This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s unfinished Symphony No. 9 in D Minor WAB 109 (dedicated “to the beloved God”) is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014). I first encountered Maestro Maazel on Day 9 in my 144-day project. On that day, he interpreted Bruckner’s First. Then again on Day 25, Symphony No. 2. Then again on … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 in C Minor (WAB 108), nicknamed “The Apocalyptic,” although I don’t know why, is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014). I first encountered Maestro Maazel on Day 9 in my 144-day project. On that day, he interpreted Bruckner’s First. Then again on Day 25, Symphony No. 2. Then … [Read more…]
My listening space this morning – back at the grocery store. I love getting here before anyone else does and watching the sun rise. Makes me feel all productive and sly. This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major (WAB 107) is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014). I first encountered Maestro Maazel … [Read more…]
Happy New Year! This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major (WAB 106) is Vienna-born Roberto Paternostro (1957?-), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. And, truth be told, I still know very little about him since there’s scant … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning is Big Apple Bagels. At this hour, no one else is here – which suits me just fine. It’s just me, my wife, and the Smooth Jazz that often plays in establishments trying hard to be cultured. Me? I have no need of culture. I have Anton Bruckner, as rendered by … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major (WAB 105) – nicknamed “Tragic,” “Church of Faith,” or “Pizzicato” symphony (for reasons I’m still discovering), is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014). I had never heard of Maazel prior to the start of my 144-day project 73 days ago. I’m not going to lie. … [Read more…]
Before I type a word about my project this morning, I need to express my sorrow at the passing of Greg Lake, the “L” of ELP, and one of the founding members of King Crimson. I interviewed Greg at length via phone in the mid to late 1990s. I met him in London, and then … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major (WAB 104), titled “Romantic” by Bruckner himself, is Vienna-born Roberto Paternostro (1957?-), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. And, truth be told, still know very little about since there’s … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3 in D Minor (WAB 103), nicknamed “Wagner,” is American Lorin Maazel (1930-2014), a person about whom I knew nothing and, in fact, of whom I had never heard until I started this project. I encountered Mr. Maazel twice before in this 144-day musical journey: On Day … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s “Symphony of Pauses” (Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, WAB 102) is Vienna-born Roberto Paternostro (1957?-), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. Here’s what I wrote the about him on Day 11: Given how little there … [Read more…]