The Classical Music Guide Forums

Ricordanza

Have not heard any of these eclectic selections, several artists new to me: https://www.wqxr.org/story/best-classical-new-releases-october-2018 Most of the performers are new to me as well, but I am familiar with Rachel Barton Pine. She's one of my favorite violinists and I have several of her reco...

Ricordanza

It’s been a turbulent week. Many of us are still reeling from the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, the worst anti-Semitic attack in American history. A bitter and divisive election campaign—dominated by negative attack ads--ended on Tuesday, resulting in a divided Congress. The next day, Attorney...

Ricordanza

when I read this. Here's a quote from the new Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the United States, Matthew Whitaker. I'm a lawyer, but I don't think you have to be a lawyer to recognize how far, far out this is. “There are so many” bad rulings, Mr. Whitaker said. “I would start with the idea of Marbu...

Ricordanza

For today's rant, I'm calling out the right wing folks who have been complaining for years about the "judicial activists." They say that Supreme Court justices (and other appellate judges) should apply the words of the Constitution, not look behind those words to stretch the meaning of that document...

Ricordanza

I hope that all goes well and that you have a smooth recovery.

HM

Ricordanza

Quiery: Have you or anyone else here ever heard Hough in concert or recital? Does he travel much to the U. S.? Yes, I've heard Hough in concert. There may have been an earlier occasion, but the most recent concert took place on St. Patrick's Day, 2011. And what did the Philadelphia Orchestra play o...

Ricordanza

For a better version of Rachmaninoff's Paganini Variations, you can't go wrong with Trifonov, who is currently recording the other concerti with Nezet-Seguin & Philadelphia (Forgive me if I promote my hometown band! :D ). You're forgiven. I feel privileged to hear them in concert on a regular basis...

Ricordanza

I've had the good fortune to hear Hamelin perform these variations twice: as an encore at a 2012 recital and as part of the main program in a 2015 recital. This was my impression in 2012: Hamelin then launched into this work, playing the familiar theme with a slightly off-kilter harmony and followin...

Ricordanza

All these names are new to me. However, I did look up Vijay Gupta and came across this Washington Post article. His story is very interesting: Vijay Gupta: The violinist for LA’s skid row wins a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant By Antonia Noori Farzan October 5 at 5:53 AM Walt Disney Concert Hall, a $274 mi...

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....

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