Classical Music

There's nothing wrong with Spring! Same chamber orchestra as above, but a different soloist. A very passionate performance and she couldn't not use a tiny bit of vibrato -- to wonderful effect!

If you love Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" you'll love this terrific performance.

For those who may not know, Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" is a collection of four mini-concerti, each of which corresponds to a Season of the Year and consists of three movements, generally Allegro-Largo-Allegro, with some differences here and there.

 
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I played the French Horn; 3rd grade through Jr. High. I was actually in 'orchestra' in the high school for the last couple of years (8th and 9th grade). Accordingly, I have a love of orchestras and classical music. But I also enjoy lots of Rock and Roll, Folk Music, and a few other songs... I generally don't enjoy Country music or Jazz. With a few exceptions in each type.
 

Timewise 60+ said:
I played the French Horn; 3rd grade through Jr. High. I was actually in 'orchestra' in the high school for the last couple of years (8th and 9th grade). Accordingly, I have a love of orchestras and classical music. But I also enjoy lots of Rock and Roll, Folk Music, and a few other songs... I generally don't enjoy Country music or Jazz. With a few exceptions in each type.
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I too played French horn in 1968, but only for a few months, switching to trombone. I later went to euphonium (unofficially) in high school but played euph throughout most of my army career, and still play today. I found I can't not play.
 
ChiroDoc said:
Are euphonium auditions relatively common? Certainly they are for trombone, including perhaps bass trombone, and obviously tuba. But is there a euphonium chairimost orchestras? Oh, wait, there probably is for brass bands or choirs. Might a euphonium playerbeexpectedtodoubleontromboneortubaasagniniartlacisumylraes'nosyM
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I think I said this before: I'm not sure if opera counts, but I saw the Met's broadcast of Tosca yesterday at our local theater. I loved it, but I was a bit too focused on the subtitles and I don't think I fully appreciated the actual music. Perhaps if I see these operas more than once I can relax a bit and focus on the music as well as the plot.
 
KSav said:
I think I said this before: I'm not sure if opera counts, but I saw the Met's broadcast of Tosca yesterday at our local theater. I loved it, but I was a bit too focused on the subtitles and I don't think I fully appreciated the actual music. Perhaps if I see these operas more than once I can relax a bit and focus on the music as well as the plot.
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I've participated in quite a few opera performances, but as a musician in the pit. Half the time I didn't know exactly what they were singing, but I sure knew what was going on.

If you're interested you might try studying the stories and librettos before the show, then you'll be able to concentrate on the music and singing, while still knowing what's going on. Just a thought.
 
ChiroDoc said:
I've participated in quite a few opera performances, but as a musician in the pit. Half the time I didn't know exactly what they were singing, but I sure knew what was going on.

If you're interested you might try studying the stories and librettos before the show, then you'll be able to concentrate on the music and singing, while still knowing what's going on. Just a thought.
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Thanks, @ChiroDoc! I have indeed looked up the synopses before the performances, and skimmed the librettos, which has helped a lot. When I've watched them at home (Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, so far, but I prefer to watch the Met performances) I printed out the librettos so I could follow along, but that required a lot of paper and toner.

Perhaps before the next one I will spend more time absorbing the story.

I was actually glad that I didn't have time to skim the Tosca Act II synopsis because the plot caught me totally off guard, which was kind of nice.
 
ChiroDoc said:
Sounds like you're a great fan, KSav. I've never taken the opportunity to see one of the Met's feeds to local theaters, but I know a couple of people who do. I bet it's a very enjoyable experience.
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It really is; the big screen is so much more impressive than streaming something at home.

I'd love to get all dressed up and see a live opera, although I doubt I'll ever get to the Met.
 
KSav said:
It really is; the big screen is so much more impressive than streaming something at home.

I'd love to get all dressed up and see a live opera, although I doubt I'll ever get to the Met.
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Heh. I imagine that the closest pro opera company near to you would be the San Francisco Opera. A friend of mine just retired as principal percussionist of that organization after 40 years. If you can stand SF, the opera company is first rate.
 
KSav said:
I think I said this before: I'm not sure if opera counts, but I saw the Met's broadcast of Tosca yesterday at our local theater. I loved it, but I was a bit too focused on the subtitles and I don't think I fully appreciated the actual music. Perhaps if I see these operas more than once I can relax a bit and focus on the music as well as the plot.
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Puccini's Tosca is the opera that brought me to the whole genre. I watched it on DVD with Sherrill Milnes as Scarpia and was captivated. Till this day I like the dark and fierce Scarpia much more than the sweetish painter Cavaradossi. And in fact "Tosca" is a Scarpia opera. It even begins and ends with the Scarpia motif. And watch the finale of the first act.

 
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timtam said:
Stalin was so pleased that he sent Yudina 20,000 rubles as a token of his appreciation. And maybe the most incredible, Yudina allegedly wrote back to Stalin, thanking him and stating that she had donated the money to her church and was praying for his forgiveness for his sins against the people :oops:
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Wow; that was very brave of her!
 
Mizmo said:
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Beautiful piece. Many don't know that Franz Liszt was the Elvis Presley of his day (1811-1886). He was the first piano virtuoso to introduce the notion of solo piano recitals and concerts. He came into such demand in Europe, and became so wildly popular that women swooned at his performances, and he was in danger of being set upon by avaricious fans to touch him, or to get a sample of his clothing or hair. Pretty wild, huh??
 
ChiroDoc said:
Beautiful piece. Many don't know that Franz Liszt was the Elvis Presley of his day (1811-1886). He was the first piano virtuoso to introduce the notion of solo piano recitals and concerts. He came into such demand in Europe, and became so wildly popular that women swooned at his performances, and he was in danger of being set upon by avaricious fans to touch him, or to get a sample of his clothing or hair. Pretty wild, huh??
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Interesting. I would've thought that the child prodigy Mozart, or even Beethoven would've been the first to perform a "piano recital". Not so, says this article. Liszt even rearranged audience chairs and sat with them to chat. He also gave short talks in between pieces. A veritable one-man-band.

Liszt
 
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