Classical Music II

[hectorberlioz]

Yeah, but they aren't necessarily the same group of people . Mesageboard people don't usually play an instrument. And people who play an instrument don't usually join a messageboard

[hectorberlioz]

Recently I've been listening to Mahler's "Das Lied von Der Erde," and to the two symphonies by Eward Elgar.

[katya]

So, tonight I'm feeling a surge of undying love for Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor. I've heard it so many times but I can't get enough of it.

By the way Hector, yes, I was sleeping.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by katya

So, tonight I'm feeling a surge of undying love for Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor. I've heard it so many times but I can't get enough of it.

By the way Hector, yes, I was sleeping.

Hehe, sorry It's been ages since I talked to you though! What if I snet you a....letter?

Grieg's Piano Concerto is awesome. You should also keep an eye out for Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto. The two are often paired together on CDs.

[katya]

Yes, I've heard they're very similar. I'll definitely keep an eye out for it.

[hectorberlioz]

Awesome .

I recently ordered a set of the eight symphonies by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara. Hopefully they're waiting for me at home. I'll give a report on them soon enough...

[Mari]

I've been listening to some of the stuff in my classical collection again tonight.
Right now I'm listening to parts of Scheherazade. Unfortunately I do not have the whole piece, but the atmosphere is great

[hectorberlioz]

Honestly, Amazon.Com is the WORST for shipping stuff slow. Individual sellers ship a lot faster.

In other words: Where are my CDs you fools!

[hectorberlioz]

Just arrived in the mail. In the process of listening...

[Voronwen]

I admit that i have not yet read through this entire long thread, but it's good to see so much love for classical music here!

My favorite composers are Mozart (my all-time favorite), also Vivaldi and Corelli (i LOVE Baroque!!!! the "pastorale" from Corelli's Christmas Concerto was my wedding march ), Handel and Purcell.

I sing lots of Baroque and Classical period music as a light lyric soprano, so i have a special place in my heart for the operatic and oratorio works of these periods.

Favorite opera: The Magic Flute

Lately i've had an hours-long list of Mozart symphonies, piano concerti and divertimenti playing non-stop. I have a similar list of Vivaldi that gets played almost as much!

I'm such an 18th century girl!

I appreciate music of later periods though, as well, especially Dvořák - his Cello Concerto is my favorite.

Mmmm... now i want to hear my Dvořák playlist.


Edited to ask: Are there any other classical singers here?

[hectorberlioz]

Hi Voronwen!

As a matter of fact, Tessar is a singer. I believe he sings bass and tenor.

Dvorak is my second-favorite composer ever (after my namesake), and Mozart is way up there for me too (Symphony No.38 especially). Vivaldi is special to me: he has a wildness to his music that most other Baroque composer's didn't even approach. Have you heard his Concerto rv558? It's my favorite of his, which employs some unusual instruments as well. There's a wonderful disc on the Harmonia Mundi label called "Concertos for the Prince of Poland," which contains that particular concerto. I highly recommend it!

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Hi Voronwen!

As a matter of fact, Tessar is a singer. I believe he sings bass and tenor.

I wish I could sing Bass and Tenor . Operatically I can't, but I guess I do, chorally.

I've sung the Tenor II line before on a few occasions, but I get paid to sing the Bass II line. Chorally speaking I actually fit best into the Bass I part, but operatically speaking I'm a lyric baritone...


I am also a fan of baroque music. In fact my 'audition' piece for the moment is Si Tra I Ceppi by Handel. I love to sing it, and it's so easy that I can sing it whether I'm sick or healthy, but it's still a really interesting piece.

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

There's a wonderful disc on the Harmonia Mundi label called "Concertos for the Prince of Poland," which contains that particular concerto. I highly recommend it!

Hello and thank you for the rec, hectorberlioz!

And hello, Tessar! Ah, lyric baritone... my favorite male voice... My husband would be one, too, if only he would let me train him a little (he has sung in choirs and has a lovely smooth voice, though he thinks he can't sing! I believe anyone can learn... but i digress).

So, are you up for the "Bei mannern" duet from the Magic Flute? I'm a Pamina!

[Tessar]

Oh of course! I love Magic Flute! I'm hoping to do a scene as Papageno when I go to an opera workshop this summer... but I wont know what I've been assigned for probably another week or two.

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by Tessar

I'm hoping to do a scene as Papageno when I go to an opera workshop this summer

Wonderful!! Have fun with that!

[Tessar]

Apparently I will be singing the duets from the beginning of Marriage of Figaro, one of the quintets from the Magic Flute, and some modern opera called "Gallantry." In Figaro I will, naturally, be Figaro. In Flute I'll be Pappageno. In Gallantry I'll be Dr. Gregg... it sounds like a very weird little opera, but I'm betting it'll be fun!

I'm so excited!

[Voronwen]

Oh, congratulations, Tessar! It does sound like you'll be having fun. I've never heard of "Gallantry" either, but you can't go wrong with all that Mozart! Good ol' Wolfie!!!

And, the Quintet!!!! That's SO much fun! If i'm guessing the right one (the one in the first act with Papageno, Tamino, and the Three Ladies), i think - though i don't have the score in front of me - that your only word will be "Hm" I know the First Lady's part in that one, having studied that role.

Modern opera can be interesting, definitely a learning experience. Last year my teacher gave me "Be Kind and Courteous" from Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (Tytania's aria), and i performed it in a concert. It was definitely one of the more unusual pieces i've worked on.

[Tessar]

Yes, I'll be doing a lot of, "Hm hm hm HM HM HM, hm hm hm, hm hm hm, HM HM HM, hm hm hm hm!" But then they do take the lock off about 1/3rd of the way through, so I'll have a few lines to sing .


I had not heard Be Kind And Courteous before... I like some of the stuff Britton did, but I'm not super fond of his music in general. What an odd, but definitely beautiful, aria! I'll bet learning it was a pain in the tush tho'... doesn't seem like the piano ever gives you much of a hint on where to go!

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by Tessar

I'll bet learning it was a pain in the tush tho'... doesn't seem like the piano ever gives you much of a hint on where to go!

This is the case with most modern music, from what i've gathered from other singers (i have not done very much of it, myself, as i'm more of a "baroque specialist" type). It IS a pain, in some ways, but the learning process can be very rewarding as it's fun to sing. Tytania's aria is beautiful, yes, and sits in a relentlessly high tessitura, so it was indeed difficult to learn on many levels. Once i got it into my voice and got a feel for the accompaniment though, it was lots of fun.

You'll have to keep us posted on your experience with the summer program! I'm always interested in what other singers are up to. You are, i'm guessing, going for a career? I was at one time, myself, but silly girl that i am, gave it up to get married No regrets, though. I still sing locally, every chance i get, still take lessons, and stay in practice. It's an addiction, isn't it? I once heard someone say that we don't choose music, music chooses us, and that it's not something we can ever truly walk away from because it will eventually just find us again.

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by Voronwen

You'll have to keep us posted on your experience with the summer program! I'm always interested in what other singers are up to.

Oh, same here. I LOVE hearing all about what other singers are up to, and whenever they learn anything new about a piece of music or their technique or just... anything. I love it.

You are, I'm guessing, going for a career? I was at one time, myself, but silly girl that i am, gave it up to get married No regrets, though.

I'm glad you're okay with your choice! Unfortunately I know too many singers who seem to regret having given up the chance at a career for a family... and I never really know what to say to them. O_o

Yes, I am aiming for a career. Originally I wasn't because I thought I had no potential... but my most recent teacher told me that he thought I had some potential, and a guy I took a lesson from today (whom I respect very much) told me that at this point he thinks the only reason I would fail to be capable of having a career is if I do something stupid. So I have my fingers crossed big time and I'm workin' my butt off .

I doubt I'll ever sing a lead at the Met. or anything, but hopefully getting leading roles at some slightly smaller opera companies wont be out of my grasp.

I still sing locally, every chance i get, still take lessons, and stay in practice. It's an addiction, isn't it? I once heard someone say that we don't choose music, music chooses us, and that it's not something we can ever truly walk away from because it will eventually just find us again.

I honestly think that's true. Some people just... they seem like they're going into singing because it's what they've always done and they figure they'll be good at it, not because they really, truly want it.

But some people, and I like to think I'm one of them, are just so passionate about it that we couldn't see ourselves doing anything else. I went into music even though I was afraid I had no potential, which in retrospect is really stupid... but thankfully it seems to be working itself out .

I think you're probably a great example of that passionate attitude, too.

Who do you take lessons from?