Ken Herman
Ken Herman
A classically trained pianist, organist and choral conductor, Kenneth Herman began writing music criticism while teaching Music History at San Diego State University. At the invitation of the late Donald Dierks, distinguished Music Critic of the San Diego Union, he reviewed concerts and recitals for that paper. A few years later, he became the classical music writer and critic for the San Diego Edition of the Los Angeles Times, a post he held until it ceased publication in 1993. Until recently, he covered classical music in San Diego County for sandiego.com. In 2010, he received first place in the San Diego Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Awards for music criticism. His latest musical endeavors include performing on toy pianos and theater organ.
Ken, the WDH organ has a “sostenuto” stop. What is this? Have you heard such a stop? (Not on Robert Noehren’s organ of classic design!
Great reviews, Ken. I wish that I were back in San Diego to hear the concerts that you’re reviewing! Maybe some day I’ll be able to vacation there. I’m presently living in Tokyo and Bangkok. Take care!
I hope you still play your flute, Eric. You are an excellent musician and a thoughtful person. I recall accompanying you on a number of occasions. I am certain you are a blessing wherever life has called you.
Hi Ken, Thanks for your generous review of my music performed last week by Sacra/Profana. You mentioned in your review that my work was unfamiliar to you, so I wanted to share my website where I think you’ll enjoy a few of my more contemporary choral works. In particular, I suggest Hymn to Aethon, (http://fahadsiadat.com/concert-music/) which is in STARK contrast to the piece you heard previously 🙂
I sing with a new music group in Los Angeles called C3LA: The Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles. Please let me know if you’d like tickets to our next performance (Feb 15/16) and I’ll make sure you are on the door list.
Best,
Fahad
A great review of a terrific performance. What was Wei Luo’s encore on Sunday, December 8, 2019? That was magnificent.
Gentle inquiry about your time with DNJ at STO, as I am also one of his students. Now retired, with more time for “reflection”.
Dear Mr. Herman,
I am an American opera singer in retirement and have been living in Germany for 50 years. I sang almost at the same time as the tenor Giuseppe Giacomini, with whom you did an interview for the L A times in 1986. I was a few years after him but seem to have followed his path in a few theaters over here, in Germany, Spain, Warsaw and the Savoninna Festival. He was much more popular in Europe, mainly Italy, than he was in the U.S.A, mainly because of what you also described, as his retiring personality and his looks..he had an eye/nervious system afflication which interfered sometimes with his performance, was also small,
shy and modest, which in today’s world does not propell you to stardom. However his voice entered its best years when he was in his late 40’s and 50’s and when
he was “on”, there was no sound like it, even among the big stars making all the headlines and records. I am very interested in his biography for private reasons and have done research on him (I find the discrepance between his fairly dull private life and what he blossomed into on the stage reason to) for some writings on the magic of the invisible but all-commanding effect on the human soul and body of the swinging tone. I wonder if you could give me some impressions, if you remember him enough, of what he looked like when he spoke, what his wife was like..was she his age, was she an artistic type or did she seem to steer his voiced opinion that his family should come before his career? I have heard almost everything he has recorded and am convinced that he ermerged from the cocoon of his rather bourgeois, controlled, colorless (but very kind)persona to a glowing giant of overwhelming sound and passion when he was in a role on the
stage during those fabulous best vocal years. Listen to his Nessun Dorma from Moscow 1989 and his Andrea Chenier from Genua 1991 (excerpts in You Tube)
and I think you will agree. He is now dead and there are few people in his social, daily life in Italy to ask, who are still alive and who remember him. I would be grateful for any
contributions could provide me, if you are willing. I wish you a Happy New Year 2024 and send Grüße aus Deutschland, sincerely JG
suffered under his career
Ken, I have known you since your freshman year at sat Olaf College. You accommodated me when I was taking voice lessons. Thanks for all the pictures and reviews over the last 61 years. Yours truly Brad ENERSON.