This evening, with Disc One, Episode One of The Crown (the British TV series that “follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century”) in the background…and David Zinman (1936- ), Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F … [Read more…]
This morning, the morning after setting the clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time, I thought I’d brew up my own coffee, pop in a Blu-ray of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and listen to Gunter Wand (1912-2002), the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major (the … [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…]
In all honesty, I am not looking forward to today’s performance. Why? Because I’ve encountered Maestro Rattle five times previous to this afternoon, on… Day 15. Rating: “Meh!” Day 33. Rating: “Meh!” Day 51. Rating: “Meh!” Day 69. Rating: “Meh!” Day 87. Rating: “Meh!” And the results are a perfect score of “Meh!” ratings. And … [Read more…]
My listening post today is the same as it was yesterday. Same lake view. Same gray skies. Same cat tower, only – this time – sans chat. There’s one major difference: The conductor and the orchestra. Today, I find myself listening to French-American conductor Pierre Monteux (1875-1964), the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. … [Read more…]
It’s a chilly, gray morning here in West Michigan. The trees are still in full color change. Quite vibrant. But the skies are gray and we’ve had a lot of rain lately. That, plus the fact that darkness pushes in on both sides of the day (it’s still dark at 8:15am and it gets dark … [Read more…]
My office this morning is, once again, the cafeteria in the D&W food store. It’s kind of a lonely place at this time of the morning. But I like it that way. This morning, as I sip a Blonde Roast (“That’ll be a pour over. Is that okay?”) from Starbucks, I’m listening to German conductor … [Read more…]
A milestone! Today marks 100 days of listening to Beethoven and writing about it. That’s over three months to you and me. So here I sit in a Tim Horton’s restaurant (Tim Horton’s is a Canadian-based restaurant chain that recently ventured into Michigan) sipping their chicory-laced coffee and listening to Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan … [Read more…]
My office this morning is my office this morning. On a Saturday, no less. Yet, here I am – with Whitesnake’s Slip of the Tongue album playing as background, a fresh-brewed cup o’ Joe beside me, and all the time I want, and all the time I need (shades of “Time Enough At Last”!) to … [Read more…]
While Season Four Episode Four (“Guardian Angels” – which, coincidentally, aired nearly 11 years ago today) of the TV series House plays in the background, and our cat languishes in the middle rung of his “cat tower,” I’m listening to German conductor Eugen Jochum (1902-1987), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in … [Read more…]