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 office this morning is my office. (Yes, I like the 1960s TV series Lost in Space.) Anyway, I was going to visit another restaurant/coffee shop this morning. But all the booths were full. So I just kept driving until I got to my office. Here, I’ll listen to “Hungarian-born Jewish-American conductor and composer” George … [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…]
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…]
My office this morning, once again, overlooks the small lake behind our residence. It’s a bit chilly this morning (65 degrees Fahrenheit) under partly cloudy skies. So, unlike on previous mornings, I had to wear what I call a “shammy,” which is in this case an oversized, button-down flannel shirt I purchased from Cabela’s. Don’t … [Read more…]
I own a lot of box sets from Brilliant Classics: Brahms Complete, Chopin Complete Works, Beethoven Complete Edition, and Haydn Edition. At one time, I believe I owned the Bach Edition: Complete Works box, but I sold it to buy another Bach complete set that didn’t use period instruments. (I can only take just so … [Read more…]
I won’t lie. I think Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) is my favorite conductor of Beethoven’s symphonies. Whenever I listen to one of Bernstein’s performances, I’m filled with joy, awe, and reverence. I am caught up in his unbridled enthusiasm because I think the orchestra is, too. Even this, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major, … [Read more…]