The Cultural Affairs Forum (CAF) is a vital new project of the non-profit Center for International Relations, dedicated to promoting and discussing cultural diplomacy. It intends to stimulate fresh thinking in the corridors of power by ripping down the barriers that exist between how we think of culture and politics as separate entities.
CAF will bring together champions of Cultural Diplomacy together from all political spectra and countries to give their inspirations, ideas, suggestions - as well as those ideas' critics - a widely-heard voice and a forum for discussion and constructive dialog. CAF intends to heighten our awareness of the urgent need for a vibrant cultural diplomacy and leverage the public debate by publishing articles, interviews, essays, and editorials in our journal, by hosting discussions, round-tables and forums, and by identifying and promoting talented young journalists and public policy analysts who know why cultural affairs matter on the world stage.
Alternative methods of warfare in South Ossetia: First a cyber-attack on Georgian Web sites now the harshly harmonious sounds of Dmitri Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony. How will Valery Gergiev's propagandistic activities play in the West? By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (Forbes, 08/26/2008)
Throughout the Nazi era in Germany, Wilhelm Furtwaengler brought his baton and his fabulous ensemble into the service of the propaganda machine of the Third Reich. Now, it seems, Valery Gergiev, longtime principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera and now the London Symphony, is performing the same service for his masters in Moscow. By David A.Andelman (The Huffington Post, 08/22/2008)
The theme was Russia’s victory over Georgia; the spirit was Second World War defiance; the music was from Leningrad — and the conductor was from London. By Tony Halpin (London Times, 08/22/2008)
The Principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra will lead a defiant performance from the shattered steps of the South Ossetian parliament tonight celebrating Russia as the saviour of its citizens. By Chris Smyth (London Times, 08/21/2008)
Nobody else was ever going to conduct this concert. Valery Gergiev, the most talked-about maestro in the world today, is not only Ossetian by birth (his wife and children still live there) but also a close friend of Vladimir Putin... OpEd by Richard Morrison (London Times, 08/22/2008)
The Munich Doktor Faust is not a production for the ages, but it will do much in bringing this fascinating composer back to the opera stages where he deserves to be much more often. By Jens F. Laurson (MusicWeb International, 06.30.2008)
The Foreign Policy/Prospect list of top public intellectuals aims to "reveal the thinkers who are shaping the tenor of our time." Three Israelis were named, including pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. (The Jerusalem Post, 05/26/2008)
Yu Long, conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, reaches across an old cultural divide.
By Nancy Pellegrini (The Christian Science Monitor, 05/16/2008)
Over the last few months I’ve looked at recordings of Bach’s Cello Suites including Mischa Maisky on DVD in February and the classic Harnoncourt, Fournier, Rostropovich as well as Steven Isserlis’ new account in April. Still missing from my little survey are three recent recordings: Anne Gastinel’s, Jean-Guihen Queyras’, and that of Gavriel Lipkind. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 05.09.2008)
Little in any music is universally liked – classical music is no exception. Few music lovers would dismiss Beethoven, though some confess difficulties with his late string quartets. Mozart comes close to universal adoration, but the popularity makes dismissing him more attractive. But Brahms isn’t only viewed critically, he has some famous detractors. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 05.07.2008)
I know I’ve come across – and dismissed – the music of César Franck-student Vincent D’Indy (1851-1931) before. But my ears have been opened now, by a new Chandos release that makes me re-evaluate d’Indy at once and thoroughly. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 04.30.08)
On May 18th the Korngold exhibition at the Jewish Museum in Vienna will close - and if you won’t be able to stop by Vienna in time, you can still enjoy the essence of Korngold from his music. For that purpose I have put together a list of what I think are essential (and non-essential, but beautiful) Korngold works - and my favorite recordings thereof. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 04.24.2008)
The reissue of Yoel Levi’s recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony was a good opportunity to revisit the interpretation that convinced me, when I first heard it, that even an American Orchestra without a Mahler tradition could deliver faultless, possibly spectacular Mahler — and compare it to other more or less recent (re-)issues. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 04.18.2008)
The Jakobsplatz Orchestra in Munich is a cultural and musical enrichment to what is already a culturally and musically rich town. In this, the small group is aided by a combination of factors. Mostly, it benefits from the excellently innovative and unusual programs that it presents under its young and hearteningly curious director, Daniel Grossmann. By Jens F. Laurson (WETA 90.9, 04.22.2008)
Politics and Art Meet East of the Anacostia In the response to Washington Post Music Critic Tim Page's colorful reply to an unsolicited e-mail from Marion Barry’s staff, his Newspaper's and Mr. Barry's dignity suffered far more than his. By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (CA-Forum, 12.05.2007)
After the New York Philharmonic accepted an invitation to perform in Pyongyang, a flurry of commentary condemned and praised the move. Was this savvy cultural diplomacy, or just a PR coup for the world's worst tyrant? By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (02/16/2008 - first published in the Washington Times)
Mahler’s symphonies have come a long way from belittled provincial behemoths to popular stalwarts of every symphony orchestra’s program. These days, Mahler may be as present in concert halls as Beethoven and Brahms. That’s quite an achievement for a composer who, just 30 years ago, was scarcely worth an hour’s attention in conservatories.
To satisfy that sudden craving for good, live music that you might experience after a long day of listening to Classical WETA, you should consider a trip to La Maison Française on Monday, October 29th.
The International Affairs Forum is the on-line journal of the Center for International Relations and aims to present an "equal opportunity partisan" overview of important issues in International Affairs, Economic Statecraft, and Intelligence. It re-publishes articles from all over the world and conducts interviews with important figures in the world of International Affairs.
_Tim_Page)_small.JPG){kind=small}
