Ding! Round 4!

Recording of the Week: Mahler Symphony No. 5
San Francisco Symphony
Michael Tilson Thomas, conducting




There must be something seriously wrong with me. Today I auditioned for the DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) program at the U. I just can't get enough of school! The audition went well and they seemed very interested in me. The program there is solid, much improved since my days there 8 years ago. We'll see if they make me an offer I can't refuse!

The Salt Lake Symphony is taking on the phenominal task of Mahler's 5th Symphony next weekend so I will be spending my week practicing that. I like the San Fran. Symphony's recording with Michael Tilson Thomas. You MUST come to the concert just to hear the Adagietto. Simply stunning.

Recording of the Week

Vivaldi-- Four Violin Concertos
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Israel Philharmonic




Since several of my violin students will be playing Vivaldi concertos this year and I will soon be teaching the Baroque period in my class at SLCC, I thought this would be a good recording to post. Even if you are not a music freak like I am, you will enjoy Vivaldi's concertos. There's a reason they are timeless. Lovely, elegant, classic. Try them!

Recordings of the Week

Chopin Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Krystian Zimerman
Polish Festival Orchestra

Holst: The Planets
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
James Levine, Conducting

Ok, I couldn't choose so I posted 2 recordings this week. I heard this recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 on sirius radio the other day and thought it was fantastic. It's so great to be back at work at SLCC. I am teaching 2 classes this semester, doing my best to convince these eager young students that going to the symphony and the opera is FUN! We'll see if they buy it. They did last semester! Today I gawked and gooed over The Planets so I thought I would post my favorite recording. You can't get much better than the Chicago Symphony!

Recording of the Week

Brahms Violin Concerto

Itzahk Perlman

Berlin Philharmonic, Daniel Barenboim, conducting

Wow! I just realized how long it's been since I posted a recording. Sorry to my students! This is my all-time favorite rendition of the Brahms Violin Concerto. Although I do love Anne-Sophie Mutter and Hilary Hahn, this is still the best.

Recording of the Week

Renee Fleming
Works by Puccini, Massenet, Bizet, Catalani

A beautiful woman with a beautiful voice, Renee Flemming is the hottest thing in opera these days. Anything her voice touches turns to gold. Her singing is pure, lush, and powerful without being overbearing or distracting. She is a real artist. Even if you don't like opera, you will fall in love with Fleming.

Christmas on the River

That was the title of this weekend's concert in Kansas City. Interesting...Anyhoo, another concert down, a few more to go until my artist's diploma. Yay! This was an interesting weekend in KC. I have now been hammered again for the millionth time on "when am I going to switch to viola?" The answer is...I don't know. I'm hoping to be hit over the head with an answer very soon, at least before I turn 30!

Last year, when I was playing viola, the KC Star did an article on the music program at Park U. Paul Horsely did a nice article that was on the front page of the arts section (with a picture of the back of my head). Here is a link to the article and the clips of us playing:

http://sb1.thefifthnetwork.com/VCMS/Player.aspx?id=67051ef1-8609-4194-a38a-732f97a5e041&PlayerTemplateId=95a123a6-2be0-4450-97bf-07abbf425f4d&videoGUID=9A45FFAB-787D-4ABF-A302-C3155569A82E&channelId=ID0EFF

Recording of the Week

Romance of the Violin--Joshua Bell, Violin

Acadamy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Ok, not to sound like a giddy high-school girl, but I LOVE this recording. I LOVE Joshua Bell on this recording. I have been criticised for that statment, but I don't care. I once had a teacher who told me, "if you want to be a great violinist, listen to the great singers and try to sound like them." In my opinion, no one (at least in this generation) makes the violin sing like Bell. If you want a cd that is chalk-full of gorgeous music that is easy to listen to, this is the one. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!