My listening post this evening is (again) in front of the TV series Blue Bloods, this time it’s Season 2 Episode 12 “The Job.” One of the biggest surprises to me is how good of an actor Donnie Wahlberg is. So much so that I can’t tell he’s acting. Do you know what I mean? … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is in front of the TV with The Andy Griffith Show in the background, next to the lights of the Christmas tree, and quite near a cup of fresh-brewed coffee. The episode is “Ellie Saves a Female,” and it first aired on 17 April 1961 – which is two days … [Read more…]
My listening post this morning is the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named where I am partaking of their signature Light Roast coffee, an Asiago bagel (toasted twice) with cream cheese…and a side of Hungarian conductor George Szell (1897-1970), the Cleveland Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major. The latter was BYO, by the way. They don’t actually … [Read more…]
Just for something different, I decided to start my blog this evening with Andria Hoy, archivist for the Cleveland Orchestra, telling us about George Szell. I have no idea why. But it’s likely because I love complete box sets of a conductor’s or composer’s works. Plus, Andria recommended two Beethoven performances with Leon Fleisher that … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning is the Restaurant-Chain-That-Must-Not-Be-Named for coffee and a bagel. And, of course, a helping of Hungarian-born American conductor and composer George Szell (1897-1970), the Cleveland Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor. Hot dog! Do I have a couple of hours lined up for myself, or what? I have to … [Read more…]
This morning, I find myself listening to conductor George Szell (1897-1970), The Cleveland Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B flat Major. I first encountered Maestro Szell in my Beethoven project on… Day 16. Rating: “Meh!” Day 34. Rating: “Meh!” Day 52. Rating: “Huzzah!” What will today bring? I’ll soon find out. Beethoven wrote … [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…]
Today’s performance of Beethoven’s Second is courtesy of George Szell (1897-1970) and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. It was recorded on Friday, October 2, 1964, in Severance Hall. (I know it was Friday, even though the liner small print on the back of the CD sleeve doesn’t provide that information, because I Googled it.) If you … [Read more…]
This morning’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 will introduce me to conductor George Szell (1897-1970) and The Cleveland Orchestra, which means today’s recording is the first I’m hearing by an American orchestra. Frankly, I didn’t know Cleveland even had an orchestra, let alone a great one. Yet, according to its bio on Wikipedia: The … [Read more…]