Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
I have to admit that I clicked on the webcast with that a slight skeptism, despite my love for Wagner's operas. I was almost preparing to turn in after a long day earlier, if the first few minutes into...
View ArticleDer Ring des Nibelungen: Das Rheingold
The production of the legendary Der Ring des Nibelungen at Bayreuther Festspiele 2007 has started. Christian Thielemann will be conducting these four evenings of the entire cycle.Das Rheingold! Behold...
View ArticleDer Ring des Nibelungen: Die Walküre
Die Walküre, the First Day of the Ring, was on this evening, a continuation from Das Rheingold from the previous evening.I started listening from Act II on the Dwójka Polskie Radio this evening. Having...
View ArticleImagine...
... a few years down the road, what audiences will get at the Bayreuth Festspiele wouldn't be and exclusive seven evenings of only-Wagner operas, but instead, a mixture of other German operatic...
View ArticleAn Abhorrent System
In my entry to my new academic institution, I was recently introduced to their academic culture module. One of the first few concepts they emphasised was on independent learning and inquiry. Upon...
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Quirky Quote
First of all: I am not a fan of Regietheater: I firmly believe that it is 1% ignorance and 99% exibitionism.But the case of Kathi is slightly different: perhaps her mix is 30% smartness and 70%...
View ArticleDer Ring des Nibelungen
*Note: This is not a review or an attempt at that. Just some personal opinions from a greenhorn to the Wagner scene.*This grand opera of Wagner for the Bayreuth Festspiele '07 ends this evening with...
View ArticleA Special Mention
This evening's performance was by far the most enriching and special artistic performance which I've gone to this year. I shall talk about this in my upcoming post...However, it wasn't the performance...
View ArticleOn Playing in a Group that Isn't So Good
(...)For me it’s simply playing my best. I don’t attempt to play the group’s best. Believe it or not, that’s an easy thing for us to do sometimes. (Now if the group is better than I am, I definitely...
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Performance Afterthoughts
It has been a hectic week preparing for this performance. Not a traditional classical music setting, but playing live music for storytelling. In fact, it was the first time I was playing for a...
View ArticleTastes
I have observed that artistes (with artistes-at-heart and patrons of the arts) often seek to cultivate good tastes in the society and economists, on the other hand, have come up with theories and...
View ArticleA Strangest Experience
I apologise for the long hiatus! Thanks to Janice's comment, which reminded me that I still have this blog! It has been decades since I've last updated this place. Things have been really busy ever...
View ArticleNature and Art
Things are beautiful, the representations of art succeed, to the extent that,through the clarity and significance of their form, they direct our attention to the 'innermost being' of the world. They...
View ArticleArticle 10
I have no reason to disagree that her version of the Chaconne was what Bach has intended...
View ArticleIn a Quiet Corner of A Certain Local Newspaper Today...
Best Classical Performances in 20072Wagner Die Walkure Walküre (oh, please, not without the German Umlaut), Act 1...The first-ever concert performance of a "bleeding chunk" from Wagner's Ring Cycle in...
View ArticleDeutschlandlied (German National Anthem)
I didn't know that Germany's national anthem was actually the second movement of Haydn's String Quartet No. 62 in C maj (Op. 76 No. 3), more commonly known as the Emperor Quartet, until I chanced upon...
View ArticleIntense Lyricism
Having to acquaint myself with Mahler's colossal Symphony No. 3 in a day and a half is no mean feat. The approximately-90-minute long work (longest among all his symphonies) can be incredibly beautiful...
View ArticleEighth Annual Weblog Awards (2008)
Alex Ross: The Rest Is Noise has been nominated for the best weblog for music. If you truly enjoy his articles, blog and of course, his book (a must-read!), make your way down to vote for him here!
View ArticleI Am an Amateur...
I have spoken to many people about art (covering much more than simply music itself), from people who have no idea what is art to artistic professionals who do it for a living. In those conversations,...
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On Brahms and a Waitress...
It was a quiet day in Hamburg. With his flight in the late evening, he had a couple of hours more to roam the city. He walked into a Café and found himself a seat by the window to watch the city pass...
View ArticleBetween Wagner & Tango
I had my recess week last week. Had intended to sit through a listening of a Wagner opera last week, but apparently, I was too distracted by tango to sit quietly in my room for just that couple of...
View ArticleBravissimo
I might have found a new favourite after Michelle Kwan.There seems to be a lot of dispute over the judges' results in the short program. I think there may some biasness involved, but I really don't...
View ArticleBayreuther Festspiele 2008
The dates of this year's Bayreuther Festspiele are out. It runs from 25th July to 28th August.25 July Parsifal I26 July Tristan I27 July Meistersinger I28 July Rheingold I29 July Walküre I31 July...
View ArticleInternal Chemical Reactions
"Do you think music has the power to change people? Like you listen to a piece and go through some major change inside?"Oshima nodded. "Sure, that can happen. We have an experience - like a chemical...
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