Linda holt

Linda Holt

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since March 17, 2015

Linda Holt (she/her pronouns) writing as L.L. Holt, is the author of Invictus, a novel about Beethoven’s childhood, published in 2019 by Harvard Square Editions, and The Black Spaniard, a novel about Beethoven’s early years in Vienna (2016, Unsolicited Press). She teaches Humanities at Southern New Hampshire University and Thomas Edison State University. Her classical music reviews have appeared in newspapers and online.​

Linda Holt, writing as L.L. Holt, is the author of Invictus, a novel about Beethoven’s childhood, published in 2019 by Harvard Square Editions, and The Black Spaniard, a novel about Beethoven’s early years in Vienna (2016, Unsolicited Press). She teaches Humanities at Southern New Hampshire University and Thomas Edison State University. Her classical music reviews have appeared in newspapers and online.​

A member of the Princeton Research Forum and American Beethoven Society, she has special interest in the lives, work, and spiritual paths of Beethoven, Thoreau, and Meister Eckhart, and is the author of a book about the latter (Viewing Meister Eckhart). Holt has studied several musical instruments, music theory, sight-reading, music history, and related topics. She has conducted Beethoven research during several visits to Germany and Austria.

For many years, Holt led communications departments at Trenton State College, Thomas Edison State College, and NJIT. A lifelong yoga student and member of the SKY Foundation (Philadelphia), Holt posts some of her other writing at her Web site www.ReligiousScholar.com . Her Twitter account is @ReligiousSchola. Her experiences writing and seeking publication of The Black Spaniard, as well as excerpts from the novel, appear at: Facebook.com/BeethovenTheYoungMaster.

By this Author

107 results
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A heart-stopping theme: Yannick Nézet-Séguin with organist Paul Jacobs and members of the orchestra. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Foumai, Farrenc, and Poulenc

No forgetting Farrenc

Yannick Nézet-Séguin promised that Louise Farrenc’s symphonic works will get more airtime beyond the Philadelphia Orchestra’s latest sweet and energetic Digital Stage outing. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 3 minute read
At the one and only rehearsal during its first tour in China, Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Eugene Ormandy and pianist Yin Chengzong (right) review the score of the Yellow River Concerto with an unidentified translator. (Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association Archives.)

PBS presents ‘Great Performances: Beethoven in Beijing’

Philadelphians in China

‘Beethoven in Beijing’ follows the Philadelphia musicians who helped open doors between the US and China in the 1970s and beyond, and the artists and leaders of China’s thriving cultural scene today. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 4 minute read
Jason Vieaux’s guitar has a voice like a living being. (Photo by Tyler Boye.)

Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents Jason Vieaux and Clancy Newman

Soaring to the future of classical music

PCMS presents classical guitarist Jason Vieaux and cellist Clancy Newman on a livestreamed program of mostly Latin American and Spanish classical works, with a surprising rock encore. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 4 minute read
Satisfying performances for the Lunar New Year: conductor David Robertson and violinist Gil Shaham streaming with the orchestra from Verizon Hall. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a Lunar New Year Celebration Concert

A secret language in music

A Philadelphia Orchestra performance honors the Lunar New Year with two works by Chinese composers, including a tribute to the historic secret language of the women of China’s Hunan Province. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 4 minute read
A worthy launch for what promises to be a fruitful relationship for oboist Philippe Tondre and the Philadelphia Orchestra. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents its solo debut of new principal oboist Philippe Tondre

The most elegant of instruments

In his Philadelphia Orchestra solo debut, new principal oboist Phillipe Tondre offered a sweet and lyrical rendition of Mozart’s most celebrated work for oboe. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 3 minute read
Thanks are due to everyone who’s helping the Philadelphia Orchestra keep playing this year. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra streams Samuel Barber and Florence Price

A Price premiere in Philly

The livestreaming Philadelphia Orchestra tackled Barber’s attractive but morose ‘Adagio for Strings’ and the Philly premiere of Florence Price’s serene but engaging Symphony No. 1 in E minor. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 3 minute read
Pianist Jonathan Biss understands Beethoven’s healing vision. (Photo by Benjamin Ealovega.)

PCMS presents a Beethoven livestream from Jonathan Biss

Blankets and Beethoven

Honoring Beethoven’s 250th birthday, pianist Jonathan Biss concluded a livestreamed PCMS recital with an inspired finale to the composer’s Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Reviews 5 minute read
Artist Rejik Anadol’s digital creation accompanied the orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s 7th. (Image courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents ‘Sight/Sound/Symphony’

Streams for eyes and ears

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s second Digital Stage stream, ‘Sight/Sound/Symphony,’ added another success to its 2020 season, including an orchestra-commissioned world premiere by Carlos Simon and visual design by Rejik Anadol. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 3 minute read
Yannick Nézet-Séguin and soprano Angel Blue, filmed at the Mann Center, made music while observing COVID precautions. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Our World NOW: An Opening Night Celebration

The Philadelphia Orchestra takes the digital stage

A scaled-down Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2020 opener offered a distanced yet defiant celebration of music and new energy for social justice, with works by Coleman, Rossini, Verdi, Mozart, and Steve Martin. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 3 minute read
Energy, feeling, and wit: violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and pianist Alexander Melkinov. (Image courtesy of Princeton University Concerts.)

Princeton University Concerts presents ‘Beethoven’s Trios’

A living, laughing presence—250 years later

Beethoven loved composing piano trios, but they often get short shrift today. A Princeton University concert paired two lesser-known works with the famous “Archduke,” playing with a verve that proved the form’s ongoing worth. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
No falling off the bench here: Yefim Bronfman rendered Beethoven with maturity and integrity. (Photo by Frank Stewart.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Yefim Bronfman at the Academy of Music

Dust devils and Rachmaninoff

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s first subscription concert of 2020, marking a return to the Academy of Music, featured Vivian Fung’s spirited ‘Dust Devils’ alongside Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
Still worth standing for: the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir offer a 2019 ‘Messiah.’ (Photo by Pete Checchia.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Jane Glover conducting Handel’s ‘Messiah’

Sweetness, anguish, and ecstasy

The Philadelphia Orchestra and Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, under conductor Jane Glover, presented Philly’s annual dose of Handel’s Messiah at Verizon Hall with quiet truth and exuberant glory. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Westminster Symphonic Choir capture Bach’s musical DNA, but what about the spirit? (Photo by Jessica Griffin.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Bach’s B Minor Mass

Searching for the spirit of Bach’s B Minor

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra and Westminster Symphonic Choir in Bach’s B Minor Mass. This brilliantly executed but slightly subdued performance sometimes lacked spiritual intensity. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
Every time the soloist walks onstage, a career is on the line: pianist Juho Pohjonen. (Photo by J. Henry Fair.)

PCMS presents pianist Juho Pohjonen

Piano perfection

Warm, seductive tonal colors and crisp, clean articulation characterized a solo concert by young Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen, who performed works by Rameau and Scriabin at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
Not the foursome in black you expected: the ensemble of ECCO. (Photo by Pete Checchia.)

PCMS presents ECCO and pianist Shai Wosner

The color of music

Pianist Shai Wosner joined ECCO for a Philadelphia Chamber Music Society program that was as colorful to look at as it was to hear. Linda Holt reviews.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 3 minute read