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Ricordanza

the associate principal trumpet, Matthew Muckey

A name I recognize--he's a former boyfriend of Yuja Wang.

Ricordanza

The intrigue: Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the New York trial, directed reporters on Thursday not to publish physical descriptions of the jurors. "There's a reason why this is an anonymous jury and why we've taken the measures that we have taken," he said after dismissing Juror No. 2. "It ...

Ricordanza

You might want to change your headline. He's from Arkansas, not Alabama.

Ricordanza

This was a first for me. At an open rehearsal of the Philadelphia Orchestra, I heard four very appealing songs written by Alma Mahler, performed by mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill. Perhaps I should have referred to the composer as Alma Schindler, since she wrote these songs at age 20 or younger, before ...

Ricordanza

I'm not in the "collector" category--I only have a couple hundred CDs--so I never considered buying the entire group of Great Pianists. I just have five, and I'm glad to have them:

Jorge Bolet
Vladimir Horowitz 1 (Schumann)
Julius Katchen 1
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli 1
Sampler

Ricordanza

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kAUAAOSwLG9geuwI/s-l960.jpg My town library has a book sale twice a year, which also includes CDs. So I wandered over there last Friday with the intention of finding one or two CDs and ended up buying five--couldn't resist when the price was $2 per CD (plus three pape...

Ricordanza

Lance wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 07, 2024 8:23 pm
I could never do such a thing anywhere, but I suppose if people have no money, are hungry, and have a family to feed, they will try anything.

I suspect that those who do this are not starving or penniless. Rather, they lack that part of the brain that tells them what is right and what is wrong.

Ricordanza

When the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society announced its concerts for the 2023-24 season, I was excited to see an all-Schubert program featuring pianists Mitsuko Uchida and Jonathan Biss. Surely, they would be playing the achingly beautiful Fantasy in F Minor , Schubert’s most famous piece for pian...

Ricordanza

It shouldn't be surprising that the bottom line for these billionaires is...the bottom line. As this Washington Post article illustrates, their desire to preserve and expand their personal wealth "trumps" every other consideration. Many GOP billionaires balked at Jan. 6. They’re coming back to Trum...

Ricordanza

Lance wrote: ↑
Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:49 pm
Even when Argerich split from Dutoit, they often performed together not letting their personal circumstances get in the way of creating great music.

I saw them together at a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. And at the end of the concerto performance, they kissed...on the lips!

Ricordanza

If you missed it, Levit is coming around next season with the Beethoven Seventh.

To be more precise, Sunday afternoon, January 12, 2025. Already on my calendar.

Ricordanza

Some Guy, it sounds like you have found comfort and peace, so I hope that this continues for you. I'm also a member of the prostate cancer club, so I feel that there's a bond between us even though we've never met.

Ricordanza

Chopin's Ballade No. 1. I wish I had the technique to play it, but I don't and never will, so I have to be content to listen to recordings of this piece.

Ricordanza

The political line toed by the Right runs something like this: “Oh, oh, oh my, how my heart is breaking for the children of Gaza, but Israel didn’t kill those babies, Hamas killed them, Hamas started it. You must understand, the ancestors of these kids are to blame for voting Hamas in.” So, a moder...

Ricordanza

I was never totally convinced of Pollini's music-... and like many others, felt his playing to be ultra-conservative and on the "cool," side, the latter a word used often. Lance, I agree with you. There was never any question of his total mastery of the keyboard, but I often felt that there was som...

Ricordanza

maestrob wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 19, 2024 9:34 am
I've noticed that (so far) no one has listed Beethoven IX.

I haven't responded because I'm not inclined to reduce my list of favorite symphonies to 12. But if I did go to the trouble of producing such a list, Beethoven's Ninth would certainly be there, perhaps at the top of the list.

Ricordanza

Here's a program not mentioned above, but this would be a highlight for me. In fact, since it's on a Sunday afternoon, and thereforer no need to stay overnight, I just might go to this recital. I've been anxious to hear Igor Levit in recital for a long time. Igor Levit, Piano Sunday, January 12, 202...

Ricordanza

Here's the New York Times obit, written by the Times' former music critic, Allan Kozinn: Byron Janis, Pianist of Romantic Passion, Dies at 95 He had a brilliant career before arthritis in his hands forced him from the stage, but he overcame the condition and returned to performing. By Allan Kozinn M...

Ricordanza

A remarkable review of what had to be a recital from outer space. I wish I could have been there to hear this amazing artist do his thing. :) I wonder if a recording of this event will be available. Hopefully, it's in the offing. Ricordanza, I know of noone but you that could have authored this Tim...

Ricordanza

Without the immigrants, I would not be here! How's that for a thought! Lance, that's the starting point for my approach to the immigration issue. My grandparents came here well before the restrictive laws of 1924, so there was no such thing as "illegal" immigrants at the time. On my maternal grandm...

Ricordanza

A very thoughtful post, Hank, thanks. If I may, I wonder about Brahms not being on that list. Is there a specific work of his that doesn't quite live up to your expectations? I'm fond of the early piano sonatas (I & II) as well as the 3 String Quartets, but I rarely choose to hear them. Now that yo...

Ricordanza

I'm late to this thread because it took me some time to narrow down the list of composers who never disappoint me. I came up with three: Beethoven Chopin Dvorak Obviously, this doesn't mean that I dislike all the other composers. Bach's Goldberg Variations is one of the greatest works ever written. ...

Ricordanza

This is welcome news! I'm particularly pleased with the benefactors, who approved the naming of the hall after a great musician, rather than themselves. The Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians expressed their approval on their Facebook page as follows: Today we share the incredible announcement that ou...

Ricordanza

My best wishes for a smooth and complete recovery.

Ricordanza

Well, now that you mention it, I have a few unfavorites. With each of these composers, there are a few pieces that I tolerate, but these exceptions do not outweigh my overall impression. So let's start with Telemann--similar in style to Bach, but without Bach's inspiration. Delius--Debussy without D...

Ricordanza

Shostakovich’s Concerto in C minor for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, which has never been played by the Philharmonic.

How is that possible?

Ricordanza

Interesting,thanks. Perhaps also reflects Eschenbach had a substantial and notable career as a soloist himself , and appreciated those conductors who were willing to listen to him,and remembers those less hospitable ? Could be, but Bell interacted directly with the musicians; he didn't direct his c...

Ricordanza

If I were a professional music critic, I would never review a rehearsal. But I’m not, so I’ll offer some impressions of an open rehearsal of the Philadelphia Orchestra that I attended on Thursday morning, February 15. The Orchestra holds three open rehearsals each season, with tickets offered to con...

Ricordanza

Note: Although the music discussed in this post isn't "classical," the concert was presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society as part of their Piano Recital Series. So I'm taking the liberty of posting this review here, rather than The Corner Pub. As much as I enjoy a traditional piano rec...

Ricordanza

This means that I am now spending roughly 50% of my listening time with my CD/DVD collection, even while adding to it at a snail's pace (1-2 new titles weekly). What is slower than a snail? I add to my CD collection around 1 or 2 titles annually. In response to the original question, my use of mode...

Ricordanza

maestrob wrote: ↑
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:47 pm
I know that after hearing the three famous ballets, this new style of his can take some getting used to, but the rewards are there!

Thanks, Brian. I will listen with open ears.

Ricordanza

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T2/images/I/A1cZebOrPAL._SL1500_.jpg A few days after hearing a brilliant performance of Stravinsky's Petrushka by the Philadelphia Orchestra, I looked at my CD collection and realized that I didn't have a recording of this piece. So I went on Amazo...

Ricordanza

I heard Olafsson perform the Goldbergs in Philadelphia on January 26th and, while I didn't have a chance to write up my impressions, I would have also given him a rave review.

Ricordanza

John McWhorter always has interesting things to say on language, politics, race....and music. Here's his column answering Ethan Iverson, who trashed "Rhapsody in Blue." Not all jazz has to jam By John McWhorter A couple of weeks ago in The Times, a seasoned musician and composer proposed that George...

Ricordanza

That's made me think. I've goyt my account set up so that it immediately reverts to Unread posts. Maybe newbies and others get a different view. If so, and what you've experienced is the norm then that goes a long way to solving the issue. When I log in, I see separate boxes for the Classical Music...

Ricordanza

Do other CMGers have comments? I would like to know your thoughts. I don't understand the objections about the political posts. In other forums on classical music, the political comments are mixed in with the musical posts; you can't avoid them. Here, the political comments are (mostly) found in th...

Ricordanza

I just listen to RinB as music, without the political overtones because I'm not American. I'm not sure if that makes me better or worse off. It's great fun to listen to. I'm American, and I'm content to listen to Rhapsody in Blue without the political (or racial) overtones. If a composer such as Mr...

Ricordanza

Papaloupas wrote: ↑
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:14 pm
New member of this board by the way; hi everyone.

Welcome aboard!

Ricordanza

Kurt Weill's " Die Dreigroschenoper " was inspired as were many of his songs, eg. "Surabaya Johnny". I can't say I've heard anything in symphonic form from him but I'm trusting your judgement as to its merits, or otherwise!! It was certainly not my intent to discourage you or anyone else from liste...

Ricordanza

Like many of you, I’ve heard plenty of performances of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue , in concerts and recordings. Some were better than others, a few were truly memorable. But the performance I heard at Thursday night’s Philadelphia Orchestra concert was different than any I’ve heard before, a...

Ricordanza

I have a particularly fond memory of Peter Schickele: In late 1967, for the first ever date of my life, I took Lisa G to a PDQ Bach concert in Lincoln Center.

Ricordanza

Unfortunately, I have experience with this condition. I had chickenpox as an adult in my early thirties, and shingles a few years later. The former was uncomfortable; the latter was indeed painful. When the shingles vaccine became widely available and covered by Medicare, I went to my local CVS and ...

Ricordanza

diegobueno wrote: ↑
Fri Jan 12, 2024 9:58 am
I have attached a long chronological list of works entitled "Concerto for Orchestra"

That's quite a list! In addition to Bartok, I have heard two others in concert--Jennifer Higdon and Gabriela Lena Frank--and enjoyed both.

Ricordanza

As reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer (which unsurprisingly gives the local slant to this news): Philly’s own Hilary Hahn just won one of the biggest prizes in classical music Not yet officially announced: the newly-minted Avery Fisher Prize winner will perform in her hometown Philadelphia next s...

Ricordanza

From the Philadelphia Inquirer: by Peter Dobrin Published Jan. 9, 2024, 11:05 a.m. ET The Philadelphia Orchestra is adding a seasoned American conductor to its artistic leadership team. Marin Alsop, who served as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s music director for nearly a decade and a half, will ...

Ricordanza

As to their argument Trump was acting in his official capacity doing his duty to see that the " laws are faithfully executed", here the election laws, one Judge wondered how the " faithfully executed " duty authorizes violating election laws. I guess that to Trump and his team, "faithfully executin...

Ricordanza

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71opZ6YocKL._SL1400_.jpg When she was 17 years old, Hilary Hahn released her debut recording, consisting of two of the Bach Partitas and one Sonata for solo violin. This album, which included a gorgeous rendition of the Chaconne , received well-deserved praise. T...

Ricordanza

Best wishes on your birthday, Harris!

Ricordanza

The problem is not so simple here. By law, hospitals must treat whoever walks in, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. These emergency room costs are covered by our tax money anyway, reimbursed by the federal government through a complicated process of hospitals sending out bills that ...

Ricordanza

If I had to choose only one sonata. .. it would have to be the Appassionata,which always leaves me overwhelmed. The performance by Emanuel Ax some years ago at the Philadelphia Chamber Society remains the most magnificent I ever heard live and I've heard many great ones. I studied this work with Ru...

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