The Classical Music Guide Forums

lmpower

When we watched |"It's a Wonerful Life" I thought of Lionel Barrymore's annual performance as Scrooge on the radio. I have not seen Sim as Scrooge, though I regard him highly for other roles. I am wondering how his Scrooge compares with Barrymore's.

lmpower

We watched "It's a Wonderful Life" again this Christmas, and I found it even more moving and meaningful than ever. Perhaps Ralph could share with us what he finds so objectionable about it.

lmpower

I agree with some of Mango's list, but not about "you're welcome." For me this is the most gracious and natural response to "thank you." It is certainly better than it's new replacement "no problem." When a reporter comes on the radio and gives a description of some terrible atrocity recently commit...

lmpower

They just subtracted 200 posts from my total also. I don't see any point in keeping track if the figure isn't accurate. At least Donald gets to celebrate going over 2000 twice now.

lmpower

Silent Night is the most tender and is most emblematic of Christmas in the collective unconscious of our culture. I want to thank Cosima for introducing me and my wife to a song we had never heard before. We both liked it.

lmpower

We watched Bishop's Wife last night on Lance's recommendation. I wasn't familiar with this movie, but it proved to be enjoyable Christmas entertainment. There were seven actors in it who had been nominated for Academy Awards during their career. Cary Grant was originally scheduled to play the Bishop...

lmpower

Rachmaninov was a great composer who was also behind the times. Isn't that also true of Johann Sebastian Bach? Rachmaninov's romantic soul just couldn't stand to take leave of the nineteenth century and go forward into modernity.

lmpower

This is a matter of opinion, but I think there are some cases where the movie is better than the book on which it is based. There are obvious examples to the contrary. I have long thought that the film version of "La Symphonie Pastorale" is better than the book by Nobel laureate Andre Gide. The acti...

lmpower

I admit there is a danger of losing control in the finale. I think Furtwangler's interpretation of the opening movement brings out the titanic struggle in the music though.

lmpower

Every winter I go up to my wilderness retreat and listen to the Sibelius violin concerto while surrounded by vast expanses of rocks and trees. I agree that the second symphony is an accessible entry point to his work, but eventually one grows into the fourth symphony and Tapiola, which I consider to...

lmpower

Furtwangler's interpretation of Beethoven's ninth alone would place him among the greats.

lmpower

I have that record along with the Martha Argerich interpretation of Schumann's piano concerto. I'm glad I discovered the work, but I still consider the cello concerto to be Schumann's best concerto followed by the piano concerto. I just don't get that same level of intensity in the violin concerto.

lmpower

Which is more surprising that a black man be elected president or that an intelligent man be elected president?

lmpower

Nobody can stop you from sending a book to a library or magazine. Of course they may not necessarily add the title or review it. One can only try. I hope you have some luck. Americans shouldn't be deprived of the opportunity to read this work. I am sure it must be good, if it is as interesting as yo...

lmpower

This is a disgraceful and ridiculous situation. It seems that neither bookstores nor libraries in the United states have this title. Not only the Australian but also the British National Library do have the book. I wonder if it would make sense for the author to donate a copy to the Library of Congr...

lmpower

"Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel" Horace Walpole in a letter to Sir Horace Mann 1770

lmpower

I have been listening to the Bach Goldberg variations with Vladimir Feltsman. This has to be one of the best sets of variations ever written. Feltsman's rendition of the opening aria is the most exquisitely delicate Bach I've ever heard.

lmpower

"Gorillas in the Mist" is the true story of Diane Fossey. It is quite tragic, but I don't think it is sentimental enough to be a first rate tearjerker. There is certainly a distinction between critically acclaimed great films and tearjerkers. Personally I am more concerned by whether the plot and ac...

lmpower

I must point out that Ralph only dates women of his own ideology. So even he is not free from the iron grip of religon. It is a factor in his dating patterns though in a reverse manner.

lmpower

The name is very familiar. I must have heard her on some Metropolitan Opera broadcasts with Milton Cross, sponsored by Texaco. That program was a wonderful influence during my youth. Unfortunately I can't remember any specific performance now.

lmpower

Cokie Roberts is Catholic. She married Steven V. Roberts, who is Jewish. They discuss their relationship in the book "From this day forward."

lmpower

"Letter from an Unknown Woman" by Max Ophuls is billed as one of the great romantic tearjerkers.

lmpower

Horowitz, Rubinstein, Solomon, Novaes, Brendel

lmpower

This is a very personal subject, but I'm glad you brought it up. Barry doesn't really have a problem, because neither patner is religious. There is a problem, if both partners are seriously religious. This is especially true when they belong to a narrow and fanatical religion of "true believers." I ...

lmpower

Mango hit the nail on the head. What qualifies as not famous? Nevertheless, I will risk the observation that Brahms Opus 101 trio is not among the most famous classical pieces. It speaks to me in a special way, especially the second theme of the first movement. That section shows why we need music t...

lmpower

Can we discuss online sources? I have bookmarked "They Shoot Pictures Don't They." It lists the thousand great films of all time with a brief critique. I prefer it to AFI, because it includes foreign films. I often consult IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes. When I go to the library I may take a peek at Malti...

lmpower

Thanks Ralph! That video is a good antidote to the rest of the news.

lmpower

Music gear maker Groove Tubes is closing after nearly 30 years The San Fernando manufacturer, which was sold to industry giant Fender Musical Instrument Corp. in June, is closing its inventory sale Saturday. By Tiffany Hsu November 8, 2008 Nick Carr likes his music gear to be old school, which expla...

lmpower

You're right. It reflected positively on McCain. He still has a sense of humor after all he's been through.

lmpower

We mailed in our absentee ballots last Friday.

lmpower

I didn't find it to be very funny until the end, and then I laughed out loud. I am not politically correct, so I don"t worry about whether to classify anything as racist, sexist or homophobic. These are labels, which are used to disarm anyone who disagrees with the political correctness police. I on...

lmpower

Solti is high on my personal list because of a performance of Die Walkure with Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter and Leonie Rysanek, which I saw with the San Francisco Opera in 1956.

lmpower

The composer that Brahms detested was Liszt. He used the adjective Lisztisch to express his disdain for that style.

lmpower

I own Brendel own LP and Perahia on CD. I also consider this record to be one of the most delightful in my collection.

lmpower

It was very similar to the hammer used in Berg's three pieces. Check this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZaBQ-bbY4E There is also a good video on youtube of the hammer in Mahler's sixth symphony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwljE3HsfSM

lmpower

I seem to remember him from my childhood. I believe he was comparable to John McCormack. I may have owned a 78 RPM album by him.

lmpower

Jon Robertson said that he could have purchased an expensive instrument from Germany, but they decided to make their own. It appeared to be a wooden box, about the size of an end table. The actual hammer looked like a sledge hammer made of wood. Robertson compared the instrument to the old carnival ...

lmpower

We attended a performance of the Rouse trombone concerto by the Redlands Symphony with Andrew Glendening as soloist. This turned out to be an interesting experience. The work was very heavy on percussion and brass. An instrument called the hammer was used. Conductor Jon Robertson gave a preconcert t...

lmpower

I have felt very close to Mahler for many years. I don't have the same rapport with Bruckner. It is true that both were influenced by the Wagnerian style, but they used it to express rather different spiirits. I do like Bruckner's seventh symphony very much. I suppose the eighth and ninth deserve to...

lmpower

The tenth is my favorite Mahler symphony. He didn't live to finish the orchestration, but the material is great. He pours his heart out. It is comforting that a few other music lovers share my taste.

lmpower

I am no fan of Sarah Palin, but I thought she performed reasonably well. The comedians came off as rather mean spirited and foolish.

lmpower

Many years ago I attended an exhibit of Modigliani works at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The film "Amants de Montparnasse" was shown as part of the show. Gerard Philipe played the part of Modigliani in the film. I don't think I have ever been more depressed by a cinematic experience. The fo...

lmpower

Lola Montes was an interesting person. She was proof that you don't have to be extremely beautiful to be attractive to men. Martine Carol was quite a bit better looking in the movie.

lmpower

I have been wanting to give my wife Max Ophul's "Letter from an Unknown Woman" for her birthday. It is on the American Film Institute list of the 100 greatest films. It doesn't seem to be available in a format playable in America. It must be the only film of the 100 greatest not readily available. T...

lmpower

I have never requested a stop delivery on anything, but it sounds like a good idea. I have refused delivery on items and also mailed a few unwanted things back to the sender. I am leery of any company that wants to automatically subtract money from your account. It even makes me uneasy if it is some...

lmpower

I have been listening to Keillor's monologues for decades. He is a gifted performer and a philosopher-humorist. I think politics are a relatively minor sideline for him.

lmpower

Beethoven's Archduke trio is almost in a class of its own. It expresses an unalloyed joy and affirmation almost unique in his mature work. I like the Stern, Rose, Istomin performance.

lmpower

I was invited to join by a member who saw me posting in another forum. I wish I could remember the name of that person. I rarely get to discuss classical music in my daily life, so having this group allows for an exchange of views.

lmpower

Lisa Lee performed Beethoven's Emperor concerto with the Redlands Symphony. She succeeded in evoking the sublime in the slow movement and the power of Beethoven's heroic period in the outer movements. The concert was appropriately rounded out with the Eroica symphony. The program was aptly titled em...

lmpower

I think Henry is right on all three counts. I see a poll in the Globe and Mail indicates 81 percent believe worse is yet to come. Only 19 percent thinks we have reached bottom. I am quite encouraged. That seems like a pretty good contrarian indicator to me. When pessimistic expectations are that pre...

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