today’s birthday: Paul Gauguin (1848)

Paul Gauguin (1848)

First a sailor and then a successful stockbroker in Paris, Gauguin took up painting on weekends when he was in his mid-20s. Eventually, with the encouragement of Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro, he devoted himself completely to art, quitting his job and separating from his wife and five children. Today, he is recognized as a highly influential founding father of modern art whose bold experiments with color led directly to the Synthetist style. What did Gauguin and Van Gogh have in common? More… Discuss

Felix Mendelssohn-Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25: great compositions/performances

Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor,  Op. 25:

1. Molto allegro con fuoco in G minor
2. Andante in E major
3. Presto—Molto allegro e vivace in G major

Kanaal van viool7

Rudolf Serkin piano-Philadelphia Orchestra,
Eugene Ormandy: conductor-1959
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mendelssohn‘s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor (op. 25) was written in 1830–31, around the same time as his fourth symphony (“Italian”), and premiered in Munich in October 1831. This concerto was composed during a travel in Italy after the composer met a pianist in Munich.

He had already written a piano concerto in A minor with string accompaniment (1822) and two concertos with two pianos (1823–24).

Structure

The three connected movements use several relatively new formal techniques in their brief span — for example, the piano enters very soon after the opening of the first movement, with little of an orchestral tutti to contrast with.^[1] The concerto quickly obtained popularity, and contains many sections of improvisation, one of Mendelssohn’s specialities; it is scored for strings, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, and timpani.

1. Molto allegro con fuoco in G minor
2. Andante in E major
3. Presto—Molto allegro e vivace in G major

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this day in the yesteryear: The Munich Massacre (1972)

The Munich Massacre (1972)

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Palestinian terrorists from the group Black September infiltrated the Olympic Village and took a number of members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage. Two of the athletes were killed during the initial assault, and nine others lost their lives in the course of a failed rescue attempt, during which a German police officer and five of the eight kidnappers were killed as well. What went wrong during the rescue attempt at Fürstenfeldbruck airbase? More… Discuss

GREAT COMPOSITIONS/PERFORMANCES: Boléro – Maurice Ravel – Münchner Philharmoniker – Sergiu Celibidache

[youtube.com/watch?v=rGy2BB87gug]

Boléro – Maurice Ravel – Münchner Philharmoniker – Sergiu Celibidache

Sergiu Celibidache dirigiert die Münchner Philharmoniker; Maurice Ravel: Boléro

Inhaltsangabe der TV-Zeitschrift “Gong“:
Anläßlich des Geburtstages von Sergiu Celibidache am 28. Juni zeigt das ZDF eine Aufzeichnung des glanzvollen Interpretation von Maurice Ravels “Bolero” von 1983.

(VHS-Mitschnitt, ZDF, 1987)

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Great Compositions/Performances: Beethoven Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique” Live – Valentina Lisitsa

Great Compositions/Performances: Beethoven Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op. 13 “Pathétique” Live – Lisitsa

Special for my German fans! List of info for upcoming concerts in Deutschland in the next couple of weeks below . Munchen (Mar24), Stuttgart(Mar27), Heidelberg(Apr 7)
Do come ! For Beethoven and more :-)))
http://www.muenchenmusik.de/veranstal…
http://www.sks-russ.de/veranstaltunge…
http://heidelberger-fruehling.de/cont…

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• Valentina Lisitsa: Beethoven Sonata in F minor, No.23, Op 57 “Appassionata”
• Awesome Piano – Lisitsa Valentina- Moonlight Sonata, Movement 3
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ARTICLE: THE MAYPOLE

The Maypole

The maypole is the center of activity during the celebration of May Day. The tall wooden pole is often decorated with flowers, greenery, and streamers. Dancers hold the loose ends of the streamers and weave intricate patterns as they encircle the pole and pass each other in dance. May Day festivities also include a May king and queen and people carrying garlands. The maypole probably originated in ancient fertility rites, but its symbolism has long been debated. What are some interpretations? More…Discuss

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Fabulous Performers: Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody No.6, Martha Argerich 1966

A turbulent interpretation of one of Liszt’s many rhapsodies. Interesting to note her getting carried away in the final (and maniacal!) octaves nearing the end. Looks like even Martha can get the better of Martha…

Filmed in Munich, 1966.

 

News: TROVE OF NAZI-LOOTED ART FOUND IN MUNCH MAN’S APARTMENT

Trove of Nazi-Looted Art Found in Munch Man’s Apartment

A cache of 1,500 works of art looted by the Nazis has been found in the apartment of a Munich, Germany, recluse being investigated for tax evasion. The man in question is the son of an art dealer who worked hand in hand with the Nazis during World War II. Valued at about one billion euros ($1.35 billion), this may well be one of the largest recoveries of Nazi-looted art, yet it represents only a small fraction of what was taken. Authorities discovered the trove in 2011, but news of the find is only emerging now. More… Discuss

 

Bernstein Beethoven Leonore Overture Nº3

Leonore Overture Nº 3 in C major, Op. 72b

The Amnesty International Concert

Orchestra: Bavarian Broadcast Symphony Orchestra
Venue: Munich, Germany.
Date: 17/10/1976

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Leonard Bernstein (1918 – 1990)

 

Arrau – Bernstein Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58.

“The Amnesty International Concert”

Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Piano Soloist: Claudio Arrau
Orchestra: Bavarian Broadcast Symphony Orchestra
Venue: Munich, Germany. 
Date: 17/10/1976

I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante con moto
III. Rondo. Vivace

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Claudio Arrau (1903 – 1991)
Leonard Bernstein (1919 – 1990)

 

This Day in History: First Oktoberfest Held in Munich, Germany (1810)

First Oktoberfest Held in Munich, Germany (1810)

The first Oktoberfest was held as a horse race celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Saxony-Hildburghausen. In the years that followed, the race was combined with the state agricultural fair, and food and drink were offered. Since that time the 16-day festival has become, above all else, a celebration of German beer, drawing more than five million attendees annually. How many millions of liters of beer did Oktoberfest attendees consume in 2007? More… Discuss

Johann Sebastian Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) with Karl Richter

Karl Richter performs Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565) on the Organ of the Basilika in Ottobeuren

Ottobeuren Abbey has one of the richest music programs in Bavaria, with concerts every Saturday. Most concerts feature one or more of the Abbey’s famous organs. The old organ, the masterpiece of French organbuilder Karl Joseph Riepp (1710–75), is actually a double organ; it is one of the most treasured historic organs in Europe. It was the main instrument for 200 years, until 1957 when a third organ was added by G. F. Steinmeyer & Co, renovated and augmented in 2002 by Johannes Klais, making 100 stops available on five manuals (or keyboards).
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottobeuren_Abbey)

Karl Richter (15 October 1926 – 15 February 1981) was a German conductor, organist, and harpsichordist. He was born in Plauen and studied first in Dresden, where he was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor and later in Leipzig, where he received his degree in 1949. He studied with Günther Ramin, Carl Straube and Rudolf Mauersberger. In the same year, he became organist at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach once held the position as Musical Director. In 1951, he moved to Munich, where he taught at the conservatory and was cantor and organist at St. Mark’s Church. He also conducted the Münchener Bach-Chor starting in 1954 and the Münchener Bach-Orchester. In the 1960s and 1970s, he did a great deal of recording and undertook tours to Japan, the United States, Canada, Latin-America, Eastern Europe including the Soviet Union.

He conducted a wide range of music (sacred music from Heinrich Schütz to Max Reger, as well as the symphonic and concerto repertoire of the Classical and Romantic period, including Bruckner symphonies) but is best remembered today for his interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach‘s and Händel‘s music. Karl Richter avoided the fluctuations in tempo that were then characteristic of the prevailing Romantic manner of conducting Bach, but did not incorporate period instruments and performing techniques into his performances, innovations in Baroque performance practice which had not yet fully blossomed during Richter’s career.

As well as a conductor, Karl Richter is also remembered as an excellent organist. His performances of Bach’s organ pieces are known for their imposing registrations and favorable pace.

While staying in a hotel in Munich in 1981, Karl Richter died from a heart attack. He was buried in the Enzenbühl cemetery in Zurich 8 days later.

Although both of them are of German heritage, Karl Richter has no family relationship with the renowned Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Richter_(conductor)

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