Joshua Bell: Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, op 47 – 24.11.11

Joshua Bell in Jean Sibelius‘ Violin Concerto in D minor, op 47 with Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester. Oslo konserthus, 24.11.11
Concertmaster: Elise Båtnes
Conductor: Vasily Petrenko
All rights to NRK

1. Allegro moderato
2. Adagio di molto
3. Allegro, ma non tanto

 

Schubert – 4 Impromptus, D. 899 / Op. 90 (Maria João Pires)

00:00 – No. 1 in C minor, Allegro molto moderato
 11:05  – No. 2 in E-flat major, Allegro
 15:50 –  No. 3 in G-flat major, Andante
 21:40 –  No. 4 in A-flat major, Allegretto

Piano:  Maria João Pires, 1996
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Franz Schubert‘s Impromptus are a series of eight pieces for solo piano composed in 1827. They were published in two sets of four impromptus each: the first set was published in the composer’s lifetime as Op. 90, and the second set was published posthumously as Op. posth. 142. They are now catalogued as D. 899 and D. 935 respectively. They are considered to be among the most important examples of this popular early 19th-century genre.^[1]

Three other unnamed piano compositions (D. 946), written in May 1828, a few months before the composer’s death, are alternatively indicated as Impromptus orKlavierstücke (“piano pieces”).

The Impromptus are often considered companion pieces to the Six moments musicaux, and they are often recorded and published together.

It has been said that Schubert was deeply influenced in writing these pieces by the Impromptus, Op. 7 (1822) of Jan Václav Voříšek and by the music of Voříšek’s teacherVáclav Tomášek.^[2][3]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>More HERE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Mikhail Pletnev & Soloists Ensemble play Glinka: Grand Sextet in E flat major for piano, string quartet and double bass

Mikhail Pletnev & Soloists Ensemble play Glinka Grand Sextet in E flat major for piano, string quartet and double bass.  Recording in 1993 by Olympia.
Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Alexei Bruni, violin
Mikhail Moshkunov, violin
Andrei Kevorkov, viola
Erik Pozdeev, cello
Nikolai Gorbunov, double bass
I. Allegro
II. Andante – (attacca). 
III. Finale. Allegro con spirito

George Gershwin – An American in Paris

This was performed in 1959 by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

An American in Paris is a symphonic tone poem by the American composer George Gershwin, written in 1928. Inspired by the time Gershwin had spent in Paris, it evokes the sights and energy of the French capital in the 1920s. It is one of Gershwin’s best-known compositions.
Gershwin composed the piece on commission from the New York Philharmonic. He also did the orchestration (he did not orchestrate his musicals). Gershwin scored An American in Paris for the standard instruments of the symphony orchestra plus celesta, saxophones, and automobile horns. Gershwin brought back some Parisian taxi horns for the New York premiere of the composition, which took place on December 13, 1928 in Carnegie Hall, with Walter Damrosch conducting the New York Philharmonic.
Gershwin collaborated on the original program notes with the critic and composer Deems Taylor, noting that: “My purpose here is to portray the impression of an American visitor in Paris as he strolls about the city and listens to various street noises and absorbs the French atmosphere.” When the tone poem moves into the blues, “our American friend … has succumbed to a spasm of homesickness.” But, “nostalgia is not a fatal disease.” The American visitor “once again is an alert spectator of Parisian life” and “the street noises and French atmosphere are triumphant.”

 

J S Bach, Sicilienne BWV 1031 Valentina Lisitsa

 

“Valentina Lisitsa plays Liszt”. Decca LP is available for preorder now.

 

Quotation: William Makepeace Thackeray

Are not there little chapters in everybody’s life, that seem to be nothing, and yet affect all the rest of the history?

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) Discuss

 

Today’s Birthday: CHARLTON HESTON (1923?)

Charlton Heston (1923?)

An iconic Hollywood leading man and six-term president of the Screen Actors Guild, Heston distinguished himself as an actor playing larger-than-life heroes in films like The Ten Commandments, Planet of the Apes, El Cid, and Ben-Hur. The strapping performer also used his sonorous voice to speak out against racism and other political issues of his day. A staunch opponent of gun control, he made what phrase famous at a 2000 National Rifle Association convention? More… Discuss

 

This Day in the Yesteryear: T. A. GILLESPIE COMPANY SHELL LOADING PLANT EXPLOSION (1918)

T. A. Gillespie Company Shell Loading Plant Explosion (1918)

On the night of October 4, 1918, an explosion rocked the T.A. Gillespie Company’s ammunition plant in Sayreville, New Jersey, one of the largest such plants in the world at the time. The blast triggered a series of explosions, which continued for three days, killing 100 people. Sayreville and nearby South Amboy and Perth Amboy were evacuated, displacing about 62,000 people who thus became more vulnerable to the catastrophic flu epidemic of 1918. What remnant of the accident was found in 2007? More… Discuss

 

THE SNOWY OWL

Easily recognized by its snow-white plumage, the snowy owl is most commonly found in the Arctic tundra but is sometimes seen in Europe, Asia, and North America. It is even the official bird of Quebec. The large owl has broad wings, a round head, and may have some dark markings. After snowy owl eggs hatch, both parents feed and protect their young. Their alarm call is almost like a bark, and they often clap their beaks when threatened. What popular book series features a snowy owl? More… Discuss

 

SHOOTER OPENS FIRE OUTSIDE US CAPITOL

The United States Capitol was briefly locked down and Congress members inside instructed to shelter in place yesterday when shots were fired outside the building. It appears that a female driver struck security barricades near the White House, possibly in an attempt to ram through them, then fled the scene, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended with gunfire outside the Capitol. A number of people were hurt, including at least one law enforcement officer injured in a crash during the chase. The suspect was shot and possibly killed by police. A 1-year-old child in the car was reportedly unharmed. More…Discuss

 

Visit The Town of Fagaras…See for yourself!

Visit This Site 

Four Seasons ~ Vivaldi

For those who want to listen to specific movements

Spring 0:00

Summer 10:31

Autumn 20:59

Winter 32:48 
I know it’s kind of pointless to post this but I like this video and this is kind of like a bookmark for me to know where each movement is.

Visit for more classical music 

Tchaikovsky : Symphony No.2 in C minor, Op.17 “Little Russian”

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 2 “Little Russian“Royal Concertgebouw OrchestraBernard Haitink

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: 

 

 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky‘s Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 was composed in 1872. One of Tchaikovsky’s joyful compositions, it was successful right from its premiere and also won the favor of the group of nationalistic Russian composers known as “The Five“, led by Mily Balakirev. Because Tchaikovsky used three Ukrainian folk songs to great effect in this work, it was nicknamed the “Little Russian” (Russian: Малороссийская, Malorossiyskaya) by Nikolay Kashkin, a friend of the composer as well as a well-known musical critic of Moscow.^[1] Ukraine was at that time frequently called “Little Russia“.

1. Andante sostenuto — Allegro vivo (C minor).

   A solo horn playing a Ukrainian variant of “Down by Mother Volga” sets the atmosphere for this movement. Tchaikovsky reintroduces this song in the development section, and the horn sings it once more at the movement’s conclusion. The rather vigorous second subject utilises a melody which would also be used subsequently by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in his Russian Easter Festival Overture. The end of the exposition, in the relative E-flat major, leads straight into the development, in which material from both themes is heard. A long pedal note leads back to the second subject. Unusually, Tchaikovsky does not repeat the first subject theme in its entirety in this section, as is conventional, but instead uses it solely for the coda.

2. Andantino marziale, quasi moderato (E-flat major).

   This movement was originally a bridal march Tchaikovsky wrote for his unpublished opera Undine. He quotes the folk song “Spin, O My Spinner” in the central section.

3. Scherzo. Allegro molto vivace (C minor).

   Fleet and scampering, this movement does not quote an actual folk song but sounds folk song-like in its overall character. It takes the form of a da capo scherzo and trio with a coda.

4. Finale. Moderato assai — Allegro vivo (C major).

   After a brief but expansive fanfare, Tchaikovsky quotes the folk song “The Crane”, subjecting it to an increasingly intricate and colorful variations for orchestra. A more lyrical theme from the strings provides contrast before the symphony ends in a rousing C major conclusion.

Despite its initial success, Tchaikovsky was not satisfied with the symphony.

Richard Strauss – Tod und Verklärung, Op.24

Richard Strauss – Tod und Verklärung, Op.24

“Tod und Verklärung” (Death and Transfiguration), Op. 24, is a tone poem for large orchestra by Richard Strauss. Strauss began composition in the late summer of 1888 and completed the work on November 18, 1889. The work is dedicated to the composer’s friend Friedrich Rosch.
Unusual for a composer of 25 years of age, the music depicts the death of an artist. At Strauss’s request, this was described in a poem by the composer’s friend Alexander Ritter as an interpretation of Death and Transfiguration, after it was composed. As the man lies dying, thoughts of his life pass through his head: his childhood innocence, the struggles of his manhood, the attainment of his worldly goals; and at the end, he receives the longed-for transfiguration “from the infinite reaches of heaven”.
There are four parts (with Ritter’s poetic thoughts condensed):
1. Largo (The sick man, near death)
2. Allegro molto agitato (The battle between life and death offers no respite to the man)
3. Meno mosso (The dying man’s life passes before him)
4. Moderato (The sought-after transfiguration)

Conductor: David Zinman & Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
Painting: “Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer” by Caspar Friedrich

 

 

Cimarosa: “Il Matrimonio segreto” – Ouverture (Daniel Barenboim)

Cimarosa: “Il Matrimonio segreto” – Ouverture (Daniel Barenboim)

The Secret Marriage is an opera buffa in two acts written by Domenico Cimarosa between the end of 1791 and beginning of 1792 with a libretto by Giovanni Bertati .
Was performed for the first time February 7, 1792 at the Burgtheater in Vienna.

It was the only work of history that , at the behest of the Habsburg emperor of the time ( ie Leopold II ) , was completely replicated in the same evening of the “first ” .

Visit the blog http://operaomniablog.blogspot.com/ , in which the work is analyzed piece by piece . The site also presents other works , being devoted entirely to the world of opera .
I propose a third version of this song which is in addition to those which I have already posted the overture , and of course the aim is to foster the musical competence of users through the comparison between the various versions of individual songs .

D. Fischer- Dieskau ( Baritone) : Geronimo ;
Julia Varady (Soprano) : Elisetta ;
Augér Arleen (Soprano) : Carolina;
Julia Hamari ( mezzo-soprano ) : Fidalma ;
Alberto Rinaldi ( Baritone) : Earl Robinson ;
Ryland Davies ( tenor): Pauline .

Daniel Barenboim conducts here Inglese Chamber orchestra.
I let you discover the plot!  >>>>>>HERE<<<<<<

 

J.S. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in re-major BWV 1050

Johann Sebastian Bach ( Eisenach , Thuringia , March 21 . / March 31, 1685 – Leipzig , July 28, 1750 ) was an organist , harpsichordist and composer of Baroque music German member of a family of musicians most extraordinary of history, with more than 35 famous composers and many outstanding performers .
His reputation as an organist and harpsichordist was legendary , famed throughout Europe. Apart from the organ and harpsichord , also played the violin and the viola da gamba as well as being the first great improviser renowned music .
His prolific work is considered the pinnacle of Baroque music . He was distinguished for his intellectual depth , technical perfection and artistic beauty, and also for the synthesis of various international styles of his time and of the past and unparalleled extension . Bach is considered the last great master of the art of counterpoint, which is the source of inspiration and influence to later composers and musicians from Mozart through Schoenberg , until today.

 

Quotation: Jerome K. Jerome about being thoroughly miserable

There is a good deal of satisfaction about being thoroughly miserable; but nobody likes a fit of the blues.

Jerome K. Jerome (1859-1927) Discuss

 

This Day in the Yesteryear: ROY HORN OF SIEGFRIED & ROY MAULED BY TIGER (2003)

Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy Mauled by Tiger (2003)

After meeting on a cruise ship in 1959, illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher and exotic animal enthusiast Roy Horn formed a magic act and incorporated exotic animals—most famously big cats—into their shows. They performed thousands of times without major incident until 10 years ago—coincidentally Horn’s 59th birthday. It was then that Horn was bitten on the neck by a seven-year-old male tiger named Montecore during a performance. What did Horn reportedly say before being taken to the hospital? More… Discuss

 

SIX SECONDS TO MINTY FRESHNESS

Would you like to have a few spare minutes in themorning? If so, the new Blizzident toothbrush might be right for you. Instead of spending minutes brushing your teeth, you could have perfectly clean pearly whites in seconds. The key, apparently, is brushing all the teeth at once. This is accomplished using a custom-made brush created to precisely fit the user’s teeth. One simply bites down on and grinds against the Blizzident, and in six seconds the device’s hundreds of bristles supposedly scrub the teeth, gum line, and interdental spaces clean. According to its makers, six seconds of Blizzident use is equivalent to three minutes of conventional brushing.More… Discuss

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY: JAMES ALFRED WIGHT, AKA JAMES HERRIOT (1916)

James Alfred Wight, AKA James Herriot (1916)

After working for many years as a veterinary surgeon in rural England, Wight was persuaded by his wife to write down his collection of anecdotes. His humorous, fictionalized reminiscences were published under the pen name James Herriot in If Only They Could Talk (1970) and It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet(1972), issued in the US as the single and massively successful volume All Creatures Great and Small. Why did Wight feel the need to write under a pseudonym? More… Discuss