Music of Stephen Foster and Charles Ives

Trifecta of musical celebration for 2026 Fourth of July:

1. Stephen Foster (07.04.1826 – 01.13.1864) 200th birth anniversary. He was really born on Fourth of July ! His music was highly revered and heavily referenced by
2. Charles Ives (1874 – 1954), one of the truly original and revolutionary modern American composers. Orchestral works and songs conducted by 
3. Michael Tilson Thomas (12.21.1944 – 04.22.2026) who passed away earlier this year. 

Concert: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra + Shunske Sato - Kinks and Quirks (04/24/2026)

Shunske Sato returned to the Bay Area again, this time guest conducting Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale (PBO), providing a scintillating and electrifying evening.

Concert: Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Riccardo Muti (01/17/2026)

Muti guest conducts Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Hearing CSO live after more than 20+ years. 

Dmitry Bortniansky 200th death anniversary

Bortniansky 200th death anniversary. Two HIP (historically informed performances) albums of his neglected music.

Remembering Sir Roger Norrington (03.16.1934 – 07.18.2025)

Remembering Sir Norrington (03.16.1934 – 07.18.2025)

Méhul: Symphonies (Minkowski/Juteau)

 

Étienne Nicolas Méhul: Symphonies (Minkowski/Juteau)

「得去買菜了。冰箱裡Méhul(沒魚)了～～～」

來自法國，可以和貝多芬平起平坐的交響曲。

Ives: Symphonies (Mehta/Marriner/Dohnanyi)(Litton)

 

Listening to some Charles Ives's symphonies this Fourth of July week. Arguably one of the most original, inventive, and experimental American composers to have walked the earth.

「他是個日本控，超Ives(愛武士)道精神的～～～」

Kurt Atterberg: Complete Symphonies (Ari Rasilainen)

Kurt Magnus Atterberg (12.12.1887－02.15.1974) 50th death anniversary.

「他怎麼變成這個樣子?!」

「Atterberg(啊，他被理)平頭了咩～～」

(註：瑞典話這兒的g要念成很輕的「yee」的聲音。一般中文翻成「阿特伯格」是用英式或德式的發音，其實不太正確。)

Carl Friedrich Abel 300th Birth Anniversary

Carl Friedrich Abel (12.22.1723 – 6.20.1787) 300th birth anniversary.

「Abel(阿伯啊)，出事了！」

Concert: Philharmonia Baroque + Kristian Bezuidenhout (A Glassful of Mozart) (03/29/2023)

 

Great PBO concert featuring guest conductor and fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout.

Concert: Philharmonia Baroque + Steven Isserlis (Old Friends Made New) (02/10/2023)

PBO and Steven Isserlis perform.... Saint-Saens and Brahms ?

2023年聽的第一場音樂會。

Prokofiev: Symphonies (Weller/Kuchar/Kitajenko)

Reacquainting myself with the Prokofiev symphonies, old and new recordings alike.

Arriaga: Orchestra and Vocal Works (Il Fondamento/Dombrecht)

 

Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga (1806 - 1826) Orchestral and Vocal Works (Il Fondamento / Paul Dombrecht)

「什麼祕密？！Arriaga((閩南語) 啊你啊～～共(呷)) 我講啦！」

Norbert Burgmueller: Orchestral and Chamber Works

 

Norbert Burgmueller: Orchestral and Chamber Works

Not that Burgmueller, if you know what I mean... 

 

「工作還是做， Burgmüller(不過沒了)當初的熱情了～～」

Berlioz Rediscovered (Gardiner)

 

 

 

Berlioz Rediscovered (Gardiner)

「他真是個把妹高手，每個遇到他的女生可是都Berlioz（被撩死）了呢~~」

Glière: Orchestral Works (BBC Philharmonic/Downes/Sinaisky)

 

Glière Orchestral Works

Glière的管弦樂作品，兩個詭異、三首交響曲、一整個好聽。

Joseph Martin Kraus: Intermezzos/Cantatas/Symphonies/Chamber Music (Simone Kermes/Concerto Koln/L'arte del Mondo/Schuppanzigh Quartett)

 

Music by Joseph Martin Kraus (1756 - 1792)

「你覺得他人怎樣？」「他唷？做人Kraus(可老實)哩～～」

Sibelius: Symphonies and Orchestral Works (Ashkenazy)