The Classical Music Guide Forums

Michael

The world you live in is moving towards a Muslim supremacy, particularly in England. Just give it another 10 years and then lets talk about the "British Olive Trees". It may surprise you how precious they will suddenly become. Agnes. Against my better instincts I am replying to this utterly absurd ...

Michael

You are very welcome.

Michael

I have just heard a barn storming performance on the BBC of Beethoven's Appassionata sonata by this pianist. I hadn't heard of him before but found the performance remarkable. Such energy and drama. Has anyone heard him play?

Michael

The father is wonderful to work with. He came to my orchestra many times when his daughter Maarika was principal flute. First class stick technique and drew a lush but muscular sound from the orchestra. Didn't talk too much but his intentions were just so clear. I remember particularly a Brahms 1 th...

Michael

I have jealously guarded my recording of Heifetz with Jack Benny recorded during WWII for years. It has of course turned up on YouTube. This is just so funny! Benny was a pretty useful fiddle player..to be able to send up Heifetz like this shows some considerable skill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Michael

I am fortunate that I am on no medication whatsoever. I do have health issues (vertebrae/disc deterioration) and playing the fiddle for a living doesn't help but I prefer not to take the pills unless it is strictly necessary. (i.e when it takes me 30 minutes to get out of bed because of the pain). I...

Michael

HoustonDavid wrote: I don't understand what you mean Michael when you say "I was outvoted on that one."

I'm sorry David, I was referring to the forum that I moderate.

Michael

I would be interested to read if he has anything to say about his time in Britain where he was assistant conductor of the Liverpool Phil for a time. His father, Mehli Mehta served for five years as Assistant Concertmaster and Concertmaster of the Hallé Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli.

Michael

I agree Belle..but I was outvoted on that one.

Michael

I also moderate another board but only members can enter the forums with the exception of one for newbies. A couple of years ago there was a massive bust up and the forum split..it was hell for a while but we survived. A common occurrence it seems..

Michael

I have watched Coronation Street for over 40 years and during the last 20 years or so haven't missed an episode. It's often wonderfully written and it often makes me laugh out loud.
Not strictly a 'soap' as such I suppose but I used to love the American sitcom 'Soap.'

Michael

Thanks Ralph

Belle.. do a search on the word kippah

Michael

I rather foolishly lent my CD's of him playing the Brahms concertos to someone who never returned them :evil: Some years ago I was fortunate enough to take part in a performance of a Mozart concerto with him. I think that it was no 14 although I can't be sure. He had only just started playing 2 hand...

Michael

P.S. What's a kipper? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/mpearsonmadrid/250px-Kipper.jpg A kipper is a whole herring that has been split from tail to head, gutted, salted, and cold smoked. In the UK and North America they are often eaten grilled for breakfast. In the UK, kippers, along with oth...

Michael

Eminently sensible suggestion.

Michael

Much of the world media (especially organizations like C-Span International and the BBC) act as propaganda wings for Hamas and other anti-Israel forces in the Middle East and that Israel-bashing is a sort of cause célèbre in some places; probably England more so than anywhere else in the west. A wo...

Michael

I think that it was Beecham who said that the world would be a much better place if everyone was compelled to listen to some Mozart every day. Maybe the powers that be on this forum could organise some Mozart to be played at all times in the Corner Pub...

Michael

With all due respect from me too Agnes but are there really Holocaust deniers that post on this board :shock: Maybe I am naive and whilst it is true that I don't really know much about the many members of this board the idea is repugnant. In the short time that I have been back posting it is true th...

Michael

I had the good fortune to play "Lobgesang" some years ago. My shoulders were protesting a bit afterwards but it certainly was a wonderful thing to play. I love Mendelssohn but there is so much of his music that is hardly played that is readily available. The string 5tets are rarely programmed but ar...

Michael

The tempi are on the whole somewhat brisker than with Grumiaux and his group but just listen to K516 with Aronovitz's contribution in the adagio non troppo. Truly wonderful.

Michael

Well I rather like now! Typical Gould being very crisp and clearly articulated so that every single note is heard..and hardly no pedal (perhaps none at all). What an extraordinary pianist Gould was!

Michael

The Mozart String Quintets - Grumiaux and co. on Philips - a candidate for "reference recording" of these masterworks? Definitely, they have never been bettered, and do you have his performance of the Divertimento... They are wonderful..the Divertimento too but I wouldn't wish to be without the Ama...

Michael

Well, yes and no David.

Michael

The only Haydn piano sonatas that I have on disc are the 6 late sonatas recorded by Glenn Gould. I haven't heard them for years but I seem to remember that I wasn't keen on the set..I shall try and listen to XVI:52 later today to remind me of the performance.

Michael

I do like the well thought out, almost perfection of some recorded performances. An artist will often spend years with certain repertoire before they feel ready to record their thoughts about a piece. Often it is wonderful but sometimes run of the mill and lacking in spontaneity. Just like some live...

Michael

This is rather amusing...glad to see that the Iraqis in the midst of all their troubles have a sense of humour.

Michael

A unique aspect (I think) about the Previn/LSO recording is that rather than the orchesta's leader playing the big violin solos Ida Haendal can be heard. To be honest when I heard the recording I was disappointed with her contribution feeling that she sounds somewhat ill at ease but others may disag...

Michael

A simple copy and paste without any comment from the poster is provocative and ill judged. Sad. Just as your thread Dark Doings at Africa,,, :mrgreen: Not just as my thread. My post was just as I said... contrast to some of the highly charged issues that are being debated in the pub. The post was n...

Michael

He did indeed..because his first majority was so big that he didn't need the lib dems. Many young people got messages on their cell phones from the Labour party before the election promising that if elected they would reform the licensing laws to enable pubs to stay open longer..this promise was eve...

Michael

I don't understand why anyone should post such a thing. A simple copy and paste without any comment from the poster is provocative and ill judged. Sad.

Michael

For those interested the following document can be found in the House of Commons library regarding the extradition treaty. McKinnon's case is outlined in section F, paragraph 5.
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/re ... -02204.pdf

Michael

Well of course, Obama will do a Tony Blair. The country and particularly Westminster were so pleased to see the back of her but what did he do? Continued her political ideology of course. He had littler choice...on the whole she was extremely successful. What's "doing a Tony Blair?" Whose back? Wha...

Michael

My point is that I would like to see him prosecuted and punished in the UK. I thought that my above posts made that clear...too much perceived waffle trying to address various points perhaps.

Michael

If Mr Obama feels that it is a good idea to apologise to this moronic and dangerous individual then we may as well start buying burqas for our lady friends.

Michael

Brenden, I am not disputing that the criminal should be prosecuted and punished.

Michael

I understand your view of taxation David. It is a view that was much prevalent in Victorian Britain. It is not a view that I share. However, my blood boils when I read of government aid being squandered by corrupt regimes or the vast amount of money earned by those who do very well out of so called ...

Michael

You are very welcome

Michael

People who deliberately set out to damage or destroy other people's or government property are criminals. Sloopy admin staff are not. Get the faintest clue someday. Every case is not black and white Brendan. True justice is a complex matter and will be forever debated about. I think that many, incl...

Michael

Well of course, Obama will do a Tony Blair. The country and particularly Westminster were so pleased to see the back of her but what did he do? Continued her political ideology of course. He had littler choice...on the whole she was extremely successful. Why fix something that is broken..a little tw...

Michael

Click on User Control Panel at top right then go to Profile then Edit Signature.

Michael

And why not? Not an olive branch but a gesture for obvious reasons don't you think? The new boy wants to do good..

Michael

Grim reading indeed. We should all feel very privileged to lead our affluent lives as we do. One can only hope that 2009 proves to be a better year for the unfortunate people in those countries and that our governments work harder and harder to secure some relief for them. "Our governments?" Why do...

Michael

Gary McKinnon was originally tracked down and arrested under the Computer Misuse Act by the UK National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) in 2002 who informed him that he would face community service. Britain implemented a new extradition treaty with the US in June 2005 and later that year he was indicted ...

Michael

Grim reading indeed. We should all feel very privileged to lead our affluent lives as we do. One can only hope that 2009 proves to be a better year for the unfortunate people in those countries and that our governments work harder and harder to secure some relief for them.

Michael

Well, where are YOU going to lock him up to make sure that he does not hack into other people systems?? Surely you aren't suggesting that because there is no effective treatment for his claimed condition, the US military, and others, need to just live with him hacking into their systems? Even if th...

Michael

This young man has been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. There is little effective treatment available to him. Certainly locking him up in an American jail for up to 70 years wont do him or the tax payer a great deal of good. On this occasion I agree entirely with Boris Johnson.

Michael

What an odious and silly man he is. He has also been a guest of the equally odious Holocaust denier David Irving at his home in England. More from the wikipedia site. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Williamson_(bishop) Williamson holds strong views regarding gender roles and dress. He opposes t...

Michael

Maybe nothing much will come of this but it could be potentially embarrassing for the Labour administration and the ex British Prime Minister. What IS he doing now by the way? Special envoy? When asked recently where he was Gordon Brown let it slip that he thought he was still on holiday..cue Blair ...

Michael

When I lived in London Muti was at the helm of the Philharmonia Orchestra. He did wonders for them and brought them back to the artistic levels that Klemperer had achieved in his heyday. A Muti concert with the Philharmonia is still always greatly anticipated and everyone that worked with him speaks...

Michael

I have always found trombonists (along with double bass players) to be the most friendly of sorts. Down to earth and always first to the pub! Obvious great solos in the orchestral repertoire are the Ravel Bolero and particularly the beginning of Mahler 3. As for a more academic answer I shall leave...

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