The Classical Music Guide Forums

maestrob

Trump’s firebrand words and the left’s obsession with race are reminiscent of far darker times. By Gerard Baker March 18, 2024 1:10 pm ET Last year we learned that American men supposedly spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the Roman empire. Since the source of this information was a ...

maestrob

I don't have a lot of recordings from famous female singers. But I always loved Janet Baker - particularly "Sea Pictures". This is one of my all-time fave performances from another great singer, Regine Crespin: it's a luminous performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFALc1eSlZc Totally agree w...

maestrob

Thanks for all those VERY INTERESTING replies! I've noticed that (so far) no one has listed Beethoven IX. That symphony is a surefire test of a conductor's abilities, particularly in shaping the final choral movement. Personally, I use it to decide whether to buy anything else by whomever. It has be...

maestrob

Wow! Nobody else admires Copland III, with that killer fugue in the second movement? Just saying, but I think it's a masterpiece! :wink: I own about 8-10 recordings. Do give it another try! Ormandy's Columbia stereo recording belongs on my list as well, as does Bernstein's Chicago recording of Shost...

maestrob

I have the Great Pianists volume, along with PCs by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff & Liszt, as well as a Moussorgsky Pictures on Mercury. Would love to get my hands on his RCA recordings, but I don't see a box available.

maestrob

March 18, 2024, 5:05 a.m. ET By Marc Hogan Mr. Hogan is a freelance writer, reporter, and music critic. Does that song on your phone — or on the radio — or in the movie theater — sound familiar? Private equity, the industry responsible for bankrupting companies, slashing jobs and raising the mortali...

maestrob

If you had to choose, symphony lovers, which would be your top 12? As a bonus, how about your favorite recordings? Now that I've set this impossible task in motion, here's my take: Mahler: Symphony #2 (Abbado Lucerne DVD) Shostakovich #5 (Bernstein/New York (in Japan) DVD) Bruckner #8 (Szell/Clevela...

maestrob

Yes, Barney, many thanks. Mahler III is one of my top 10 symphonies, rarely done.

We'll be hearing Mahler II (Resurrection) in Carnegie Hall this coming June in Van Zweden's farewell concert, believe it or not, my first live hearing of the work.

maestrob

March 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m. ET By David French Opinion Columnist When the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly last Wednesday to pass a bill that would require TikTok to divest its Chinese ownership or face an American ban, it provided a glimmer of hope in a dreary political time. This is exa...

maestrob

Rach3 wrote: ↑
Sun Mar 17, 2024 1:00 pm
Thanks for this.There are some critics who feel she is/was the finest Faure player to date.

You're welcome!

I'm also quite taken with Hamelin's new release:

maestrob

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Thyssens-Valentin.jpg Germaine Thyssens-Valentin (27 July 1902 – 7 July 1987)[1] was a classical pianist of Franco-Dutch parentage, noted for her performances of French music. She studied under Gabriel Fauré at the Paris Conservatoire, and in the 1950s...

maestrob

Lance wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:48 pm
Okay, I'm looking forward to that, but I think many of us would be interested in your writing.
barney wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:22 pm
Thanks Lance. I don't want to look egotistical by posting my own work, as though I were looking for praise or validation. So I'll PM them to you.

Of course! I feel left out!

maestrob

Of course!

I've been in recording studios making 8 CDs, and that's exactly how it works.

maestrob

Feinberg is a rather obscure (lesser known) as opposed to underrated pianist. Much of this is probably because he was Russian and much of his performance career was while Stalin was the Russian leader and reluctant to let many artists perform outside of the border. My introduction to Feinberg was h...

maestrob

Samuel Yevgenyevich Feinberg (1890- 1962) was a Russian and Soviet composer and pianist. Robert Schumann (1810 - 56) Album for the Young - Op.68 1. The poor orphan (00:00) 2. Hunting song (1:37) 3. The wild rider (2.:37) 4. Folk song (3:12) 5. The happy farmer, returning from work (4:34) 6. Sicilien...

maestrob

Federal law requires states to seek reimbursement from the assets, usually homes, of people who died after receiving benefits for long-term care. By Paula Span March 16, 2024, 9:52 a.m. ET The letter came from the state department of human services in July 2021. It expressed condolences for the los...

maestrob

For those interested in all 29 of Viotti's violin concertos, it is/was available on Dynamic (Italy) 498 on ten CDs with Franco Mezzena, violinist/conductor of the Viotti Chamber Orchestra. Delightful music, Lance. The set of complete Viotti concerti is available on Spotify: about 11 hours' worth of...

maestrob

March 15, 2024 By Aaron Klein Mr. Klein served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury from 2009 to 2012. A fight has commenced over Capital One’s effort to acquire Discover, a deal that would birth an enormous credit-card company rivaling Visa, Mastercard and American Express. The result...

maestrob

March 14, 2024 By Paul Krugman Opinion Columnist A few days ago, the Biden administration released its budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year (which begins in October). Given that Republicans control the House, this budget isn’t going to happen, so it serves mainly as a statement of principles and...

maestrob

According to this article, given the amount of classical music I listen to every day, I shouldn't have a care in the world! :lol: Still, classical music has been shown to improve cognitive ability, as careful listening engages all areas of the brain, especially in seniors. I plan on having music in ...

maestrob

Goodness, Lance! There are so many for me that I hardly know where to begin. First and foremost for me would be Anna Moffo, who graduated from my high school in the Philadelphia suburbs (Radnor) before she went on to higher studies in Europe. Then there would be Mirella Freni, wife to Nikolai Ghiaur...

maestrob

diegobueno wrote: ↑
Thu Mar 14, 2024 7:31 am
Lance,

Stop watching Fox News! Stop watching your Sinclair-owned station.
Problem solved.

Ditto.

maestrob

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81JAfHWFZYL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg Known for his tautly controlled Bruckner, Eugen Jochum transferred those traditional values to his Brahms interpretations, here with the superb Berlin Philharmonic. These performances are well worth exploring for they embody...

maestrob

I. Allegro vigoroso, quasi alla breve 00:00-10:30
II. Adagio 10:30-22:50
III. Presto 22:50-29:20
IV. Allegro moderato ma con brio 29:20-36:40
Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqY5v_yP6Jw

maestrob

March 12, 2024 By Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Columnist, reporting from Erez, Israel Israel today is in grave danger. With enemies like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran, Israel should be enjoying the sympathy of much of the world. But it is not. Because of the way Prime Minister Benjamin Netany...

maestrob

Interesting article Len, thanks. I'm happy to report that Carnegie Hall has bounced back and that the programs we attend a nearly always sold out. Can't say as much for the MET, however, which offers superb productions but at exorbitant ticket prices. The MET's donor must step up soon or opera is do...

maestrob

Agree with you about the Petrenko Tchaikovsky 6. He does make it very special.

How about Jordi Savall with his ear opening Beethoven cycle, or Solti with his Brahms symphony cycle from Chicago?

maestrob

This review moved me profoundly. So beautifully articulated; every point and expressive impulse from Levit was rendered as clear as a bell. Luminous. Yes, he does seem to 'conduct' himself and he does inhabit his own world. This is why I love him so much; the intensity and love burnishes every phra...

maestrob

Eugene Jochum, known for his fine Bruckner, here demonstrates his affinity with Brahms as he leads Emil Gilels in one of his finest performances in Berlin. This page also features performances of the 4 Brahms Symphonies led by Jochum. https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=Jochum+Br...

maestrob

Can't find him anywhere. Lance. Do you mean pianist Martin Stadtfeld? I found Jan Vogler, but not the album you referenced.

maestrob

diegobueno wrote: ↑
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:43 pm
Many thumbs up.

Agree! I have the symphonies on Bis, and a box of the concertos as well. Much interesting listening there.

maestrob

Idylle: Andante • 9:11 Scherzo: Prestissimo - Trio (listesso Tempo) • 13:04 Intermezzo: In sanfter Bewegung • 20:44 Tanz: Allegro vivace (etwas derb)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Dis5P7lf4

maestrob

Good morning Len & Sue! Well, that was an interesting read but I have one major disagreement with the author. All that nonsense about the abdomen. The voice happens in the throat, first, last and always. I can safely say this after nearly 10 years of vocal studies, including several years of studyin...

maestrob

Bedřich Smetana - String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor 'From My Life', JB 1:105 (1876) Performed by the Stamitz Quartet: with Score Movement One: Allegro vivo appassionato - 0:00 Movement Two: Allegro moderato a la Polka - 8:12 Movement Three: Largo sostenuto - 14:13 Movement Four: Vivace - 23:40 https:/...

maestrob

March 8, 2024, 5:02 a.m. ET By Laura Prugh Dr. Prugh is a wildlife biologist at the University of Washington. An hour of the day will be unceremoniously snatched away on Sunday as we “spring forward” to daylight saving time. Polling shows that more than half of Americans want to “ditch the switch” a...

maestrob

Thanks! Looks fascinating!

maestrob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrdGqs2I8o

Franz Welser-Most has made quite a name for himself as a Brucknerian. In this video he conducts Bruckner's most accessible symphony, live in the magnificent Stiftsbasilika in Austria.

maestrob

Thanks for those, Steve! We just heard Welser-Most at Carnegie Hall lead Bruckner IX in a magnificent performance, and I'm looking forward to hearing his Mahler as well here. The finale of the first movement was quite emotional for me in the Bruckner. What a fine orchestra!

maestrob

Lance, I've been pondering getting this box as well. Of course I've got many of her operas already, and the Songs of the Auvergne, but where to put it on my already groaning shelves? As a collector, I want it for sure and may yet spring for it, yet I must also reserve space for the Ormandy Stereo Le...

maestrob

Thank you Lance. What a kind thought!

Grateful to have you here as always. Thanks for all you do to keep us together.

maestrob

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1mjI1PnkgL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg Francois-Xavier Roth's latest double CD, in spite of glowing reviews elsewhere, is a mixed bag for yours truly. The first disc contains rarely heard orchestral pieces ( La Jeunesse de Hercule, Le Rouet d'omphale) flanked by ...

maestrob

March 4, 2024 By David French Opinion Columnist As of Monday, March 4, 2024, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution is essentially a dead letter, at least as it applies to candidates for federal office. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s dec...

maestrob

New criteria could lead to a dementia diagnosis on the basis of a simple blood test, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. By Paula Span March 4, 2024 Determining whether someone has Alzheimer’s disease usually requires an extended diagnostic process. A doctor takes a patient’s medical history, ...

maestrob

Jorge Bolet was, IMHO, the finest Liszt pianist of his generation. His live performances outshone his studio recordings, and this is but one fine example. This page shows Bolet at his best, with many live performances available. https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=Bolet+Liszt+you...

maestrob

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/816IiHAlyWL._AC_UY327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg Michael Spyres has done it again! What a busy man he is, with new albums popping up with such frequency in between appearances at New York's Metropolitan Opera and other major houses around the world. Here we have obscure ar...

maestrob

Agree with you on both counts!

maestrob

Lance, I have sung most of what's on your top list in Carnegie Hall and loved every work. The Schubert Mass No. 6 in E flat stays with me as a masterpiece, especially the vocal solos, but the highlight of my younger years as a musician remains the Bach B Minor Mass. Not to mention the Verdi Requiem,...

maestrob

I'm listening now on Spotify, and this is a definite buy for me. You will not be disappointed, Lance!

maestrob

March 2, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET By John Vaillant Mr. Vaillant is the author, most recently, of “Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World.” On Thursday, as flames from the Smokehouse Creek Fire raced eastward across the Texas Panhandle for the fourth straight day at speeds faster than a person can ...

maestrob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI--WUwVfZw

Symphony No 1 in A flat Major op 55
by Edward Elgar
1. Andante nobilmente e semplice-Allegro
2. Allegro molto
3. Adagio
4. Lento-Allegro
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult
IX.1976

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