On Classical Sounds podcast this week I have featured only women composers from the past and present. Clara Schumann wife of German composer Robert, Fanny Mendelssohn sister of composer Felix. Lesser known women like Amy Beach, Maria Theresia Paradis and others too. This was broadcast on Claremorris Community Radio on Sunday 19th January.
Direct link to the podcast
Today the world of classical music lost one of its greatest conductors Claudio Abbado. Even though he had many health problems in recent years, it came as a little shock to me when I saw the news flash up on my computer screen! I have a bucket list of great conductors I’ve always wanted to see. They are: Simon Rattle who I’ve seen twice, and will again in May. Valery Gergiev who I’ve seen twice, Riccardo Chailly, twice, Daniel Barenboim who I saw once with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. But it was Abbado I really wanted to see the most. I almost had the opportunity a few years ago when I tried to get to see him at the BBC Proms with his Lucerne Festival Orchestra but alas I couldn’t get a ticket…
This post was never meant to be an obituary to Claudio Abbado but you can read a very detailed one from the Guardian newspaper here.
Here is a youtube clip of the end of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.2 one of my favourite video recordings of Claudio Abbado conducting his Lucerne Festival Orchestra showing his unique gentle style.
Also I’ve made a Spotify playlist of my favourite Abbado recordings in no particular order.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and all the best for 2014! I’ve been a little lazy with my blog, and haven’t got around to writing anything substantial recently, so I’m making it a new year resolution to be more proactive about it! But for today though, my podcast is a little different than normal. In 2006 I visited Vienna for the first time and made a documentary while there. We went to various places like the Mozart House Museum, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Haus Der Musik and other places besides. Most of this programme was made in the Mozart House where I was given a guided tour.
This programme is, as I said, a little different, more of a documentary than my usual show. I hope you find it interesting.