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Niki

I didn;t read Poznansky's book but I did read all Tchaikovski's letters and a few bios. I remember a note saying that Rimski Korsakov bent down and kissed Tchaikovski on his forehead while T was on his death bed. The writer mentioned that it was highly unlikely R-K would do this if indeed Tchaikovsk...

Niki

Thanks Agnes for the recommendation. I am sure I'll lie it.
Did you read Elsa Morante's "History -a novel" ( La Storia in Italian)?

Niki

Dudamel is a cute young conductor that needs a lot to be able to deliver a meaningful interpretation of any serious composer. His debut with Mahler 2 was bad - no other qualifier defines his performance. He is just clueless when it comes to Mahler. What is irritating is to see an idiot like Tom Han...

Niki

Dudamel is a cute young conductor that needs a lot to be able to deliver a meaningful interpretation of any serious composer. His debut with Mahler 2 was bad - no other qualifier defines his performance. He is just clueless when it comes to Mahler. What is irritating is to see an idiot like Tom Hank...

Niki

Stupidity, ignorance and lack of culture has no party ! And corruption for sure feels as much at home in the Democratic as in the Republican party. Personally I would vote a special tax on popular entertainment ( Pop concerts and records) to support classical arts. However, this should be done with ...

Niki

First let me say I totally concur with you on Cortot. He is a supreme artist. His artistry (poetry) stands out and will conquer you in a minute. He doesn't go through the "motions", he creates life from the written score - sometime even sacrificing accuracy. I am sorry he was the bloody racist / ant...

Niki

I thoroughly enjoy Zelenka's trio sonatas. Truly a breath of fresh air; full of live.
For the fans I wopuld recommend the Calefax Reed Quintet performing Rameau's Nouvelles Suites.
These are wonderful arrangements by Calefax.

Niki

Ms.Corlyss, I wish you a very speedy recovery.
I do not visit CMG frequently and I was sad to hear about Ms. Corlyss health problems.

Niki

Siepi recorded Giovani with Furtwangler at Sazburg and the performance is on DVD. Good performance and also an outsatnding performance by Erna Berger as Zerlina. Maybe one of the best Zerlina, phenomenal "girly" voice when Erna was around 60 years old. Siepi's landdmark recording will always be his ...

Niki

On my GREAT performers list Maria Callas is by far the greatest artist and I am glad that Leonard Bernstein which I consider maybe the greatest musical mind rated her as such ( ".. the greatest artist of all". Rosa Ponselle would be a far second. Furtwangler is for me the greatest conductor, possibl...

Niki

Niki =Niki

Niki

Can anyone tell me what Op. are on the Amadeus 10CD set? Haydn has about 68 SQ so the 27 on the Amadeus set is not a complete set.
I am mainly intersted in Op 33, 76 and 77 and although I hope they will be part of the Amadeus SQ set, I would like to be sure. Amazon doesn't list them.

Thanks

Niki

Wonderful pieces imperfect pitch!
How do you post these pictures with the combined music if you start on YouTube?
Thanks

Niki

Wow ! Just reading thru this I noticed a few memberes of this forum that may be invited to testify to a coming hearing.. Just to be rady for: did piston, chalkperson and diegobueno have any discussions prior to this... did they exchange nay e-mail. I smell a conspiracy brewing right here at home ! :...

Niki

Thanks jbuck,

I tried but when I cliock right button on the pic I do not get "copy image location." ( I am using the Office picture and Fax viewer or with any MS application.

Niki

I loved his productions; just the right historical document posterity needs. He is style impersonated. His home in Positano is maybe the most beautiful residence you've ever seen. hanging on a cliff above the Amalfitano coast. Visiting Florence last May I noticed he purchased one of the most prestig...

Niki

Great selection ravel !! I first heard Spiegel im Spiegel on the radio 2-3 years ago, when it was released I guess, and bought the CD ( I think is called "For Alina" or maybe just Alina as chalkperson mentioned). And yet I do not consider Avo Part a real minimalist. I group him with John Tavener as ...

Niki

Very sad news. I met Mel on LFLC about 13 years ago and later on on CI and all other buletin boards. I met him in person in SF maybe 10 years ago. He was a very bright person and I am sure his students will always be thankful to have him as teacher. Well....the smart ones, not the idiots... He didn'...

Niki

He is a minor, insignificant composer. Can throw some fireworks but very little substance.

Niki

Thanks Agnes.
As always very informative, very interesting.

Niki

Happy B-day Agnes and many more.

Niki

I read through this thread and find no word about the opera?! Did you enjoy it? Not? was the singing great? good? mediocre?.... Did the staging confuse you? What about the orchestra in the pit? the conductor?... nothing to say about this? How much did you miss the Swiss town square set and the leath...

Niki

If there is no "typo" in the article the salaries are way too high. If the musicians 11% cut saved 1.8M$ this means that the actual pay they take home is significantly higher than the average 92K$ listed. It is more like 178K$. As good as they are, and I do not dispute this, the paycheck they bring ...

Niki

Barney, I think you got it all wrong. Maybe a victim of US /West brainwashing propaganda. Barny you turned the tables around and unknowingly you placed yourself - as a liberal - on the adversarial side! You just don't know the facts. The actions taken by Georgia against Ossetia's population is an u...

Niki

Barney, I think you got it all wrong. Maybe a victim of US /West brainwashing propaganda. Barny you turned the tables around and unknowingly you placed yourself - as a liberal - on the adversarial side! You just don't know the facts. The actions taken by Georgia against Ossetia's population is an un...

Niki

Amazing how enlightened liberals can read an attack on Iran where there's none.... and how fast are they ready to jump in defending Iran and the Ayatolah...

Niki

Another fascinating story from Agnes.
Thanks

Niki

wonderful

Niki

Waechter had a good ringing voice. He sang the title role in the famous Giulini recording of Don Giovanni (1961?). It is considered by many as the best recording of Giovanni. Waechter came a little short on the tour de force aria "Finch'han dal vino". It is a very difficult aria that requires formid...

Niki

If you don't care for an old fashion B&W performance, the Leila Gencer / Carlo Bergonzi will blow you away. It is the most dramatic and beautifully sung Aida. Bergonzi is phenomenal. http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Bergonzi-Cossotto-Giaiotti-Pugliese/dp/B0000A1WOF/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=120285738...

Niki

Always something interesting to learn from you Agnes.
Thanks

Niki

Too bad the sob didn't evaporate 50 years earlier.

"... about the September 11 attacks on the United States. He was quoted as saying the strikes were "the greatest work of art imaginable."

Niki

thanks absinthe

Niki

YES, for a fee.
I know songs are downloaded for 0.99$, but Idon't know if same is possible for Beethoven string IV.?!

Niki

Can you recommend a web site where one can download classical music / MP3?
Thanks

Niki

Prague offers plenty of classical music in churches, small halls etc., every single day. Get the programs at the hotel concierge or in town. This is also a wonderful city to visit and don't miss the show "Laterma magika" at the National Thaeater complex which is outstanding. Be aware that most credi...

Niki

Happy birthday Ralph.

Niki

pizza wrote:A must-read concerning Jewish themes in Mahler's music:

Gustav Mahler and the Crisis of Jewish Identity, Francesca Draughon and Raymond Knapp; ECHO, Vol. 3, Issue 2

http://www.echo.ucla.edu/Volume3-Issue2 ... ghon1.html

Thanks pizza.
Very interesting article.

Niki

Wunderlich is the best Mozartian tenor IMO. I bought recently Rossini's Barber of Seville DVD with Fritz singing Almaviva and Hermann Prey / Figaro. A feast to see them both. Fritz Tamino is top notch. Speaking of Bohm, Hermann Prey also did Figaro in Bohm second recording of Le Nozze - which is mar...

Niki

Latin Dies Irae is part of numerous Requiems ( Verdi's for instance), it means days of wrath and is pronounced dee-s ee-rhe

Niki

Sounds like we have a true primo uomo. It is a pedantic technicality, BTW, but if I remember correctly, Celeste Aida is marked in the score as an arioso (or is it cavatina?). It is too short to be a full-blown aria, and is remarkable that way as being the chief bravura piece for the leading man in ...

Niki

Wallingford, LAPO was never a great orchestra and LA doesn't really need one and wouldn't recognize one. You have ot remember: this is la-la land where all that counts is image. A young, good looking conductor is much more important than anything else. The main thing thay check in LA is that he was ...

Niki

Bernstein was a genius and his performances outstanding for any discerning listener. One cannot deny his exceptional interpretation with almost anything he did. Of course taste plays a role and if you don't like his personality, you won't like his interpretation. I happen to be less enthused by his ...

Niki

Sorry to hear about Ruth Anne Swensons illness. I have to second John F. She has a pleasant voice but her interpretations never struck me as very good. The key factor is: "...Peter Gelb... has moved forcefully to put his stamp on the company by emphasizing the dramatic content of opera and working h...

Niki

I bought Cecilia Bartoli's "Salieri album" a few years ago and I found the music remarkably good. I recommend it. Salieri is no Mozart and,as Agnes mentioned - who is?! However he composed some very good music and Cecilia's album is excellent. I learned to enjoy Cecilia despite the fact that her man...

Niki

I have a recording of Titta Ruffo from the 1920's, which was past his prime. If you hear Ruffo's factotum anything else becomes second rate. A real opera lover cannot afford to miss Titta Ruffo in Factotum. Tulio Serafim once said that in his lifetime he heard only 3 miracles: Carusso, Ruffo and Pon...

Niki

Thanks Holden

Niki

Although sometime applause after a movement may be appropriate, I am very much against it. Quite frequently some in the audience explode in applause before the music ended. The silence at the end of a composition- sometime a long one - is an integral part of the music, especially after a great, dram...

Niki

Lance, I listened to some recordings Richter made in 1968 and I didn't like his style. He may be a keyboard master but he came across very violent, charged with anger, taking it all on the piano... I like Horowitz very much - actually I think he may be the ultimate pianist - and I have a hard time t...

Niki

Thanks Agnes , Impower.

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