Profs' Pics
YOLANDA
KONDONASSIS
teacher of harp
I'm
reading Eudora Welty's The Optimist's Daughter. I love the
way Welty uses a few well-chosen words or a brief bit of dialogue
and you immediately understand the whole scene or personal dynamic.
Her style of writing appeals to me because I believe that musical
interpretation can work in the same way. Very often less is more if
you really say something with every word or note. I also loved Memoirs
of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and Jennifer Egan's collection of short
stories, The Emerald City.
I like listening to all kinds of music. The last couple of recordings I purchased were Al Jareau's latest CD, Tomorrow Today and Sting's Brand New Day. I also adore anything by Murray Perahia - especially his Mozart piano concertos.
JAMES
DESANO
professor of trombone
I'm
reading Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley (with Ron
Powers). My father died at Iwo Jima, so this book - about the
men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima - has a special significance
for me. It's offering me, perhaps, a small insight into what my
father, Onofrio, went through during WWII.
I'm currently listening to any and all recordings of Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier and Mozart's The Magic Flute.