Category Archives: Classical Music

July 16, 1989

Posted on July 16, 2019 by

“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 →

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The Furtwängler Conumdrum

Posted on February 23, 2014 by

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 →

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Van Cliburn dead at age 78

Posted on February 28, 2013 by

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 →

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Steve Reich and the politically correct censors

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

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 →

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Karajan at 100: an appreciation

Posted on April 5, 2008 by

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 →

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Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007)

Posted on September 6, 2007 by

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 →

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On The End of WTMI 93.1 Classical FM in Miami

Posted on December 31, 2001 by

Miami’s beloved WTMI 93.1 Classical FM goes… techno-dance?! Yes. I heard it with my own ears. The last classical music work broadcast on 93.1 was Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: a great choice to close 30 years (less the Cox years) of … Continue reading →

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