yvgeny Kissin and the mezzo soprano Alice Coote, as well as features about the intersection of politics and music in Istanbul, the resurgence of sacred music in Caucasus Georgia, and an exploration of what makes musicians ‘ready’ to perform emotionally challenging works. My pre-pandemic opera reviews include “La Traviata,” “Turandot,” and “Siegfried” at the Metropolitan Opera, “Tosca” at Loft Opera, and “The Rose Elf,” staged in a cemetery! During the pandemic I have been writing about online opera.

I have also written many reviews and features for The Economist, including profiles of the conductors Marin Alsop and Gustavo Dudamel. I contribute regularly to the NYT obit department.

I am a classically trained pianist, have performed at venues including Bargemusic, and particularly enjoy playing chamber music and collaborating with singers.

I was born in Mumbai, am a dual American and British citizen, and grew up in London and Washington, D.C. Early in my journalistic career I worked as a copy editor and reporter for the Moscow Times in Russia, writing stories about topics including mail order brides and the challenges facing foreign missionaries. I have written about Tajikistan for CNN Traveler and New York’s Chinese diaspora for BBC Online, and reported on festivals in Mexico and Slovenia.

I am a volunteer teacher at the Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans (CIANA), a Queens-based nonprofit where I teach English and Civics to adult students from all over the world. Here’s an article about why this work is important to me. I also enjoy my work as as board member of Art House Astoria, a nonprofit bringing affordable music and arts education to Queens.

Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Media | Markets

▶ Book Purchases: http://www.basicbooks.com/titles/vivien-schweitzer/a-mad-love/9780465096947/
▶ Twitter: VivSchweitzer
▶ Website: http://www.vivienschweitzer.com
▶ Blog: http://www.vivienschweitzer.com/blog/
▶ YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnHMGeTdHcwisjXa3MLoASQ

Quotes, Notes & Etc. “Vivien Schweitzer is also under opera’s spell, and in her delicious history, “Mad Love: an Introduction to Opera,” she regales us with all you need to know.”
—The New York Times, November 28th, 2018

“Schweitzer does a good job of explaining how the music itself works -comparisons to contemporary popular music are deftly handled and often surprisingly illuminating.”
—BBC Music Magazine, November 1, 2018

“What emerges clearly is Schweitzer’s profound passion for opera, her determination to explain the elements of the art so that others might embrace it… Affection is the subterranean river that frequently bursts through the surface to splash readers and, perhaps, convince them to put down the money for tickets.”
—Kirkus Review, June 18th, 2018.

Clips (more may be added)

5:01
A Mad Love: An Introduction to Opera - audiobook - Vivien Schweitzer
By Vivien Schweitzer

76 views
0:06:18
Dvořák: "Song to the Moon" (soprano Anush Avetisyan & pianist Vivien Schweitzer)
By Vivien Schweitzer

99 views
0:09:58
Vivien Schweitzer plays Bach's Partita No. 1
By Vivien Schweitzer

112 views
0:13:29
Vivien Schweitzer and Mark Peskanov perform Mozart's Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major, K.301
By Vivien Schweitzer

104 views

Vivien Schweitzer Curated

What's Been Happening?

A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Opera
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Music Critic
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

New York City
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Photographer
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Culture Journalist
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Writer
- Jan 13
A category was added to Vivien Schweitzer:

Piano
- Jan 13
A video was posted re Vivien Schweitzer:

A Mad Love: An Introduction to Opera - audiobook - Vivien Schweitzer
A lively introduction to opera, from the Renaissance to the 21st century. There are few art forms as visceral and emotional as opera - and few that are as daunting for newcomers. A Mad Love offers a spirited and indispensable tour of opera's eclectic past...
- Jan 13
A video was posted re Vivien Schweitzer:

Dvořák: "Song to the Moon" (soprano Anush Avetisyan & pianist Vivien Schweitzer)
Soprano: Anush Avetisyan Pianist: Vivien Schweitzer "Raising Voices for Immigrants" May 23rd, 2019 at the National Opera Center's Scorca Hall Benefit Concert for CIANA (the Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans)
- Jan 13
A video was posted re Vivien Schweitzer:

Vivien Schweitzer plays Bach's Partita No. 1
Bach's Partita No.1 in B flat Major, BWV 825 Prelude Allemande Courante Sarabande Menuets I and II Gigue
- Jan 13
A video was posted re Vivien Schweitzer:

Vivien Schweitzer and Mark Peskanov perform Mozart's Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major, K.301
Mark Peskanov, violin Vivien Schweitzer, piano
- Jan 13
Vivien Schweitzer is matrixed!
- Jan 13

em português →

ARE YOU MATRIXED?

"Many thanks for this – I am touched!"
✅—Julian Lloyd Webber
We're touched too Mr Webber! (cello & Brazilian music fan)

"Obrigado!"
✅—Founding Member Darius Mans (economist, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology); president-elect of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

"I'm truly thankful ... Sohlangana ngokuzayo :)"
✅—Nduduzo Makhathini (piano, Blue Note recording artist)

"Thanks, this is a brilliant idea!!"
✅—Alicia Svigals (klezmer fiddle; founder of The Klezmatics)

"This is super impressive work ! Congratulations ! Thanks for including me :)))"
✅—Clarice Assad (composer & piano; compositions recorded by Yo Yo Ma and played by orchestras around the world)

This is a matrix in the original sense of "source" ("matrix" derives from "mater", Latin for "mother"). The platform was built in Bahia, Brazil in order to provide a means by which Bahian artists could be reached from around the world. But there's a beautiful catch: To work for these people the platform must work for ALL in the global creative economy. It must (work to) create an INTEGRATED GLOBAL CREATIVE ECONOMY.
How a) Inside this matrix you have a node (a page) — a calling card to the universe — from which you can curate (recommend) other people in the network, and by which they can recommend you.
How b) In mathematics there is something called "the small world phenomenon". Human society is "small world" (which is how most of the 8 billion of us of are within some 6 or so steps of each other). Neurons in the human brain are "small world". The internet is "small world".
How c) This matrix is "small world". Nodes tend to be a small number of steps apart. You can potentially step from any node to any other. You can get to João do Boi from Quincy Jones in 4 steps. And from Quincy Jones to you.
Participation is free to people. Businesses outside of Bahia, Brazil will be levied a nominal fee.
Artificial intelligence not necessary. Real intelligence, yes. The matrix is a real mother for ya! Odoyá!

← in english

VOCÊ ESTÁ NO MATRIX?

"Muito obrigado por isso - estou tocado!"
✅—Julian Lloyd Webber
Estamos tocados também Sr. Webber! (violoncelo & fã da música brasileira)

"Obrigado!"
✅—Membro Fundador Darius Mans (economista, doutorado, Massachusetts Institute of Technology); presidente eleito do Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

"Estou realmente agradecido... Sohlangana ngokuzayo :)"
✅—Nduduzo Makhathini (piano, artista da Blue Note)

"Obrigada, esta é uma ideia brilhante!!"
✅—Alicia Svigals (violino klezmer; fundadora da The Klezmatics)

"Este é um trabalho super impressionante! Parabéns! Obrigada por me incluir :)))"
✅—Clarice Assad (compositora & piano; composições gravadas por Yo Yo Ma e tocadas por orquestras ao redor do mundo)

Este é uma matrix no sentido original de "fonte" ("matrix" deriva de "mater", latim para "mãe"). A plataforma foi construída na Bahia, Brasil, a fim de fornecer um meio pelo qual artistas baianos pudessem ser alcançados de ao redor do mundo. Mas existe um porém lindo: Para funcionar para essas pessoas a plataforma deve funcionar para TODOS na economia criativa global. Deve (trabalhar pra) criar uma ECONOMIA CRIATIVA GLOBAL INTEGRADA.
Como a) O matrix é uma rede de pessoas/entidades na economia criativa global. Você tem um nó (uma página) — um cartão de visita para o universo numa lista de informações do século 21 que circula o mundo — de onde pode selecionar (recomendar) outras pessoas na rede, e elas podem recomendar você.
Como b) Na matemática existe algo chamado "o fenômeno do mundo pequeno". A sociedade humana é um "mundo pequeno" (que é como a maioria dos 8 bilhões de nós estão dentro de mais ou menos 6 passos de um ao outro). Os neurônios no cérebro humano são um "mundo pequeno". A internet é um "mundo pequeno".
Como c) Este matrix é "pequeno mundo". Os nós tendem a estar separados por um pequeno número de etapas. Você pode potencialmente passar de qualquer nó para qualquer outro. Você pode chegar ao João do Boi de Quincy Jones em 4 etapas. E de Quincy Jones a você.
A participação é gratuita para pessoas. As empresas fora da Bahia, Brasil serão cobradas uma taxa nominal.
Inteligência artificial não necessária. Inteligência real, sim. O matrix é uma verdadeira mãe! Odoyá!