On this date in the year of our Lord 1770, the namesake of this blog was born: Ludwig van Beethoven, the “mighty thunderer.” Quite possibly the greatest musical genius that ever lived, Beethoven changed the course of Western music with … Continue reading
Thirty-six years ago, a mere lad of 25, I was already a veteran classical music and jazz fanatic. I bought LPs, attended classical concerts with the Miami Philharmonic, recitals by some pretty great pianists, operas, and heard great jazz at … Continue reading
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
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra will broadcast a live online performance of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Riccardo Chailly. The concert, live from Leipzig, It will begin around 5 AM EST, 2 AM PST on Sunday, September 8. Gewandhaus Orchestra to … Continue reading
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
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
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
