This morning, I am listening to American conductor David Zinman (1936- ), Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major. Prior to my Beethoven project, I had only vaguely heard of Maestro Zinman. According to his bio on Wikipedia, “[Zinman] then worked in Maine with Pierre Monteux from 1958 to 1962, … [Read more…]
First of all, today is 9/11. So, on this day, especially during the morning hours, I always reflect on the attack in New York. I remember watching the TV coverage live as it happened. I was in the meeting room of the ad agency where I worked at the time. All of us were. We … [Read more…]
My spot for today’s Beethoven blog is one of my favorites. It is, in fact, my happy place: the second floor of the local library. The view is spectacular – a field (granted, it was once a landfill but now it’s a field) bordered by trees. Sometimes, as I’m sitting at one of the tables, … [Read more…]
I have a love/hate relationship with Fall. On the love side, I dig the cooler temperatures, the lower humidity, and the snap in the air. As Fall progresses (at least, here in Michigan) I enjoy the changing colors on the trees. October is my favorite month, partly because of Ray Bradbury’s incomparable book Something Wicked … [Read more…]
Because I love Chick-fil-A restaurants so much, I’m back here again, this time listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major as rendered by Franz Konwitschny, the quirky German conductor who always delivers a fine performance but who isn’t as well known these days as he probably should be. From his bio on … [Read more…]
This morning, I am sitting at a nearby Chick-fil-A restaurant. The sun has just risen. The sky is overcast. The time is 7:33am. My wife joined me this morning because, technically, we’re both on vacation for the next few days. And yet here we are – me at my blog and she and her laptop … [Read more…]
After trying and failing to find an “office” location this morning, I ended up right back where I started: home. So, I made my own coffee. I ate a bowl of home-made chicken noodle soup. And I gazed out at the ducks meandering on the lake out back. In the background, just slightly out of … [Read more…]
My listening spot this morning is the cafeteria of Forest Hills Foods, where a Starbucks Blonde Roast (yeah, I know it’s a pour over) and a blueberry donut with cream cheese frosting are in order. It’s a nice place to be – as long as I don’t watch CNN on one of the TVs dangling … [Read more…]
In this Beethoven project, I first encountered Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink (1929- ) on Day 8, and then again on Day 26. On those two days – as it will be for the next six times I hear Haitink conduct – the orchestra is the London Symphony Orchestra. The back of the liner notes tells … [Read more…]
Today, I have the legendary German conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler on tap. Speaking of which, my office this morning would have been outside on the deck surrounded by lovely flowers in pots and a nice view of the turtles, fish, herons, and ducks on the lake. As it is, my office while I listen to Beethoven’s … [Read more…]