Category Archives: Classical Music

I’m old-fashioned (UPDATED)

The Miami City Ballet Company performed a Jerome Robbins ballet in the days when they were dancing live, before the Covid mess. I love Robbins, but this one was one of the most rewarding and sweet pieces of his I … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

December 16, 1770

Today we celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven’s semiquincentennial. Born 250 years ago, on December 16, 1770, the namesake of this blog, the “mighty thunderer,” was quite possibly the greatest musical genius that ever lived. He changed the course of Western music. … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | 1 Comment

Beethoven 250 | A sampler of his great works

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

December 16, 1770

The man that was born on this date in the year of our Lord 1770, the namesake of this blog, Ludwig van Beethoven, the “mighty thunderer,” quite possibly the greatest musical genius that ever lived, changed the course of Western … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

July 16, 1989

“Karajan ist tot.” Thirty years ago today, one of the musicians largely responsible my love of classical music — symphonic music and opera, in particular — died. Herbert von Karajan is the greatest conductor of the twentieth century, unmatched in … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music, Recordings | Leave a comment

The Furtwängler Conumdrum

The very talented young conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic  Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel, is in a bit of hot water. His silence on the topic of the popular uprising against the socialist government of Nicolas Maduro in his home country … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

Van Cliburn dead at age 78

The very first classical music record I purchased, probably in 1972 or 1973, was “Chopin’s Greatest Hits,” played by Van Cliburn. I purchased it as much for mine, as for my mother the piano teacher’s, enjoyment. That little gem, containing … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

Steve Reich and the politically correct censors

Over thirty years ago I purchased a 2 LP sampler from the ECM label that had strange and beautiful music on it. The ECM label specialized in European and avant garde Jazz. The album had a little gem on it … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

Karajan at 100: an appreciation

I’ve been lucky to be around music all my life. My mother, a piano teacher, taught me about the greatness of the piano masters: Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Mozart. Liszt. I heard the works of these great composers over many … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music, Opera | Leave a comment

Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007)

I had come home from school one day in 1973 and as was my habit even at that young age, I turned on the late, lamented WTMI, our classical station here in Miami, to listen to the afternoon program with … Continue reading

Posted in Classical Music, Opera | Leave a comment