Pacific Symphony opens its Pops season tonight and tomorrow with a program headlined by David Foster. But conductor Albert-George Schram and the orchestra begin the program with the Overture to “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss, Jr., which for my money
Radio: ‘On stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’
A radio piece, in which I am interviewed, about what it sounds like on stage playing in a symphony orchestra. Gideon Brower produced. On stage with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Public Radio International, Studio 360, Sept. 21, 2017.
After Eight Lessons: The Recording
For those of you who are interested, here’s the recording I made after eight piano lessons at OC Music and Dance community arts school in Irvine. Eight Lessons Later: The Recording. OC Music and Dance Blog, Sept. 18, 2017.
Listen to this: Rondo
As we discussed in a previous post on the Minuet, classical music doesn’t always have to be as hard as it seems to be. With some simple listening tips, the arcane (seeming) can often become clear. Let’s take a look
Audio: Prokofiev ‘Scythian Suite’
When I was in college, a brass player majoring in music, the Chicago Symphony set the gold standard for brass playing, and my fellow music students and I always listened to their records with mouths agape. I was reminded of
Video: The lighter side of classical music: Jacques Casterede’s ‘Menage a trois’
I love humor in music. This in on the broader side of the spectrum, but nonetheless it’s very well done and the music is snappy. Listen to Jacques Castérède’s “Ménage à trots” performed by Par Ibban Malonga, Loann Fourmental et Théa de
Audio: Beethoven Symphony No. 5, III. Allegro
Glenn Gould plays the scherzo from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in the transcription by Franz Liszt. Initially, Gould’s tempo may seem too slow, but it works quite well over the long haul I think.
Audio: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, first movement
Here’s one of the earliest recordings of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with Arthur Nikisch conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in 1913. Don’t let the primitive sound put you off; it’s a fascinating interpretation, notable for its extremely flexible approach to tempo. Carl
Classical cover: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
In 1945, a theme from the third movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (played Saturday) was turned into a popular song called “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” which over the years has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Eddie Fisher,
Amy Beach: 150
Today is the 150th birthday of pioneering American composer Amy Beach. Here is the first movement of her Symphony in E minor, “Gaelic,” written in 1896. Neeme Jarvi conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns