Marjorie Rawlins

A couple of weeks ago, we attended a reception and concert at the Barclay which was a tribute Marjorie Rawlins.  Marge passed away May 2009.  She was a major benefactor of the UCI School of Music and the Philharmonic Society.  She was a great music lover.  I miss our many conversations about music, especially string and chamber music.  Many a confit de canard passed her lips (and mine as well) at Pascal’s.  Her passing marked the end of an era, the departure of a great friend of music and a lovely human being while, I’m sure, producing a sigh of relief from dozens of local ducks.  She is terribly missed. 

The Barclay concert featured music from Humperdinck’s opera Hansel and Gretel.  The soloists, UCI Symphony Orchestra and choruses were splendid. UCI Arts Department has some great stuff going on.  Contact them at arts.uci.edu/events.  Please enjoy!

Speaking of Hansel and Gretel, the UCI Symphony Orchestra and UCI Choirs will present Humperdinck's classic fairy tale opera Hansel and Gretel on December 3-5 in the Claire Trevor Theatre. For more information, visit the event page.

Having a cosy Sunday afternoon, staying out of the rain and warm by the fire.  JC Bach Symphonies (all of them one after the other) are playing on the stereo, and duck is on tonight's menu.  Kaly is stuffing the breast with garlic, crushed fennel seeds, fresh chopped rosemary, grated Parmesan, olive oil, salt and Tellicherry pepper.  Later, it will be pan seared and finished in the oven.  She will then confit the legs, thighs and wings for a future winter supper.  I will produce a stock from the carcass and a duck liver pâté with cognac for which I would be willing to share recipe (the recipe and the cognac for the matter.)  We have a great friend from New York showing up for dinner and a night stay.  We are completely out of Pinot Noir and I am not going to the store in the rain.  I guess it is time for another Pinot gathering trip to Santa Barbara Wine Country.   Cabernets are a bit too powerful.  I have rummaged through the wine pile and found a bottle of Tesoro 2006, mostly Merlot with some Cabernet from the Esterhazy Estate in Eisenstadt, Austria.  I have been saving it for a special occasion, so I guess this is it.  I should change the Symphonies on the stereo to Haydn.  I will when I open the bottle.

If you have had a tough week, please enjoy this. There are always good things going on somewhere.

SymphonyCast

Hey Culture Vultures! Here is something for all of you who can’t enough classical music. It’s called SymphonyCast from American Public Media. Just click on the link to check it out. This weekly audio program features a variety of orchestras such as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw and our own Los Angeles Philharmonic. You get a full concert hosted by Brian Newhouse. It’s a great show, worth keeping up with regularly. It is also on KUSC Saturdays 6-8 PM. Please enjoy.

Happy holidays!

With the transition from election commercials to Christmas ads on television, it is a sure sign that the holidays are almost upon us. Leave to the chorus of the Philadelphia Opera Company to usher the season in with style. Many of you have seen their Brindisi flash performance. Now they are singing Hallelujah. I think it again proves that music makes people happy, at least in Philadelphia. First the Handel and then the Verdi. Please enjoy.

Music Makes People Happy, Part 3

With all of the events of our JapanOC, the one that will be the first sell out will be Jake Shimabukuro.  Check him out at Central Park playing a ukulele cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by George Harrison of the Beatles. Are we going to have fun or what?!!

Please enjoy.

OK, OK, OK, I am in a rut but I am having fun and so will you.  Maestro Larry returns at the age of 4 conducting the William Tell Overture followed next by a postscript by Victor Borge.  Please enjoy.

Rite of Spring

The Rite of Spring will be a hundred years old in 2013.  It’s hard to believe.   We will be making a big deal about it.   I remember back to the opening concerts of Disney Hall after a performance of the Rite, a women was complaining to me about Salonen playing those crazy new pieces.  I responded that the Rite is not all that new.  The only person in the hall that night that was alive when it was written was Richard Colburn, maybe not even.

Here is another youthful conductor – Larry age 5 conducting the Rite.  He knows the piece.  He nails the 11/4 bar.  The women in the household are not that impressed.  He makes a dramatic and dangerous cutoff at the end.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist.  Please enjoy.

Music Makes People Happy, Part 2

This is “Music Makes People Happy, Part 2.”

Despite an itchy nose, 3-year-old Jonathan conducts a joyful finale to Beethoven’s Fifth.   

Check it out and please enjoy.

What makes music beautiful?

One of our dedicated board members sent me this clip with a question and a wonderful answer:

What makes music beautiful?

Music makes people beautiful.

Check to see if you think he is correct.  Watch the following.  Please enjoy.