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 FlemingRecommended 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 Kwokhttp://cbpirate.com/s/cbp/ronaldkwok
Today is 26 January and is also the first day of the Lunar New Year. This is celebrated by Chinese all over the world but unfortunately there is no Chinese musician of note born on this day. The most popular musician born on this day is
1945 - Jacqueline Du Pre, English cellist in London.
However, there are many more popular works that debuted on this day.
1734 - First Performance (FP) of opera Arianna in Crete by Handel in King's Theatre, London
Selected recording Recommended by Gramophone Guide. Not a famous work by Handel but '....Arianna in Crete is well worth investigating."
1790 - FP of Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart in the Burgtheatre, Vienna.
Selected recording DVD format. Rated 4 stars and Key Recording of Penguin Guide. "...........bringing out the fine qualities of the whole cast, both vocally and dramatically....." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording.
Selected Recording. CD format. Rated 4 stars, Key Recording and also Rosette by Penguin Guide. '.......remains a clear first choice....." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording. "............Boem's cast could hardly be bettered......."
1905 - FP of Pelleas and Melisandre by Schoenberg in Vienna.
Selected recording Rated 4 stars and Key Recording by Penguin Guide. ".........splendidly recorded version...........superb performances........." Also recommended in 1001 Classical Recordings. ".........surpasses all others............an overwhelming experience."
1908 - FP of Symphony no. 2 by Rachmaninoff
First choice is EMI recording by the LSO and Previn but no image available in Amazon. Recommended by both Penguin Guide and 1001 Classical Recordings. Other recommendations are
Selected Recording Recommended by Penguin Guide. "This is an easy first choice in the budget range."
Selected recording Recommended by Gramophone Guide. "...........this is great music making.........."
1911 - FP of Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss Royal Opera in Dresden.
Selected recording
Selected recording DVD format. Rated 4 stars, Key Recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "......ravishing sound......as perfect as you are likely to encounter in this world."
Selected recording CD format. Rated 4 stars, Key Recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "......one of the greatest of all opera recordings, is in a class of its own....."
Also recommended by Gramophone Guide, a Gem recording. "This magnificent recording..........unlikely to be challenged........"
1922 - FP of Symphony no.3 by Vaugh Williams.
Selected recording Rated 4 stars and Key Recording by Penguin Guide. "..........rare gift for drawing out the warmth of this evocative music..........spacious inspiration is irresistible........."
1957 - FP of Dialogues des Carmelites by Poulenc in La Scala, Milan.
Selected recording DVD format. Rated 4 stars, Key Recording and Rosette by Penguin Guide. "..........remarkably gripping and wholly convincing production.........excellent dramatically............." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide. "This is one of the most worthwhile opera performance yet to appear on DVD."
Selected recording CD format. Rated 4 stars and Key Recording by Penguin Guide. "...........vivid recording..........." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide and 1001 Classical Recordings, "..........an utterly committed performance......"
Selected recording CD format in English. Rated 2.5 stars by Penguin Guide. "Excellent. atmospheric sound....................." Also recommended by Gramophone Guide.
Ronald Kwok
http://ronaldkwok.atomicblog.hop.clickbank.net/
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