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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.

Ricordanza

This is very sad and shocking news. I met John on only two occasions--CMG "meet-ups"--but I felt that I knew the man through his numerous posts on this forum. I admired him for his incredible knowledge of music and many other subjects, and I admired him even more for his willingness to share that kn...

Ricordanza

I read this book a few months ago. Highly recommended.

Ricordanza

Thanks, Brian and Steve, for your posts about Llyr Williams. Now I'm definitely looking forward to this recital. I should also add that I have great faith in the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society in finding a substitute when a performer cancels. The last time Ingrid Fliter was scheduled to perform ...

Ricordanza

it shines like gold when it is in perfect harmony

My impression is just the opposite: a confused jumble with gold leaf added in an unsuccessful attempt to prettify the mess. Not my taste either.

Ricordanza

Just got this message from the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. This is the second time that my opportunity to hear Ingrid Fliter in recital has been stymied: a scheduled recital by her a few years ago was also cancelled due to medical reasons. Oh well. I've never heard Llyr Williams, so that wil...

Ricordanza

I wonder what other CMGers may have seen in the way of "accidents" at events they attended? A minor accident, but amusing. The Philadelphia Orchestra was performing at its summer venue, the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park. Yefim Bronfman was the piano soloist (I don't recall the concerto) and m...

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.

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