C-H, in November 2013, after about 18 months of near exclusive listening to the Dead, I began to explore alternative music that would yield a comparable degree of the profound satisfaction I achieved by listening to their complex, nuanced sound. Recollecting the words of a former Lit prof, who averred that Shakespeare and Classical music are largely wasted on anyone under 30, I opened a door to the latter; and, if the Dead's prodigious live catalogue represents an ocean of possibilities, then the gamut of Classical interpretation is a veritable cosmos of listening alternatives.
But, of course, the whole point is mute if the art doesn't strike a personal chord. Heck, I dislike country-western, polka, hip-hop, disco, and electronic dance music, though each has a considerable and passionate following despite my apparently insignificant disregard.
Anyway, what I did was to sample madly, including utube, amazon, and itunz, which quickly revealed my affinity for Romantic Classical and the pleasant discovery that we live in a magnificent era for the rapid accumulation of heralded performances via box sets that have otherwise taken veteran collectors years or decades to acquire, and at relatively low prices that now make me wince when spending so much more for less in other genres (that is, in terms of timed music).
I could write a short story on this recent journey of discovery, but let it suffice to say that, should you have questions, just ask! And if Classical is to you what Kanye is to me, then c'est la vie!
Back to the thread at hand: I'm hesitant to admit that my progress through the Toscanini Complete RCA recordings has been slow...largely due to an underwhelmed personal reaction. In a way, however, this might not be surprising given my absolute adoration of Furtwangler and the fact that he and Tosca inhabit markedly different points on the spectrum of musical interpretation: While WF conducts impressionistic pieces to seemingly dizzying heights, AT's pedantic penchant for perfectionism (bonus points for alliteration!) is firmly grounded in earthbound brick and mortar productions.
Even so, I enjoyed his conduction of Puccini's La Boheme immensely (today's listening), as his regimented execution from the podium is well fitted to the often rapid pace of music and conversational interaction between operatic performers - especially during Act I. Oh, and a final note C-H: Ruby's suggestion of a live orchestral performance in order to fully appreciate the complexity and grandeur of Classical music is a good one! And, like the commercial releases, ticket prices are often a pleasant surprise to those accustomed to paying much more for popular acts in other genres./peace, K
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But, of course, the whole point is mute if the art doesn't strike a personal chord. Heck, I dislike country-western, polka, hip-hop, disco, and electronic dance music, though each has a considerable and passionate following despite my apparently insignificant disregard.
Anyway, what I did was to sample madly, including utube, amazon, and itunz, which quickly revealed my affinity for Romantic Classical and the pleasant discovery that we live in a magnificent era for the rapid accumulation of heralded performances via box sets that have otherwise taken veteran collectors years or decades to acquire, and at relatively low prices that now make me wince when spending so much more for less in other genres (that is, in terms of timed music).
I could write a short story on this recent journey of discovery, but let it suffice to say that, should you have questions, just ask! And if Classical is to you what Kanye is to me, then c'est la vie!
Back to the thread at hand: I'm hesitant to admit that my progress through the Toscanini Complete RCA recordings has been slow...largely due to an underwhelmed personal reaction. In a way, however, this might not be surprising given my absolute adoration of Furtwangler and the fact that he and Tosca inhabit markedly different points on the spectrum of musical interpretation: While WF conducts impressionistic pieces to seemingly dizzying heights, AT's pedantic penchant for perfectionism (bonus points for alliteration!) is firmly grounded in earthbound brick and mortar productions.
Even so, I enjoyed his conduction of Puccini's La Boheme immensely (today's listening), as his regimented execution from the podium is well fitted to the often rapid pace of music and conversational interaction between operatic performers - especially during Act I. Oh, and a final note C-H: Ruby's suggestion of a live orchestral performance in order to fully appreciate the complexity and grandeur of Classical music is a good one! And, like the commercial releases, ticket prices are often a pleasant surprise to those accustomed to paying much more for popular acts in other genres./peace, K
[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]