The Classical Music Guide Forums

barney

The thing I find the most appalling about the "All lives matter" response is the level of studious and deliberate miscomprehension of the point being made. It should be as clear as day that in a society where black people are time and time again shot by policemen in situations where a white offende...

barney

... best wishes to all our US CMGers. Thanks.Take care yourself as well, as the virus seems again a problem in Australia, at least Melbourne ? Yes, it is flaring up again. Still only 20 dead in a state of six million and only a few dozen in hospital, and less than 10 in intensive care, so I don't w...

barney

Interesting view on Black Lives Matter from the Spectator in the UK. The writer, an immigrant to Britain, thinks the movement should be opposed because it wants to impose reverse racism. I have to say, I'd be happier with a movement that proclaimed All Lives Matter. Because they do. Is there any sen...

barney

Thanks Joseph. Very interesting. The Republicans haven't a leg to stand on; they have deliberately exploited racial tension, and it's not just Trump. And the vicious campaign to disenfranchise black voters and others likely to support the Democrats. Looking from the outside at the leading democracy ...

barney

... best wishes to all our US CMGers. Thanks.Take care yourself as well, as the virus seems again a problem in Australia, at least Melbourne ? Yes, it is flaring up again. Still only 20 dead in a state of six million and only a few dozen in hospital, and less than 10 in intensive care, so I don't w...

barney

Handy link to a dozen of the ads in the Boston Globe

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/04/ ... trump-ads/

barney

All those ads seem pretty powerful to me. I wouldn't like the Trump is not well campaign, except that it is precisely Trump's tactic against "Sleepy Joe". Actually, I still don't like it. But I think many of the ads have been brilliant, and I wonder if they are not extremely effective. And where is ...

barney

This is subscriber-only, Joseph. Could I be so bold as to ask you to copy and paste?
yours in grateful anticipation!

barney

Very interested to hear that opinion, Brian.You certainly confirm my desire for the Levit over the Lewis. It is mostly concertos that I have heard Lewis in live, but not only. Thanks for your holiday wishes. As it is a much more important day for you, I hope it went gloriously, and best wishes to al...

barney

Yes. If the early HIP people were too ideological and pedantic, as many were, the modern way of doing it can be highly satisfying: the extra clarity, transparency, balance and spring as opposed to the smooth, big orchestral sound so beloved of Karajan.

barney

Has the court become a tool of the Republican Party? I know courts in the US are vastly more political than Australia - it's the excuse many evangelicals gave for supporting Trump, to avoid the Democrats appointing judges. But do you think they see their highest duty as to the law and the Constituti...

barney

Belle, you are always good for entertainment value at least. I believe if I took any position possible you would dissent and argue because you have decided I am a leftist and therefore a culture-war enemy. My quoting of the Guardian on same-sex marriage was expressed in strong disapproval. I'm not s...

barney

But another thing I've grown to balk at: having music rammed down our ears practically every moment of the day. I just wish music could be on a separate sub-channel so I could turn it off! How I agree with you. It makes music non-music, just part of the background, ever present and unappreciated. I...

barney

Yes, I too have heard Tafelmusik several times, and very much appreciated them, though always in repertoire earlier than Mozart. I remember when, several decades ago, the Menuhin/Bath Brandenburgs were very fashionable, but I agree with Slofstra's assessment. I did hear Tafelmusik once online in som...

barney

jserraglio wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 03, 2020 6:44 am
Eloquence is preparing a box due out in the fall.

Tribute to Ida Haendel by music critic Rob Cowan: https://robccowan.com/2020/07/01/ida-ha ... ies-at-96/

Look forward to that.

barney

Philip M wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:47 pm
Oh a cricketer would be frustrated if they got out on 96! Nothing beats a century at Lords!!

Very true. Good point.

barney

Great article, thanks for posting Len. I am going to get the Levit cycle. I want the Lewis too, but can't really justify both, and Lewis belongs more to the traditional approach. He has been to Australia many times, and I have a lot of Beethoven (and Schubert)from him, always glorious. Because, as m...

barney

jserraglio wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:35 pm

barney wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 01, 2020 5:37 pm
both the CMG defenders seemed to be motivated more by dislike of the Democrats (or partisan journalists) than love of Trump.
Would they treat unsightly acne by getting a facelift and blame the surgeon when it came back worse than ever?

Of course. Entirely rational behaviour for a Republican.

barney

Philip M wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 02, 2020 3:26 am
She was always rather coy about her age but I am reliably informed by Tully Potter that she was 96.

Philip

Not a bad innings (in the cricket sense, not baseball), a reference she would understand.

barney

True. It takes a particular passion to keep defending the indefensible; one can do it only so long. And both the CMG defenders seemed to be motivated more by dislike of the Democrats (or partisan journalists) than love of Trump. Although they have both always been less than forthcoming about that. I...

barney

A very fine violinist. Obviously an interesting person too, which I didn't know.
RIP.

barney

Wonderful article, Len, thanks! Mozart's vocal writing is, IMHO, a pinnacle of Western cultural achievement. I particularly love the aria "parto, parto" from his opera Clemenza di Tito, written for mezzo with clarinet obbligato. As well, there is the concert aria, "Vorrei, spiegarvi o Dio, both ava...

barney

Another blast from conservatives on the bounty boondoggle. This election is clearly shaping up to be a referendum on Trump's leadership. The WH Situation Room should be rechristened the SNAFU Room. If Donald Trump ran unopposed, he might lose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nytBEWbwOkw&feature=emb...

barney

It is way past time for us to tell our Trump-supporter friends they are no longer our friends. I don't actually have any Trump-supporting friends, so far as I know. That may be because I prefer my friends to have a moral compass, an attitude that long pre-dates Trump. If I do have any Trump-support...

barney

First result from a search on Abebooks.com. Pretty damn good price! Yes Minister Volume 1 : The Diaries: Lynn, Jonathan Yes Minister Volume 1 : The Diaries of a Cabinet Minister by the Rt Hon. James Hacker MP Lynn, Jonathan Published by British Broadcasting Corporation, London (1981) ISBN 10: 056317...

barney

As for Trump dropping out, this is just wishful thinking. Even if the polls are right (which they were not in 2016), I don't see Trump giving up. Rather, Trump and his allies are going to step up their efforts at voter suppression. Their path to victory is to suppress the votes of Democrats (restri...

barney

If watching live, I mute the ads. If the program is recorded, I fast-forward. You are right about the volume, Lance - the ads are more compressed, and this is a planned side effect. Even non-commercial channels like the state-funded broadcaster are deluged with ads - constant promotions for their ow...

barney

Thanks Rach 3 for these reminders. One of the all-time great series.
Did you know that the scripts were put into two books at the time which were equally funny. For example Sir Humphrey's memos are written exclusively in the margins, leaving the page blank. I got them both at the time.

barney

On the Right end of the spectrum, culture warriors are often Trumpist fellow travellers. "Donald Trump is a cultural warrior. His politics depends on mining the fear and resentment of white, working class voters who feel they are on the losing end of economic and demographic change. Joe Biden is cu...

barney

That is extraordinarily scandalous. However, blinkered right wingers who put culture wars above truth and morality will find a way of explaining it away somehow. They'll call it silly and shallow, as though that were relevant. Is it true? That's the relevant question.

barney

Very ugly. both sides.

barney

All those conspiracy theories are just silly and shallow. You need to listen to intellectuals like this man (and his brother, Eric). Both men have historically been Democrat supporters. Bret Weinstein talks about the far Left - which has now increasingly colonized the Democratic Party. (Ergo, Trump...

barney

Wow, those ads surely are tough. They are probably right that the Democrats don't have the stomach for the fight; it will take Republicans to bring down Trump. Especially the one saying Trump is not well, except that it's precisely the tactic Trump is taking against "Sleepy Joe". I'm sure Belle will...

barney

jserraglio wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:35 am
A moot point. In such a case, would he not, like a renaissance pope dispensing indulgences, "have the absolute right" to pardon himself?

Well, he certainly seems to think so. He discussed this a year or two back and concluded that he could. Is it not so?

barney

As Len suggested more politely, Putin surely has pictures of Trump in bed with a goat. Tough-talking Jellyman doesn't even talk tough when it comes to Russia. He won't do anything about this.

barney

Its certainly a stark contrast, and obviously I agree 100% with the categorisation of Trump. But I'm not sure of the point, inasmuch as no one can vote for Mattis. Is it just to demonise Trump? Again, not sure of the point, as he could be exposed as a baby rapist and his supporters, including a coup...

barney

Very interesting, Len.
You have to feel for them. Here's us - me, anyway - whinging about not being able to go to concerts and operas.Their whole lives are on hold, with very uncertain prospects.

barney

Brian, I am sure you are right. And classical, the research shows, is a highly distinct market, where CDs are more prized. The problem is, it is a tiny share of the market. Pop music, if I can be forgiven such a crude generic term, is the area where streaming is biggest. CDs will surely live on, cer...

barney

Brian, you mention investment. By the time we are shuffling off this mortal coil, I think hardly anyone will be collecting CDs. Streaming will be so easy and such good quality, and takes up no space. I have friends in their 30s with no CDs, just Spotify. Mind you, they are not dedicated to music as ...

barney

Well, that's a genuine cri de coeur, Lance, and one that clearly many of us identify with. Why $A300? The Australian dollar is now worth about 68 US cents, so $US200 is $A300, or thereabouts. Even bigger problem: lack of space. I have a 9-foot long desk, and there is barely room to lay down a pad wh...

barney

I've ordered the Alma Rose, Lance. Decided not to follow up with Playing for Time yet, as it is about the same event, the women's orchestra at Auschwitz. But it remains an option.

barney

We are not talking about the Left, but somehow you drag it in again. Forget facts, forget arguments, forget values, let's just bash the Left. And let's identify anyone who doesn't agree with you as a Leftist. But surely there does exist a mob of extremists. It consists currently, in no particular o...

barney

This is not only political extremism (and I thought you were supposed to be a 'moderate', Barney) but a projection of the Left's own perfidy - since they were after Trump BEFORE he was elected and never, ever let up. I'm thinking an item like this has been written in existential fear of an election...

barney

Barney, I'll be looking for you. If you find I'm not there for some reason, please pull a few strings for me! Most anything by Schubert is some of the world's finest music from that period. However, for me, the Mendelssohn Octet remains as supreme. The opening movement, once heard, stays in the min...

barney

It looks like a great set, and I love Barbirolli. But I don't think I'll get it because I can't really justify the $300+ it would cost in Australian dollars when I have so many CDs to which I have yet to listen. Given the size of your collection, is that a problem for you, Lance? Do you have CDs as ...

barney

Having visited Auschwitz, it remains unbelievable to me today that such a place, as the other concentration camps, would have ever existed. Yet they did, and I saw it myself. Some people continue to say these places never existed. To actually go to see these evil places will leave an indelible impr...

barney

The prominence of the clarinet in Schubert's Octet (as well as the Beethoven Septet which served as its model) is because it is the highest of the three wind instruments in the ensemble. It is the wind counterpart to the first violin, and a lot of the time the composer is passing the melody between...

barney

Most anything by Schubert is some of the world's finest music from that period. However, for me, the Mendelssohn Octet remains as supreme. The opening movement, once heard, stays in the mind. Both men, geniuses! If i get to the Pearly White Gates, I want to spend time with both of these composers. ...

barney

Yes, I just had a resurgence of cases. Bought a couple of cases from the Wine Collective which arrived this week. A Coonawarra cabernet reduced from $26 a bottle to $12, and the Collective's red of the year, a Barossa shiraz. Haven't opened either. The point of the red of the year is to lay it down ...

barney

Yes, I have found Pollini to be "cool" in his performances of most things I have on disc, and I have quite a bit. He is not the first "great" pianist I turn to ... emotionally, he does not leave me with a great impression with regard to interpretation. He plays technically superbly well. I have a l...

Search found 4156 matches