I made it! Today is the last day of my 144-day journey of discovery of the conductors who and symphonies that interpreted Anton Bruckner’s nine major symphonies. It’s also the last time I will set foot in a Panera restaurant. Yesterday, I had to leave one Panera because their Internet kept slowing down to a … [Read more…]
This morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s unfinished Symphony No. 9 in D Minor WAB 109 (dedicated “to the beloved God”) is Kurt Masur (1927-2015), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. Maestro Masur was born in Germany and died in December, 2015, at … [Read more…]
This is the last day of listening to Bruckner’s Eighth! Tomorrow starts a new chapter – Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, which (as Nigel Tufnel tells us) is “the saddest of all keys.” Actually, this time Nigel may be right since Anton Bruckner died before he could finish his Ninth. This morning’s conductor … [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 Kurt Masur (1927-2015), another person about whom I knew nothing and of whom I had never heard until I started this project. Maestro Masur was born in Germany and died in December, … [Read more…]
The last day of listening to Bruckner’s Seventh! Tomorrow starts a new chapter… …and the countdown to me seeing Daniel Barenboim at Carnegie Hall next weekend. But, for now, this morning’s conductor of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 in E Major (WAB 107) is German-born Gunter Wand (1912-2002). The orchestra is Kolner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester. Back when … [Read more…]
Today is Martin Luther King Day in America. Given that, I believe it’s a good time to remind myself of Dr. King’s wisdom: Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Man must evolve … [Read more…]
Today is the last time I’ll listen to Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major – at least, for the time being. Tomorrow, I start back at the beginning of my Bruckner cycle…with Daniel Barenboim – only this time with Symphony No. 7. But that’s tomorrow. Today is German-born Gunter Wand (1912-2002). The orchestra … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning, the local grocery store with a cafeteria and free wifi. Time is 8:04am. I’ve been here since 7am. One of the things I love to do is watch the sun come up. When I do so, I feel all conspiratorial and industrious, like I’m doing something sly by being out here … [Read more…]
Today is the last day for me to listen to Bruckner’s Fifth. Tomorrow starts a brand new symphony, Bruckner’s Sixth. But that’s tomorrow. 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 German-born Gunter … [Read more…]
My “office” this morning is one of the many Panera restaurants in town. For the record, I dislike Panera immensely. I think their service is terrible, their food is mediocre, and their music is loud and obnoxious. Yet, they’re nearly the only game in town at 6am. So, this is where I often find myself. … [Read more…]