The Classical Music Guide Forums

Ricordanza

The guy is a pianistic wonder. Agreed. I have been a fan of Lugansky since a Philadelphia Orchestra concert three years ago, where he dared to perform both Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 AND the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini on the same night. These performances were not only technically fla...

Ricordanza

From the Philadelphia Inquirer: To avert ‘enormous’ deficit, Philadelphia Orchestra musicians take 20% pay cut as special fund-raising begins by Peter Dobrin, Updated: March 31, 2020 Faced with an abrupt and unprecedented loss of ticket revenue, musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra are taking a p...

Ricordanza

barney wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 29, 2020 5:03 pm
Who are the people in those pix, besides Lance? It's always nice to put faces to names.

In the first photo, from the left, the late Werner Isler, Donald's father, the late Ralph Stein, and Charlotte Isler, Donald's mother. In the second photo, the person on the left is (I believe) Chalkie.

Ricordanza

Yesterday, the rain let up so it was time to un-quarantine myself for a walk around the neighborhood. What should I listen to on my iPhone? This was my selection--a solo piano version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, played by the (quite young at the time) Andre Watts. Watts' playing is so idiomatic ...

Ricordanza

I just saw this film via "On Demand." Now that I have a big screen TV at home, I was able to appreciate the full visual effect of this film. But it's more than a technical marvel; it is one of the best films I have seen in a long time.

Ricordanza

She sounds and looks pretty good! I hope she has a full recovery.

Ricordanza

My law school classmate Larry posted on Facebook that his cousin's daughter, age 40 [!], died at 5:15 pm today from the coronavirus. He added the following: "What was terrible about my cousin's situation was they could not go to the hospital. Their daughter died alone. The funeral cannot be a family...

Ricordanza

Lance thanks for your concern-Sue and I are maintaining a low profile-lots of TV, reading, etc-Netflix and Amazon Prime are helpful and of course PBS-the gardening is kicking in as well and when the weather is nice it's a pleasure to walk around-stay safe and secure! Regards, Len Len, guess you won...

Ricordanza

Lance thanks for your concern-Sue and I are maintaining a low profile-lots of TV, reading, etc-Netflix and Amazon Prime are helpful and of course PBS-the gardening is kicking in as well and when the weather is nice it's a pleasure to walk around-stay safe and secure! Regards, Len Len, guess you won...

Ricordanza

One reason I was spending a bit more time on CMG again is that I had delegated running my business more and more so I could work on a part-time basis. I haven't had to work all that hard the last few years but with grandchildren just down the street and increased travel and other activities, CMG fe...

Ricordanza

One reason I was spending a bit more time on CMG again is that I had delegated running my business more and more so I could work on a part-time basis. I haven't had to work all that hard the last few years but with grandchildren just down the street and increased travel and other activities, CMG fe...

Ricordanza

Thanks for your concern, Lance. Here in New Jersey, we're still allowed to exercise outside (weather permitting, of course) and I try to take a 30 minute walk each day for my physical and mental health. My iPhone is my usual companion with lots of music loaded. Yesterday, my companion while walking ...

Ricordanza

Thanks for your concern, Lance. Here in New Jersey, we're still allowed to exercise outside (weather permitting, of course) and I try to take a 30 minute walk each day for my physical and mental health. My iPhone is my usual companion with lots of music loaded. Yesterday, my companion while walking ...

Ricordanza

On the news today I heard about this Washington Post article-I'm not a subscriber so I couldn't read the article but just this picture is enough to alarm you. Regards, Len :( Here's the full article. The details are even more alarming than the headline: U.S. intelligence reports from January and Fe...

Ricordanza

After a slow start, he's doing a strong job at this point (yes; he deserves criticism for waiting a few weeks longer than he should have to start being fully engaged on the issue; but how productive is it to keep har[p]ing on that when he's moved on and is taking decisive actions now?). Putting asi...

Ricordanza

Things are changing rapidly. The Philadelphia Orchestra has now cancelled several upcoming performances: In anticipation of the City of Philadelphia’s recommendation that all large gatherings be suspended to limit community transmission of COVID-19, all scheduled Philadelphia Orchestra rehearsals, ...

Ricordanza

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society has cancelled all March performances: We have been working hard to balance our mission, and the transformative, healing powers of great music-making, with our deep care and responsibility for the health and well-being of the PCMS family and community. Regretful...

Ricordanza

Were you happy when he restricted travel from China or did you join some of your fellow haters in using the opportunity to shout, "Racist?' OK, Barry, I'll give Trump credit for the restrictions on travel from China. But the Europe travel ban? Shall I count the ways this is an example of gross inco...

Ricordanza

Trump’s speech contained at least two errors and a significant omission. He said the travel ban would apply to cargo; it did not. He said health insurance companies would waive patients’ co-payments for coronavirus testing and treatment; industry officials later clarified that they would waive paym...

Ricordanza

Things are changing rapidly. The Philadelphia Orchestra has now cancelled several upcoming performances: In anticipation of the City of Philadelphia’s recommendation that all large gatherings be suspended to limit community transmission of COVID-19, all scheduled Philadelphia Orchestra rehearsals, p...

Ricordanza

Although Philadelphia concerts are still on (for now), the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra has decided to postpone its concerts for a period of time. These are mostly in North Jersey. Here's an excerpt from their announcement: As prescribed by this level, the NJSO will postpone its scheduled concerts ...

Ricordanza

I have tickets for several upcoming concerts in Philadelphia--piano recitals sponsored by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. As of now, all concerts are proceeding as scheduled and I plan to attend. The following announcement appears on the Philadelphia Orche...

Ricordanza

Thanks for this informative review, Philip.

I can't resist expressing pity for the residents of this town. In any social or business occasion they attend, their answer to the inevitable question is, "I live in Mold."

Ricordanza

Yuja Wang posted the following on Facebook. I have no idea why she would be detained and interrogated: It is difficult for me to share this with all of you, but given the circumstances, and harmful speculation and criticism being shared online and elsewhere, I feel it important that the following is...

Ricordanza

Finally got round to registering, very much enjoying the Beethoven 7. Struck by the organisation of the orchestra, very unusual today - first and second violins either side (that's not so unusual), cellos central, and double basses back on the left (never seen that before). Anyone aware of the reas...

Ricordanza

Please see highlighted paragraphs from this article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer: Philadelphia Orchestra signs a new principal oboist — an exceptionally rare occasion that’s big global news by Peter Dobrin More than two years after star Philadelphia Orchestra principal oboist Richard Woodhams a...

Ricordanza

This morning (Thursday, 2/20/20), I had the pleasure of attending a Philadelphia Orchestra open rehearsal, led by 92-year-old guest conductor Herbert Blomstedt. This man is a marvel. While many conductors of advanced age sit on a stool, Blomstedt was on his feet the entire time. While he may not ind...

Ricordanza

Pleasantly surprised to hear Lortie such a fine LvB player as I usually associate him with other repertoire, my mistake obviously. I had the same limited impression of Lortie prior to this recital. The bio on the program, of course, is full of superlatives, but I think the first two sentences are a...

Ricordanza

This was not the way I planned it. In purchasing tickets for the following season, I always attempt to put some space between concerts—never two on successive nights and certainly not the same composer on two successive nights. Well, that was the plan. This season, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Soc...

Ricordanza

The subtitle is descriptive: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America. Essentially, this book is a stunt. But Gene Weingarten freely admits in his Introduction that he likes stunts “particularly if they can illuminate unexpected truths.” His best known stunt, for which he won the P...

Ricordanza

I always felt a special tie to him since we shared a birthday (December 9)....different years, of course.

Ricordanza

It was not surprising that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was reassigned from the White House to the Pentagon. But having him escorted out of the building by security guards? That's adding an extra helping of cruelty and humiliation.

Ricordanza

Hank I'm just taking a wild stab-would this quote sort of express what you remember. Regards, Len "My father, good or bad, mistakes or no, had a direct line from his heart to the music to the people, to the audience. He played with logic and his own inner truth. - Author: Arthur Rubinstein" Thanks,...

Ricordanza

Many years ago, I came across a quote by Arthur Rubinstein. It went something like this: "It is not necessary to understand music; music must be felt." I liked this quote because it provided a good answer to those who say that classical music is too difficult or complex to "understand." I'm saying "...

Ricordanza

I continue to be amazed at our country's ability to mess up the most fundamental aspect of democracy, the voting process. Rach 3 touched on the latest example in his post on the Palindrome thread: It's hell to get old , but better than being an Iowa Democrat this am ( I live in Iowa, but registered ...

Ricordanza

When announcing its 2019-2020 season, the Philadelphia Orchestra said that the programming would reflect two themes: Beethoven’s 250th birthday; and the underrepresented work of female composers. Both themes were well represented in the Orchestra’s program on Saturday night, January 31. The commemor...

Ricordanza

Sad news, indeed. I heard him in recital one time, just about one year ago: http://www.classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=49422&p=492905&hilit=Serkin#p492905 Here's the obit from the New York Times: Peter Serkin, 72, Dies; Pianist With Pedigree Who Forged a New Path Descended from two emine...

Ricordanza

Modernistfan wrote: ↑
Mon Jan 27, 2020 3:22 pm
the Los Angeles Times today did not even mention the classical Grammy awards last night, even though the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, won the Grammy for "Best Orchestral Performance"

Astonishing and, as you said, shameful.

Ricordanza

Koussevitsky is apparently one of those enigmas, a great conductor by force of personality with very poor technique. His concertmaster was asked how, given the conductor's famously wobbly baton progress, they knew when to begin. "Simple," he replied. "When his baton reaches the third button of his ...

Ricordanza

gotta admit I haven't been able to make a final choice yet-getting trump out of there is my top priority. Regards, Len Len, The sad truth for New Jersey residents like us is that it doesn't matter who we prefer as the Democratic candidate. Our state primary is scheduled too late in the season to ma...

Ricordanza

This editorial made some good points, including the observation that the conflict between the "progressives" and the "moderates" has been overplayed by the media. The editorial correctly noted: Nearly any of them would be the most progressive president in decades on issues like health care, the econ...

Ricordanza

The Brazilian pianist has an imposing discography on Sony, Decca, Philips, and EMI/Warner and DGG (performing with pianist Martha Argerich, also Brazilian and Freire's long-time friend.) A slight correction, Lance: Martha Argerich is Argentinian, not Brazilian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_...

Ricordanza

At the other end of the spectrum, I have attended several piano recitals where the pianist requests that applause be held until a series of pieces has been completed (and not necessarily a series of pieces by one composer). The most extreme example of this in my experience was a 2012 recital by Andr...

Ricordanza

is there a proper etiquette on whether to not applaud until the work is over? Yes, proper concert etiquette calls for waiting until the entire work is over to applaud. This practice is observed at just about every piano recital I've attended, reflecting the fact that these events draw a more experi...

Ricordanza

I woke up the other day with a cough. What was the cause? Well, thanks to our stable genius President, I found out that it was because of the fumes from those windmills!

Ricordanza

Well said, Mr. Simon: If Mr. Simon, as The Times reported in 1988, sometimes bristled at the appellation “pianist’s pianist,” with its implied, if rarefied, marginalization, he was ultimately sanguine about his professional course. “I have been busy all of my life,” he said. “I have had a fine caree...

Ricordanza

Thanks for your response, Barney. I listened to some of the speeches, but after a short while, found something else to watch. Neither side was very enlightening. The Republican speeches ranged from repetition of the same talking points to the truly bizarre (comparing Trump to Jesus). Although I agre...

Ricordanza

Young classical musicians who are lucky enough to achieve instant fame do so by different routes. Some performers burst upon the scene by winning a major competition. Others are given the opportunity to substitute for a more established musician. The young British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason came to ...

Ricordanza

Barney, your post raises some interesting questions. First of all, were you able to fill in the first five numbers? In other words, does Australia have a zip code? More importantly, why do you want to write to an American member of Congress, and why this one?

Ricordanza

I'm going to their recital in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, December 17. They are playing the same program. Looking forward to this event.

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