Martha Argerich, who else?
April 17, 2016
Ginastera: ‘Danza del gaucho matrero’ from ‘Danzas Argentinas’
Martha Argerich, who else?
Music criticism books (3): George Bernard Shaw
Before he became a celebrated playwright and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, George Bernard Shaw was a brilliant music critic in London for various publications.
It’s wonderful writing in every way, still of compelling interest and, strange to say of music criticism perhaps, very entertaining and often hilarious.
“I could make deaf stockbrokers read my two pages on music,” Shaw once boasted of his music columns and you can believe him after reading some.
Above you see some of my collection of his musical writings.
The first photo shows an almost complete edition of his musical reviews and essays. He started writing under a pseudonym, Corno di Bassetto.
The second photo is of a paperback selection of his music criticism.
The third and fourth photo are of an edition of some of his critical essays, which includes his brilliant commentary on Wagner’s “Ring” cycle called “The Perfect Wagnerite,” absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in the tetralogy. (I have often wished more directors would read it.)
The last two photos are random samples of the writing, which speaks for itself. Please enjoy responsibly.
As always, click on the photos for larger views.
Yuja Wang’s program revealed
8 p.m. May 3 at Soka Performing Arts Center:
BRAHMS: Ballades, Op. 10, Nos. 1-2
SCHUMANN: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
BEETHOVEN: Piano Sonata No. 29, Hammerklavier
Long Beach Opera: ‘La Voix Humaine’
Review: Long Beach Opera revives Poulenc’s ‘La Voix Humaine.’ The Orange County Register, April 10, 2016.
Pacific Symphony revives Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 2
Review: St.Clair and the Pacific Symphony revive Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 2. The Orange County Register, April 9, 2016.
This weekend’s concerts
Some highlights …
Classical concerts this weekend: Charles Ives and more. The Orange County Register, April 8, 2016.
Susanna Malkki named principal guest conductor of L.A. Phil
Los Angeles Philharmonic names Susanna Mälkki principal guest conductor. The Orange County Register, April 6, 2016.
Albers and Weiss
Review: Julie Albers, Orion Weiss find gold in the seldom heard. The Orange County Register, April 4, 2016.
Two orchestras give the Musco Center a test run
Review: Musco Center gets a tryout in concert hall configuration. The Orange County Register, April 3, 2016.
More old vinyl (Monteux)
I began collecting the recordings of the French conductor Pierre Monteux more than 30 years ago, first on vinyl then on CD. I have almost everything he did by now.
Monteux was a wonderful conductor, never showy or exaggerated but always crisp, vital and vibrant, even in his late recordings. (The Mozart symphony recordings above were made when he was 88.) Most or all of his stereo recordings were made in his 80s, in fact, as he turned 80 in 1955. (Stravinsky wrote his “Greeting Prelude” as a birthday gift to Monteux that year.)
Click on the photos for larger views of some of my Monteux record labels.
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