[Samson Diamond and Nelson Mandela] South Africa National Youth Orchestra My NYO Experience “Invited to play for Nelson Mandela 19 September 2009 Samson Diamond, violin tutor at this year’s Sasol National Youth Orchestra Course, and Sophia Welz, SANYOF Chief Operations Officer, were invited to visit Nelson Mandela on 15 September. What an honour to be in the presence of our very own Madiba...
A popular British postcard collector’s guide describes Art Nouveau postcards as “a heady mix for the average collector”. I disagree. While some examples command exceptional prices and some artists can be a challenge to find, these postcards remain among the finest available to today’s collector. Those who can afford to will collect the great names, Mucha, Meunier, Macdonald,...
Continued…….. the Operas Esclarmonde and Faust This is a continuation page from a series featuring the Art Nouveau Opera postcards illustrated by the French Artist Ernest Louis Lessieux in 1900. For the complete series and supporting text follow the links below. Page one - the Operas Salammbô and Thaïs. Page two - the Operas Esclarmonde and Faust Page three – the Operas...
Continued…….. – the Operas Hamlet and Sapho This is a continuation page from a series featuring the Art Nouveau Opera postcards illustrated by the French Artist Ernest Louis Lessieux in 1900. For the complete series and supporting text follow the links below Page one - the Operas Salammbô and Thaïs. Page two - the Operas Esclarmonde and Faust Page three – the Operas...
Continued…….. - the Operas Mireille and Carmen This is a continuation page from a series featuring the Art Nouveau Opera postcards illustrated by the French Artist Ernest Louis Lessieux in 1900. For the complete series and supporting text follow the links below Page one - the Operas Salammbô and Thaïs. Page two - the Operas Esclarmonde and Faust Page three – the Operas...
Continued…….. Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries and Manon an opera by Massenet This is a continuation page from a series featuring the Art Nouveau Opera postcards illustrated by the French Artist Ernest Louis Lessieux in 1900. For the complete series and supporting text follow the links below.. Page one - the Operas Salammbô and Thaïs. Page two - the Operas Esclarmonde...
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MARKET WIRE) On November 14, 19 and 21st, San Francisco Parlor Opera will perform Jules Massenet's "Thaïs." All performances will take place at the historic Zellerbach Mansion at 1550 Fell Street in San Francisco. Instead of the scenes changing on a dedicated stage, the audience will follow the action from room to room.
Not all operatic romance takes place on the stage There is a convenience store close by where I live. It is owned and run by a nice gentleman who is always cheerful and welcoming when I walk in - never just a nod, always a "How nice to see you again!" I walked in the other day and some Mozart was playing on the radio. I soon realised he had the radio tuned to KQAC our excellent local all-classical...
The baroque pieces by Pachelbel, Albinoni/Giazotto, Mouret and Boccherini that I posted could probably be classified as one hit wonders but, by the time I got to the later composers like Delibes and Ponchielli, I was on thin ice because they did write other good music. Obviously no classical music is really a one hit wonder because the definition of a one hit wonder is that it's the only recording...
Before we headed out to Aida last night, I realized that I was going to be adding a new opera to my “list” of works I’ve seen. I’d never actually written them all down, though, so this morning I’ve been going through my memory (and opera company archive websites), and I think I’ve come up with most of them: 67! Not bad, I think. Do any of you do this? Maury ? JSU...
“Dad, but what time will we be home?” It was David. “I’ve no idea…when they’re done playing I guess. Why are you so worried about what time we’ll be home?” “Well, I want to try to get to bed a little earlier tonight.” I stared at him, incredulous. This was the same kid who recently boasted that he’d “beaten his record” for...
You're never too old to be shocked Can you remember the last time you had a truly transcendent musical experience? Opera can provide those. You'll be sitting there watching Fidelio for the fortieth time and once again be stunned at the beauty of the quartet in Act One. Or melt when you hear 'Il mio tesoro' from Don Giovanni . Or be overwhelmed by the lushness of Wagner. You know those moments and...
I have a couple of CD's by the Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti (I know, sounds Italian, she looks it, too). Benedetti's 2007 release starts with a favorite violin work of mine, Vaughn Williams The Lark Ascending . It's a pretty work, but I get the feeling not just anyone can pull off a clean performance the way Benedetti does. The rest of the recording is given over to works of composer Sir John...
(Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera) I took in the movie theater encore broadcast of Massenet's Thaïs on Wednesday (Jan 7), which the Metropolitan Opera is essentially staging for Renée Fleming (with a production directed by John Cox and imported from the Lyric Opera of Chicago). Special costumes were specially created by fashion designer Christian Lacroix for Fleming to wear on stage,...
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