Sunday, March 1, 2009

First day of March

There are not many popular musicians born on the 1st of March. The most famous one is Chopin.

1810 - Frederic Chopin, Polish composer in Zelazowa.

1954 - Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, American mezzo-soprano in San Francisco. Below are 2 recommended works from the NPR Listener's Encyclopedia to Classical Music.

Recommended 1

Handel's arias.

Recommended 2
Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.


For First Performance, there are two popular pieces.

1795 - Symphony No.103 (Drum roll) by Haydn in King's Theatre, London.

Recommended

This is on the Philips Duo label by the Concertgebouw conducted by Sir Colin Davies. Rated 4 stars, awarded Rosette and Key Recording by Penguin Guide. "The excellence of the playing is matched by Philips's best recording quality ........" Also recommended by Gramophone Guide. "A superb achievement."

1942 - Symphony No.7 by Shostakovich in Moscow.
Recommended

by Gramophone Guide. ".............never being more powerfully realised." Also selected in 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die. "This is the grandest rendering ever committed to disc and also the most electrifying."


Recommended


Rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide. "................beautifully played and recorded..........."

Enjoy.
Ronald Kwok
http://ronaldkwok.atomicblog.hop.clickbank.net/

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Classical Valentines

OK, I cheated, today is not Valentine's Day but in order to give some of you time to buy classical music discs as Valentine presents, I'm releasing this post early. So this is what the post will be like if posted on 14 February.

Today is Valentines's Day so let's see which classical musicians were born on this day and which classical music had its premiere today.


1602 - Francesco Cavalli, Italian composer, in Crema. Popular works include the operas La Calisto and The Loves of Apollo and Daphne. Other works are church music like Messa Concertata and other motets.

1784 - Heinrich Baermann, German composer, in Potsdam. Popular works include Adagio for Clarinet & Orchestra, Clarinet Concertinos, Concertstuck and Sonatas.

1959 - Renee Fleming, American soprano in Indiana.
Below are recommended discs by Fleming

Recommended DVD
Directed by Tony Palmer, rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide.

Recommended CD1
"Great Opera Scenes". Rated 3 stars, Key recording and Rosette award by Penguin Guide. "........an inspired collaboration (with Solti)."
Also recommended by Gramophone Guide. "The recording is faultless......"

Recommended CD2
"I Want Magic". Rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide. Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording.

First Performance (FP)

1880 - Berceuse for Violin and Orchestra by Faure.

Recommended CD
Rated 3 stars and Key recording by Penguin Guide. ".......a lovely collection in every way........."

Recommended CD
The Faure Album. Recommended by Gramophone Guide.

1914 - Josephs Legende, ballet by Richard Strauss in La Scala, Milan.

Recommended DVD
Rated 2.5 stars by Penguin Guide. '...............a gloriously expansive account of Strauss' score."

Recommended CD
Rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide. "......a remarkable addition to the catalogue." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording. "......a magnificient account of the work."

Grab one and enjoy this Valentine's Day.

Ronald Kwok
http://cbpirate.com/s/cbp/ronaldkwok

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Pucini's Operas

Let's see which popular musician was born on the first day of February.

1859 - Victor Herbert, Irish-American composer in Dublin. His popular works includes Cello Concerto no. 2

1922 - Renata Tebaldi, Italian soprano in Pesaro. She rivalled Maria Callas at the height of her career.

Today also saw the first performance of two famous Pucini's operas.

1873 - Symphony no.5 by Schubert in Crystal Palace, London.

Selected recording.

Rated 4 stars, key recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "This is an indispensable record for all collections........" Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording.

1893 - Manon Lescaut by Pucini in Regio theatre in Turin

Selected recording.

DVD format. Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. "For a realistic presentation, it would be hard to find any rival."

CD format.

Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. Also recommended by Gramophone Guide. "............will count this a clear first choice among current version."

CD format.

Recommended in 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die.

1896 - La Boheme by Pucini in Regio theatre in Turin

Selected recording.
DVD Format

Rated 4 stars, key recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "This is the Boheme we have been waiting for............"

CD format
Rated 4 stars, key recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "..........a unique performance..........." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording.

1916 - Symphony No.4 , the Inextinguishable by Nielsen in Copenhagen.

Selected recording.
Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. "............among the finest available." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording.

So sit back, relax and enjoy!

Ronald Kwok
http://cbpirate.com/s/cbp/ronaldkwok