Day 80: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Haitink)

This morning, sitting on the porch sans flowers (they’ve been ripped out and the pots made ready for winter storage), I listen to Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink (1929- ), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor. October is my favorite month. It’s the most colorful (at least, here in Michigan), … [Read more…]

Day 79: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Furtwangler)

My listening post this morning is the same as it was last night: my recliner. Only this time, the movie on in the background (that I can’t hear because I’m listening to German conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler (1886-1954), the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor) is The Exorcist. Take that, wife! … [Read more…]

Day 78: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Cluytens)

My listening perch tonight is in my recliner in the living room, with Disney’s Moana in the background, as I recover from a temperature of 101 last night that included plenty of aches and pains. I have no idea what I had, or if I still have it. But I do know I barely slept … [Read more…]

Day 76: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Blomstedt)

My office this afternoon is on the balcony overlooking the lake. It’s a lovely fall day: sunny skies, winds at 9 miles per hour from the north, and a temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit. I’d be a fool if I did not carpe diem. Since my Momma didn’t raise no fools, here I am – … [Read more…]

Day 75: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Barenboim)

My office this morning is my office this morning. Mea Culpa: I jumped the gun yesterday by listening to Leonard Bernstein rather than Daniel Barenboim. However, instead of posting Bernstein as if I’d written it today, I kept my mistake intact and so today I’m listening to Argentina-born conductor Daniel Barenboim (1942- ), Staatskapelle Berlin, … [Read more…]

Day 74: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Bernstein)

My office today is Red Hot Inn, legendary purveyors of some of the best chili dogs you’ll ever eat. An order of fries and an ice-cold root beer are the perfect toppers to a meal that will surely give me heartburn later on. Oh, not because the food isn’t good. It’s great. I’ve been eating … [Read more…]

Day 73: Symphony No. 5 in C minor (Abbado)

This morning is a return to the top of the batting order with Claudio Abbado (1933-2014), the Berliner Philharominiker, and – this time – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor. In addition, today marks the return of me visiting the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. So, shhhh. Don’t tell anyone. Before I really get rocking and rolling, here’s … [Read more…]