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Soundcheck

Monday, March 08, 2004
  • Benjamin Zander (photo by Steve Sherman) & Jos van Veldhoven
    Benjamin Zander (Steve Sherman) & Jos van Veldhoven (unknown)

    Conduct Becoming

    At a time when the music world is full of highly paid conductors who jet from continent to continent and from podium to podium, today on Soundcheck, we feature two maestros fiercely dedicated to their home-town bands. British-born conductor Benjamin Zander founded the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra in 1979 and has developed a devoted cult following for his acclaimed series of Mahler performances. If that wasn't enough, he is also a hot property on the motivational speaker circuit. Also on the show, Jos van Veldhoven, director of the Netherlands Bach Society, who is in town as part of the group's first U.S. tour. The period-instrument ensemble plays music by names like Schelle, Kuhnau, Buxtehude, and—you guessed it—Johann Sebastian Bach.

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

Soundcheck

Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.