I like Bernard Haitink. A lot. I remember Amsterdam-born Maestro Haitink (1929- ) from my Bruckner projects a year or so ago (see My Year-Long Project page). That’s why I chose him for my Beethoven project. There was something about Haitink that stood out from almost all other conductors to which I listened. Could have … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor is the legendary Wilhelm Furtwangler (1886-1954). The orchestra is the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic). The venue is the Royal Albert Hall in London. Maestro Furtwangler died two years after this recording was made. I first encountered Wilhelm Furtwangler during my Bruckner projects. Something about him – maybe I just like saying his … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor is Belgian-born Andre Cluytens (1905-1967). The orchestra is the world-famous Orchestre Philharmonique De Berlin, which was founded in 1882. I had never heard of Maestro Cluytens before I chose him for this project. But, that’s part of the reason why I did. Plus, the cover of the CD box set looked different … [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…]
A couple of years ago (April 15, 2014 – July 9, 2014, to be exact), I listened to everything Beethoven composed as part of a (failed) three-year exploration of great works that I called 1095 Days With The Masters And Me. (You can read about why my three-year project failed on the My Year-Long Project … [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…]
It’s been awhile (May 5, 2017) since my last musical adventure, so I’m not surprised that I totally forgot about my appointment with Ludwig this morning as my wife and I headed toward the car for Sunday donuts at Marge’s Donut Den in Wyoming, Michigan. Half-way down the steps, I stopped short, “Shoot!” I said … [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…]