The Classical Music Guide Forums

Ricordanza

david johnson wrote: ↑
Tue Sep 18, 2018 3:47 am
Muckey wed one of the NYPO string players a couple of years ago.

As I recall, he was also Yuja Wang's boyfriend at one time.

Ricordanza

Nowadays I never pick up my phone unless I recognize the caller's name or ID number. If a legit caller is too vain to leave a message, then I can't be bothered. That's my strategy as well. In addition, Verizon allows me to block up to 100 numbers (on my land line). That has cut down on the scam cal...

Ricordanza

Great interview, Don!

Ricordanza

Following by Granados - Goyescas played by Alicia de Larrocha. Again, these look so difficult to play, but what magnificent music!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0aVTPvYQ4Y In my piano student days, inspired by this very same recording, I bought the music and tried to learn one of these pieces. ...

Ricordanza

Anthony Tommasini, Times chief classical music critic In my early teens I was overwhelmed by Stravinsky’s 1910 ballet score “The Firebird” — in the recording conducted by Stravinsky — even before I knew what was going on in the fairy-tale story, about a wondrous firebird that helps a prince rescue ...

Ricordanza

Richard Woodhams, the outstanding principal oboist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, recently retired after four decades with the orchestra. Two of his colleagues also retired, and their messages were cordial, but rather general. Woodhams went beyond generalities. Here's what he had to say: I've had a...

Ricordanza

This column from the Washington Post sums up the sad state of affairs on this Labor Day: Donald Trump’s war on workers By Paul Waldman Opinion writer September 3 at 2:34 PM It’s Labor Day, and the president wants American workers to know he’s coming through for them: Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTru...

Ricordanza

This is sad. When I lived in NYC and went to CCNY, I was a regular reader of the Voice.

Ricordanza

I may have mentioned it here before: Hamelin played the sonata's first movement as an encore at his benefit recital for WHRB. The main program had consisted mostly of Hamelin specialties and applause for the Schubert was merely polite, but I thought it was first rate. Afterwards we asked Hamelin if...

Ricordanza

This is one hour long. Can you give us highlights?

Ricordanza

It was my turn to go down to the basement and bring up a load of towels from the (Samsung) clothes dryer. The cycle was just finishing and the dryer was playing a tune to announce that. It took me a couple of seconds to recognize the tune--I'm not used to hearing it in tinkly electronic format--but ...

Ricordanza

As some of you know, my last name is Maurer. Like Stein, it's a German word; it means Mason. The correct (German) pronunciation is Mowrer (as in the exclamation "Ow!). But growing up, my parents pronounced it Mawrer. It was not until I moved to the Philadelphia area that I encountered other Maurers,...

Ricordanza

Can't help wondering if she's a relative of Nathan. The bio gives no clue, one way or the other.

Ricordanza

Donald Isler wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:12 am
1) I never before heard the story of Schumann injuring himself while practicing that sonata. Interesting!

I thought that Schumann injured himself while using a mechanical device to improve the strength and flexibility of his fingers.

Ricordanza

I saw MI-Fallout a couple of days ago. I've only seen one other MI film (the first one) and I'm not a fan of "action" movies in general, but this film is undeniably spectacular. It's two and a half hours long but holds your attention for every minute.

Ricordanza

I can't recall if they converted to Christianity or not, like Mendelssohn. Lance, as noted in the article, Anton Rubinstein's family converted to Christianity: Yet Rubinstein barely identified as Jewish; his family voluntarily converted to Russian Orthodoxy when he was a child. Such a conversion, B...

Ricordanza

This article from the Forward cites the opinion of Leon Botstein, music director of the American Symphony Orchestra, that Anton Rubinstein is "forgotten" because of anti-Semitism. Is that accurate? Or is Rubinstein simply one of many second-tier 19th Century composers whose works are rarely performe...

Ricordanza

Reporters routinely ask Trump questions about the news of the day, and many times the president answers — sometimes engaging in a lengthy back-and-forth on multiple topics. When he does not want to answer, he typically says “Thank you,” and staffers hurry reporters out of the room. If Trump doesn't...

Ricordanza

A rough kick in the crotch is what they need. However, I do not understand how there can be a statute of limitations for some crimes but not one for allegations. How does that work? A statute of limitations is a time limit on commencing a criminal prosecution. For example, if there is a 12-year sta...

Ricordanza

Don, my first thought after reading your review was: I wish I still lived in or near NYC, so I could have attended a concert like this. My second thought was: Why couldn't we have such a concert in Philadelphia? So I forwarded your review to the artistic director of the Philadelphia Chamber Music So...

Ricordanza

Thanks, Don, for this excellent review. I usually review every piano recital I attend, but not this time. Don and I sat together at this recital and I informed him, right at the beginning, that I would defer to him for the purposes of posting a review on CMG. Glad I did--Don's review reflects the de...

Ricordanza

Belle wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:23 am
Names please!!

From left, Theresa and Brian (MaestroB), Hank Maurer (Ricordanza), Donald Isler, John Francis, Garrett Schatzer (Iced Note), Sue Goran, Larry Rinkel. Lenny Goran took the photo.

Ricordanza

John B, we'll miss you, but hope you make a full recovery.

Hope you weren't trying to imitate Lully.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lully

Ricordanza

Excellent reply, John F, to which I will only add that all women in decent society carry a handbag. I'll also thank John F for posting that informative article. My question about the Queen was prompted when I looked at other women leaders during Trump's European trip. I suppose that Theresa May and...

Ricordanza

Perhaps someone from the UK can answer this question: Why does the Queen always carry a handbag? What does she need that her hundreds of staff members can't get for her? Money? Driver's License? Tissues? https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/europe/100000006006567/trump-queen-elizabeth-windsor-castle-...

Ricordanza

As a child I loved Peter and the Wolf, also Carnival of the Animals, and there were several works, especially Mozart and Schubert, that I asked my parents to put on the turntable incessantly. As I've posted before, Schubert's fifth symphony is the first classical work I am aware of knowing by name,...

Ricordanza

Chalkperson wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 06, 2018 3:38 am
I should be able to make July 18th lunch.

Will be good to see you all again.

Glad you can join us!

Ricordanza

Trump now says that calls to abolish ICE will hurt the Democrats, and I think he's right! https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/us/politics/trump-interview-ice-trade-nafta.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news And I agr...

Ricordanza

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:25 am

Ricordanza wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 02, 2018 5:46 am
I couldn't make out the rest of this line at the very end: "Please buy the record because....."

What did he say?

" .... because we are all in great need of money."

Ricordanza

I couldn't make out the rest of this line at the very end: "Please buy the record because....."

What did he say?

Ricordanza

I was glad to see the tens of thousands of people who turned out for the demonstrations on Saturday against Trump's immigration policy. I would have gone to the Philadelphia demonstration--but decided that being on my feet for two or three hours in nearly 100 degree heat was not the wisest course of...

Ricordanza

My experience with Facebook has been positive as well. The main benefit has been the opportunity to keep up with friends, family members, and classmates who live in other states, and even other countries. Last year's highly successful 50th reunion of my high school class was essentially organized th...

Ricordanza

First, modernistfan, holding a Ph.D. from Harvard, however impressive, does not make you a Harvard graduate, any more than I am a Yale graduate. You are a graduate of your undergraduate college. Hmmmm. This view does not appear to be shared by the university from which I received a Master's degree ...

Ricordanza

Lance, best wishes on your birthday!

Ricordanza

I'm a bit surprised other aren't chirping in on Buchbinder? CMGers know his work at all? I've heard Buchbinder twice in recital, and once as a concerto soloist (if I recall correctly, it was Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3). Both recitals were all-Beethoven, and he is clearly a master interpreter ...

Ricordanza

As for the trip to Israel, I agree with the young Mr. Dreyfus, not of course because Israel in any way resembles North Korea, but because it must be acknowledged that after years of Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership abetted by Orthodox theocratic tendencies and the baggage they bring along, Israel ha...

Ricordanza

I also remember watching this. I was 12 years old at the time. Thanks for posting this.

Ricordanza

Two dates make sense for me, since I would like to attend at least one of the meet-ups, and I will not be available August 10 and 11.

Ricordanza

This belongs in The Corner Pub.

Ricordanza

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Mon May 28, 2018 9:49 pm
And we now have the imposter Trump as Ballou's legacy.

Take a look at Trump's self-congratulatory Memorial Day tweet. I won't repost it here, but it is easily found on various news media sites. Just another example of his narcissistic outlook--the very opposite of the concept of "service."

Ricordanza

Having examined all the variables, I suggest lunch on July 18. ...Now we need to select a place. ...The last place we met was the Italian spot with the private room, and to my mind that worked out well, but I can't remember what it was called. In any case, I'm not the one who made the arrangements....

Ricordanza

I'll leave it in the hands of our NYC contingent to come up with a good choice for a restaurant. As for concerts, I looked at the program for the International Keyboard Institute and Festival and found lots of interesting choices, including Yekwon Sunwoo on 7/17, Bevouzet on 7/18, Feltsman on 7/22, ...

Ricordanza

A fellow poster PMd me suggesting a meet-up. I'm the one. I recommend sometime near the end of this month, but not the very end because it would conflict with the Organ Historical Society in of all places Rochester. The big-ticket season will be over, but the time overlaps with Mostly Mozart as wel...

Ricordanza

Just some more detail from Arthur Brooks' bio on the AEI website: Professor of French Horn, Harid Conservatory of Music, Lynn University, 1992–95 French Hornist, City Orchestra of Barcelona, 1989–92 French Hornist, Annapolis Brass Quintet, 1983–89 I agree with those who have said that Brooks' genera...

Ricordanza

Yes, the pictures are great, but the news about this program is even better.

Ricordanza

I heard about one, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. What's the other one?

Ricordanza

barney wrote: ↑
Wed May 09, 2018 8:24 pm

Ricordanza, that would have been something! Did your father ever say what he thought of Elgar's conducting?

No. I should have asked him to tell me more about that incident. Too late now.

Ricordanza

I'll contribute a story from my father. When he studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music in the late 1910's, the school orchestra was conducted by Sir Alexander Mackenzie (fairly prominent in his own right). One day, Sir Alexander told the students that they would have a guest conductor that day...

Ricordanza

I guess we have Stokowski to thank for that, eh? Certainly, Stokowski put the Philadelphia Orchestra on the map. But many thought the Philadelphians had slipped since the days of Ormandy and Muti. Today, the orchestra's reputation is on the rise again, and credit for that should go primarily to mus...

Ricordanza

This item appeared in The Forward, a Jewish publication: Jake Gyllenhaal will star as a very attractive Leonard Bernstein As the Forward’s Talya Zax noted, this year marks Leonard Bernstein’s “centenary.” What better way to celebrate him than with a biographical film, starring everyone’s “Serious Je...

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