""Classical music lovers's topics - tribe.net

BBC Proms 2008

2008-07-17T22:21:03Z

The Proms concert season runs from Friday 18 July - Saturday 13 September inclusive.
For details of all concerts and events, go to : http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

Schubert vs Chopin?

2008-07-03T21:35:55Z

Who do you think was the true 'pianists' composer'? Franz Shubert or Frederick Chopin? Or someone else altogether? :)

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Rameau operas???

2008-07-03T14:25:13Z

Anyone aware of any upcoming Ramea operas this upcoming season? Opera Lafayette and the Comique Opera in Paris might be, but not sure yet....
Any other performances you guys know of?

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Wood density key to violin sound

2008-07-02T11:58:24Z

By Matt McGrath
Science correspondent, BBC News

The unique sounds of a Stradivarius violin may come down to the density of the wood it is made from.

Scientists say the patterns of the grain are markedly different from modern instruments.

It is believed that the seasonal growth of trees in the early seventeenth century was affected by a mini-Ice Age.

Stradivarius had the benefit of wood that was produced in conditions that have not been repeated since then, the journal Plos One reports.

The work by a team from the Netherlands represents the latest finding in ongoing efforts to understand the sound quality of these violins.

The musical instruments created in Cremona, Italy, by Antonio Stradivari in the early 1700s have acquired a matchless reputation for tone and clarity down the centuries.

Around six hundred of the violins, violas, guitars and cellos made by the Italian master survive; on the rare occasion they come up for auction they sell for millions.

There have been several suggestions as to why these instruments sound so good and why the modern world has thoroughly failed to replicate their quality.

It was once argued that Stradivari and others used wood from ancient churches or that they added a mysterious ingredient to the wood or used techniques that have since been lost.

But modern technology first developed to help people suffering from emphysema may have unlocked the riddle of these fiddles.

'Even growth'

Researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands had developed a computer programme that analysed Computed Tomographic (CT) scans to see how effective certain treatments were in patients with emphysema.

One of the scientists involved was Dr Berend Stoel, a violinist with a keen interest in the secrets of the Stradivarius.

He adapted his program to work with violins and scanned five of the priceless instruments from Cremona as well as seven modern violins.

They show that while the overall density of the different instruments was similar, the 300-year-old instruments showed evidence of more even growth in the summer and winter. Dr Stoel explained its importance: "If you look at any piece of wood, as long as it's not tropical, you have these year rings.

"The differences between these rings are the density - the wood is more dense during the winter than it is during the faster growing period of the summer. That pattern is influencing the resonating quality of the wood."

The modern violins, according to Dr Stoel, show greater differences in their seasonal growth patterns. The older ones had more even grain, reflecting similar growth periods in winter and summer.

Climate question

Since differentials in wood density impact factors such as "vibrational efficacy" and the production of sound, this discovery may explain the superiority of the violins produced by Stradivari and his contemporaries.

Other researchers who have studied the activity of the Sun have pointed to a mini-Ice Age that occurred in the early 1700s.

Experts say that this reduced solar activity, called the Maunder Minimum, could have hampered the regular growth of trees.

Temperatures in Western Europe dropped by between 0.5C to 2C. When trees grow in cold conditions like this their wood is denser.

However Dr Stoel is not entirely convinced that the magic of the Stradivarius is down to climatic conditions.

"We found these differences. But where do they come from? It could be a difference in climate when the trees were harvested, or it could also be that the masters used some secret treatment on the wood, or it could be that over the course of three hundred years the violins just gets better in tone," he explained.

"It's possible that you could use this CT technique to select different types of wood that would be more like the wood that Stradivarius used. But if you are a lousy violin maker and use the best wood, you will still end up with a very bad violin."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7484975.stm

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Bach B Minor Mass -- SF Concert Chorale concludes 35th Season this Saturday

2008-05-27T21:21:59Z

www.sfconcertchorale.org

On Saturday, May 31 at 8pm, the San Francisco Concert Chorale will cap its 35th Anniversary Season at the City's historic Mission Dolores Basilica (16th & Dolores Streets) when John Emory Bush, Artistic Director for the Chorale, conducts a full performance of the Bach, Mass in B minor, considered by most experts to be “the” master choral work in the world.

Dedicated to introducing choral treasures, the Concert Chorale performs both favorites and less familiar works from throughout the choral repertoire. The group has presented the Bay Area premieres of Conrad Susa's oratorio The Wise Women, Antal Dorati's Pater Noster, and Robert Levin's completion of Mozart’s Requiem, the latter in collaboration with the Wyoming-based Cheyenne Chamber Singers. The Chorale is also noted for its inspiring and unique performances of Handel’s Messiah. Additional collaborations have included work with the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, the Kronos Quartet, the Bay Area Women's Philharmonic, the Golden Gate Boys' Choir, and the London Piano Duo.

Saturday, May 31, 8pm
Mission Dolores Basilica
16th and Dolores Streets
$36, www.sfconcertchorale.org

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

12 yr old wins BBC Young Musician of the Year 2008

2008-05-11T19:08:09Z

Peter Moore was last night named BBC Young Musician of the Year 2008 at a nail-biting and visually stunning final at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff - the youngest ever winner of the competition.

Organised by BBC Wales, this was the first all-male final and trombonist Peter, aged just 12, took the coveted title against stiff competition from talented young musicians from around the UK.

Belfast-born Peter now lives in Stalybridge and is a pupil at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester. All his family members are brass players and his parents were both French horn players in the Ulster Orchestra. His brother David is studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and also entered the competition.

The other sensational finalists Sheffield-born Jadran Duncumb, 18, guitar, David Smith, 18, flute, from Edinburgh, Ipswich student Erdem Misirlioglu , 18, piano and Jim Molyneux, 17, percussion, from Littleborough will all have the opportunity to perform at the Wigmore Hall in London as part of the Tabor Foundation's ongoing sponsorship of the competition including this year's final.

Pete said, "I have really enjoyed the whole competition and feel really privileged to take part. It has been great to work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. When my mum said I should enter I thought she was off her rocker but she talked me into it."

After the competition mum Jane and dad Grenville took their award winning son back to Stalybridge for a good night's sleep in his own bed after what had been an exciting yet tiring week for the 12 year old.

The two day celebration had an atmosphere that combined the tension of a competition with the fun of a party. Before and after their performances the finalists mixed with friends, family and music teachers who had traveled from around the UK and further afield to share their views, pass on congratulations and generally mingle in the foyer of the iconic Wales Millennium Centre.

A glamorous line-up of celebrities had been assembled for the 30th anniversary gala final weekend including Strictly Come Dancing and Blue Peter's Gethin Jones, former Royal Harpist Catrin Jenkins, singer and broadcaster Aled Jones and past winners Nicola Benedetti and Nicola Loud.

Twenty one year old violinist Nicola Benedetti came to the prestigious weekend musical extravaganza fresh from being named young British classical performer at the Classical Brit Awards on Thursday night.

Nicola, the competition's 2004 winner, was joined by the Queen of the Harp, former royal harpist Catrin Finch, 27, on the panel of jurors. They were two of the youngest judges in the competition's 30 year history.

On Saturday's electrifying concerto concert Gethin Jones and Nicola Loud introduced the five very different finalists whose music ranged from popular classical favourites such as Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez played by Jadran Dumcumb, Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini played by Erdem Misirlioglu to Tomasi's Trombone Concerto played by Peter Moore, Ibert's Flute Concerto played by David Smith and Torke's wild Rapture Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra played by Jim Molyneux. It was possibly the first time a large-size baked bean can had been played in a classical concert at WMC.

For Sunday afternoon's concert the live music performances were interspersed with documentary footage of Jim, Peter, David, Jadran and Erdem's journey to the Grand Final, shown on a large screen at the edge of the stage that was also cleverly used to focus in on the soloists during both concerts.

Aled Jones joined in the hosting of Sunday's concert which culminated in the tense wait for the judges to make their decision.

Peter's music teacher mum Jane said, "We are very proud of him and over the moon. He works really hard and what is most important enjoys what he does."

A special award was also made to Michael Foyle, aged 16 from Troon in Ayshire. The £2,000 Tabor Award for Promising Talent 2008 is given to one competitor to help with the costs of special tuition to help him or her achieve their full potential.
A £1,500 Walter Todds Bursary, created in memory of the competition's late founder, was shared between 18 year old harpist Cecilia Sultana de Maria from Bath, pianist Sam Law, aged 17 from Ballymena and percussionist David Elliot, aged 18 from Bournemouth.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/youngmusician/sites/news/

Hear the Finals concert : Performance on 3 : Concerto Final Mon 11 May, 7.00pm BST http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/performanceon3/pip/adi0f/

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WAAAAA!

2008-04-10T21:26:33Z

I just played a massive brass concert; Wagner, Tomassi, Kerry Turner and Strauss.

It went HORRIBLE. people were having trouble hitting notes, entrances, good tone... tuning was out the window. My stand partner who's usually a jerk told me to stop playing, that I was ruining everything.

I wanna curl up and disappear. Really dont wanna go to Orchestra rehearsal.

Oh yeah, my boyfriends' mother and sister in law were there.

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Mahler 7

2008-04-10T19:33:40Z

a group i play in, Portland youth Wind Ensemble, is playing it next year... anybody have any thoughts on Mahler 7 specifically?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Christian Lindberg

2008-04-03T01:16:24Z

At the "Last night of the Proms" last Saturday, I was introduced to the extraordinary playing of trombonist Christian Lindberg playing the finale from Motorcycle Odyssey.... A real virtuoso performance as a result of which I would like to buy one of his cds, but being eternally strapped for cash, am not sure which one to go for, so I was hoping for some recommendations?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Interview with Stephanie Winters (plays w/ Richie Havens)

2008-03-27T00:07:26Z

Classically trained cellist Stephanie Winters is a pioneer in bringing the strength and richness of her instrument to different musical forms and genres. More than 100 artists have sought Stephanie out to record and tour with them, including Corrine Bailey Rae, Paula Cole, The O'Jays, Dar Williams, and Anne Murray.

Since 2004 Winters has been a cornerstone of Richie Havens' live show, playing more than 100 performances a year in North America, Europe and Australia with the Woodstock legend. She played on Havens’ last release, "Grace of the Sun", and is featured on Havens' forthcoming CD "Nobody Left to Crown" which was just released in Europe and is slated for a 2008 release in the United States.

here is my Interview with Stephanie Winters:
http://www.cincygroove.com/?q=node/196

Scott

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Local streaming classical

2008-03-26T07:26:29Z

Hi, I'm looking for a good streaming classical music radio station. I currently listen to KBAQ out of Arizona State University, but I live in Northern California and wondered if anyone knew of a good classical station I could listen to online that is more local. Bay Area maybe?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Win tickets to London's Philharmonia Orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles)

2008-03-24T21:57:12Z

LA Phil Presents – Philharmonia Orchestra – May 6 & 7, 8:00 PM at Walt
Disney Concert Hall

For a chance to win tickets to the Philharmonia concert on May 7,
visit:
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/special_events/philharmonia_contest.cfm

Featured Artists:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

London's Philharmonia Orchestra comes to Walt Disney Concert Hall for
two nights only, Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7.

Resident orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, the Philharmonia is one of
the most recorded ensembles in the world.

Don't miss this brilliant ensemble under its celebrated Principal
Conductor, Christoph von Dohnányi .

Visit LAPhil.com for tickets and information.
http://www.laphil.com/tickets/series_detail.cfm?id=195&season=2007

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Rare painting of Mozart authenticated

2008-03-15T19:59:42Z

A previously unknown portrait of Mozart has been found, and could be the most important portrait of the renowned composer ever to come to light, a British academic said Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080314/ennew_afp/entertainmentbritainaustriamusicmozartpainting_080314180029

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Opera's di Stefano dies aged 86

2008-03-04T08:48:41Z

One of the greatest tenors of the 20th Century, Giuseppe di Stefano, has died at his home near the Italian city of Milan at the age of 86.
Sicilian-born di Stefano was famed for his powerful voice and his duets with the late Maria Callas.

He was best known for his roles in Verdi's Rigoletto and Donizetti's Luica di Lammermoor.

He never fully recovered after being attacked while on holiday in Kenya in 2004.

He had two operations after being hit on the head by unknown assailants.

He suffered the blow whilst trying to defend his wife as the assailants attempted to steal her necklace.

During a career that began in the 1950s, di Stefano sang at prestigious opera houses including Milan's La Scala, New York's Metropolitan, Vienna and Berlin.

Rome saw his last performance in 1992.

He was described by the late Luciano Pavarotti as "the maestro".

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Paul Mercer

2008-02-20T17:17:23Z

I went to Paul Mercer's Violins and Ghosts II concert at Pantheacon.
It was hauntingly beautiful.

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Yeah going to see Madame Butterfly again!

2008-02-19T21:44:12Z

Sunday i'm taking Claire to see her very first production of Madame Butterfly, i know she will love it, especially as she enjoyed Carmen so much.
It will be my second time, and i'm so pleased its the Ukrainnian National Opera of Odessa again, they did the most splendid production complete with sets like the Japanese garden with live fish ponds, and the antique wedding Kimono's from Japan.

Although i've seen a few opera's Madame Butterfly was my first, and will always remain my favorite.
I never belived that acting, and singing onstage could move me to tears untill i saw this opera

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

2/9 National Top 3 A cappella Sensation Solstice Performs Classical & other music

2008-02-06T06:25:24Z

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Recommend first Opera's...Madame Butterfly, and Carmen

2008-01-24T20:09:25Z

Up untill my first live opera, i could never really listen to the more classical opera's on C.D.

That all changed when i went to see my First Opera live.
My love affair with opera began with Madame Butterfly, performed ny the National Ukarainian Opera of Odessa.

It was so moving that not only i, but several other member's of the audience including the guys, where in tears.

If there is anyone who is not sure how they would like opera, then definately Puccini's Madame Butterfly.
I loved it so much that i've got tickets for their return show in Feb (4 years on lol, and am taking a friend who has never gone before)

For those who might like somthing a tad more racy, then a good first is Bizet's Intoxicating Carmen...whoever said opera was boring has never seen this juicy little number.

I went to The Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus production, again it was stunning, the young Zarudi Vardanean song the title role, and not only looked very beautifull, played her role with gusto!, AND also had the most stunning voice that suited the part perfectly.
A newbie to opera that i took along with me commented on how passionate it was, and nothing like she expected it to be.

I have gone on to see Nabucco, Aida, Sushanna/susanna...excuse my spellings, to name a few, and there are more i would love to see besides.

With the exception of one person, everyone i have ever taken along with me has thorougly enjoyed the joy's of live opera....its not for everyone, but dont knock it untill you see it live...so much more enjoyable than that C.D : )

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 4 replies

Mahler

2008-01-20T04:48:13Z

Just playing a new addition to my collection. Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (performing version by Deryck Cooke)BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda, Conductor
Good solid Mahler and very well performed

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Mahler's Ninth

2008-01-08T18:46:28Z

There is a rather wonderful new recording of Mahler's Ninth out now on Profil Hannsler conducted by Sinopoli with the Staatskapelle Dresden. This is quite different from his Philharmonia studio performance (it's taken from a live concert) and is quite close in tempi to a Los Angeles account I have heard (it's slow). But there the similarities end. This is an inordinately powerful recording, in part I think because the shadow of death hangs over it (Sinopoli's father died just before he went on stage to perform the symphony). It's helped by glowing playing, especially the Dresden strings who achieve a profound depth in the Adagio I've rarely encountered, and by Sinopoli's rather special subjective view of this symphony.

Probably not an ideal Ninth for every day listening (but then this symphony isn't every day listening, although it once was for me) but one that should be heard.

Any one have any favorite performances of this very desolate symphony?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 9 replies

Dvorak

2007-12-21T07:11:58Z

The music bar that I frequent had good specials for Christmas week so I bought some two cd sets .The first is from the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Philarmonic playing Dvorak's Sym.5 & 8. I have another version of these pieces and this to me was a clearer better orchestration.The recording company is a new one to me and one I have not brought before.( Edition Roland Musikverlag)

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Music in OZ

2007-12-04T12:25:04Z

Been a wonderful couple of weeks here, we have had a guitar festival and although 90% of the music was blues/jazz/rock in content I was delighted to attend a Michael taylor concert where he played some marvellous pieces he had written that were classical in content and as well some Rodrigo. Also Nigel K ennedy is here and to me he has grown with his age and into music more than just being Nigel.
World music as featyred in Womadelaide will be on soon and the line up is just awesome.

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"Springtime In Moscow" - Original Classical Music

2007-11-08T16:31:00Z

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQqiQfsYVA8

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Verdi

2007-11-07T11:22:07Z

Guiseppe Verdi : 'Luisa Miller" I got hold of a Naxos compilation of Verdi's overtures and found the overture for this opera on it. The music wasn't an opera that I had heard but just going by the opening I took a punt and got the set. For me this was a very lyrical work, not the greatest Verdi ever, but a very easy listen.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

Anton Dvorak

2007-09-25T17:53:16Z

Recently my piano teacher gave me some pieces from Dvorak's ninth to learn and as i stumbled through and re-listened to this composer again the experience has given me a better understanding of his symphonies. That i have yet to master the pieces that I have been given is just par for the course,perhaps that will come. The learning process though gave me the impetus to get all the symphonies from 1-9 and I am enjoying the listening much more than the learning.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Pavarotti dies

2007-09-11T03:55:19Z

http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/47595502

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Bruckner

2007-09-06T13:08:14Z

Steve, I am listening to Bruckner's 5th (just the introduction) and wondered , as you are a fan. if this would be a good intro to this composer. The cd is from a naxos affiliate (profil) and the orchestra is the Munich Philarmonic.playing Symphony No.5 in B flat major

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 11 replies

Best Peter and the Wolf

2007-09-05T05:14:40Z

My best friend's daughter is turning 4 in a few weeks... It is time to start turning her on to classical music. I think Peter and the Wolf is a perfect starting point. However, while me collection is extensive, I have no recordings of this and I know that the quality of the narrator can turn a great performance into a dog. Anyone have any personal favorites that I should look for?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 5 replies

Pagannini

2007-09-04T22:29:49Z

I came across a cd trio of Pagannini with the added bonus of the orchestra leader and conductor using Pagannini's own violin. This is a composer i have always admired and to hear his works played on the original violin gave the cd's a genuine authority

Genove Carlo Felice Theater Orchestra

Massimo Quarta, Conductor

Violin Concerto No. 3 in E major, MS 50
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, MS 78

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

Pecking opera~

2007-07-19T12:25:37Z

Peking opera of China is a national treasure with a history of 200 years. In the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty(1790) ,the four big Huiban opera Troupes entered the capital and combined with Kunqu opera, Yiyang opera, Hanju opera and Luantan in Beijing's thearetical circle of the time. Through a period of more than half a century of combination and integration of various kinds of opera there evolved the present Peking opera, the biggest kind of opera in China, whose richness of repertoire, great number of artists of performance and of audiences, and profound influence are incomparable in China.

Just wanna share with you all Beijing opera, also kind of music ha~ I like it.
And some more info about it. www.foreignercn.com/cn/index..._462.html

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Bubbles

2007-07-06T15:33:12Z

Once again the death of a beloved artist has touched me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverly_Sills

I met her once shortly after her retirement from singing. Her aid was trying to hurry her through a signing at a local record store and when I pulled out several records he got snippy and said “Only one!” She immediately drew me aside and not only signed every copy (after telling him the plane and her fans would wait for her) but spent the next few minutes chatting me up about music. She wanted to know if I sang, how I got into Opera and then pulled out the rest of my record purchases and commented on those as well. After telling her I played classical guitar and had started on the lute, she suggested the new (at the time) Christopher Parkening/ Kathleen Battle album.

During the entire conversation I was struck by the warmth she generated. And her smile, my God, if anyone says the name Bubbles doesn’t fit, they obviously never met the women; she literally beamed.

I’m pulling out her recordings and spending the day enchanted.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Phillip Glass

2007-06-14T06:48:38Z

Just playing a Naxos recording of his Symp.No 4 'Heroes' marin alsop conducting the bournemouth (uk) orchestra . The opening piece is called 'the light' and that is followed by the symp.'heroes'. I once attented a concert that peter sellars , who is a friend of glass, arranged of his work and am loath to say fell asleep after only 15min . This particulat recording has rekindled my interest in his work and hopefully has recharged my sleep patterns.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 7 replies

Elgar's 150th anniversary marked

2007-06-02T16:35:45Z

Special performances are taking place to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain's greatest composers, Sir Edward Elgar.
Elgar, who was born near Worcester, is famous for a string of symphonies and concertos, with Land of Hope and Glory being among his best-known scores.

Julian Lloyd Webber is performing his Cello Concerto at Worcester Cathedral and later at the Royal Albert Hall.

Mr Lloyd Webber will be travelling between the two venues by helicopter.

It is the first time the world-renowned cellist, brother of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, has performed at two separate locations with such restricted time constraints.

He said: "We do not have a huge number of inspirational great composers and of them, Elgar is the greatest so it's an important anniversary for Britain.

"It's a huge challenge to play such a emotional piece twice in one day and in two different locations."

In Worcester, Mr Lloyd Webber will be joined by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a special gala anniversary celebration.

Married pupil

Elsewhere, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus is performing Elgar's three oratorios at Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Elgar, who was born in Broadheath, a village three miles from Worcester, was largely a self-taught composer, and is said to have studied music manuscripts in the countryside on his own as a boy.

He grew up surrounded by music - his father, a tradesman, owned a music shop and was a piano tuner.

Elgar, who also taught the violin and played the organ, married one of his pupils, Caroline Alice Roberts, in 1889.

He died in 1934 - the same year as two other English composers - Gustav Holst and Frederick Delius.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/6714709.stm

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Farewell Slava

2007-05-20T12:09:45Z

Our beloved Mstislav Rostropovich has passed away . At the moment I'm crying like a baby listening to the Britten suites.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 5 replies

BBC Proms 2007: Advance Booking Now Open

2007-05-16T13:09:37Z

ADVANCE BOOKING NOW OPEN
Advance Booking for the 2007 BBC Proms is now open. To enjoy the best chance of securing the seats you want, send in your completed booking form (in the Proms Guide) or use our Advance Ticket Request System before telephone booking opens on Monday 11 June. Please note that this is not a live online booking system: ticket applications will be processed subject to availability, and a live online booking system will launch on 11 June.

The BBC Proms Guide contains full details of the complete 2007 concert season along with articles about the music and artists, and an advance booking form. It is available priced £6 from all good bookshops, and can also be ordered by telephone on 08700 11 33 69. Alternatively, go to bbc.co.uk/proms for all the concert listings and booking information.

BBC PROMS
FRIDAY 13 JULY – SATURDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2007
THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

2007-04-03T15:24:14Z

Im really hoping someone might be able to help me? Mr Tummnus, the faun from the movie the lion the witch and the wardrobe plays a musical instrument which I have no idea of the name or whether it is even real? I wouldnt call it a flute nor pan pipe and as for the sound thats anyone guess, perhaps a 'Panbagflute'?? I have not come across one single musicaly minded or instrument knowledgable person capable of answering my question, So, for anyone who knows or is at least up to the challenge?
Failing this, if I could find the movies....? props? person, well maybe I would get somewhere....
Thanks all.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

A Beautiful Film

2007-03-25T04:37:27Z

For those who enjoy foreign film and like the violin, I highly suggest the Chinese film "Together". About a father, son, violin and the understanding what making beautiful music together as a family really means. It's one of the best music films I've seen in years.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

modest mussorgsky

2007-03-19T02:07:10Z

At the moment i have 'Pictures at an Exhibition" running. A naxos cd with several other extra pieces of his and some work by Alexander Borodin (1883-1887).This is a composer I had never heard before but they were a good fit with the Mussorgsky.Pictures is an old favourite of mine and this new cd has some fine orchestration by the St. Louis Symphony. (vox-7208)

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

So what are the odds.

2007-03-02T05:47:18Z

I’ve always been partial to Bruchner, but due to the length of his symphonies hardly ever encounter them. So, last week I put on his fifth for an evening listen. The next day a friend called needing a place to crash for the night. When he arrived, he strangely enough asked if I had the Bruchner eighth, which he’d been listening to on the drive over and didn’t get to finish. I said sure, and pulled out the eighth, which we listened to, then rounded out the visit with a nice discussion about Bruchner and his merits. Cool I thought two Bruchner symphonies in as many days.

He left after breakfast the next morning and I jumped in the shower turning the radio on for company. Damned if they weren’t playing the Eighth again! What are the odds I thought, encountering Bruchner three times in as many days?

Well, today I put on a copy of “The cabinet of Dr. Caligari” I just bought used, and…well you guessed it, Bruchner! I’m unsure which one because the copy of the movie didn’t give any credits at all. Grrr… I think its thematic material is taken from the last movement of the fifth, but figure fine, I’ll just listen to the whole thing again tonight since I’m about it and find out for sure. Hell, there are so many themes and versions of the symphonies with all the rewrites; it’s surprising I recognized it.

Now, this happens from time to time with Vivaldi, Bach and even Beethoven works coming at me back to back in rapid succession, but Bruchner? Again, what are the odds?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 11 replies

Vale Gian Carlo Menotti

2007-02-03T05:11:58Z

Gian Carlo Menotti dies at the age of 95
Menotti, the opera composer who had a long, but not always harmonious, association with Scotland, died yesterday aged 95.
Menotti, who came to the Edinburgh Festival in 1955 and made his home in East Lothian, was the founder of music festivals in his native Italy and in the United States
He created the Spoleto Festival in Italy, and its American namesake in North Carolina which provided a launchpad for the careers of Jessye Norman, among others. Jacqueline du Pre gave an early performance as a 16-year-old and some Americans, then completely unknown, also had an impact, such as stage actor Al Pacino and set painter Andy Warhol.
http://www.theherald.co.uk 03-02-07

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Josef Suk

2007-01-17T16:05:43Z

Josef Suk (1874-1935) This gentleman was the son-in-law of Dvorak and a violinist /composer who wrote very little chamber music with most of his more well known works being orchestral pieces.Whilst I will have to put my hand up to not really being a devotee of Dvorak I really liked son-in-law Suk's work. The cd I have is his Asrael- Faerie Tale - Serenade for strings.Surprisingly this is not Naxos but Chandos 964040-41 a double cd set.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 5 replies

william grant still

2007-01-11T17:01:25Z

Listening to an american composer : william grant still (1895-1978)
This is someone who I had never heard of, not surprising actually,i'm not really an active musicologist and more of a traditional composer cd gatherer.This particular cd though is very listenable and has a range of styles which is remarkable as he at one time arranged and wrote with wc handy.His main influence was samuel coleridge-taylor and in this track i'm hearing now one can feel that message.Naxos cd 8.559174

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Lorraine Hunt Leberson...

2007-01-07T00:40:43Z

wow, just found out she died in July this year. Was waiting for her to tour again since she canceled a show last year. Her voice is just fabulous, a warm clear mezzo. earthy but not dark. must suggest giving her a listen if you haven't heard. So sad about her death (breast cancer) she just recently married 4 years ago!

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

WOW!

2006-12-24T16:09:27Z

Rox had one of carols sung on the Carols from Kings College Cambridge this year!

An audience of millions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(after the sixth lesson)
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/ninelessons/2006/NineLessonsCarols2006.pdf

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Christmas eve music...

2006-12-24T15:03:14Z

Forgot to mention this before but my little brother and the brass quartet he plays in will be on “Meet the Press” (NBC) this morning 12/24 playing Christmas tunes. They’ve played the holiday show for several years now. I understand they’ve finally gotten a good shot of my brother... he’s the guy hiding behind the euphonium.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006)

2006-12-22T13:57:08Z

I know a lot of you might not be familiar with his music, but if you ever get the chance please make the time. His music is very accessible, surprising and always enjoyable. I've only heard a few organ and choral pieces but feel we've lost an excellent composer with his passing.

http://www.danielpinkham.net/index.html

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Season's Greetings

2006-12-19T19:28:55Z

http://www.paperboy.nl/?PID1=%3D%3CE%3A%26A%28%3F%3CW%242%24D%2E0%2EEA%3BOM%28L%27%3E%259I%5D5%40%3D1%23FF%404%3C%20%0A

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Amusing...

2006-12-15T05:19:52Z

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. --Hector Berlioz

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 11 replies

Karlheinz Stockhausen the new classical music.

2006-12-14T20:52:28Z

Who can dislpay manicheistic impulses about Stockhausen is almost closed to new skies and new vibrations in his own inner spirituality.About him platonic discourses have no sense because Stockhausen is a neoplatonic world that opens blue wide skies to the spirituality and the result is a sonority with an astonishing cadence because all instruments and elettronic instruments are under a very shrewd selection able to play with our alms like a harp.It's very far from a mistical experience but is an ecstasy in an exciting crescendo very far from barocco music coldness.If someone want assert that Stockhausen music can result offensive for some terms he can merely contraddict for himself,because it's pure "Weltanschauung".I can raccomend to listen"Kreuzespiel","Kontact" and"In the sky I'm walking"to the young generations also that very often are bored about classical music.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Happy birthday Jean Sibelius

2006-12-09T18:44:14Z

Arguably the most famous of Finnish composers. Who doesn't know the longing power of 'Finlandia' or charm of the violin concerto? I love his symphonies and always thought it a shame he stopped writing so soon. The thirty years of silence at the end of his life has always bafffled me. 'Karelia suite' would be fun to put on for the holiday with its sleigh bells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Sibelius

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 9 replies

Joachim Raff

2006-12-04T10:43:01Z

Joachim Raff 1822-1882:
A contemporary of Liszt and also known to Mendlessohn he worked with Liszt for some time before having a falling out with Liszt's mistress (PrincesCarolyne) and then striking out on his own.Raff wrote very elegant pieces with depth and was considered an important figure for the time. He was director of the Hoch conservatorium in Frankfurt and appointed the first woman piano teacher .Some time later he established a school for women composers, the first in Germany.
The cd I am listening to at the moment is Naxos 8.223362 Raff :Symphonies nos.8-9

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall

2006-12-01T15:09:51Z

...opened on the 29th of November in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Invited Artists Included::

Olga Trifonova
Lang Lang
Maxim Vengerov
Sergei Roldugin
And Vadim Repin

Highlights of the Programme included:::
Capriccio Espagnol-Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Piano Concerto in E flat major, Op.73. Finale
Dmitry Shostakovitch-Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 77. Cadence and Finale
Giuseppe Verdi-Overture from the Opera la Forz del Destino
Freidrich Gulda-Concerto for cello and wind orchestra. Overture
Igor Stravinsky-Music from the ballet the Firebird. Finale
etc., etc.,

The acoustic is magnificent!

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Benoit

2006-11-29T02:39:23Z

Peter Benoit was born at Harlebeke on 17 August 1834 and died in Antwerp on 8 March 1901. He was the most important Flemish composer of the nineteenth century, responsible for the foundation of a Flemish national school of music.The cd that I am playing at the moment is Naxos 8.223827 Piano concerto/Flute Concerto. This is a great little cd full of life and movement and has a very full' triumphant' feel to it.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 4 replies

Happy 70th Steve Reich

2006-11-28T04:51:59Z

The news hour did a segment on Steve Reich turning seventy with a spotlight on his music. It seems like only yesterday that I first heard his music, its fascinating rhythmic shifting pulses and then the ensuing debate about its worthiness in the concert hall. Long termed “minimal music” I found it, at the time and even now, anything but that.

http://www.stevereich.com/

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Pleyel

2006-11-25T04:04:39Z

Ignaz Joseph Pleyel; A contemporary of Haydn and a former star pupil of his and after Haydn's retirement became the most popular composer in Europe.
I literally stumbled across this fellow whilst researching something completely different. I now have his Symphonies ( from Naxos) 121-128-138 and find them very good listening.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 5 replies

Chinese ballet

2006-11-24T15:39:01Z

I'm excited, I had a vinyl of Red Detachment of Women, the ballet President and First Lady Nixon enjoyed while visiting China in 1972, but I gave it to a Chinese friend about ten years ago. I have missed listening to this so very much I Googled and found a cd of it and it is on the way. This is very good listening.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Tower

2006-11-15T18:00:44Z

I was a Tower fan and now that they are gone I need a new online source. Any suggestions?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Valentin Alkan

2006-11-06T04:17:38Z

A cd from a composer that I had never heard of ,Valentin Alkan, caught my eye and after listening to a few tracks decided to add this cd to my cabinet. Alkan (1813-1888) composed some memorable pieces for piano which demand a lot from the pianist. A most enjoyable cd from the Naxos range

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Vivaldi

2006-10-30T03:43:02Z

Recently I found a Double cd of Vivaldi which to my mind is one of the better Naxos efforts.Simply called 'The Very Best Of Vivaldi' it is well worth a listen and of course being Naxos, a bargain.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Sir Malcolm Arnold RIP

2006-09-25T01:35:48Z

Composer Sir Malcolm Arnold dies

Composer Sir Malcolm Arnold has died in hospital after a brief illness at the age of 84.
Sir Malcolm, who won an Oscar for the musical score to the Bridge on the River Kwai film in 1958 - was suffering from a chest infection.

He is most famous for his film scores, composing 132 including Whistle Down the Wind and Hobson's Choice.

As well as film scores, Sir Malcolm also composed seven ballets, nine symphonies and two operas.

Sir Malcolm, one of the most famous composers of the 20th century, leaves behind two sons and one daughter.

Anthony Day, his companion and carer for the last 23 years, praised Sir Malcolm as "the most wonderful man".

"People didn't see the man that I knew because he had frontal lobe dementia over the last few years which slowly developed but, being with him, he was a happy, lovely man who enjoyed his music and enjoyed his life," he told BBC News.

Mr Day also paid tribute to Sir Malcolm's achievement in winning an Oscar for Bridge on the River Kwai.

"They couldn't find anybody else to do the music in time because they wanted to release it to the Oscars," Mr Day said.

"They gave him 10 days and he managed to write the complete score in 10 days."

Sir Malcolm's music continues to be performed and recorded extensively by leading orchestras both nationally and internationally.

He was awarded the CBE in 1970.

Saturday night was the premier of his version of the Three Musketeers at the Alhambra in Bradford.

The performance, which was dedicated to him, went ahead as planned.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5374808.stm

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Bantock

2006-09-17T02:18:50Z

Whilst in Borders searching for a Christian Lindberg cd I came across a cd of music composed by Sir Granville Bantock for Cello , piano and harp .This is a wonderful selection of cello and the piece that I love and have playing as background is 'Pibroch', an evocative,sensual, alive sound.

Cello Sonata in B minor
1TI I. Moderate assai
[I] 2. Largamente - poco allegretto
H] 3. Allegretto: scherzando rubato - Allegretto
B 4. Allegro moderate non tanto
II] Hamabdil for cello and harp
Cello Sonata in Fft minor
B I. Allegro con anima
[13 2. Lentamente - Allegretto espressivo
B 3. Finale: con mote non troppo
B. Pibroch for cello and harp
Sonata in G minor for solo cello
Quasi a piacere ^ 2. Cantabile sostenuto El 3. Recitative - liberamente J3 4. Allegro, con moto perpetuo
Elegiac Poem for cello and piano
ANDREW FULLER cello
MICHAEL DUSSEK piano LUCYWAKEFORD harp

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Heads up

2006-08-20T10:50:00Z

Mid October will see an interesting release by Sting on DG of a CD featuring the music of Dowland. Yes, I did say Sting and Dowland. There was an interesting article on the back cover of the May 'Lute Quarterly' discussing it, from all I can tell it should be fun.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 4 replies

JOIN JOIN JOIN

2006-08-06T01:41:17Z

Hello, I just started a new tribe and I need a few people to join to get it positing power. Please join http://tribes.tribe.net/classicalmusiclovers so that i can get my first event off the ground.

Thanks, Jeffery

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

2006-08-05T18:07:19Z

December 9, 1915 – August 3, 2006

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elis...chwarzkopf

I've always had a deep respect for her singing of Wolf and Strauss, and though saddened by the news I'm grateful to have heard her voice.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

Singing sand...

2006-07-28T07:50:54Z

Thought you all might get a kick out of this.

On the video that accompanies this article on the NY Times website, the
sand dunes make a sound not unlike a musical saw...

Secrets of the Singing Sand Dunes

By KENNETH CHANG

The dunes at Sand Mountain in Nevada sing a note of low C, two octaves
below middle C. In the desert of Mar de Dunas in Chile, the dunes sing
slightly higher, an F, while the sands of Ghord Lahmar in Morocco are
higher yet, a G sharp.

Since at least the time of Marco Polo, desert travelers have heard the
songs of the dunes, a loud - up to 115 decibels - deep hum that can
last several minutes. (You can listen to them here.) While the songs
are steady in frequency, the dunes do not have perfect pitch. At Sand
Mountain, for example, dunes can sing slightly different notes at
different times, from B to C sharp.

Scientists already knew that the sounds were generated by avalanches,
but were not sure how. One thought had been that the force of an
avalanche could cause an entire dune to resonate like a flute or a
violin. But if that were true, dunes of different sizes and shapes
should produce a cacophony of notes instead of one characteristic tone.

Now, after five years of research, visiting sand dunes in Morocco,
Chile, China and Oman, a team of scientists from the United States,
France and Morocco say they have the answer.

In a paper that will appear in Physical Review Letters, the scientists
say that collisions between sand grains cause the motions of the grains
to become synchronized. The outer layer of the dune vibrates like the
cone of a loudspeaker. The particular note depends primarily on the
size of the grains.

Indeed, no dune was required at all. The scientists shipped sand from a
Moroccan desert to a Paris laboratory and reproduced the singing by
pushing the sand around with a metal blade.

"It's not at all like any other instrument we know," said one of
the scientists, Stйphane Douady of the National Center for Scientific
Research in Paris.

The most beautiful dune tune comes from the sands of Oman. "Very pure
sound," Dr. Douady said. "This one is really singing." The least
musical bits of silicon were those from China, which hardly sang at
all.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 4 replies

Vivaldi Four Seasons

2006-07-20T17:16:43Z

Winter just sticks with me so strongly. I can listen to it over and over again.

Do you have any favorite little pieces that do that to you?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

BBC 2006 Proms season

2006-07-15T08:11:41Z

The World's greatest classical music festival starts today!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Gyorgi Ligeti.

2006-06-23T15:34:27Z

I saw this mentioned on another Internet group and thought it worth mentioning here; it’s rather sad news I’m sorry to say.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/12/obit.ligeti.ap/

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 7 replies

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

2006-06-21T19:19:55Z

I've always been a fan of Dmitri Shostakovich and thought it may be interesting to see what, if any, of his works you enjoy. He wrote so much great music I don't really know where to begin other than just jumping right in with my own favorite works.

For some reason I adore the second Cello concerto so much more than the famous first. I think it is due the playful dialog between cello, percussion and orchestra and in particular the last movement. From what I understand it is not a very difficult work and Cellists would rather perform the first concerto for that reason alone. I’ve several recordings all of with their own merits. Of the recordings I like the original Rostropovich which I believe he did with the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, composer conducting, simply because his link to the composer and the music shines through. That one was on vinyl and has not seen a reproduction on disc yet. On CD the old DG of Rostropovich and Seiji Ozawa is great fun and has the added bonus of being coupled with the Tchaikovsky 'Andante cantabile' and Glazunov's 'Chant du menestrel' both of which are charmers. Schiff does a good job on the Philips label but for my money the disc on Naxos is an excellent coupling both concertos and played quite respectably by Maria Kleigel. With back up by the Polish National Radio Symphony with Antoni Wit at the baton this is a sure winner at any price.

So you can see I’m quite a fan having so many copies of just this one concerto. What pieces or recordings do you like and would recommend?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 20 replies

A very odd instrument

2006-06-19T00:02:09Z

http://www.kirchersociety.org/blog/?p=116

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Chopin played on guitar

2006-06-18T02:37:43Z

Does anyone know of any recordings of Chopin's music interpreted on the guitar???

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Looking for similar styled music

2006-06-05T02:10:49Z

Have you ever heard of 'Apacolyptica'? They are classical musicians with a love for the Rock attitude! I have an absolute fascination with their renditions of Metallica and other metal bands music. I find it hard to believe that they are the only ones out there that have done this sort of thing. Since it's not a very popular style of music, it's hard to locate any other musicians that do this sort of artistic interpretation.

If anyone out there has any insight into this, I would love to hear it!

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

New tribe for a very misunderstood instrument.

2006-06-05T02:09:07Z

The recorder instrument is a misunderstood instrument. Some regard it as a beginner instrument - but it is not suited for beginners. It can with skill sound great - both sole, in chamber music and even in folk bands. If you are playing the misunderstood instrument - come join us at http://tribes.tribe.net/recorderplayers

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Questioning ethnomusicology in the “classical” tradition

2006-05-19T00:38:19Z

I’ve often wondered: at what point does the use of ethnic music, when combined with western (or “classical”) music incorporate into the term?

Listening to Harrison’s American gamelon I feel convinced that the true meaning at times has been breached. But what makes the music of say, Roy Harris “classical”? Does merely transcribing for an Orchestra make a Frank Zappa piece the same in some sense to one written by Beethoven? For that matter, isn’t nationalism indeed an incorporation of ethnic music into the larger scheme such as the music of Bartok, Ellington or Dvorak?

I know it is splitting hairs and totally irrelevant to the enjoyment of music on the whole. Yet pigeonholing music or any art for that matter has been done since the history was first taught. Classifying and over analyzing really makes for a rather dry approach, and even such terms as “classical” can have several meanings.

In short, what sets classical music apart, in your mind, from all other ethnic music (Jazz, folk, Rock, etc.), is it merely the consumption into a Western European heritage?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 2 replies

new cd's

2006-05-12T09:46:53Z

Borders emailed me with an offer that I couldn't refuse, so this is the first CD that i have played from the list that I purchased, as good as the first Vieutemps that I have, very listenable

Henry VIEUXTEMPS

Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, •Gretry Op. 37
1 Allegro nun troppo - Moderate
2. Adagio
3 Allegro con fuucu
Violin Concerto No. 6 in G major, Op. 47
4, Allegro moderate
5 Pastorale: Andante con moto
6_ Intermez/o siciliano
Z Rondo final: Allegretto
Violin Concerto No. 7 in A minor, Op. 49 *
8 Moderato
9, Melancolie
10 Allegro vivo
Misha Keylin, Molin
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra • Andrew Mogrelia
Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra • Takuo Vuasa

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

A new tribe for classical music: Long Leaf Opera, Chapel Hill, NC

2006-05-11T16:40:28Z

You are welcome to visit and join our new Tribe: tribes.tribe.net/longleafopera.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

American violin concertos

2006-05-05T23:14:21Z

Was at work tonight thinking of American (USA) violin concertos I had heard or was aware of and came up with the following list. I’d like to think myself pretty well versed but are there any others you could add or specific recordings you could recommend? Also I’m curious if any of you play this repertoire? These are in no specific order:

Glass
Diamond (2)
Piston (2)
Bernstein
Taaffe Zwillich
McKay
Barber
Harris
Rochberg
Schuman
Korngold
Bennett
Rorem
Ludwig
Tower
Achron
Adams
Picker
Creston (2)

Harrison double concerto with cello and gamalon orchestra
Burleigh three double concertos with piano
Taaffee Zwilich triple with piano and cello

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

A new tribe, just for rants:

2006-04-29T22:10:17Z

For fun, I started this new tribe a few days ago..
http://tribes.tribe.net/paddedcell

Remember, if all the rants are in one place, we will all be doing are part
to keep the rants from appearing anywhere else on this planet .. lol ..

Elaine

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 0 replies

new composer

2006-04-26T14:19:26Z

This week is/will be for me a rather special if not extremely poignant one. I hied off to Borders looking for a cd which might suit my mood and purchased a composer that I had never heard at all before,Henry Vieuxtemps. This cd is one I can recommend for the compassion that the players show, also, the arrangements fit the mood/voice of the instruments perfectly.As for my melancholy, increased by 100%.
Henrv
VIEUXTEMPS
(1820-18S1)
Sonata in B flat major for Viola and Piano, Op. 36 23:06
B] Maestoso - Allegro 12:07
[2] Barcarolla: Andante con moto 6:31
[3] Finale scherzando: Allegretto 4:28
ffi Elegie for Viola and Piano. Op. 30 6:54
BI Capriccio for \ iola Solo, Op. post.. No. 9 3:32
(6] La Nuit (Feliden David (1810-1876), tr. Henr^ Vieuvtemps) 5:12
I nfinished Sonata for \ iola and Piano. Op. post.. No. 14 25:16
[7i Allegro con fuoco 11:29
[8] Scherzo: Grazioso - Trio I - Trio II 13:47
Roberto Diaz, Viola • Robert Koenig, Piano

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Furtwangler as composer, and other conductor-composers

2006-04-22T21:52:45Z

Does anyone else rate Furtwangler's Second Symphony as a fine musical achievement? I finally got to hear Takashi Asahina's Osaka recording of this symphony whilst I was in America and it really does bring this quasi-Brucknerian work alive like no other. Furtwangler himself was a strong advocate of his own masterpiece, but it wasn't until I heard Barenboim's Chicago recording that one could appreciate the sheer scale and depth of this work.

It is not always the case that conductors make good composers (though I think both Sinopoli and Salonen bend that rule better than most) but it is a symphony worth seeking out if you enjoy Bruckner. Anyone heard Salonen's Insomnia?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 6 replies

Mozart/the adelaide festival/critics

2006-04-17T23:35:19Z

Mozart - Amsterdam Sinfonietta Adelaide Town Hall Thursday
WOLFGANG Amadeus Mozart - remember him? Composer, genius, movie star and all-round amazing guy. It's his 250th birthday this year, a fact which, even at this far-flung fag-end of what we used to whimsically call civilisation, one might have expected a festival of the arts to loudly and largely celebrate.
From his marginal presence in the Adelaide Festival it would appear the mighty and amazing Wolfgang just isn't quite "cool" enough for the bread and circuses world of hubristic populism.
We must, therefore, be doubly thankful for the Amsterdam Sinfonietta's fine, richly committed presentation of two glowing examples of Mozart's incommensurable art.
Led with great flair and effective energy by violinist Candida Thompson, the Amsterdam Sinfonietta brought vivid' and engaging life to all the subtly complex, wide ranging expression of the Sinfonia Concertate K.364.
This unique concerto for violin and viola saw Thompson's lyrical performance ideally complemented by violist, Max Rysanov - a musician of rare distinction. The Sinfonietta's reading of the masterpiece among Mozart's early symphonies - No. 29 in A major, was perhaps even more brightly effective.
Between these two gems, for no discernible rhyme or reason, sat the very alien, largely inchoate ruminations of contemporary Scottish composer, James MacMillan's Meditations on lona - a waste of what could have been just a little more enchanted Mozart space.
Raymond Chapman Smith

I attened that concert and whilst I would agree that there could have been a little more Mozart in the (whole) festival the rest of the music program was well balanced and very well received. The addition of the scottish composers work was well thought out and gave a roundness to the recital.Methinks that this reviewer got out of the wrong side of his score.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 3 replies

Stabat Mater

2006-04-17T18:35:48Z

I'm looking for a nice copy of Dvorak's 'Stabat Mater' and am seeking recommendations. It amazes me that I've yet to purchase a copy and a slight I'd like to rectify soon.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 5 replies

muses record bar

2006-03-21T11:09:33Z

Have to go through my Mozart collection , for Muses has a Naxos 3cd box set for $18.25 (threedifferent selections) so on thursday I will saunter to Muses armed with some cash (they do discount for) and grab some Mozart, also the pic on him opens here thurs. so we will catch that.

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 4 replies

Festival

2006-03-20T08:19:59Z

our festival has ended and was for me a resounding success, The music was brilliant ..Shostakovich...The Rascher saxaphone quartet,...Ensemble 'Black Wind' the soundtracks to the two dances 'devolution' and 'nemisis' the chamber music played at the festival late night vernue each night.But the really good stuff came as the festival was winding up, borders had a massive sale to highlight music . I picked up 3 more boxed sets of Mozart (naxos) and a phillips boxed set of classical guitar.Roll on the next festival in 2008!

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 1 reply

Classical grammy winners

2006-03-16T00:45:41Z

The Grammy home page seemed a good place to start on this, but I found another site that worked much better for the post.

http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1958/1958grammy.htm

This site covers not only the classical categories but others as well from 1958 to the 2003. I thought we could start at the earliest and if anyone has any input on a particular recording or possibly other recordings that were considered in a given year, it could prove quite interesting. I guess just cutting and pasting the results here might be good, so we wouldn’t have to refer back to the link all the time. Does that sound like a plan? Also do you think I should include all classical categories such as engineering etc. or just let go with the performers, compositions, classical album of the year and things like that?

Bobs suggested we consider looking at the Classical Brit as well back on the previous Shostakovich post. I think if this goes well, it may be a great discussion for the future, or maybe just do this concurrent with each other so we can compare the years winners of both. Is anyone else game? What do you think?

posted in ""Classical music lovers - 7 replies

Leo Brouwer (1939 - )

2006-02-26T19:26:36Z

Have just discovered the great Cuban born composer, Leo Brouwer, is up to his ninth guitar concerto, how neat is that. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, he is for guitarists what Beethoven was for pianists. Largely the general public knows only his simple arrangement of Grenet’s ‘Drume Negrita’ called ‘Cancion de cuna’ and his ‘Una dia de Noviembre’ gleaned from one of his film scores, which is very sad. Though quite charming and now a standard, the composer has enriched the repertoire many times over with much more extraordinary pieces. Brouwer scored ‘Like water for Chocolate’ if you are familiar with that film. He has written much more than just guitar music, with Film and symphonic works in abundance, but the guitar is what I’m going to focus on here.

As for the concertos, each has its own merit, differing widely in scope though with Brouwer’s distinct eclectic writing style. Long out of print is the early John Williams (guitarist) recording of the first concerto. At present a little over half of his guitar concertos are available, with my favorites being his ‘Concierto de Lieja’ and ‘Conciero de Volos’. The ‘Concerto Elegiaco’ or number three is probably the most popular amongst guitarists but for me it is hard to judge simply because I’ve never heard several of them. He recently wrote a double guitar concerto, which I’m waiting patiently for a release of. Also there are some large concerted works including the guitar as soloist, my favorite being the ‘Retrats Catalans’ is simply stunning. The Fernandez recording of this with the English Chamber Orchestra is nice.

Of the chamber works there is a Beatles tribute work ‘From Yesterday to Penny Lane’ for guitar and string quartet, also available with full orchestration which, though nicely written reminds me of high class MUZAK. There is a nice ‘Quinteto para guitarra y cuarteto de duerda’ and the quartet ‘Homenaje a Falla’ for guitar, flute, oboe and clarinet both being welcome chamber works in such rare forms. His ‘Tres Danzas Concertantes’ for piano and guitar is a lot of fun. He has this in arrangement with guitarist and string orchestra as well. He has written and arranged many duos, trios and various large groupings of guitar ensembles, of which my personal favorite is ‘Paisaje cubano con rumba’. This piece was written for flutist Frans Bruggen and flute ensemble but works nicely for guitars; there is another arrangement for guitar with orchestra as well. *

Solo works are all over the map stylistically. He has gone through at least three distinct phases of writing style. Folk based, heavy 20th century, and the pop culture and classical very distinctly mixed in with the before mentioned. I almost hesitate in going into this but since I’ve come this far to leave out even a brief glimpse of his solo works seems a sacrilege. The ‘Drume Negrita’ is usually paired on discs with three other folk based tunes my favorite to play being ‘Ojos Brujos (Les yeux sorcierts)’. The severe 20th century style can best be visited through a listening of ‘La Espiral eterna’ though there are many others examples of this harsher type of writing. His later compilation of techniques has produced many modern masterpieces. This is just a short list of some of my favored works: ‘Variations sur un theme de Django Reinhardt’ ‘Tres apuntes’ his ‘Sonata’ and the one I really love ‘El Decameron negro’ which I highly recommend. Lastly I need to specifically mention are the ‘Estudios for guitar’ that are pedagogical but quite nice and will be required student pieces in the future if not already.

The three Naxos discs of his collected solo work are well worth the small investment as an introduction to this wonderful music. They contain many more pieces than I could even begin to go into. I sorely wish some great guitarist would take it upon himself or herself to champion and record the complete set of concertos; now that would be a worthy cause.

There have been many wonderful contributions made over the last few decades for the classical guitar by various composers, but it is in Brouwer that today’s guitarists have finally found a true champion for their instrument. He is one of my favorite living composers; but then again I may be just a tad jaded.

*I’ve included this paragraph especially for you Marie Therese.

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