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December 18, 2018:

THE FIRST ME DAY AND THE POWERFUL AND POTENT PREVIN

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to classical music conducted by the one and only Mr. Andre Previn, a big box set of all his Columbia and RCA recordings, including several never before released on CD albums. There are some real gems here – well, they’re all gems, really – and right from CD 1, Andre Kostelanetz conducting the Gershwin Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue with Previn as soloist.  We in fact get several albums of him as piano player. We don’t get him as conductor until his brilliant album coupling of Copland’s The Red Pony suite from the film, and Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem and what a great album it is.  I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a better Sinfonia, and the Copland is lusciously luscious.  The Leonard Pennario/Previn Rachmaninov first and fourth piano concertos are fantastic as is the Khachaturian piano concerto with Lorin Hollendar/Previn.  And on and on – 55-CDs in all.  I’m thrilled it has his first recordings of the Rachmaninov second and third symphonies – I’ve never heard either, since it’s his 1970s EMI recordings that are the most well thought of.  I was able to do a trade to get it, but even if you’re purchasing, it can be had for around $130 if you look hard enough – that’s less than three bucks a disc.  There’s not enough information in the booklet that would let me know if these have all been newly remastered – all I know is they sound fantastic.  Oh, and one of the most interesting things on one of the early piano-only albums is a suite of music for kids by none other than legendary record producer, Goddard Lieberson.  I had no idea he wrote music – it’s not especially memorable, but some of it is fairly interesting.  Anyway, it’s very enjoyable.

I only got about six hours of sleep.  Then someone came and picked up some magnetic film reels that contain a film score I think we’re going to issue, and then I just did a few things on the computer, ate two tuna sandwiches on bagels, listened to music, and relaxed.  At some point I went and picked up a couple of packages, but came right back home.  That’s when I began with the Previn set and that’s basically what I did all evening – one album after another.  This set has cardboard sleeves for each CD with the original album covers and liner notes on the back, and the programs are the original length, so none of the CDs thus far are hugely long.

I still have one or two young folks left to cast in the January show and I did some work on that, whilst sitting here like so much fish.  I had a few telephonic conversations about this and that as well as that and this, but mostly I was true to my word and enjoyed the first of my ME days.

During the course of the evening, I had a few crackers and some low-cal ice cream. Finally, I took a hot shower and continued listening to the potent and powerful Previn musical magic.

Today will be more of the same.  I’ll sleep in, I’ll perhaps try to write a rough opening few pages of the new book, and then I’ll finish casting and get down to business and choose the rest of the songs and get everyone their music.  I’ll eat something light and amusing, I’ll hopefullyp pick up some packages, I’ll listen to music, and perhaps I’ll watch a DGA screener.

The rest of the week is more of the same.  I think dear reader Jeanne and I will try to lunch one day this week, and then we resume performances on Friday – we’re hoping all three performances do really well this weekend and the following weekend. And of course we have our Annual Christmas Eve Do to do – I think this will be its thirtieth consecutive year. I’ll send out the e-mails after I post these here notes.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, sleep in, perhaps write a rough opening couple of pages for the new book, finish casting and choose songs.  I’ll eat, hopefully pick up packages, listen to music, and maybe watch something. Today’s topic of discussion: What were your favorite things you did in 2018? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a nice first ME day listening to the potent and powerful Previn.

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