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Ricordanza

Subscriptions are still generally lagging, even as they tick up from pandemic lows. Orchestras are reaching more — and younger — buyers than before, though those newcomers tend to buy fewer tickets per season. Audience members also now tend to wait longer to purchase, making budgeting and marketing...

Ricordanza

A 2022 film of the classic novel by Erich Maria Remarque - All's Quiet on the Western Front . It's a hard-bitten, graphic, Oscar-winning adaptation of the book. It focuses on one young man who, with his few friends, enthusiastically joins the army at the outset of the First World War. The cinematog...

Ricordanza

As for Phillip Ewell, I can't really criticize his book since I haven't read it, but McWhorter makes it sound terribly wrong-headed. I haven't read his book either, but after reading McWhorter's column, Ewell will not be on my "To Read" list. Anyone who dismisses Beethoven as merely “above average”...

Ricordanza

I’ll begin my review of the May 11th Philadelphia Orchestra concert with an excerpt from a Philadelphia Inquirer article. In writing these reviews and personal impressions, I use my own words, but in this case, Inquirer music critic Peter Dobrin described this concert’s non-musical moment perfectly:...

Ricordanza

Thanks for posting these, Barney. The article on Sharma was particularly interesting.

Ricordanza

I was there on January 19th and enjoyed this entire concert.

Ricordanza

This provision is really bad news. I was in charge of the rulemaking function of a state agency for 20 years. If we had waited for the New Jersey Legislature to act on these regulations, the process would have come to a halt.

Ricordanza

This useful idiot (I guess that's better than being a useless idiot) is obsessed with Donald Trump because he has a reasonable chance of becoming president again. Those of us who value democracy, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, national security, and other idiotic concerns, are troubled b...

Ricordanza

In response to question after question, on issue after issue, Trump denied incontrovertible facts, insisted on alternative ones, spoke of America as a country swirling down the toilet, spoke of himself as the only politician who could save it, framed his presidency as one that outshone all the othe...

Ricordanza

I am planning to go to Giltburg's Philadelphia recital on November 29, 2023.

Ricordanza

Of course, it is frustrating, especially if I' m writing a review, if this information isn't given out afterwards, either! When the encore is not announced or I do not recognize it, my usual practice is to send an email inquiry to the concert sponsor--the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society or the P...

Ricordanza

Ms. Kazaryan played one encore which is so obscure that even host Joe Patrych, about whom Gary Graffman once told me "He knows everything!" couldn't identify it. From the first three or four notes I thought we were about to hear the second movement - Romanze - of Schumann's Faschingschwank aus Wien...

Ricordanza

Glad you enjoyed the concert...and not surprised that you did enjoy it, since I'm a frequent visitor to the Kimmel Center to hear Yannick and the Philadelphians. I will be there again Thursday night.

Ricordanza

Classical music is usually relegated to the back pages of newspapers (and ignored on other media). But this article appeared on the front page of today's Philadelphia Inquirer: Maestro stops concert twice over ringing cell phones by Peter Dobrin Updated on May 8, 2023, 12:52 p.m. ET With a haiku-li...

Ricordanza

Barney,

Thanks for posting your gem of a review.

Hank

Ricordanza

barney wrote: ↑
Sat May 06, 2023 10:43 pm
I was at a fabulous London Symphony Orchestra concert of Mahler 7, which I was reviewing for my paper

Can we see your review?

Ricordanza

There is room for legitimate debate about immigration and border policies. But when a governor puts out a statement like this, he is essentially saying that these murder victims are lesser human beings.

Ricordanza

One wonders if Beethoven's PC # 3 was influenced by the Mozart # 24. Steve, you are right on point! Here's an excerpt from the program notes by Paul J. Horsley: The Concerto's first movement (Allegro) opens with a principal subject of marvelous interest and potential. The listener can hardly help t...

Ricordanza

From the time of Bach to the late 20th Century, composers and their audiences have been drawn to the musical form, Theme and Variations. Sometimes it’s the composer’s own theme; sometimes it’s someone else’s. The theme may be uninspiring, but the inspiration comes to life in what the composer does w...

Ricordanza

What now? Perhaps Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson will co-host a new show? On Comedy Central?

Ricordanza

Given the support from dozens of groups across the political spectrum—including AARP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Taxpayers Association, legal-aid groups, eight states and many free-market think tanks—the ground is shifting and home-equity theft will soon be a thing of the past...

Ricordanza

Thake said that Mostly Mozart would maintain a presence after Langrée’s exit. She said that the center was in talks with the orchestra about future seasons, and that they were discussing how Mostly Mozart “fits within the values of Lincoln Center,” including efforts to reach new audiences and promo...

Ricordanza

I can't answer your question, Lance, about how Lugansky's current status has been affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I can say that he made quite an impression on me based on just one concert experience. In April 2017, he appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff's Rha...

Ricordanza

I can't help myself. This topic gave me the excuse to look through some old programs and reviews, and I've come up with 5 more of my most memorable concerts. Again, these are in chronological order, and I've added explanations of why they were memorable: Marc-Andre Hamelin, New York, 2004. Just abou...

Ricordanza

I'm puzzled by the concern about "first" indictment. Yes, based on the facts I'm aware of, the Georgia case seems to be the strongest based on the evidence ("I need 11,000 votes."). The January 6th case, inciting an insurrection, seems to be the most significant from a legal and constitutional persp...

Ricordanza

neilnw wrote: ↑
Thu Mar 30, 2023 9:37 am

Ricordanza wrote: ↑
Thu Mar 30, 2023 6:36 am

I must admit that I'm not familiar with the name, Enrique Jorda. Just curious, what was the tragedy?
For that I'll refer you over to my 16-year old posting on Jorda: http://classicalmusicguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=17134

Thanks. Quite a story.

Ricordanza

This atrocity brings to mind the similar deed committed by Kate Winslet's character in the film "The Reader." It is still hard to comprehend the cruelty that human beings are capable of.

Ricordanza

The Jorda chapter--titled poignantly "An Enigma and a Tragedy"--is a great deal more objective and even-handed than in Schneider's book. Whereas Schneider's is almost purely from the perspective of the musicians, Rothe's biography draws on numerous interviews with veteran staffers, as well as conve...

Ricordanza

9. Anton Kuerti played on a number of occasions, almost always Beethoven. Always great. Back when I had the big mortgage, young family and all that, I spent sparingly on CDs. But his Beethoven sonata cycle was one I had to have, and I played the set through many times. I may add to my previous list...

Ricordanza

Max Boot has become one of my favorite columnists. His Washington Post columns are sober, fact-based, and insightful. Here's his latest: Yes, TikTok is a threat to America. But so are U.S. social media companies. By Max Boot Columnist March 27, 2023 at 2:50 p.m. EDT To ban or not to ban? That is th...

Ricordanza

Now that our DNA link has been confirmed, I can say Happy Birthday, Cousin Lenny!

Ricordanza

Here's my list of 10 most memorable, in chronological order. Tomorrow, it could be another list, but I'll stick to these for now. For some of them, I've added explanations of what made them memorable. The first two need no explanation: 1. Vladimir Horowitz, Carnegie Hall, 1966 2. Arturo Benedetti Mi...

Ricordanza

The first one to come to mind (although I have lots of other favorites) is Busoni's piano transcription of Bach's Chaconne for solo violin. My first hearing of this piece was at Alicia de Larrocha's recital at Hunter College (NY) in 1971--a perfect introduction to this masterpiece.

Ricordanza

My list is smaller, but I enjoyed the performances of all of these orchestras. Of course, the first orchestra listed is my favorite; I've heard about 150 performances by the Philadelphians over the past 25 years: Philadelphia Orchestra Boston Symphony New York Philharmonic Russian National Orchestr...

Ricordanza

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41WV0FKVWSL.jpg When listening to Rudolf Firkusny, the first adjectives that come to mind are "elegant" and "polished." But these adjectives suggest that his playing is restrained or aloof. Not so. In these performances of Beethoven's Concerti Nos. 3 and 5, Firku...

Ricordanza

My list is smaller, but I enjoyed the performances of all of these orchestras. Of course, the first orchestra listed is my favorite; I've heard about 150 performances by the Philadelphians over the past 25 years: Philadelphia Orchestra Boston Symphony New York Philharmonic Russian National Orchestra...

Ricordanza

Thanks for your comments, Belle.

Ricordanza

Is it possible to overdose on Beethoven? Normally, I don’t buy tickets for back-to-back concerts with similar programs. The brochure for the 2022-23 piano series sponsored by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society included a February 19th recital by Mitsuko Uchida, playing the last three Beethoven s...

Ricordanza

It might not be surprising that the liberal Thomas Friedman criticized the Netanyahu government for its judiciary “reform,” but it’s eye-opening that a different Friedman, David Friedman, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, voiced the same criticisms. https://www.jta.org/2023/03/01/israel/trumps-ambassado...

Ricordanza

Thanks for posting this link; I will watch it later. It may be my only chance to hear this pianist "live." Twice, she has been scheduled for recitals with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and twice, those recitals were cancelled for medical reasons.

Ricordanza

It's worth noting that perhaps the most representative organization of the Jewish community in the U.S. and Canada, the Jewish Federations of North America, has issued a statement rebuking (albeit in moderate language) the current Israeli government's judicial "reform" proposal: [We] urge you to mak...

Ricordanza

A truly great choice as an encore! I'm not so sure. As some of you know, I've been a fan and follower of Yuja since her student days at the Curtis Institute, and I am in awe of her technique. But sometimes I want a soloist to bring down the temperature after a barn-burner. These were my mixed feeli...

Ricordanza

Thanks,gentlemen. Yes, the Scriabin 9 was on the earlier first return recital at Carnegie,1965. My parents were at that recital. The day that tickets went on sale, my father stood on line starting at 4 AM. As he told me (and later reported in the newspaper), Wanda Horowitz brought coffee (and donut...

Ricordanza

Thanks, Belle.

Ricordanza

That's how I feel about the one time I heard him in concert--Carnegie Hall, 1966. 1966 Carnegie,wow, and the wonderful "Valle d'Obermann" , and Scriabin 9th (?). According to the Carnegie Hall archives, this is the program I heard. No Scriabin on this program (unless played as an encore; encores ar...

Ricordanza

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Sun Feb 26, 2023 12:53 pm
and the wonderful "Valle d'Obermann".

My first hearing of this piece. Wow is right!

Ricordanza

Times have changed. We will never hear a complete recital like this on a major TV network.

P.S. I have the LP of this concert.

Ricordanza

Thanks for posting this, Steve. The details about his visit are fascinating.

Hearing Horowitz live in recital is the opportunity of a lifetime--and you had two opportunities! That's how I feel about the one time I heard him in concert--Carnegie Hall, 1966.

Ricordanza

Holden Fourth wrote: ↑
Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:32 am
After hearing Uchida's Diabelli's I suppose they are a must listen when they are finally committed to CD

You don't have to wait. The CD was recorded several years ago.

Ricordanza

In his introduction to Mitsuko Uchida’s recital on Sunday evening, February 19th, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society Artistic Director Miles Cohen included his usual reminder to silence cell phones. But he was particularly insistent this time, noting that the works on this program--the last three so...

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