The recording of this opera has a lot going for it, not least of which is the music is played by The Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields. That, automatically, gives it a feel and sound that grabs me. I don’t think I’ve yet heard a recording by the Academy that I didn’t like. Another plus for this […]
Entries Tagged as 'Mozart at 24'
Of Christiane Eda-Pierre. Period. (German Operas, Box 16)
May 30th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 16: German Operas, Christiane Eda-Pierre, Mozart at 24, Vienna (May 29 1782)
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Of Bike Rides and Reconstructed Songs (German Operas, Box 16)
May 29th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 16: German Operas, Erik Smith, K344 (Part II), Mozart at 23, Mozart at 24, Reconstruction by Erik Smith, Salzburg (1779-80), Zaide, Zaide (Part II)
My wife and I took a long bike ride today. We were out about three hours, with a stop for lunch along the way. I loved it, although I got more sun than I probably should have. Still, this is what summer is all about. And I have to enjoy it while I can. I […]
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Of Unusual Occupations and Unfinished Operas (German Operas, Box 16)
May 28th, 2010 · No Comments · Allazim, Armin Ude, Bernhard Klee, Box 16: German Operas, Drei Sklaven, Edith Mathis, Gomatz, Gunther Koch, Ingvar Wixell, Joachime Vogt, K344, K344 (Part I), Mozart at 23, Mozart at 24, Osmin, Peter Schreier, Reiner Suss, Salzburg (1779-80), Staatskapelle Berlin, Sultan Soliman, Vorsanger, Walter Weih, Werner Hollweg, Wolfgang Wagner, Zaide
I like watching old movies, the really old black and whites, and seeing the occupations people had back then. Jobs like elevator operator, soda jerk, gas-station attendant, and switchboard operator. Today, those jobs seem archaic. And unnecessary. But I’m sure many jobs today will seem that way in 20 years. If there are any jobs […]
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Of Tater Tots and… (German Operas, Box 16)
May 27th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 16: German Operas, Die Gartnerin aus Liebe, Die Gartnerin aus Liebe (Part III), K196, K196 (Part III), Mozart at 24, Munich (May 1 1789), Tater Tots
When I was growing up, there was something about tater tots that gave me the heebie jeebies. Don’t ask me to explain it. I can’t. I had the same reaction to Brussels sprouts – an instant disliking for their texture, taste, and smell. Now, Brussels sprouts I’m sure everyone can understand. But tater tots? They’re […]
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Of Sheer Monotony. Period. (German Operas, Box 16)
May 26th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 16: German Operas, Die Gartnerin aus Liebe, Die Gartnerin aus Liebe (Part II), K196 (Part II), Mozart at 24, Munich (May 1 1789)
Part Two is no better than Part One. Just as I’m sure Part Three will be no better than the previous two. What was Mozart thinking when he re-worked La finta giardiniera (“The Pretend Garden-Girl”), K.196, an Italian opera, into Die Gartnerin aus Liebe, K196, a German opera? It didn’t improve by changing the language, […]
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Of Relaxation and Retreads (German Operas, Box 16)
May 25th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 16: German Operas, Die Gartnerin aus Liebe, K196, K196 (Part I), La finta giardiniera (re-worked), Mozart at 24, Munich (May 1 1789)
Man, what a let down this opera is. Yesterday’s opera (Bastien und Bastienne, K50) was a pleasant surprise. Today’s opera (Die Gartnerin aus Liebe, K196) sounds like dialogue from a World War II movie set to nondescript music. It’s dreadful. According to its entry on Wikipedia: In 1780 Mozart converted the opera – La finta […]
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Of Beginnings and Boy Choirs (German Operas, Box 16)
May 24th, 2010 · No Comments · Bastien, Bastienne, Box 16: German Operas, Colas, David Busch, Dominik Orieschnig, Ernst Wurdinger, Georg Nigl, K50, LOST, Mozart at 12, Mozart at 23, Mozart at 24, Uwe Christian Harrer, Vienna (Summer 1768), Wiener Symphoniker
I really needed this opera today. List night’s series finale of LOST left at least four dozen unanswered questions hanging in the air. And I’m not succumbing to hyperbole here. I just listed in an e-mail to a friend about four dozen questions that received no answer last night – despite the fact that the […]
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Of Highs and Lows (Arias, Vocal Ensembles, Canons, Box 12)
April 14th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 12: Arias Vocal Ensembles Canons Lieder Notturni, Edita Gruberova, Edith Mathis, Francisco Araiza, K431, K505, K512, K513, K528, K538, K539, K541, K578, K582, K583, K612, Kapp245, Leopold Hager, Lilian Sukis, Lucia Popp, Mozart at 22, Mozart at 23, Mozart at 24, Mozart at 25, Mozart at 26, Mozart at 27, Mozart at 30, Mozart at 31, Mozart at 32, Mozart at 33, Mozart at 35, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Munich (1778) - Vienna (March 4 1788), Prague (November 3 1787), Prague (September 1791), Robert Lloyd, Vienna (1783), Vienna (August 1789), Vienna (December 26 1786), Vienna (March 19 1787), Vienna (March 23 1787), Vienna (March 5 1788), Vienna (March 8 1791), Vienna (May 1788), Vienna (October 1789), Walter Berry
Ugh. After the high note (literally) that was yesterday’s CD, this is quite a let down. When I told my wife how I felt about this morning’s music, she said she noticed something about my Mozart blog. She said that I either love or hate the vocal performances. For example, yesterday I raved to the […]
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Of Gold and Flutters (Litanies; Vespers; Oratorios, Box 11)
March 31st, 2010 · No Comments · Baden (June 17 1791), Box 11: Mozart: Litanies; Vespers; Oratorios; Cantatas; Masonic Music, Elizabeth Bainbridge, Gwynne Howell, K165, K339, K341, K618, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kyrie, London Symphony Orchestra, Milan (January 1773), Mozart at 17, Mozart at 24, Mozart at 25, Mozart at 31, Mozart at 35, Munich (1780-1 or 1787), Ryland Davies, Salzburg (1780(, Sir Colin Davis, Vesperae solennes de confessore
Yesterday’s music was out of balance. The terrific music came in first and then the vocals, which distracted me. Today’s music is equal parts vocal and instrumental. The music isn’t so good that my mind goes off on a walkabout, only to be yanked back by the vocals. This time – and I don’t mean […]
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Of Steaks and Sonatas (Missae, Requiem, Organ Sonatas, Box 10)
March 27th, 2010 · No Comments · Box 10: Missae Requiem Organ Sonatas & Solos, Church Sonatas 1-12, Daniel Chorzempa, Deutsche Bachsolisten, Going For the One, Helmut Winschermann, K144, K145, K212, K224, K225, K241, K244, K245, K263, K67, K68, K69, Mozart at 16, Mozart at 18, Mozart at 19, Mozart at 20, Mozart at 24, Organ Sonatas 1-12, Panera Bread, Salzburg (1772), Salzburg (1774), Salzburg (April 1776), Salzburg (December 1776), Salzburg (early 1780), Salzburg (January 1776), Salzburg (July 1775), Yes
This is going to be a great day. A couple of days ago, Elisabeth and I bought two three-pound, two-and-a-half-inch-thick Porterhouse steaks from a local meat market. I kid you not. Six pounds of beef. The biggest, best-looking steaks I’ve ever laid eyes on. I took pictures of them, holding one up to Bradbury, our […]
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You can call me Amadeus. But don't expect me to answer to that.