tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post7755507020536026335..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Rachmaninov and Rossini: soulmates?Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-70582475064217412462015-05-04T14:06:52.049+01:002015-05-04T14:06:52.049+01:00A response to the music, that's what I like. Y...A response to the music, that's what I like. You touch on another aspect which so struck me again when I was listening to the Etudes Tableaux - the propulsive rhythms, sometimes an insistence on one, sometimes an unpredictable pattern, like the one in the Vespers which underpins the passage leading up to the 'Alleluia's in the Symphonic Dances. Folk thought it was the influence of American jazz until the source was pointed out.<br /><br />Rossini has so much rhythmic vitality, too, in the dances and choruses of Guillaume Tell Act 1. Going through the opera in detailreally is a revelation, though I've always loved it and never understood the frequently made cuts.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-48367353970363709562015-05-04T13:38:22.013+01:002015-05-04T13:38:22.013+01:00This is a treasure trove of a post, David, which I...This is a treasure trove of a post, David, which I've saved for further reference. I'm particularly glad to be reminded of Rachmaninov's Suite No. 1 for 2 pianos (I have that Argerich/Rabinovich recording), and to learn something of how that tremendous finale works. Not long ago, someone, aware of my love of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, wondered aloud why I liked them so much and said he would love to be convinced. My thought bubble was, "Convinced? Just listen to them!" I haven't the technical vocabulary for this, but Rachmaninov's propulsive rhythms are so vital and compelling, it seems to me the convincing is in the listening. If that doesn't do it, what on earth could?Susan Scheidhttps://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-41076578972599075042015-05-04T12:59:19.139+01:002015-05-04T12:59:19.139+01:00That was back in 1998, wanderer; he partnered CB i...That was back in 1998, wanderer; he partnered CB in London several times, I think I'm right in saying. Good here, but generally I'm not a huge fan.<br /><br />Wish I knew more about the distinctly unplump Rachmaninov's dietary habits, Sir David. And Prokofiev's - beyond the fact that he kept chickens in Bavaria and liked to dine well in Paris, I don't know enough.<br /><br />Famously (si non e vero e ben trovato) Tancredi's aria 'Di tanti palpiti' became known as the 'aria del riso' because it was supposedly composed in the time it took a pan of lightly-boiled rice to 'do' (four minutes).<br /><br />Interesting story about Sviatoslav Richter, while on the subject of musicians and food: Muti told me that Richter had an extraordinary knowledge of out of the way places in Italy, 'like Norcia'. It was always in my mind to visit Norcia. But when we descended from the Sibillini mountains to the town for an evening, we found it pleasant but not rife with monuments or special squares. What it WAS famous for was sausage, and we suspect that SR liked his meat.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-76900959432354543022015-05-03T07:08:31.318+01:002015-05-03T07:08:31.318+01:00At the risk of going too far off piste, was Rachma...At the risk of going too far off piste, was Rachmaninov interested in food? Rossini was( like so many Itlaians he knew what to do with rice) and we still have Tournedos Rossini - steak topped with foie gras and a truffle. Hence I suppose Rossini's plumpness. David Damanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18409591480349323761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-11148929520660538072015-05-02T23:53:40.842+01:002015-05-02T23:53:40.842+01:00I especially enjoyed seeing J-Y T accompanying; is...I especially enjoyed seeing J-Y T accompanying; is this a new thing for him? Did I spot a wedding ring?wandererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196036534397389760noreply@blogger.com