This is one of Mozart’s biggies, one of the operas I’ve been waiting to hear. It’s called Die Zauberflote, K620, also known (especially to those who don’t speak German) as The Magic Flute. This flute definitely is magical. I like it a lot. Even the Overture is memorable. I know enough about operas now to […]
Entries Tagged as 'Maynard Solomon'
Of Night Queens and Magic Flutes (German Operas, Box 16)
June 1st, 2010 · No Comments · Ann Murray, Armin Ude, Box 16: German Operas, Die Zauberflote, Dritte Dame, Dritter Knabe, Ein altes Weit, Erste Dame, Erster geharnischter Mann, Erster Knabe, Frank Hoher, Friedemann Klos, Hanna Schwarz, Heinz Reeh, K620, K620 (Part I), Konigin der Nacht, Kurt Moll, Luciana Serra, Magic Flute, Magic Flute (Part I), Margaret Price, Maria Venuti, Marie McLaughlin, Maynard Solomon, Michael Diedrich, Mikael Melbye, Monostatos, Mozart at 35, Mozart: A Life, Pamina, Papageno, Peter Schreier, Queen of the Night, Reiner Goldberg, Robert Tear, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Sarastro, Singspiel, Sir Colin Davis, Sprecher, Staatskapelle Dresden, Tamino, Theo Adam, Vienna (September 29 1791), Zweite Dame, Zweiter geharnischter Mann, Zweiter Knabe, Zweiter Sprecher
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Of Angels One and Figaros Three (Box 15, Late Italian Operas)
May 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Angel, Box 15: Late Italian Operas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, David Boreanaz, Figaro, K492 (Part III), Le nozze di Figaro, Maynard Solomon, Mozart at 30, Mozart: A Life, Vienna (April 29 1786)
David Boreanaz is lousy in Bones. But he was perfect in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I wonder why. Is it the writing? The direction? Or did he start believing his press and think he was a better actor than he is? I guess it doesn’t matter. This week, we started watching the Angel […]
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Of Classical Pianists and Shepherd Kings (Box 14, Middle Italian Operas)
May 7th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Agenore, Alessandro, Aminta, Angela Maria Blasi, Box 14: Middle Italian Operas, Briony Shaw, Castrato (definition), Chico Marx, Claes H Ahnsjo, Elisa, Il re pastore, Ingrid Fliter, Iris Vermillion, Jerry Hadley, John Constable, K208, K208 (Part I), Maynard Solomon, Mozart at 19, Mozart's Letters Mozart's Life, Mozart: A Life, Robert Spaethling, Salzburg (Spring 1775), Shoot piano keys, Sir Neville Marriner, Sylvia McNair, Tamiri, Tommaso Consoli
Famed Classical pianist Ingrid Fliter was in town last night. She performed at St. Cecilia Music Center. She was terrific, very technically proficient. Her choices showcased her talent well: Bach, Beethoven, and Schumann. I wasn’t particularly moved, though. I don’t know why. The concert seemed to lack magic. Maybe it was me. Or the sparse […]
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Of Buffy and Edita (Early Italian Operas, Box 13)
April 23rd, 2010 · No Comments · Agnes Baltsa, Alois Aigner, Arbate, Arleen Auger, Aspasia, Box 13: Early Italian Operas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Christine Weidinger, Edita Gruberova, Farnace, Ileana Cotrubas, Ismene, K87, Leopold Hager, Live Theatre, Marzio, Maynard Solomon, Milan (December 1770), Mitridate, Mitridate re di Ponto, Mitridate re di Ponto (Act I), Mozart at 14, Mozart: A Life, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg, Sifare, Spike, Werner Hollweg
I have Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 5, on in the background. I’m not watching it, though. That would be silly. Okay. You caught me. I’m watching it. Look, I like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, all right? Is that so wrong? To be honest, I think it’s one of the most brilliant TV series ever […]
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Of Delightful Sundays and Dangerous Sinfonias (Violin & Wind Concertos, Box 5)
January 31st, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Box 5: Violin & Wind Concertos, Howard Shelley, Iona Brown, K363/320d, KApp. 104/320e, KApp. 56/K315f, Maynard Solomon, Mozart: A Life, Nobuko Imai, Philip WIlby, Piano & Orchestra in D, Sinfonia (definition), Sinfonia Concertante (definition), Sinfonia Concertante in A, Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, Stephen Orton
Today’s selections are terrific. I especially like Concerto for Violin, Piano and Orchestra in D, K.App.56, Movement 1 – Allegro. I love hearing all of those instruments (violin, piano, and horns) in one piece, given nearly equal space and weight. The exchanges between the violin and the piano are breathtaking. The music on today’s CD […]
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Happy Birthday, Wolfgang! (Piano Concertos, Box 4)
January 27th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Alfred Brendel, K537, K595, Maynard Solomon, Mozart at 32, Mozart at 35, Mozart's Birthday, Mozart: A Life, Piano Concert No 26 in D "Coronation", Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat, Sir Neville Marriner, Vienna (February 24 1788), Vienna (January 5 1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756, which means today is his 254th birthday. Happy birthday, Wolfgang! Today’s CD – the last of the 12 in the Piano Concertos box – is fantastic. Written when Mozart was 32 and 35, respectively, today’s compositions (Piano Concerto No. 26 in D and Piano Concerto No. […]
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Of Attentitive Food Sellers and Pristine Live Recordings (Piano Concertos, Box 4)
January 26th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Alfred Brendel, Arthur Rubinstein, Box 4: Piano Concertos, Chopin, Conrad Wilson, K491, K503, Live Recording, Marcia Davenport, Maynard Solomon, Mozart at 30, Mozart: A Life, Notes on Mozart, Panera Bread, Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, Piano Concerto No. 25 in C, Saddest Key of All, Sir Neville Marriner, Vienna (December 4 1786), Vienna (March 24 1786)
Even though the first of today’s musical selections (Piano Concerto No. 24 in C) is in a minor key – thankfully not D minor, the saddest key of all – it is not ponderous or heavy. It does not drag on my mind, even though it does have a full, meaty sound – like Chopin […]
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Of Sullivan’s Travels and Mozart’s Journeys (Piano Concertos, Box 4)
January 20th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Alfred Brendel, Box 4: Piano Concertos, Jeunehomme (translated), Joel McCrae, K271, K386, K414, Maynard Solomon, Mozart at 21, Mozart at 22, Mozart at 26, Mozart's Letters Mozart's Life, Mozart: A Life, Piano Concerto No. 12 in A, Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat "Jeunehomme", Preston Sturges, Robert Spaethling, Rondo in A, Sir Neville Marriner, Sullivan's Travels, Veronica Lake
We saw a terrific movie last night, Sullivan’s Travels, the 1941 classic starring Joel McCrae and Veronica Lake. This film was a first for me. It was the first Preston Sturges (writer and director) movie I’ve seen, the first Veronica Lake movie I’ve seen, and the first Joel McCrae movie I’ve seen. I was surprised […]
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You can call me Amadeus. But don't expect me to answer to that.