How I wish I'd been born 12 days earlier, so I could share a birthday with my favorite composer! Oh well, I'll get over it.
So, how are you celebrating Mahler's birthday? Putting on a symphony of his at full blast? Taking a hike and admiring nature? Personally, I think I'll blast the 5th symphony a little later today, but for right now, I'm celebrating with the 6th symphony, particularly with those kick ass hammer blows. Here's one by the amazing Chicago Symphony Orchestra, around 4:30. Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Heifetz the Hilarious
Who knew Heifetz was so funny? Here he is, imitating an audition he had to listen to. Hilarious stuff! (thanks to Miika for the link)
Mahler Mondays: Butler University Mahler/Germanic Creative Expression Project
I have such bad timing! I've moved away from Indianapolis, yet this coming year, Butler University is having a Mahler-fest! Oh well, I guess I'll just make the drive up. (Butler University, in case you don't know, is a private university in Indianapolis that was founded in 1855.)
This coming fall, Butler will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mahler's birth, along with commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and celebrating Germanic creative expression. That's a lot of things to celebrate!
The festivities include performances of some Mahler symphonies, and his one and only piece for wind ensemble. There will also be many films and lectures related to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Germanic creative expression, and even some opera.
The list of events isn't complete yet, but still, what is scheduled sounds promising, and highly interesting. I applaud Butler for choosing to hold such festivities, and I truly hope it is a success. I can't promise I'll make it to every single event, but I hope to make quite a few of them!
This coming fall, Butler will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mahler's birth, along with commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and celebrating Germanic creative expression. That's a lot of things to celebrate!
The festivities include performances of some Mahler symphonies, and his one and only piece for wind ensemble. There will also be many films and lectures related to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Germanic creative expression, and even some opera.
The list of events isn't complete yet, but still, what is scheduled sounds promising, and highly interesting. I applaud Butler for choosing to hold such festivities, and I truly hope it is a success. I can't promise I'll make it to every single event, but I hope to make quite a few of them!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Happy Birthday Mario!
I hope you all will join me in wishing Maestro Mario Venzago, the conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra a very happy birthday! Many happy returns, Maestro!
I have no idea what year the Maestro was born in---all I know is that I am THRILLED to bits that he was born. To say that I'm thankful for this man is an understatement; he truly has done wonders for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and for that (and a myriad of other reasons), I respect and admire Maestro Venzago a great deal.
This brilliant conductor has brought a vision to the ISO, and he has goals he wishes to accomplish, and I tell you friends, I can see this vision, and hear these goals on their way to being accomplished. The sound of the orchestra is vastly different than it was a few years ago, and the orchestra is on its way up, up, up!
So, Maestro, if you are reading this, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. I hope your day is filled with much joy and love (and perhaps some Mahler somewhere in there? Maybe?), and that you celebrate well. I hope you are surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones on this very special day!
Happy birthday Mario!
I have no idea what year the Maestro was born in---all I know is that I am THRILLED to bits that he was born. To say that I'm thankful for this man is an understatement; he truly has done wonders for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and for that (and a myriad of other reasons), I respect and admire Maestro Venzago a great deal.
This brilliant conductor has brought a vision to the ISO, and he has goals he wishes to accomplish, and I tell you friends, I can see this vision, and hear these goals on their way to being accomplished. The sound of the orchestra is vastly different than it was a few years ago, and the orchestra is on its way up, up, up!
So, Maestro, if you are reading this, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. I hope your day is filled with much joy and love (and perhaps some Mahler somewhere in there? Maybe?), and that you celebrate well. I hope you are surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones on this very special day!
Happy birthday Mario!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Mahler movies
I'm not much of a movie-goer. I mean, I'll go and see the new Harry Potter or Star Trek movie, but in general, sitting down for a few hours to watch a movie isn't my idea of a good time. (however, I'll gladly sit down for 7 episodes in a row of Lost, like I just did today. I'm nearly caught up--I just finished season 3.)
This coming week however, I have quite a large amount of spare time on my hands, and I'm going to be checking out a Mahler movie--actually two that come as one, entitled Conducting Mahler/I Have Lost Touch with the World, by filmmaker Frank Sheffer. After I watch it, I'll be sure to let you know what I think.
I'm wondering if any of you, dear readers, have watched any Mahler documentaries. I'll be honest--I have seen a few clips of What the Universe Tells Me about Mahler's 3rd symphony, but that's it. What about you? And what do you think of them? Are there any that you absolutely love, or completely hate? What would you recommend I check out next in my quest for Mahler DVDs?
Personally, I'd love to make my own Mahler movie. I wouldn't mind doing one about how I think Alma was far more responsible for Gustav's death than anyone/anything else. That would be pretty awesome. I've also thought about getting a video camera and taking it with me to concerts and making a little documentary of sorts of my next Mahler tour, but I'm no movie-making genius. (but when has something like that ever stopped me? I'm no Pulitzer Prize winning writer, yet I happily type away on my blog.) We'll see about the little documentary, although the idea of it right now sounds AWESOME, and my brain is all lit up right now, thinking about it and all the possibilities.
Anyway, back to reality for a moment: let me know if you've seen any Mahler movies, and what you think of them. Feel free to comment, or email me at mahlerowesmetenbucks at hotmail dot com.
This coming week however, I have quite a large amount of spare time on my hands, and I'm going to be checking out a Mahler movie--actually two that come as one, entitled Conducting Mahler/I Have Lost Touch with the World, by filmmaker Frank Sheffer. After I watch it, I'll be sure to let you know what I think.
I'm wondering if any of you, dear readers, have watched any Mahler documentaries. I'll be honest--I have seen a few clips of What the Universe Tells Me about Mahler's 3rd symphony, but that's it. What about you? And what do you think of them? Are there any that you absolutely love, or completely hate? What would you recommend I check out next in my quest for Mahler DVDs?
Personally, I'd love to make my own Mahler movie. I wouldn't mind doing one about how I think Alma was far more responsible for Gustav's death than anyone/anything else. That would be pretty awesome. I've also thought about getting a video camera and taking it with me to concerts and making a little documentary of sorts of my next Mahler tour, but I'm no movie-making genius. (but when has something like that ever stopped me? I'm no Pulitzer Prize winning writer, yet I happily type away on my blog.) We'll see about the little documentary, although the idea of it right now sounds AWESOME, and my brain is all lit up right now, thinking about it and all the possibilities.
Anyway, back to reality for a moment: let me know if you've seen any Mahler movies, and what you think of them. Feel free to comment, or email me at mahlerowesmetenbucks at hotmail dot com.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra blog
I have no idea how I missed this---the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has a blog now. It looks like the first post was June 1st! I never received any information about it, or heard about it, nor have I been to the ISO's website in a while, so that's why I had no idea about it.
There's only a few posts up right now, and I hope they will post entries on a regular basis. I'll wait a while before offering an opinion on the blog....they've just started up, and I'm interesting in seeing how it develops and fleshes itself out before commenting.
There's only a few posts up right now, and I hope they will post entries on a regular basis. I'll wait a while before offering an opinion on the blog....they've just started up, and I'm interesting in seeing how it develops and fleshes itself out before commenting.
Friday, June 19, 2009
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