Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989) scares me. The Cult of Karajan is a powerful one, with many music aficionados revering him and the ground he walked on. I’ve tried to separate that – with varying degrees of success – from my listening experiences with the late Maestro. His bio on Wikipedia doesn’t make it … [Read more…]
This morning, as I sit on my balcony overlooking the lake, I sip a cup of Chick-fil-A coffee, watch a “flotilla” of geese swimming in single file from right to left across my field of vision, and listen to Karl Bohm (1894-1981) conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as they perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in … [Read more…]
I find it hard to believe that I’ve lived some 58 years and I don’t recall ever hearing anything conducted by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). Which is a shame because his interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major is energetic, vivid, and dynamic. In the liner notes to this Deutsche Grammophon set, Bernstein wrote, … [Read more…]
This morning, I begin another of my insane year-long musical explorations. Unlike previous projects (see My Year-Long Project page), I know this one will be interrupted by at least two life events: knee-replacement surgery, and a trip to Australia. I have no idea how I’ll continue with this Beethoven project with those two things looming … [Read more…]