On this Day, in Classical Music

First day of March

2009-03-01T00:01:00.003+08:00

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/

Classical Valentines

2009-02-12T17:45:00.001+08:00

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

Pucini's Operas

2009-02-01T20:06:00.003+08:00

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

Lunar New Year picks

2009-01-26T14:00:00.002+08:00

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/

The fairest Brigg Fair

2009-01-18T00:01:00.002+08:00

Today is 18 January and birthdays of just a few popular composers.

1835 - Cesar Cui, Russian composer in Vilnius. Operas include William Ratcliff. Wrote many songs and the most popular is The Statue at Tsarkoye Selo.

1841 - Emmanuel Chabrier, French composer in Paris. Popular orchestral works include Espana, Habanera, Joyeuse marche, and Gwendoline overture. He has also written the operas Briseis and L'etoile.

1903 - Berthold Goldschmidt, German-British composer in Hamburg. Operas include Der gewaltige Hahnrei and orchestral works include Ciaconna Sinfonica.

1951 - Ronald Kwok, Malaysian composer of this Blog in Kuala Lumpur. (Just kidding!)

Alas, not many popular works had its first performance today, just the two below.

1908 - Brigg Fair, orchestral work by Delius in Liverpool.
Selected recording

Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. Also Rosette winner. "...........unsurpassed performances.............Sheer magic........."
Also included in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die" - ".......this disc is special."

Selected recording

Recommended by Gramophone Guide - "This Brigg Fair is unique." - and rated 4 stars by Penguin Guide. "A superb disc."

1943 - Piano Sonata No.7 by Prokofiev in Moscow.

Selected recording

Complete Piano Sonatas 1-9 in three CD's. Rated 4 stars and Key Recording by Penguin Guide. "......his playing.......could scarcely be bettered."

Selected recording

Included as one of the recordings in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die"

That's all folks.

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

Today it's Opera Day

2009-01-12T00:01:00.004+08:00

Today, the 12 the of January had plenty of operas that were first performed on this day. There were also a number of composers born on this day but they are not the major ones.

1876 - Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, Italian composer in Venice. Major works includes operas, violin concerto, cello concerto and concertos for wind instruments.

1888 - Claude Delvincourt, French composer in Paris.

1926 - Morton Feldman, American composer in New York. Popular works include Cello and Orchestra, For Philip Guston, The Viola in my Life and Rothko Chapel.

Here are some of the classical works that had the First Performance today.

1723 - Ottone, opera by Handel, in Paris

Selected recording
Rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide. ".......singing is full of colour. Added to that is the richness and bloom of the instrumental sound."

1737 - Arminio, opera by Handel in Covent Garden, London.
Selected recording
Rated 3 stars by Penguin Guide. "Clear, well-balanced sound."

1832 - Fausta, opera by Donizetti in theatre San Carlo, Naples.
Recommended by Gramophone Guide. "........this very fine recording......."

1955 - Symphony No.6 (Fantaisies Symphoniques) by Martinu in Boston.

Selected recording
Rated 4 stars and a Key Recording by Penguin Guide. ".............recording is in the demonstration class yet sounds completely natural.........."
Recommended by Gramophone Guide. "........recordings are beautifully clear, with plenty of ambience.........."

So that's it for today until my next post.

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

Concertos on New Year Day

2009-01-01T13:30:00.003+08:00

Happy New Year 2009! So today is 1 January but not many famous classical musicians were born on this day.

1898 - Viktor Ullmann, Czech composer in Teschen.

1911 - Endre Szervansky, Hungarian composer in Budateteny.

1940 - Laszio Sary, Hungarian composer in Gyor.

However, there are more famous first performance on New Year Day.

1846 - Piano Concerto by Schumann in Leipzig.
Recommended recording
Rated 3 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. "An indispensable issue." (DVD format)

Recommended recording
Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. "A classic version for our time." (CD format)

Recommended recording
by Gramophone Guide. ".......Pires is also at her most persuassive." (CD format)

1879 - Violin Concerto by Brahms in Leipzig.

Recommended recording
Rated 4 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. "......in every way satisfying.......in every way memorable......" (DVD format)

Recommended recording
Featured in "1001 Classical Recordings you must hear before you die". (CD format)

Recommended recording
Rated 3 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. ".....commanding performance.....full of flair.......always sounding spontaneous." (CD format)

1957 - Prince of the Pagodas, ballet by Britten in Covent Garden, London.
Recommended recording
Rated 3 stars and key recording by Penguin Guide. ".......performances.......are very bit as impressive.......distinguished by imagination and great musicality." (DVD format)

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

The Merry Widow Love for Three Oranges

2008-12-29T23:01:00.004+08:00

This is my test post for my Classical Music blog just to see if there is any interest in such post. Every post will list composers, conductors and performers of classical music born on the date of the post. It will also list the first performance or premiere of classical music pieces and operas on that same date. Recommended recordings (CD and DVD) of such pieces culled from guides such as the Penguin Guide to Classical Music, the Gramophone Classical Music Guide and others will also be featured.

Today is 30 December and born on this day are :-

1853 - Andre Messager, French composer, in Montiucon. Recordings include his ballet, Les Deux Pigeons and opera, Veronique.

1859 - Josef Foerster, Czech composer, in Prague. Recordings include his Symphony No.4

1904 - Dmitri Kabalevsky, Russian composer, in St.Petersburg. Popular pieces include his Cello Concerto No, 1 and 2, Piano Concerto No.1-4 and the Comedians suite.

Premiere or first performance of the following operas and classical music pieces:-

1877 - Symphony No.2 by Brahms in Vienna
Selected Recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, 4 stars and Key Recording. "The CD transfer is first class,.............this is one of Stockowski's very finest later recordings."

1879 - Pirates of Penzance, by Sullivan in the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton
Selected Recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, 3 stars and Key Recording. ".......the finest of all the D'Oyly Carte analogue stereo recordings."

1884 - Symphony No.7 by Bruckner in Leipzig
Selected recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, rated 4 stars. "Hannoncourt's outstanding performance........and is one of his very finest records."

1905 - Merry Widow, opera by Lehar in Theatre An Der Wien in Vienna
Selected recording
Recommended by Penguin Guide, rated 4 stars and Key Recording.

1921 - Love for Three Oranges, opera by Prokofiev in Chicago

Selected recording
Recommended by the Gramophone Guide and also in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die"

1938 - Romeo and Juliet, ballet by Prokofiev in Brno

Selected recording
Recommended by the Gramophone Guide and also featured in "1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die"

1961 - Symphony No.4 (revised version) by Shostokovich in Moscow

Selected recording
Recommended by Gramophone Guide. "This could just be the most important Western recording of the fourth..........."

Just pick up any one of the recordings and enjoy. Please give your comments on how this Blog can be improved and what you would like to be included or expended.

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