Breathing Curiosity
Weird, strange, unusual —- all terms which seem to me quite inaccurate labels for things we are either not accustomed to or lead us to somewhat uncomfortable states.Which might be the “right” time of the day to absorb such moments, especially those of the musical type?Before going to bed, the common thought is that relaxation… Continue reading Difficult Morning
“Se conducen bien las aguas; pero cuando la cañería se rompe, no hay manera de encauzarlas. Igual ocurre con las masas. Es peligroso el movilizarlas, porque nadie puede vaticinar adónde llegarán en definitiva”. -- Ortega y Gasset Enlace al libro en PDF Hijo de una familia de la alta burguesía, creció en un entorno marcado… Continue reading José Ortega y Gasset *V 9 1883 / La Vida Que Das
With the opera Iolanta, by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Opera, Blood , and Tears begins the new series Applied Opera. The intention is to consider which lessons the world of opera can impart to the social and individual life. Iolanta —- a lyric opera in one act Music: Peter Ilyitch TchaikovskyLibretto: Modest Tchaikovsky Based on the… Continue reading Applied Opera — Iolanta (Tchaikovsky)
Giacomo Puccini, born Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini, December 22, 1858, in Lucca, Tuscany [Italy], is the composer, and one of the greatest exponents of operatic realism, who virtually brought the history of Italian opera to an end. His mature operas included La Bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (left… Continue reading Giacomo Puccini *XII 22 1858 — The Life You Give
Edgard Varèse, born Edgar Varèse on Dec. 22, 1883, in Paris, France, was a composer and innovator in 20th-century techniques of sound production.Varèse spent his boyhood in Paris, Burgundy, and Turin, Italy. After composing without formal instruction as a youth, he later studied under Vincent d’Indy, Albert Roussel, and Charles Widor and was strongly encouraged… Continue reading The Life You Give: Edgard Varèse *1883
Ludwig van Beethoven, born on December 17, 1770, in Bonn, Germany, was a composer, and the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras.Widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived, Ludwig van Beethoven dominates a period of musical history as no one else before or since. Rooted in… Continue reading The Life You Give: Ludwig van Beethoven *1770
Blueberry-Basil-Cornbread Black Coffee — Corsica blend from La Colombe Black Tea — Chiang Rai (cultivated May 2018, Ruby 18, Doi Mae Salong), in Gaiwan
Björk, born Björk Gudmundsdottir, November 21, 1965, in Reykjavík, Iceland, is the singer-songwriter and actress best known for her solo work covering a wide variety of music styles. Integrating electronic and organic sounds, her music frequently explored the relationship between nature and technology.Björk recorded her first solo album, a collection of cover versions of popular… Continue reading Björk *XI 21 1965 — The Life You Give
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, born Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky, Dostoyevsky also spelled Dostoevsky, on November 11 [October 30, Old Style], 1821, Moscow, Russia, is the novelist and short-story writer whose psychological penetration into the darkest recesses of the human heart, together with his unsurpassed moments of illumination, had an immense influence on 20th-century fiction.Dostoyevsky is usually regarded as… Continue reading Fyodor Dostoyevsky *XI 11 1821 — The Life You Give
Friedrich Schiller, born Johann Christoph Friedrich Schiller, Nov. 10, 1759, in Marbach, Württemberg [Germany], is a leading dramatist, poet, and literary theorist, best remembered for such dramas as Die Räuber (1781; The Robbers), the Wallenstein trilogy (1800–01), Maria Stuart (1801), and Wilhelm Tell (1804).Friedrich Schiller was the second child of Lieut. Johann Kaspar Schiller and… Continue reading Friedrich von Schiller *XI 10 1759 The Life You Give
pinna, auricle, outer ear pinna - noun pin·na | \ ˈpi-nə \plural pinnae\ ˈpi-ˌnē, -ˌnī \ or pinnas• a projecting body part (such as a feather, wing, or fin)• the largely cartilaginous projecting portion of the external ear• conducive to the inner ear, in which, with the judgment of other body parts — in flesh… Continue reading pinna this!
Kelariz Keshavarz is an international award-winning flutist, active in classical and contemporary spheres, an avid sound artist, improviser, and pedagogue.Passionate about contemporary music, Kelariz has performed in many festivals including Tehran Contemporary Music Festival (TCMF) in Iran, Missouri International Composers Festival (MICF), Flute New Music Consortium (FNMC), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) conference, and SCI… Continue reading Iranian Music — Kelariz Keshavarz
Roméo et JulietteTragic Opera in five actsComposer - Charles GounodLibretto - Jules Barbier und Michel CarréLanguage - FrenchBased on - Romeo and Julia, William ShakespearePremiere - 27. April 1867, Théatre Lyrique, ParisLength - 2 ½ hours Roles: Juliette - soprano Roméo, son of Montague - tenor Frère Laurent - bass Mercutio, Romeo's friend - baritone… Continue reading Roméo et Juliette (Gounod), premiered on April 27 1867
Composer: Giacomo PucciniLibretto: Giuseppe Adami, Renato SimoniWorld premiere: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, April 1926. Principal roles:Princess Turandot - sopranoThe Emperor Altoum, her father - tenor Timur, the deposed King of Tartary - bass The Unknown Prince (Calaf), his son -- tenor Liù, a slave girl --- sopranoACT IPeking, in the mythic past. Outside the Imperial… Continue reading “Turandot” (Puccini) premiered today in 1926
Alban Berg, born Alban Maria Johannes Berg, on February 9 1885, in Vienna, Austria, is the composer who wrote atonal and 12-tone compositions that remained true to late 19th-century Romanticism. He composed orchestral music (including Five Orchestral Songs, 1912), chamber music, songs, and two groundbreaking operas, Wozzeck (1925) and Lulu (1937).Apart from a few short… Continue reading The Life You Give: Alban Berg *1885
During the month of February, in addition to our regular programming. The Aristipposian Poet, and Opera, Blood, and Tears are celebrating Black History Month, by holding a room series entitled THE VIRTUOUS BLACK While there are always substantial reasons to protest unfairness, we intend to focus on celebrating twenty-eight individuals who, while being black, have… Continue reading Black History Month on Clubhouse
Aretha Franklin, born Aretha Louise Franklin, on March 25 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A., is the singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s.Franklin’s mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. Her father, C.L. Franklin, presided over the New Bethel Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, and was a minister of… Continue reading The Life You Give — Aretha Franklin *March 25 1942
Zadie Smith, born Sadie Smith, October 27 1975 in London, England, is the author known for her treatment of race, religion, and cultural identity and for her novels’ eccentric characters, savvy humour, and snappy dialogue. She became a sensation in the literary world with the publication of her first novel, White Teeth, in 2000. Smith,… Continue reading The Virtuous Black I — Zadie Smith
Teresa Carreño, born María Teresa Gertrudis de Jesús Carreño García on December 22, 1853 in Caracas, is the celebrated Venezuelan pianist of great power and spirit, who was known to her public as the “Valkyrie of the piano.”She was given her first piano lessons by her father, Manuel Antonio Carreño, a politician and talented amateur… Continue reading The Life You Give: Teresa Carreño *1853
András Schiff is among the most prominent members of a generation of Hungarian pianists born in the years following World War II, along with such artists as Zoltán Kocsis, Dezso Ránki, and Jenö Jandó. Of this remarkable group, Schiff has achieved the strongest international reputation, due not only to his decision to pursue his career… Continue reading The Life You Give: András Schiff *1953
“La Damnation de Faust” Opus 24Dramatic Legend for four soloists, children’s chorus, seven-part choir, and orchestraComposer: Hector Berlioz Librettists: Hector Berlioz, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, & Almire GandonnièrePremiere: December 6 1846 On this recording:Kenneth Riegel —- Tenor [Faust]José van Dam —- Bass [Méphistophélès]Frederica von Stade —- Mezzo-soprano [Marguerite] Malcolm King —- Bass [Brander]Conductor – Sir… Continue reading La Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) premiered today in 1846
Sila Blume 