This morning, as I munch on my Asiago bagel (toasted dark!) with plain cream cheese, and sip my quickly cooling Light Roast coffee at a restaurant-chain-that-must-not-be-named, I listen to Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink wave his baton before the London Symphony Orchestra, inwardly smiling smugly to myself knowing that I will be ticking off an item … [Read more…]
Two years ago (2016-2017), I experienced a musical exploration of Bruckner’s nine primary symphonies from the perspective of some two dozen conductors. Somewhere along the way (probably when I got to the “F” letter of the alphabet), I discovered Wilhelm Furtwangler (1886-1954). I was immediately taken with the historic nature of the recordings and wanted … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Beethoven’s Sympohony No. 2 in D Major is the Belgian-born Frenchman Andre Cluytens (1905-1967). The orchestra is the Orchestre Philharmonique De Berlin, also known as the Berlin Philharmonic. And I am bored to tears. Seriously, this recording and this performance are not even close to engaging me. It sounds as flat … [Read more…]
This morning’s “office” is Panera Bread, the restaurant chain that I have a dislike-hate relationship with. If Panera weren’t the only game in town at 6am (when I like to get started), I’d go somewhere else. I first encountered Austrian conductor Karl Bohm (1894-1981) on Day 5. This morning, as then, he works with the … [Read more…]
This morning, the world–renowned conductor of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major is Herbert Blomstedt (1927- ). I first encountered Maestro Blomstedt when I listened to the complete works of Beethoven a few years ago. The label then, as it is this morning, is Brilliant Classics, one of the best in the world if … [Read more…]
Okay. I’ll be honest. I have a soft spot in my heart for Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim (1942- ). And Staatskapelle_Berlin. My wife and I saw both and in person at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, January 28, 2017. The performance was Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8. It was a night we’ll never forget. Anyway, I … [Read more…]
This morning, Day 19 of my exploration of Beethoven’s symphonies, starts a new chapter: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, which was composed between 1801 and 1802. So here I sit at New Beginnings restaurant, listening to Beethoven’s composition while (or whilst if you’re British) I eat a Mexican chicken omelette complete with jalapenos and … [Read more…]