Posted by Mark @ 09/22/2003 07:55 AM PST

Congratulations on the title, BK! I can't wait to read it! The ending of Kritzerland was such a cliffhanger.

My favorite classical work is Scheherazade by Rimsky Korsakov. I think my spell checker just fainted.

Posted by Joy @ 09/22/2003 07:57 AM PST

I shall post more later, but was just reading that one of my "cult" hits is being remastered and released (9/30) on DVD - SCARFACE... was wondering if Bruce is going to get an advance copy and let us know if it's worth purchasing..

Posted by Craig @ 09/22/2003 07:58 AM PST

3 of my favorite pieces are

Aaron Copeland-Fanfare for the Common Man
Aaron Copeland-Simple Gifts, his adaptation of the Shaker hymn
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev-Love for Three Oranges

Although they are not considered "truly classical" pieces, I think of much of Candide as classical and I find Mass very moving, both pieces by Leonard Bernstein

Posted by Ben @ 09/22/2003 08:17 AM PST

Since we're all apparently loving Prokofiev, I vote for the 5th Symphony. Listen carefully and you will hear several sections that John(ny) Williams has cribbed from through the years, most especially the second theme for "Lost in Space" (3rd season).

Posted by JMK @ 09/22/2003 08:19 AM PST

I was E and T yesterday, so first I must wishes belated birthday wishes to Old Laura-- hopefully BK didn't bitch-slap her one her birthday AND
let Jason know that something right will come along. It will, and that's alll there is to it. I will keep my fingers crossed but have faith that things will work out right.

Besides almost any piece by Tchaikovsky and Debussy, other favorite pieces would be have to be "The Last Spring" by Grieg, and Pierne's Concertstuck for Harp and Orchestra. Both pieces still move me everytime I hear them.

Posted by Kerry @ 09/22/2003 08:39 AM PST

Good morning everyone from the underbelly of the McGill Arts Lounge and Computer Centre. I have no chair massaging my bottom and - while I didn't really enjoy it on Friday - I feel like something is missing from my life. ;)

My favorite classical piece? Call me a plebian but I've always loved Holtz's (sp?) THE PLANETS. Its very very theatrical. I also adore the old English hymn JERUSALEM (words by pre-Romantic poet William Blake and music by Elgar). Ooh and there's an instrumental piece by Handel from one of his oratorios or operas that I love but can't remember the name of it. Danggit. I'll look it up when I get home.

My added on question for all the DRs:

For all of you who have had access to spiritual music, what are your favorite hymns, chants or sacred readings to music?

I think I've covered all religions there quite nicely :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 08:39 AM PST

My-- I should have proofread before posting. That should have said hopefully BK didn't bitch-slap (old laura) ON her birthday (as opposed to somewhere else I guess).

Posted by Kerry @ 09/22/2003 08:42 AM PST

Ah -ha! Kritzer Time is a wonderful title!

Symphonic - hmmmmmmm First Concerto B Flat Tchaikovsky

Chamber - Edward MacDowell, the Woodland Sketches and the Sea Sketches

Choral - Carmina Burana Paul Orff

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 08:43 AM PST

Some pieces I enjoy"

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (now known to many as the theme to "Somewhere in Time"

Carnival of the Animals - still enjoy it - esp. the finale

Various sections of The Nutcracker

..to name a few

Posted by Craig @ 09/22/2003 08:47 AM PST

Jrand:

I also love the Carmina Burana. I crank it up to the max when I'm working around the house. It's also in just about every trailer for every historical film ever made! Have you ever noticed that?

As for spiritual/religous music, that's a hard one. I can tell you that I HATE "Praise The Lord" music ala contemporary christian genre. But also my spirituality views are not very traditional.

As for Christmas spiritual music, the hymn "In The Bleak Midwinter" always give me such imagery...almost medieval in tone. I like that!

Posted by Mark @ 09/22/2003 08:47 AM PST

Without a doubt, the Warsaw Concerto, although it is actually a movie theme and later a TV theme, (Quick, anybody know what TV show used it as a theme?), the piece itself is beautiful. Also Rhapsody in Blue and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue are personal favorites.

I realize that none of these acutally qualify as classical music to purists, but hey, I have only had one cup of coffee so far this morning.

Posted by TCB @ 09/22/2003 08:58 AM PST

Mark

Christian rock/pop scares me too.

But then again, that may be because religious fundamentalists scare me and that genre of music has a tendency to go with them.

Old fashioned hymns are more about the traditional aspect than a devotional one.

I'm a non-practicing Catholic (I own a school girl kilt...) but I still adore traditional hymns especially:

"For the Beauty of the Earth"
"Hark the Heral Angels Sing"
"Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today"
"Eternal Father Strong to Save"
"In the Garden"

:)

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 09:04 AM PST

Shucks! I was hoping it would be BlitzKritzer or, a second choice, Kritzermas", but I'm sure Kritzer Time** will be just fine.

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 09/22/2003 09:04 AM PST

First of all, Carmina Burana is by Carl Orff, not Paul. When I was going to Western Washington University, the Concert Choir (by audition), the University Choir (anyone could get in), the WWU Orchestra, the Whatcom Choral Society and the Whatcom county orchestra all combined to perform Carmina Burana. It was spectacular. Future Met star Heidi Grant Murphy (then known as Heidi Lynn Grant--who had just graduated from Western and with whom I had a couple of classes) was the soprano soloist. The bariton soloist was her voice teacher at Indiana University (I forget his name) and the tenor soloist was my voice teacher, Jack Morris. Also, the very first CD (not vinyl) that I ever owned was the June Anderson / James Levine recording of the music. It's one of my all time favorite pieces of classical (the generic "classical") music...and this qualifies as my "choral" selection.

For favorite symphonic music it would have to be Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, even though it has the chorus and is known as the Choral Symphony.

Is Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" chamber music? If it is, that's probably my favorite...especially the Winter movement.

Posted by George @ 09/22/2003 09:05 AM PST

I hope I didn't offend any christian fundamentalists on this board. Sorry if I did. :)

I think I'm getting a scanner with my new computer, so I will finally be able to circulate a picture of myself to all the DRs (this means you craig). :)

I spent yesterday going through the family picture box - we are far too disorganized to put togther albums - with my sisters and brother and managed to pull out quite a few that I enjoy of myself, my family and friends.

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 09:07 AM PST

Maya, Laura II and Sarah

All three of you have mail!

;)

Posted by Emily - The JRB Missionary @ 09/22/2003 09:08 AM PST

Jason - sorry to hear that the Met backed off. At least you have the MTI gig to keep things rolling.

As Kerry & BK have noted, things happen for a reason - I'm another firm believer in that. I've been in my industry (maritime) for over 22 years. I was well into my last job - 11 1/2 years - when they decided to get out of my specialty last September. I had a several serious job leads that, due to uncouth interlopers, did not pan out. My third and final option - one in which I had little faith when I intially made the contact - ended up being the job I've had for the past 9 months. Better pay, better bennies, an easier commute, and a great "boss" to answer to. I never would have expected things to work out this way last fall.

So hang in there, JB - we're all pulling for you.

And besides, this will give you time to listen to your copy of "Jeepers Creepers" when it arrives in your mailbox :)

up landing me my new job

Posted by Phil @ 09/22/2003 09:11 AM PST

Speaking of choral, when I was in HS, our choir sang a bunch of stuff by John Rutter. I remember doing his "Gloria" for Christmas, as well as some others. I have found, however, that Rutter is not thought of very highly by professional church musicians -- or musicians, in general. I guess the feeling is that he "sold out", and that's why he's so prolific. I don't know if that's correct, or if it's just sour grapes. Anyone else familiar with Rutter?

Posted by mark @ 09/22/2003 09:15 AM PST

Jason,

All good things come to those who can wait.

Posted by Nelly Lovett @ 09/22/2003 09:16 AM PST

Anything you say.

Posted by Benjamin Barker @ 09/22/2003 09:17 AM PST

re: John Rutter....I have sung in church choirs that performed his music regularly. My impression was that although his music is quite highly regarded, the composer himself is not. This opinion is generally held by those who have worked with him directly. My former choir director once commented that he found it astonishing that such beautiful "sacred" music could come from a man of such vile temperament.

Posted by Dave @ 09/22/2003 09:22 AM PST

Maya - what's the address for your web blog. I searched you on google but couldn't find it.

I'm off to CRISIS CONFLICT AND WAR now...

pray for me. :)

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 09:23 AM PST

J S Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring"

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 09/22/2003 09:23 AM PST

Having missed it yesterday let me say hearty big HIP and a HIP and a HOORAY! for the MOST EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY of the MOST EXCELLENT OLDER (BUT NEVER OLD TO US) DEAR READER LAURA!

Now, if you didn't check the end of yesterday's posts, click my name for the real actual link to learn more about Mark "My Words" Bakalor.

Carmina Burana without a doubt. In the sixties I saw a marvelous staging of it by the San Francisco Opera. For the opening "O Fortuna!" they had a simple circle of people in medieval garb, the king, the bishop, the beggar, etc., each holding an aegis of his office: scepter, crutch, etc. They walk in a circle with a gait befitting their stations. At each new section of the chorus, they reversed directions and passed their "batons" to their neighbors, each then taking on a different gait, a new Fortuna. Very effective.

"Polovtsian Dances" and all the rest of Knyaz Igor, and not the least for my recognizing bits from Kismet at every turn.

Turandot, except for the last half of the last act, which was not finished by Puccini before he died.

And call me irresponsible, but I have always loved Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, especially the "Fly Duet" between Jupiter and Eurydice and the inspired lyric:

Zzz zzz zzz zzz,
Zzz zzz zzz zzz,
Zzz zzz zzz zzz ,
Zzz zzz zzz.

It translates so well. And to think that the Can Can was originally written to be sung and danced by the Gods and Godesses of Mt. Olympus in Hades! As Pluton says, "La rhyme n'est pas riche, mais la richesse n'est pas tout."

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 09:36 AM PST

Oh my. I could be here all day responding to the topic of the day. Rather, I'll just list some off-the-top-of-my-head all-time favorites.

Symphonies:

Mahler's 2nd ("Resurrection")

Brahms' 1st

Beethoven's 3rd ("Eroica"), 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th

Bruckner's 4th

Mozart's 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th (especially the 40th!) and 41st

Concerti:

Brahms' Double Concerto for violin and cello (especially the middle movement)

Brahms' Violin Concerto

Beethoven's Violin Concerto

Mendelsohn's Violin Concerto

Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto

Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto ("Emperor")

Choral works:

Beethoven's Missa Solemnis

Verdi's Requiem

Ahhh. And so many more. It's a good thing you didn't ask about opera!

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 09:42 AM PST

Yikes! What hath I wrought? My apologies. Out to the woodshed for a bitch slapping for me!

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 09:46 AM PST

Bitchslaps for Jay all around!

Now this is true Cinerama.

Dear Mr. Mark Bakalor:

HAAAALP!!!!!

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 09:49 AM PST

Rachmaninov's Symphony #2,
Mahler's Sixth, all of Vaughan
Williams, much of William
Walton, the clarinet concertos
of both Finzi and Copland, the
piano concerto of Robert Ward
(along with his opera of The
Crucible), The Romantic of
Howard Hanson, Sibelius 2nd,
Albinoni Adagio for Organ and
Strings, Barber Knoxville, the
symponies of Ikuma Dan, and
many many more.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 09:50 AM PST

Voila. You must hit your return
bar.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 09:53 AM PST

Dah. It wrapped in the comment box so I did not think it would be a problem. Mea culpa. Culpa mea. Mamma Mia!

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 09:54 AM PST

For those of you who wonder what we were talking about, Jay just posted a veeeery loooong line of one letter and turned the site into Wide Screen (It's Cool Inside).

Evidently, our illustrious and buff BK was Brucie on the Spot and eliminated the post.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 09:54 AM PST

Mea culpa, youa culpa, were
all culpas in our own way,
aren't we?

Quiet day at work today. At
some point I'll view the cuts of
the new shows and give
notes, then get them ready for
the boss to give notes on late
Tuesday or Wednesday.

I can't remember then name of
the piece, but there's a very
famous Howell's choral piece
that I'm very fond of (we put it
out on Bay Cities). Also, I like
quite a bit of David Diamond.
Oh, and I totally forgot Le
Group de Six - especially my
favorite, Darius Milhaud, along
with Honneger, Tailleferre,
Auric et les autres. Marvelous
music. Also like other
Frenchies such as Poulenc,
Ravel and Debussy.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 10:12 AM PST

Slept in again, and wasn't it lovely. Mondays are great (it does feel weird to say that) I only have one class and it's not til 6:30.

I'm hardly an expert on classical music, but there are some pieces that I'm absolutely crazy about.

Borodin's Polyvetsian Dances (I thank Kismet too, WFO!)
Carmina Burana is gorgeous
Debussy's Clair de Lune
Ravel's Pavane (in fact, anything by Ravel)
The Well-Tempered Clavier (was that Bach or Handel?)
Rhapsody in Blue

I'm just inviting you all to throw things at me with this admission, but I just don't like most of Mozart's music. Sure, I admire him as a craftsmen but his music is all so placid and measured, and to me that comes off as kind of unexciting. I loved Amadeus though!

Emily--I didn't get your e-mail! Did you send it to bwaybaby@hotmail.com, maybe, lol? I had to have the weird "bwaybabie" spelling! I kinda need you to e-mail me instead of the other way around, because my bratty little sister threw away the piece of paper I wrote your e-mail address on! Anyway, JRB should be very "honoured" to have such a great, fervid missionary! ;) Click on my name for my theatre blog (and A LOT of quizzes)!

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 10:18 AM PST

To the tune of Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (am I giving away the punchline?)

"You say Carmeena and I say Car mine a, You say Bureena and I say Burana , Carmeena, Car mine a, Bureena, Burana , ah, let's call the whole thing Orff.

Remember, there is NO groaning at HHW :-)

Cant' remember where I first heard that, sometime during my college years I think.

Posted by Ben @ 09/22/2003 10:21 AM PST

Wafna!

Posted by Carl Orff @ 09/22/2003 10:32 AM PST

For a completely different side of Carl Orff, you absolutely must find a recording of Der Mond (The Moon), a comic opera, read "musical" about a bunch of peasants who buy the Moon from the neighboring town so they can see their way home from the tavern at night, and then it is buried with them but wakes the dead, and they have a party which disturbs St. Peter, and... well, it's not your typical opera plot.

Was ist daß?
Was ist daß?
Was ist daß für ein Licht?
Daß ist der Mond!
Daß ist der Mond!
Daß ist der Mond!
Daß ist der Mond!

Unser Schulheiß hat ihn Für drei Tahler gekaufen.
Für drei Tahler,
Für drei Tahler,
Für drei Tahler!

Wow, I don't really know German. Isn't it amazing the things that stick in your head from your college days?

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 10:45 AM PST

uh,... Shultheiß. My spelling is very shaky here.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 10:48 AM PST

See what I mean? Schultheiß.

Where in tarnation is everyone? If we don't get more posts soon, I threaten to post the entire lyrics to "Largo al Factotum" in Italian.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 10:54 AM PST

I also love the (I am, of course, going to spell this wrong) Erlkonig. Very exciting piece. "Doodley doodley doot doot doooooo..." with that cool horse-running sound underneath...must be wicked tough to play on the piano.

Posted by Joy @ 09/22/2003 11:03 AM PST

Wer reitet so spät durch Sturm und Wind?
Es ist ein Vater mit seinem Kind.

I swear, I don't speak German. I must be channeling Goethe. Or Col. Klink.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/22/2003 11:09 AM PST

I'm with Maya on Mozart.
Appreciate the craftsmanship,
but the music just doesn't get
to me. I'm basically a late 19th
century but mostly 20th century
kind of guy.

And how could I leave off
Leonard Bernstein's The Age
of Anxiety and Jeremiah
symphonies?

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 11:10 AM PST

Ist das nicht ein
schnitzelbank? Ya das ist ein
schnitzelbank. Das knaben
wunderhorn. Dis ist das
lieben. Auf wiedersein.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 11:12 AM PST

Maya -
I am not Send in the Clowns!! ;-)

Actually, I'm probably not any Sondheim song at all.

Posted by Joy @ 09/22/2003 11:12 AM PST

Well, Isabel has now come and gone in good old Richmond, VA and all I can say re: classical music is that when the power goes back on at my house I will sing the Hallelujah Chorus.

Seriously, though, we were very lucky to have come through with only minor damage. Unlike the coast of North Carolina, which is now a totally different shape.

Posted by Philip Crosby @ 09/22/2003 11:22 AM PST

Argh...

I think I may have sent the e-mail to broadwaybabie@hotmail.com instead of bwaybabie@hotmail.com

blech

I will resend promptly.

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 11:28 AM PST

Joy--LOL! Aren't you bliss? ;) Those quizzes are sooo addictive!

WFO--we're still waiting on the "Largo al Factotum" lyrics, haha!

BK--I forgot to tell you I think "Kritzer Time" sounds like a great title!

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 11:28 AM PST

It's getting scary, BK. I'm a Walton and Vaughn Williams nut too. One of my very favourite classical pieces is Vaughn Williams' Symphony Antarctica, which was also used for the film, Scott of Antarctica (in fact, I think written first for the film, then adapted for the concert hall). A very eerie piece of music. We blast it out in our courtyard every Halloween to great effect.

I also love Rozsa's classical work, I'm a big fan of Debussy and Ravel and Rimsky-Korsokav.

I like things lush, sweeping, romantic, usually with a dark or melancholy tinge to it. When I listen to the classical station off the cable television and hear something I really, really like, it is almost always by a Russian or Germanic or Hungarian composer.

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 09/22/2003 11:34 AM PST

Bruce.. what about Scarface?

Posted by Craig @ 09/22/2003 11:42 AM PST

YIKES!!!

Thanks, George, Carl NOT Paul...sometimes it is best to check before you type...I have found!

But in a similar vein and tone first off it's baritone NOT bariton.

And yes DR Mark it is used a LOT in previews and in commercials. LOL....

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 11:44 AM PST

Emily--you should have mail! Gee, I wonder what that poor person at broadwaybabie@hotmail.com is going to think, hahaha!

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 11:47 AM PST

Mellow Laura (aged like a fine wine) -- Happy Belated Brithday wishes to you.

Posted by TCB @ 09/22/2003 12:06 PM PST

It's Howdy Doody Time!

Posted by Buffalo Bob Smith @ 09/22/2003 12:12 PM PST

Light up a Lucky - it's Light Up Time.

Posted by Dorothy Collins @ 09/22/2003 12:13 PM PST

It's Coke Time.

Posted by Eddie Fisher @ 09/22/2003 12:13 PM PST

Hammer Time!

Posted by M.C. Hammer @ 09/22/2003 12:15 PM PST

Just in time.

Posted by Jule Styne @ 09/22/2003 12:15 PM PST

I've never been a Mozart fan, either. I know that anybody who accuses him of using "too many notes" is at risk of being labelled a boor, but that's what it boils down to for me: ornamentation for it's own sake.

Posted by Dave @ 09/22/2003 12:18 PM PST

Did someone call me?

Posted by Justin Time @ 09/22/2003 12:20 PM PST

Y'know guys, when we switch over to the password system we probably won't be seeing as many posts from Ethel Merman as Justin Time as we are used to.

:(

Posted by Emily @ 09/22/2003 12:25 PM PST

#$@& it! $#&#@ $%^%^*%^ $#$%##%! $^$%$&#@ Mary Martin #$&^@@&^&!

Posted by Ethel Merman @ 09/22/2003 12:39 PM PST

I'm sure I'll get the new
Scarface, even though I'm not
a huge fan of it. I'll report when
I do.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 12:42 PM PST

Did anyone read what Ethel wrote in her autobiography about our marriage?

Posted by Ernest Borgnine @ 09/22/2003 12:44 PM PST

*

Posted by Ethel Merman (regarding my marriage to Ernie) @ 09/22/2003 12:49 PM PST

Can anyone even imagine what Ethel and Ernest would have done together on their honeymoon .... other than drink?

Posted by TCB @ 09/22/2003 01:27 PM PST

Hello fellow Dear Readers! I am home from a rather lazy day at school, and feeling quite happy. Some of the seniors who graduated last year came back to my show choir class today, and it was great seeing the familiar faces. I hadn't realized just how much I missed them until they were back. Good times, good times (Oh, a SNL reference :)

I've sung some John Rutter songs through various choirs, and while I think the arrangements are pretty, I'm not sure they're a favorite. Magnificat was definetly fun though.

I LOVE any recording of Ave Verum Corpus, I think it's just beautiful. I'm actually listening to the CD of the camp choir I was in this summer, singing it with the Philharmonia. They sound amazing, it was nice to sing with an instrument besides a piano.

A big favorite is the "Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten. They're just different enough to stand out, but still be gorgeous.

I like any arrangement of "Kyrie Eleison", as well.

BK: I like the title!...Now if I could only get around to reading Kritzerland, life will be splendid. I'm sure I can work it in as an early Christmas present from dear old dad.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/22/2003 01:28 PM PST

How come I'm not in the Rogues Gallery?

Posted by Joy @ 09/22/2003 01:28 PM PST

You must send in your photo
to mark@hijinks.com. At
some point, after we change
over to the new servers, we'll
get everything updated.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 01:34 PM PST

BK, got a notice in the mail about the upcoming Hollywood Collectors Show October 4th. Will you be doing it?

Posted by Charles Pogue @ 09/22/2003 01:43 PM PST

Beautiful fall weather here in Indiana.

Remember all the paintings they used to put on album covers for Classical Music?

CD covers are okay, but the album covers were so much BIGGER. And they were a bit more fun to look at.

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 01:43 PM PST

Jrand - Do you think the album covers were bigger than the CD covers, because the albums were bigger than the CDs?

Posted by TCB @ 09/22/2003 01:50 PM PST

Remember when CD's were new how they were packaged? In tall cardboard sleeves so they would fit in what had been record bins.

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 01:56 PM PST

Hey Jay, whats a recor-

:) Just kidding!

Posted by Sarah @ 09/22/2003 02:03 PM PST

My favorite classical piece is Debussy's "Reverie." I think it is a perfect piece of music, and I honestly could listen to it non-stop.

Second is Rimsky-Korsokav's "Sheherazade" (boy that spelling is WAY off, but I'm too lazy to troop downstairs and get the CD.

I guess "The Nutcracker Suite" would be third favorite.

Posted by Matt H. @ 09/22/2003 02:08 PM PST

LOL....that could be TCB!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 02:28 PM PST

No surprise to anyone but my favourite classical themes are:
A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Alone At Last
Hello Muddah Hello Fadduh
Song Sung Blue
Franz Liszt Twist
If I Had Words
Like I Do
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Don't You Know
Till The End Of Time
All By Myself
Never Gonna Fall in Love Again
Strager in Paradise
Lover's concerto
Asia Minor
On And On
The Way Of A Clown
The Minute Waltz

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 02:33 PM PST

Well, if we're playing THAT
game, add Eric Carmen's All
by Myself and Never Gonna
Fall in Love Again to the batch
(both from Rachmaninov).

I will not be doing the Courts
show - it's one I do only once
per year, with dear reader
Susan. But I shall probably
pay a visit - perhaps we
should go together and make
merciless fun of everyone
there.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 02:36 PM PST

But Seriously:
Schubert's 8th
Beethoven's 5th, 6th & 9th
Mahler 5th
Massenet "Meditation From Thais"
The Doors Concerto (Performed by Nigel Kennedy)

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 02:37 PM PST

Must write script. But can't resist question.
Where to begin... Being a nice Jewish girl, I love ancient choral church music - Hildegard von Bingen, etc. and practically anything the Anonymous 4 records - oh, especially Medieval Hungarian Christmas choral music. And some Strauss (Richard!) like Four Last Songs and the Marschallin's "Nein, nein, nein" from Rosenkavelier. Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra; Beethoven String Quartets; Bach Goldberg Variations, esp when Glen Gould plays and hums. Mahler - Das Lied von Erde. Schubert songs. Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez. Almost any opera I saw as a child in Hungary Kodaly's "Háry János" suite. This could go on forever. There is just so much WONDERFUL classical music out there. (In reading back, I notice much of this is pretty lugubrious stuff. I like joyful music, too - but there's only so much room here.) I'm going to a concert tonight - the Takacs String Quartet. I don't know what the program is, but I'm sure it'll be swell.

Posted by Panni @ 09/22/2003 02:42 PM PST

They were listed BK!

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 02:42 PM PST

TYPO: Almost any opera I saw as a child in Hungary. NEW SENTENCE: Kodaly's "Háry János" suite.

Posted by Panni @ 09/22/2003 02:44 PM PST

I'm seeing a Broadway show tonight

But I can't tell you what it is..

it's Forbidden! :)

Posted by Craig @ 09/22/2003 02:51 PM PST

Tom from Oz: Oops. More
proof that I am hopelessy
senile.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 02:58 PM PST

How about Could It be Magic?

Posted by TCB @ 09/22/2003 02:58 PM PST

One more for Tom's list: "It's Now or Never."

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 03:00 PM PST

Craig is seeing Forbidden Broadway!!!

Just call me Sherlock Maya!

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 03:02 PM PST

Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 (aka "Full Moon and Empty Arms," aka "My Kind of Love"). I enjoy all three versions.

On the other hand, Della Reese's
"Don't You Know (I have fallen in love with you/for the rest of my whole life thruh-ew") just about ruined "Musetta's Waltz" for me.

Posted by Dan-in-Toronto @ 09/22/2003 03:16 PM PST

Just booked plane tix to NYC in December!!!! Woo hoo!!!

Posted by Matthew @ 09/22/2003 03:17 PM PST

Speaking of senility....

BK--Do you really need us to remind you of your lunch date with DR MBarnum?

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 03:33 PM PST

No, because I now have a big
yellow note on my desk about
it.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 03:39 PM PST

Are we suffering from a
classical lull here? Let's get to
100 posts, shall we, and let's
do it soon, shall we? We
must not have lulls because
then we will be no better than
the rest. Let others have lulls
whilst we have none, do you
hear? Let us be sans lull.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 04:02 PM PST

I seem to have a thing for symphonies. Copland's Third (probably the ultimate American symnphony), Beethovan's Seventh, Brahms' Fourth.

Also, Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, particularly the fugue finale.

I've long used Barber's Adagio for Strings as an aural metaphor for what chronic depression feels like, and after playing it for friends they seem to understand, so my comparison must be on the right track. Give it a try if a friend of yours mentions they have that medical condition. Still, I much prefer his Overture for A School for Scandal and Knoxville, Summer of 1916. Both pieces convey different kinds of joy, which are also important in life.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/22/2003 04:20 PM PST

Classical? Beethoven, Bizet, Debussy, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini, Wagner. I know I named composers, rather than individual works, but there are too many from which to choose. I loved Rhapsody in Blue until Untied Airlines got ahold of it. Now it produces only anxiety and phone-hold rage. What a pity, for it is a terrific work. I love all of Richard Rodgers' ballets, too.

Forbidden Broadway is an Off-Broadway Broadway show, it is about Broadway and it does have an eight-fifteen performance tonight, so it is a logical guess. If it were tomorrow night, I would have guessed Little Shop of Horrors, which I am eager to see. Kerry Butler was terrific in Hairspray and I cannot wait to see her as Audrey.

I loved Camp. From the moment the kids sang on the bus, I was hooked.

I loved Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, and I am looking forward to the stage version, even if I am not sure I see it as a musical. Still, the ads indicate a balancing between Elphaba and Galinda, which might make it viable, so I am hoping the structure is there to support it.

Posted by freedunit @ 09/22/2003 04:26 PM PST

Just started listening to the Broadway Radio Show, and I'm already in love with it :)

"I See Your Face Before Me" is so pretty...makes me want to dance.

Posted by Sarah @ 09/22/2003 04:28 PM PST

I love Miss Dawn Upshaw's
recording of Knoxville. It is
simply ravishing, to use a Ken
Mandelbaum word.

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 04:29 PM PST

Puuuuush!

Posted by bk @ 09/22/2003 04:49 PM PST

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY isn't a Broadway show...if you wanna get technical about it. ;-)

I found out last night (this perked me up a bit) that this weekend I will be seeing (for free) AVE. Q, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, BOY FROM OZ and CHICAGO "starring" Ms. Melanie Banderas. Should prove to be an exciting weekend of theatre. I also found out that my friend that's giving me tickets to those shows is going to take me to D.C. with him so I can see BOUNCE. He has all kinds of free tickets for things, so that's how I'm getting to see these shows. That's exciting, right?

Now, for the topic of the day: Yikes! I don't know where to start.

Orchestral:
*Beethoven's "Sonata Pathetique"
*Smetana's "The Moldau"
*Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"...particularly the Presto section of the Summer movement
*John Corigliano's "The Red Violin"

Choral:
*Eric Whitacre's "Water Night..." (probably my favorite piece ever)
*Morten Lauridsen's "O magnum mysterium"
*Franz Biebl's "Ave maria" (particularly as sung by Chanticleer)
*Bernstein's "Make Our Garden Grow" and "The Chichester Psalms"
*Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb" (that was my Choral Conducting final. Talk about tough!!)
*Dale Jergensen's "Lamentation of Job"
*Trond Kverno's "Ave maris stella"
*Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," which is one of the most enjoyable pieces to sing in the world...
*Mozart's "Regina Coeli" and "Requiem"
*Palestrina's "Super flumina babylonis"
*Verdi's "Requiem"
*Brahms' "German Requiem," "Zeguenerlieder" and "Liebeslieder Waltzer"
and
*Roland Martin's "Requiem da camera," which is a piece that we premiered my freshman year of college. I had the opening solo in the first movement, and I had the great honour of singing it again in my last concert with the choir before graduation. With two deaths in the choir during those four years, the words and music had taken on such an incredibly different meaning. Its still one of my favorite pieces.

Vocal Solo:
*"Die Erlkonig"
*"Die holle Roche" from Die Zauberflote
*"Nuit d'etoiles" (Debussy)
*"Automne," "Ici-bas," "Lydia" (Faure)
*"Largo al Factotum" from Il Barbiere di Siviglia
and many, many more...

I have recordings of nearly everything I've listed if anyone is interested in them. I promise you, they're worth the listen.

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 05:00 PM PST

Lover's Concerto

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 05:00 PM PST

Sorry Tom - didn't see it your list!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/22/2003 05:01 PM PST

Just for the heck of it: 100! (unless someone beat me to it)

Posted by George @ 09/22/2003 05:03 PM PST

Favorite classical music - Korngold's Violin Concerto, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Saint-Saens' The Swan from Carnival of the Animals, and a wonderful LP of Johann Strauss waltzes and polkas sung by the Vienna Choir Boys. Guaranteed to cheer me up.

Posted by Gunther @ 09/22/2003 05:15 PM PST

Welcome back, freedunit! Long time no see...

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 05:19 PM PST

A lull.

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 05:55 PM PST

Largo al factotum della citta.
Largo! La la la la la la la LA!

Presto a bottega che l'alba e gia.
Presto! La la la la la la la LA!

Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere (che bel piacere)
per un barbiere di qualita! (di qualita!)

Ah, bravo Figaro!
Bravo, bravissimo!
Bravo! La la la la la la la LA!

Fortunatissimo per verita!
Bravo!
La la la la la la la LA!
Fortunatissimo per verita!
Fortunatissimo per verita!
La la la la, la la la la, la la la la la la la LA!

Pronto a far tutto, la notte e il giorno
sempre d'intorno in giro sta.
Miglior cuccagna per un barbiere,
vita piu nobile, no, non si da.
La la la la la la la la la la la la la!

Rasori e pettini
lancette e forbici,
al mio comando
tutto qui sta.
Rasori e pettini
lancette e forbici,
al mio comando
tutto qui sta.

V'e la risorsa,
poi, de mestiere
colla donnetta... col cavaliere...
colla donnetta... la la li la la la la la
col cavaliere... la la li la la la la la la la LA!!!

Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere (che bel piacere)
per un barbiere di qualita! (di qualita!)

Tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono,
donne, ragazzi, vecchi, fanciulle:
Qua la parruca... Presto la barba...
Qua la sanguigna... Presto il biglietto...
Tutto mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono,
tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono,
Qua la parruca, presto la barba, presto il biglietto, ehi!

Figaro... Figaro... Figaro... Figaro...Figaro...
Figaro... Figaro... Figaro... Figaro...Figaro!!!

Ahime, (ahime) che furia!
Ahime, che folla!
Uno alla volta,
per carita! (per carita! per carita!)
Uno alla volta, uno alla volta,
uno alla volta, per carita!

Figaro! Son qua.
Ehi, Figaro! Son qua.

Figaro qua, Figaro la, Figaro qua, Figaro la,
Figaro su, Figaro giu, Figaro su, Figaro giu.

Pronto prontissimo son come il fumine:
sono il factotum della citta.
(della citta, della citta, della citta, della citta)

Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo;
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo;
a te fortuna (a te fortuna, a te fortuna) non manchera.
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo;
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo;
a te fortuna (a te fortuna, a te fortuna) non manchera.

Sono il factotum della citta,
Sono il factotum della citta,
della citta, della citta,
Della citta!!!
La la la la la la la la la!

Posted by Figaro @ 09/22/2003 06:03 PM PST

I have always preferred Seagram's Fifth, as done by the Mayberry Symphony.

Posted by Otis @ 09/22/2003 06:51 PM PST

Wow, I enjoy many of the pieces listed above, especially "This Little Babe" from Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" and Mozart's "Regina Coeli." I also love Verdi's "Va, Pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves."

Posted by Laura II @ 09/22/2003 07:02 PM PST

Jason--my bad! Of course, Forbidden Broadway is technically off-Broadway but I have such fun playing the guessing game ;) BTW, when are you seeing Bounce? If you're here on a weekend, we may be able to do lunch!

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 07:07 PM PST

If that's amenable to you of course :)

Posted by Maya @ 09/22/2003 07:08 PM PST

Perhaps Craig got to go to the CHESS concert. If he did, I'm officially not his friend any longer due to jealousy. Haha! (I'm kidding, of course...or am I?)

Maya: I'm not sure when we're seeing BOUNCE! Sometime in November.

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 07:28 PM PST

BTW: If anyone is interested, Danny Gurwin will be stepping into the role of Mr. McQueen in URINETOWN on B'way for three weeks only. Mr. Gurwin, besides being a very attractive man, is very talented. He played Malcolm in both the first nat'l tour and B'way productions of The Full Monty and Henrik in the Kennedy Center and New York City Opera productions of A Little Night Music. And he's a super nice guy. GO SEE HIM!

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 07:33 PM PST

This is totally unrelated, but today is my brother's 15th birthday. Happy birthday to Anthony! :)

Oh I'm seeing Bounce in November, Jason! I can't wait!

Posted by Laura II @ 09/22/2003 08:17 PM PST

I love AMERICAN music!
Naxos, a budget CD label, is
issuing some WONDERFUL
recordings of some lesser-
known works by some great
American composers.
There's a great disc of two
symphonies composed by
Meredith Willson (you know,
the guy who composed "The
Music Man"), that I cannot
praise too highly. And stuff by
Aaron Copland, Roy Harris,
Walter Piston, Charles Ives,
Samuel Barber, George
Antheil...the list just goes on
and on.

Don't get me wrong, I love the
tradition Three "B's"
(Beethoven, Bach and
Brahms) and Mozart, too. But
there's something about
American music that just
seems to reach down into my
soul.

Posted by Robin @ 09/22/2003 08:17 PM PST

Dear Reader Robin: I think you are new in these parts. Welcome!

And welcome back, Freedunit!

Posted by Jay @ 09/22/2003 09:03 PM PST

MusicGuy sends his regards. I seem to have lost my voice today (I ought to be great at work tomorrow).

Thanks again to Ben and Ant for their cleverness.

And I'm always glad to hear for freedunit.

Posted by Kerry @ 09/22/2003 09:18 PM PST

For those of you in NYC: I am hearing what sound like small explosions coming from the direction of Long Island City. I don't think its thunder...anyone else hearing them, or is it just me?

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 09:18 PM PST

I believe that another word for "forbidden" might be "taboo".

Just a thought...

Posted by Dave @ 09/22/2003 09:31 PM PST

According to Playbill.com, TABOO doesn't start previews until Oct. 24. Maybe that date has changed...I dunno.

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 09:35 PM PST

Never fear about senility BK. It does not effect Sagitarians - we just become cuter.(and our spelling becomes worse)
On the topic of "pop" classics. I enjoy the Jerry Vale recordings. A more recent Neil Sedaka version did nothing for me. Related to odd recordings in our collection - a topic the other day - I have a Snuff Garrett recording where he had tried to "marry" C & W songs with popular classical themes. Not a happy marriage.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 10:29 PM PST

Just read the later posts. Indeed welcome back freedunit.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 10:32 PM PST

Time to talk to myself.I will go out on a limb here and say that I really enjoy ALW's "Variations".
To add to my much earlier list:
Joy (Apollo 100)
Carmen Boogie (the Crew Cuts)
Bumble Boogie (B Bumble & The Stingers)
A Fifth Of Beethoven (Walter Murphy)
Willam Tell Overture (Sounds Incorportated)
I've come Of Age (Billy Storm)
Emerald City (The Seekers)
House Of Johann Strauss (The Barron Knights)
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Deodata)

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/22/2003 11:08 PM PST

Hello, Everybody.

Jason, about Forbidden Broadway, yes, as I mentioned previously...

By the way, in the current cast Donna English is a terrific Forbidden Broadway performer. However, any appeal of Michael West eludes me entirely; he terrifies me—like Liza Minnelli on a bad day.

O.K. Now Bundt cake, without a plant in the center, for everybody.

Posted by freedunit @ 09/22/2003 11:34 PM PST

Yes, Donna English is wonderful. I got to see her do the role of Anna in THE KING AND I at Casa Manana in Dallas, and she was FANTASTIC! It was so funny, because I knew I recognized her voice, and then I realized she was the one who'd done the KING & I parody on the FORBIDDEN B'WAY STRIKES BACK! recording. What fun. And as far as Michael goes...I dunno. He was...um...interesting.

Posted by Jason @ 09/22/2003 11:44 PM PST

Here it is past midnight in L.A. and I'm just checking in.

TOPIC OF THE DAY
I'm not very well acquainted with classical music but, I'd say, my likes are in the same time period as BK's - late 19th century and 20th century. Here are a few of my favs ...

Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin)
Concerto in F (Gershwin)
Bolero (Ravel)
La Valse (Ravel)
Rodeo (Copeland)
Enigma Variations (Elgar)

ANSWERS TO THE ACTOR'S STUDIO QUESTIONS (from the weekend)
1. What is your favorite word?
More than one - a witty turn of phrase.
2. What is your least favorite word?
The F word. Especially when it is used in casual conversation.
3. What turns you on?
Intelligent conversation. Sitting in a darkened theater (movie or live) and being transported to another world. Frank Sinatra recordings - especially at his most contemplative (early 1960s). Dancing by Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse. Choreography by Agnes DeMille. The Martha Graham Dance Company. Really good acting.
4. What turns you off?
Rudeness. Negativity. Humourlessness. Dismissiveness. Being accused of having motives I never for an instant entertained. This last will immediately rouse my temper - and you definitely don't want to be anywhere near me when that happens!
5. What sound or noise do you love?
The audible click of the light switch in the kitchen and on my favorite desk table lamp.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The sound of guitars and violins. I don't know what it is except that to my sensibilities the sound is grating (like fingernails on a blackboard). This is probably why I favor Big Band recordings.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Damn! Damn! Damn! (oh, a Alan Jay Lerner/Professor Henry Higgins reference)
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
DONNA, YA DONE GOOD!

P.S. Did anyone catch the film "I'll Cry Tomorrow" on PBS this weekend? What a phenomenal job of acting by Susan Hayward. Definitely a well-deserved Oscar. Richard Conte was absolutely horrifying. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

P.P.S. Welcome back Freedunit.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 09/23/2003 12:37 AM PST

Count me in as another who loves ALW's Variations, since I've got three different recordings of the piece (original rock, Song and Dance, and symphonic).

Posted by S. Woody White @ 09/23/2003 01:32 AM PST

DR Donna: I used to avoid violin music but I am now addicted to the performances of Nigel Kennedy. Straight to the heart. My favourite is only a few minutes long - a piece from French composer Masenet mentioned above.
S Woody: Good to know I am not alone with my liking for the ALW Paganini Variations.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 09/23/2003 02:46 AM PST

I must clarify that I am not, I repeat, I am not "Figaro".

Fig yes, aro no.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 03:06 AM PST

Deserved an Oscar, yes...but Donna - Susan didn't win her Oscar until 1958 and I WANT TO LIVE! I think it was Anna Magnani who won in 1955 for THE ROSE TATTOO.

Common error. Everyone thinks Susan did win for I'LL CRY TOMORROW...and a lot of people think Jack Lemmon won for DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES...

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 03:30 AM PST

Music Guy - did you get my email? Thanks so much for the CD's!

Posted by Jrand53 @ 09/23/2003 03:31 AM PST

Jrand...
I looked in my reference book again and, by golly, you're right. Thanks for the correction. She was nominated for best actress and, in 1956, she won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival.

Posted by Donna @ 09/23/2003 04:48 AM PST

I'll go with Ravel's Pavanne for a Dead Princess.

Very rough night around here...

Posted by Noel @ 09/23/2003 05:29 AM PST

Dear Reader freedunit:

Welcome back, you truant and errant, and also errant and truant person, you! If you want to make an educated guess as to what show Craig is seeing, reread his post, and you'll see why the boy is so rosy about it.

Dear Reader Jason:

Oh no, Jason me lad, don't say you are seeing "CHICAGO 'starring' Ms. Melanie Banderas". You are seeing CHICAGO starring Mr. Brent (WSMA) Barrett.

Posted by William F. Orr @ 09/23/2003 05:31 AM PST

Aah, the joys of getting an extra hour of sleep. They gave school a two-hour delay today, because of flooding. SCORE! So I have another hour before I seriously need to get my butt in gear and get stuff done. SO I'm going BACK to sleep, you all have good days :)

Posted by Sarah @ 09/23/2003 05:47 AM PST

Add Faure's "Pavanne" to my list.

Posted by Kerry @ 09/23/2003 05:53 AM PST

On the subject of Pop songs influenced by Classical compositions, clever was The Hook from Blues Traveler:

There is something amiss
I am being insincere
In fact I don't mean any of this
Still my confession draws you near

Posted by Pachelbel's Canon in D @ 09/23/2003 06:12 AM PST