My listening post this evening/early morning is with the Irish TV series Ballykissangel in the background. In this scene (late in Season Three), Fr. Peter Clifford and local barkeep Assumpta Fitzgerald have a heart to heart chat while out on a walk. My wife hates Ballykissangel. She says it moves too slowly. Maybe it does. … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is Baker Book House, a simply wonderful place for research, reading, drinking coffee, and buying books. Lots and lots of books. They have the largest selection of used books – theological books – in the Midwest. I know people who live in Nashville who shop at Baker. I can’t tell … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is Tim Horton’s, the Canadian-based fast-food chain with the unique food and coffee. The only thing Tim Horton’s lacks is peameal bacon, which I had for breakfast near Toronto once and loved it. I’m tempted to re-enter Canada just so that I can get more peameal bacon. So, as I … [Read more…]
Today, I’m back at the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named – only this time I’m listening to Italian conductor Claudio Abbado (1933-2014), Berliner Philharmoniker, and a new musical selection, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major. This particular establishment is usually filled with breakfasters and talkers. Today is no exception. Also no exception is the average age of the … [Read more…]
This evening, with Disc One, Episode One of The Crown (the British TV series that “follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century”) in the background…and David Zinman (1936- ), Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F … [Read more…]
This morning, the morning after setting the clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time, I thought I’d brew up my own coffee, pop in a Blu-ray of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and listen to Gunter Wand (1912-2002), the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major (the … [Read more…]
Just for something different, I decided to start my blog this evening with Andria Hoy, archivist for the Cleveland Orchestra, telling us about George Szell. I have no idea why. But it’s likely because I love complete box sets of a conductor’s or composer’s works. Plus, Andria recommended two Beethoven performances with Leon Fleisher that … [Read more…]
In all honesty, I am not looking forward to today’s performance. Why? Because I’ve encountered Maestro Rattle five times previous to this afternoon, on… Day 15. Rating: “Meh!” Day 33. Rating: “Meh!” Day 51. Rating: “Meh!” Day 69. Rating: “Meh!” Day 87. Rating: “Meh!” And the results are a perfect score of “Meh!” ratings. And … [Read more…]
My listening post today is the same as it was yesterday. Same lake view. Same gray skies. Same cat tower, only – this time – sans chat. There’s one major difference: The conductor and the orchestra. Today, I find myself listening to French-American conductor Pierre Monteux (1875-1964), the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. … [Read more…]
It’s a chilly, gray morning here in West Michigan. The trees are still in full color change. Quite vibrant. But the skies are gray and we’ve had a lot of rain lately. That, plus the fact that darkness pushes in on both sides of the day (it’s still dark at 8:15am and it gets dark … [Read more…]