尋找他鄉的世界出發

Can you believe this is original? I have hope for the future of Hong Kong Movies!

Fight for Kisses

I love this!!

《愛樂》 第四期

Issue 4 is about Mahler! This is such a brilliant magazine, but now you can only find it in very limited bookstores in Hong Kong (Wan Chan 298 Computer Mall and Mongkok computer stores). I asked my colleagues in Shanghai to buy it and courier to me!

The only thing about this issue is that there is at least one article about each symphony, but there is none for No.8! Why?? Having said that, all the other articles are of high quality. For RMB18 they manage to issue this magazine. In Hong Kong, Hi Fi Review costs HKD55 but it is not even half of its quality in terms of CD recommendation to help improve your standard in classical music appreciation. What's wrong with Hong Kong?

Arts Festival

安德拉斯．席夫 鋼琴獨奏會
3月1日(星期六) 晚上8時, 香港大會堂音樂廳 $180
紐約愛樂樂團
2月18日(星期一) 晚上8時, 香港文化中心音樂廳 $340
鋼琴三重奏 席夫、塩川悠子與佩仁伊
2月28日(星期四) 晚上8時, 香港大會堂音樂廳 $180
史圖加芭蕾舞團 -《天鵝湖》
2月15日(星期五) 晚上7時30分, 香港文化中心大劇院 $280
帕爾馬皇家歌劇院 - 威爾第：《弄臣》
3月10日(星期一) 晚上7時30分, 香港文化中心大劇院 $400
尤洛夫斯基與倫敦愛樂樂團
3月15日(星期六) 晚上8時, 香港文化中心音樂廳 $320
尤洛夫斯基與倫敦愛樂樂團
3月16日(星期日) 晚上8時, 香港文化中心音樂廳 $320

Altogether 7 performances. Less than HKD2,000. OK la.

Mr Donald Tsang:

Democracy in full swing led to the Cultural Revolution? Have you gone crazy?

Zubin Mehta's Mahler 2

Bought this at Shun Wo the other day. I have heard about this recording and somebody said it was an excellent one, but it was not even mentioned in both the Grammophone Good CD Guide and the Penguin Guide. Mehta is never my cup of tea, but after listening to it, I have to agree that it is seriously underrated. It surpasses all the Mahler 2 I have listened to, including Rattle and Klemperer.

The opening was full of sparks, and the tempo Mehta took was quite fast. It does not drag on as most conductors tend to do in the 1st movement. It was not rushed either. It was full of contrasts, tension and dramatic effect. The second movement, however, was played relatively slowly, but the dancing mood remained. I am surprised that Mehta managed to keep the flow despite the relatively slow tempo and it was wonderfully phrased.

The scherzo was also full of contrast. The brass section of the Vienna Philharmonic was simply great. Then comes the Urlicht, which was beautifully sung. The tempo was slow, which makes it even more touching than most other recordings. Ludwig sounded rich and full in it.

The finale was absolutely the best. Ileana Cotrubas's entry in the finale was perfect, as if heaven's light sheds upon the earth. Mehta really outperformed himself and I am sure this is unmatched in terms of the building up of climax. One special thing about this recording is that the organ was heard very clearly (only the recent Fischer's recording managed to have the organ sound clear). It really pictures what the resurrection would be like! I applaud Mehta's effort in this, and given it is a 1975 recording, it worths more of our praise. How he subsequently declined to be a boring conductor is perhaps another story.

A "perfect" recording. If you love Mahler and haven't got this, you have missed a lot!

Glenn Gould 80-CD box set

I am really happy today because WK got me the box set from Taiwan. And the price is...Dang Dang Dang Dang...HKD1,300!! Thank you WK!

What a bargain! Now I am enjoying the 1955 Goldberg Variations...

Piano Recital by Maria João Pires

08 Nov 2007

Programme

Ginastera: Three Argentinian Dances
Scarlatti: Sonata in A, K208, L238
Schubert: Sonata in A, D664
Schubert: Impromptus in A-flat, Op.142, Nos. 1 & 2
Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A-flat, Op.110

Regular $420, 320, 220, 120

Tickets on sale starting tomorrow!!

sisyphus

No matter how blessed is Sisyphus, he will still be doing a cursed job forever.