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09-08-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	61
Post ID:	20032
Reply to:	20030

Bye-bye England

We left England, talking a long route to Scotland across Cambridge, York and all the way north to Loch Ness. Love England and absolutely fall in love with London. The last few days we spent in London did explained to me why Amy consider London the best city in the world. From now I am sure we will be a frequent visitors in London. I have no option to deal with all files now as I deal with iPad - a freaky machine that I am not tuned with. Will be back in the end of the week and get the B8 files.

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-11-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	62
Post ID:	20040
Reply to:	19328

The last day.

We are departing today from Edinburgh after 3 days ride over Scotland Highland and the island of Skye. Looking back to the 14 days I would say that among many very interesting new sensations that we consumed there was nothing to me as strong as to hear for the first time the RSC production of Hamlet. What comes to me is that if you look how Jonathan Slinger delivers the Hamlet's lines and his he accents the prefixes and endings of the words then you can see some eerie similarity with the way how Glen Gould played Bach, when he virtually converted piano notes into harpsichord-like actions. Take a listen yourself and imagine that Royal Shakespeare Company delivered 3 hours of like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0o36T3sZI

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-11-2013

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manisandher
London
Posts 158
Joined on 09-05-2008

Post #:	63
Post ID:	20041
Reply to:	20040

Safe trip

Romy the Cat wrote:
We are departing today from Edinburgh after 3 days ride over Scotland Highland and the island of Skye. Looking back to the 14 days I would say that among many very interesting new sensations that we consumed there was nothing to me as strong as to hear for the first time the RSC production of Hamlet.

Romy, as a Brit, I'm glad you and Amy had a good time in the UK. I live in Leamington Spa, a stone's throw from Stratford-upon-Avon, and will be going to see Hamlet myself, along with my wife, next week. Thanks for the 'review'.
(I would have happily invited you both to our house during your travels, but didn't think you'd be interested in hearing my setup... or my taste in music.)
Mani.

09-11-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	64
Post ID:	20042
Reply to:	20040

The Scotland land: what a woman!

I was not “getting” the Scotland unit today, just before Amy fed me 25 years old, cask-strength Laphroaig. Then she packed baggage with Cohibas that she “bought for herself” and issued 5 vouchers for listening chair in-house smoking. I am telling you that after this Laphroaig with local Edinburg cheeses I was so close to pull my trousers off, grab Scotland skirt and to run to nearby store to buy that ridicules bag-pipe….

Posted from airport. Tomorrow it will be another day in office….

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-12-2013

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JJ Triode
Posts 99
Joined on 09-12-2007

Post #:	65
Post ID:	20043
Reply to:	20042

Scots terminolgy

Romy, the world is kilt. Not skirt. Kilt. The Scots will turn YOU into a haggis if they catch you mixing that up.

Seriously, It's nice you posted a picture with Amy. Now when you mention her we'll have an image to go with the name.

You mentioned bagpipes--do you think any bagpipe or other Celtic music can be of serious interest? I don't necessarily mean audio interest, but music/cultural interest.

Regds

JJ

09-12-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	66
Post ID:	20044
Reply to:	20043

Scotland and Music

JJ Triode wrote:
You mentioned bagpipes--do you think any bagpipe or other Celtic music can be of serious interest? I don't necessarily mean audio interest, but music/cultural interest.

JJ, I have no idea. Amy loves bagpipes and she actively solicited ways to hear them. We did not catch any good bagpipes play during out trip and as little as we heard bagpipes during the trip was very bad playing. I am less optimistic in my love of bagpipes and with very little exception I find them annoying. The little exception comes from very idiosyncratic nasal tone and very creative playing – I heard it a few times well done here in US.
About Celtic music and bagpipes having “serious” interest? I do not find it to be interesting but I can only relate to myself and in this connotation I substitute “serious” with “personal”. I very much presume that if a person has some rooting and some familiarity with Celtic culture then she or he might find own “serious” in Celtic music. I personally do not but it means very little for those who do.

I have to admit that Scotland scenery are not very much suitable for the music we played. We blasted at full volume Mahler Resurrection riding over the mounts of Isle of Skye. It was interning but it was clear disassociation of viewable and auditable in my view. It was much better when we switch to Bruckner and were crossing the Glen Coe valley. We hit the valley at sunset as the Sun was just bursting right across the valley, lighting up the mounts like candles. It was “better” but it was not the perfect match as Scotland just pretty to the contrast of Bruckner that in my view requires more monumental and more colossal scenery. Mendelssohn composed his 3rd Symphony and Hebrides overture that probably would be the right music for the surrounding.

I need to admit that I was not a fully tuned to any music as my years were constantly pierced by Amy’s screaming. She was sitting at the dangers side of the car (British driving) and I drove in some cases like a maniac – so we had more “the conversations” then actually we listened music... :-) She is very impressible driver, like all women are but she has something that saves her sweet ass – she is a phenomenal navigator. She has some “things” with maps and with knowing where the things are located. Very freaky at first but very useable…

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-12-2013

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rickmcinnis
Posts 60
Joined on 10-18-2010

Post #:	67
Post ID:	20045
Reply to:	20043

Amy is lovely and so is London

Glad to hear you had a great time and agree with the previous post, it is good to get a glimpse of Amy.
Hope the trip home is uneventful.
Take care,

09-12-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	68
Post ID:	20047
Reply to:	20045

Loch Ness pleasure….

I did my very best to disguise myself as I am a local Scottish fellow. I bought a ridicules hat and smoked only British tobacco but I guess it was not enough. We spend a phenomenally pleasant nigh in a desolate but remarkably cute hotel on a bank of Loch Ness Lake. Now I understand why Any complained that in New England no one make those sticky puddings as they do in Brittan islands. Amyhow, here is the picture of me at Loch Ness that Amy took.

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-13-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	69
Post ID:	20050
Reply to:	20047

The Avatar syndrome.

Here it came. During the last 14 days we woke up each morning in the different cities, discovered new cathedrals and castles, saw wonderful made of nature and phenomenal examples architecture and human ingenuity. We saw Mousetrap, The Privet Lives, A Doll's House, Hamlet and one part of Henry VI, we drunk great wine and eat stimulating food. Now I am back to home and I stimulate myself with ability to park my lawn mower in reverse into the shad, with skills to pick a fresh bagel in Dunkin Donald and with advance techniques to tolerate the idiot boss at work. The Avatar syndrome indeed...

A friend of my told me that if you want to keep my life “colorful” then I need to use a lot of drags. Well, I do not know how about that. With all seriousness, I do not find that my normal life home is boring and I like how I live. Still, I wonder if any way how to have the mundane and dally routine that were all are burdened with as stimulating and as inspiring as the best day of our vacation? That is kind of existential question and not particularly something that requires answers. Just sharing….

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-13-2013

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decoud
United Kingdom
Posts 247
Joined on 03-01-2008

Post #:	70
Post ID:	20051
Reply to:	20050

Geocoincidence

There are two cities on earth where luxuriant variety -- along most dimensions of life -- is concentrated in one place, so any vacation is never more than a mile away. You just need to move to one of them...

09-14-2013

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rogier
Posts 13
Joined on 11-16-2006

Post #:	71
Post ID:	20055
Reply to:	20050

Back from vacation...

There is an old saying collect memories , not stuff.
Tomorrow i visit my parents-in-law in Armenia and coming time will see me roaming the beautiful landscape and visiting the many music-venues in Yerevan but it's only for this 4 weeks, the rest of the year we'll have to do it with the memory of what we've done in that short time(and watch pics and vids and listen CD's bought).
Vacation should always be in your mind...

rogier

09-15-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	72
Post ID:	20059
Reply to:	20017

What a play!!!

Romy the Cat wrote:
Please, please, please, the British folks, make sure that you have download, record or whatever you do the last night Bruckner 8 performance. Leave the hornblende Bach plaing in the first part alone and preserve that Brucker. Lorin Maazel is gineus and the interpretation that interpretation that he showed last night was each high magnitude that it instantly in my mind elevated him to the most able Brucker conductors alave. Discard occasional bad play of VPO. The performance last nitght was much much deeper in the meaning. Lucky we who were there as it was truly life time opportunity to hear Bruckner 8 as it was. Lorin Maazel must to take Viana Philarmonic to one of those German churches and to live to as a recording.

I was listening yesterday and today the Lorin Maazel performance of Bruckner 8 from the Proms two weeks ago. I was listening it again and the more I am listening the more I am shocked how stunning smart Maazel plays Bruckner. Do not run in a store and buy Maazel’s Bruckner. Whatever he did with Bruckner before was not good. During the proms it was a complete transformation and listening the recording I have no idea where from all that phenomenal brilliance came to Lorin Maazel.

Vienna Philharmonic did not good job at all, particularly during the first two movements. Perhaps after Musikverein they sat in the horrible Royal Albert Hall and were not able to hear each other. I do not know what was going on with them. If they play well, as they perfectly able to play then this performance from the Proms would be literally the panicle immortal performance, entering the realm of Matacic 7 or Giulini 9. The bad play of Vienna will be most likely an assurance that the recording of the event never will be released – an incredible shame as I would very much would like to have it.
Again, me greatest compliment to Lorin Maazel – what a play!!!

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-16-2013

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cv
Derby, United Kingdom
Posts 173
Joined on 09-15-2004

Post #:	73
Post ID:	20062
Reply to:	20059

The VPO/Maazel at the Albert Hall...

I can well imagine the heat in the hall was making them a bit drowsy - and perhaps their touring schedule - of which, as far as performances of the Eighth go:

Sat, 7. September 2013
Redefin, Germany
Landgestüt Redefin, Reithalle Gestüt Redefin

Wed, 11. September 2013
Paris, France
Théatre des Champs-Elysées

Sat, 14. September 2013
Lucerne, Switzerland
Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre

Thu, 19. September 2013
Vienna, Austria
Musikverein, Golden Hall

Tue, 24. September 2013
Linz, Austria
Brucknerhaus Linz, Large Hall

09-16-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	74
Post ID:	20063
Reply to:	20062

VPO at the Albert Hall

It is hard to say what happened to them. Earlier this year we heard them in Carnegie Hall with Bruckner 5 and they demonstrated pretty much the same play. It is kind of interesting as they do have an amassing class of playing. Not by reputation but by the actual playing and it is very clear might be heard during the event at Albert Hall. Some very complex things they did very extremely complicated and extremely beautifully, at the same time then sometimes, and particularly at the beginning were failing some very simplistic things.

Still, so not let my criticism of a few VPO members to destruct you from a truly stunning performance. With all problems that VPO demonstrated you will need to go over 100s of performances of Bruckner 8 and you would hardly ever come across as beautiful as the one from Albert Hall 2 weeks back. The VPO bloopers are occasional, mostly at beginning and no uglier than any other mid-town orchestra playing live. You will very soon forget it. The core of VPO sound is still very much there and a full blow of VPO, lash, unhurried, orgasmaticly gradual and painfully tonal still will blow your mind with this music. I wish everyone who read this site listen this Albert Hall performance for a few times. THIS music in THIS interpretation is as high-end listening as it could be.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-16-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	75
Post ID:	20064
Reply to:	20063

From Lorin Maazel personal blog.

The Six Thousand-Strong Roar Sep 8, 2013 - Royal Albert Hall

Phenomenal...utterly, totally, unimaginably phenomenal:
the awesome audience response at the Royal Albert Hall
at the conclusion of the Vienna Philharmonic's performance
on September 6 of Austria's Mother's Milk:
Anton Bruckner's Eighth Symphony.
In my over sixty years of conducting concerts...including some at the Proms....I have never
experienced such a joyous, roaring ring
coming from the throats of six-thousand enthralled humans,
erupting just as the sound of the last note became history.
Yes, we had given our all.
Yes, the VPO's Wagner tubas made sounds to die.
Yes, the VPO strings made their mark yet again.
Yes, I was especially "with it".
Yes, the 1890 version of Bruckner's Eight won the day.
But to witness in our time to what degree a knowledgeable, young,
mostly standing group of music-lovers can become part of a
Trip Second to None,
reinforces my belief that Classical Music in today's discordant world
has an increasingly relevant role to play.

- Lorin Maazel

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-17-2013

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guy sergeant
United Kingdom
Posts 260
Joined on 08-03-2004

Post #:	76
Post ID:	20065
Reply to:	20064

Download

If anyone wants to hear this performance (recorded from FM) the download links are below.

1st Movement

http://snk.to/f-c7jiw9mh

2nd Movement

http://snk.to/f-c7j5w9mh

3rd Movement Pt1

http://snk.to/f-ch9sb58p

3rd Movement Pt2

http://snk.to/f-c7ui2j9t

4th Movement Pt1

http://snk.to/f-chm0rflj

4th Movement Pt2

http://snk.to/f-c7c9epnx

(I had to split the 3rd & 4th Movements at suitable silent moments as the files were too large otherwise)

EDIT. I've now changed the link for the 1st Mov't as I'd put the wrong one up.

09-17-2013

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Romy the Cat

Boston, MA
Posts 10,159
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #:	77
Post ID:	20066
Reply to:	20065

Do download and Do listen

I appreciate that Guy made the FM recording available. If you listen the Guy’s files then make sure that you combine the files before listening as to interrupt Bruckner movements is sacrilegious. The whole Bruckner presentation come as one longer meditative and highly continues journey, there is absolutely room in there from switching the files.

Below is a link of all 4 movements with announcer. This is not FM copy but 128Bit MP3 file, so kindly made by decoud, decoud I am sure you do not mind.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7lbzwj3h5uhmj1w

BTW, Guy I do not know what you did with the files but the copy you offered while I was in UK and that one that I downloaded was substantially worse than the one that you have above. If they are the same files then I have no idea why as the former file had much higher compression and a lot of noise.

Anyhow, with all technical mambo-jumbo aside do download the version you like as have an amassing rude over the Bruckner’s mountains and valleys. In the Maazel’s hands it is truly wonderful.

The Cat

"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche

09-17-2013

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guy sergeant
United Kingdom
Posts 260
Joined on 08-03-2004

Post #:	78
Post ID:	20067
Reply to:	20066

Difference

That's interesting. The versions I sent you were the continuous uninterrupted recordings as burnt to two separate CD's, ie one for Mov'ts 1&2 and the other for Mov'ts 3&4. But they were sent via a different file sharing system (wetransfer.com). That required them to be uploaded to their server & the links sent to you. But the above is via a more conventional public file sharing system. It does have a 200MB filesize limit so I needed to split 3 & 4. I've no idea why they should be different in terms of noise/sound quality though. I should post you the two original discs!

09-18-2013

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JJ Triode
Posts 99
Joined on 09-12-2007

Post #:	79
Post ID:	20068
Reply to:	20066

Guy's upload from FM

I want to thank Romy for recommending this performance and Guy for his fine FM-to-CD recording and upload. I have to say, though, that I encountered some problems when I downloaded the 3rd movement files. In part 1 of the 3rd movement, all sound cuts off abruptly at about 9:16 minutes into the track, despite that it is nominally some 18 minutes long. At the end of the 3rd movement, part 2, the sound cuts off a few seconds too early, when the final few chords are still playing.

Did anyone else notice these glitches? If not, I will attempt to download the 3rd movement again, as the files may have been corrupted in transmission. If others notice the same problem, then Guy needs to upload these two tracks again, assuming the tracks are OK on his live-to-disk CD.

Thanks,
JJ

09-18-2013

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guy sergeant
United Kingdom
Posts 260
Joined on 08-03-2004

Post #:	80
Post ID:	20069
Reply to:	20068

Re-edited 3rd Movement

I'm not sure why your 3rd Movement Pt1 should stop at 9:16. The recording doesn't have that problem.

Anyhow, I've re-edited the beginnings & ends of Pt1 & Pt2 to make them complete and the transition as it should be.

Here are the new links.

B8 3rd Movement Pt1 re edit

http://snk.to/f-chpfb58p

B8 3rd Movement Pt2 re edit

http://snk.to/f-c7k8gi5k

Incidentally I can put up the Bruckner 7 Romy went to if people are interested.

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