Gender of the brain

Your Brain is 53.33% Female, 46.67% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Helene Grimaud

Just listened to her new album. I like the Chopin Sonata more. The slow movement of it was just a little too slow. Her techniques sounded fine. I was looking for more inspiration from his Rachmaninov. I look forward to see her play live in a recital. One of the reasons, of course, is her pretty face. But from the "MTV" (the promotional material), it seems that her playing gesture is also good to watch.

Wang Jian's Bach

I bought his Bach's suite yesterday and listened to the first disc last night. Wang managed to produce some very good sound but his interpretation was not particularly inspiring. The slow movements dragged on a little bit. I wasn't moved by his playing. Somehow I think Bach's suite can only be played well if you experience enough. Of all the versions, my favourite is still Maisky's 1st recording.

Karajan's Bruckner Sym No.8

I have been trying to get this set of CDs. It was said to be the best version. I have the Giulini version and the Celibidache version, which are quite good. I heard that a new low-price version under Penguin Rosette published last year. I am trying to get hold of it. Should be interesting.

When Harry Met Sally

Watched it on TV last night. Although I have the DVD, I could not help but watched it until the end. The witty conversations, the brilliant performance of Billy Crystal, the much younger Meg Ryan, and the unprecedented plot, put the film right on the top of my list of Favourite Movies. It was over 10 years ago that I first watched it.

Friedrich Gulda

Just bought his Beethoven Set (Sonata plus Concerto). I think if you are interested in Beethoven, you should consider buying this set. Not the best recording, but many new insights. The problem is, I have got hold of the last set from A & B in Kowloon Bay. And I haven't seen it anywhere else...

Lorin Maazel

Watch the 2005 New Year Concert DVD last night. Lorin Maazel was never my cup of tea, but he is an expert as far as technique is concerned. I also bought the 1989 New Year Concert conducted by Carlos Kleiber. Thrilling to watch. Kleiber never disappoints me.

Also listen to the Ciani version of the Beethoven Sonanta. The recording was appalling. I thought of selling it to 2nd hand CD shop to minimize the loss, but then I thought I might as well keep it as a historical recording and for reference.

China

I have been working in SZ in the past two weeks. Quite exhausting, but the experience was quite fruitful. I witnessed some unbelievable behaviour of the officials in our Motherland and was involved in some negotiations with them. It was beyond my imagination that some of the hearsay was indeed correct, that judges were bribed, that the law system was corrupted, etc. I am a bit disappointed.