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Ricordanza

Donohoe threw himself into a wonderful Pictures. Hearing the piano version made me think how much better it is than the orchestral one. The piano writing has such drama and so many colours. Why oh why did Mussorgsky otherwise virtually shun the solo piano? I also have a personal preference for the ...

Ricordanza

Cancelling the tour is the right move, and should have been the response from the beginning.

Ricordanza

Lance wrote: ↑
Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:25 pm
Interesting to note that a recording of all pieces from this recital — except the encores — is being released early December on the Erato label. It's on my want list!

Thanks for the tip, Lance. Just in time to buy myself a Hanukkah present.

Ricordanza

My next Philadelphia Orchestra concert:

Susanna Mälkki - Conductor
Gil Shaham - Violin

PROGRAM
Jolas - A Little Summer Suite
Beethoven - Violin Concerto
INTERMISSION
Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5

Friday, November 29, 2019
8:00 PM
VERIZON HALL

Stay tuned for my review.

Ricordanza

Trump was prepared for the criticism by the Democrats and the media, but I suspect he backed down (something he rarely does) when he heard (privately) from Republican members of Congress about this, perhaps including Mitch McConnell. The Washington Post has confirmed what I suspected: it was mostly...

Ricordanza

Trump was prepared for the criticism by the Democrats and the media, but I suspect he backed down (something he rarely does) when he heard (privately) from Republican members of Congress about this, perhaps including Mitch McConnell.

Ricordanza

When a Mahler symphony is on the program, it’s always the main event. Sometimes, in the case of his longest symphonies (like the Second, Third, Eighth and Ninth), it is the only event. Mahler’s Fifth Symphony is plenty long—running about an hour and 15 minutes—but there’s generally room for one more...

Ricordanza

I keep thinking of Trump's boast during the 2016 campaign: "I could go out in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot someone and I wouldn't lose any votes." In this instance, the conflict of interest is as clear as day. The president who promised to "drain the swamp" has instead proudly waded deeper t...

Ricordanza

Incidentally it is a very long time since since I heard the piano version live. The last one I heard was Demidenko in 2011 and before that it was Freddy Kempf in 2005 and Kissin in 2002. Who’s performing it these days I wonder? Now that you mention it, it's been a while since I've heard this piece ...

Ricordanza

10/11/2019 CNN's Pamela Brown: Is Rudy Giuliani still your personal attorney? President Trump: Well, I don't know. I haven't talked to Rudy . . . . Does the name Michael Cohen ring any bells? Yes, we saw this with Michael Cohen and with Paul Manafort ["He had a very small role in the campaign."] In...

Ricordanza

Wow! This is incredibly physically and mentally challenging, even for someone who is nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" for his stature and physique. On Oct. 19 he leads the matinee of “Turandot” at the Met, then dashes to Philadelphia for a concert with the orchestra that night, including Mahler’s demanding ...

Ricordanza

Thanks, Don. My best wishes to all who observe for a happy, healthy, and, of course, musically fulfilling New Year.

Ricordanza

I also get these channels on my service (Verizon FIOS) and I've noticed some strange identifications. Sometimes, two different pianists are credited with one solo performance. My guess is that the first line identifies the piece (usually correct), the second line identifies the performer (usually co...

Ricordanza

I just heard an excerpt of a new recording on the radio: pianist Orli Shaham performing Mozart's PC 17 with her husband, David Robertson, conducting the St. Louis Symphony. The announcer said that the record label (something with canary?) was started by Orli's brother, violinist Gil Shaham.

Ricordanza

The first combination that comes to mind is one of "exes" -- Martha Argerich and Charles Dutoit. I've had the good fortune to attend a couple of Philadelphia Orchestra concerts where Martha Argerich appeared as a concerto soloist with her "ex" conducting the Orchestra. Can't comment about their pers...

Ricordanza

When I first began to listen to classical music in my teens, Mozart and Haydn were not among my favorites. At the time, their music seemed to lack emotional content. My preference was for music that was passionate, or stirring, or mournful, or angry, etc. I still have a strong connection to music wi...

Ricordanza

Thanks for posting this. Wow!

Ricordanza

Seems to be a very comprehensive list. It's the first time I've seen a mention of the manufacturer of my piano: Cable-Nelson.

Ricordanza

Who knows the life story of Andrew Carnegie, and who really cares? But music lovers care about Carnegie Hall, a lot. Carnegie's philanthropy extended well beyond Carnegie Hall. His contributions to libraries and universities (e.g., Carnegie-Mellon University, formerly the Carnegie Institute of Tech...

Ricordanza

He's gone, and his philanthropy (if nothing else) will be missed. Charles Koch lingers on. While his philanthropic contributions were substantial, they do not outweigh the enormous adverse impact he and his brother had on the political environment. Let's put it this way: what good is a contribution...

Ricordanza

Thanks for your review, and welcome to CMG!

Ricordanza

Can you imagine the outrage if a federal prisoner had committed suicide during Obama's presidency and Obama had blamed George W. Bush? But today, Trump's supporters and the Republican cowards just accept this as another utterance of a president who can say anything he wants.

Ricordanza

With this kind of commitment, does it really make any sense for the music director not to have a voice in the future of his or her group? Conductors need to be musical visionaries but also fiscal realists. Perhaps it is just a small step, but I would argue that making that person who stands on the ...

Ricordanza

The subtitle of this book accurately describes author Nigel Cliff’s purpose: “The Van Cliburn Story—How One Man and his Piano Transformed the Cold War.” The heart of the book, of course, is the story of Cliburn’s astonishing victory in 1958 at the initial Tchaikovsky piano competition. It was astoni...

Ricordanza

jserraglio wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 02, 2019 1:25 pm
Amy Klobuchar needs to be on the ticket. Heavy turnout of Dem base will be meaningless if Penn, Mich, and Wisconsin go Trump.

How about the top of the ticket? She's my first choice at this time.

Ricordanza

Sounds like a current version of Curt Schilling: talented pitcher, fierce competitor, creepy politics.

Ricordanza

Although the online version of this article was available on Thursday, 7/25, the Inquirer waited until today (Sunday) to publish this article in the print edition. That seemed unusual to me, but I think the explanation for the delay has to do with the placement: the print article is given the most p...

Ricordanza

Samuil Feinberg (1890-1962) is not well-remembered today, but his accomplishments include a terrific recording of the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of Bach, numerous compositions, and this spectacular transcription of the Scherzo movement of the Tchaikovsky Sixth Symphony. I thank Rorianne Schrade...

Ricordanza

I've seen all of them. Sure, they are not "high art." (And Dukas' "Sorcerer's Apprentice" is not on the same intellectual level as Mahler's Ninth Symphony.) But I will contend that films like ET, Titanic, Jaws and The Exorcist are outstanding works of visual storytelling. I would bet that most filmm...

Ricordanza

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 23, 2019 8:02 am

Ricordanza wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 23, 2019 6:15 am
What happened?

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/loca ... 55220.html

OMG!

Ricordanza

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 22, 2019 2:03 pm
All the more remarkable he has been able to continue a distinguished career since the Cliburn given personal tragedy thereafter.

What happened?

Ricordanza

Thanks for the review, Don. Wish I could have been there.

Ricordanza

At this point, I really don't care whether Trump is personally a racist or not. The important thing is his approach to issues of race and ethnicity. On that score, the following statement from this article is undeniably correct, and it is one of the key reasons that this man should not be President ...

Ricordanza

One thing that struck me in Dobrin's article: Why on earth would Rosand oppose shoulder rests?

Ricordanza

Here's the obit that appeared in today's Philadelphia Inquirer, written by music critic Peter Dobrin: Violinist Aaron Rosand, 92, longtime Curtis Institute of Music professor by Peter Dobrin, Updated: July 11, 2019- 3:09 PM Aaron Rosand, 92, a much-loved violinist long connected to the Curtis Instit...

Ricordanza

A history lesson from our "very stable genius" president: Trump was especially befuddled when he described the creation of the U.S. Army. "In June of 1775, the Continental Congress created a unified army out of the revolutionary forces encamped around Boston and New York and named after the great Ge...

Ricordanza

Perhaps we are no longer so snobby. A new generation of pianists seems to have caught up with Horowitz’s perspective. This is a welcome development. I'm a long-time fan of piano transcriptions. A well-written, well-performed transcription adds a texture to the music that enhances the experience for...

Ricordanza

lennygoran wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:10 am
Lance I forgot the link-now Hank has provided it.

No, Lance provided the link to her performance.

Ricordanza

Ricordanza

Wow! Only 12 light years away...that's practically next door!

Ricordanza

I remember seeing her in the South Pacific revival a few years ago. Outstanding!

Ricordanza

John F wrote: ↑
Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:02 am
You can test your internet connection speed here:

https://www.speedtest.net/

I have Verizon FIOS. My results were:
Download 91.35
Upload 118.96

Is that good?

Ricordanza

Thanks for all the good wishes.

H

Ricordanza

I'm sorry to do this at the last minute, but I will not be able to attend tomorrow's "meet-up." My wife was just discharged from the hospital after a nine-day stay for a lung infection, and I need the time to care for her and the house, etc. Hope to get together with everyone in the future. Hank M (...

Ricordanza

Hank speaking about you attending things we're still deciding what to do the Sat June 22 we have the CMG forum dinner-are you planning on attending anything while up here? Regards, Len No plans made at this time. An evening concert would be almost impossible since I'm not staying overnight and trav...

Ricordanza

The highlight of the concert, though, was the performance of Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with the fast-rising, stunningly-gifted Italian pianist Beatrice Rana as the soloist. Her recital debut in March, at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall, was among the most memorable events of the season in New York. I...

Ricordanza

For a change, the donors haven't demanded that some part of the auditorium be renamed for them, and instead prefer to remain anonymous. Apart from modesty, this keeps other organizations from trying to get money out of them. Thanks, John. I hadn't thought about that . Whatever their motivations, a ...

Ricordanza

Lance, hope you enjoyed your birthday!

Ricordanza

iPhones and iPads already offer separate Music, TV and Podcast apps in lieu of the centralized iTunes app that lives on Macs and Macbooks. Users can expect the new Music app to offer some of the same functionalities that iTunes currently does — such as purchasing songs and syncing phones — just wit...

Ricordanza

That's a name I haven't heard in many years! I have two of Webster's Dover LPs: 1) Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata; and 2) Modern American Piano Music - Copland's Piano Variations, Sessions' Second Sonata, and Carter's Sonata. He was an outstanding pianist but somehow never achieved the fame he des...

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