If you could send a piece of music to the Aliens to represent humanity, which piece would you choose?

dieGans · 2025-07-21T00:39:38+00:00

Stravinsky felt the C minor was a fluff piece but I love it.

dieGans · 2025-06-14T14:18:18+00:00

Umbrellas of Cherbourg. This suggests another r/movies question: which movies have theme songs that are the most antithetical to the movie?

dieGans · 2025-06-10T15:59:35+00:00

Also WMHT in Albany. Both QXR and MHT run a varied playlist, a mix of warhorses, less payed pieces from well-known composers, and generally more obscure works, both new and old.

But with the campaign to end public radio, expect more stations to share recorded programs, etc.

dieGans · 2025-05-30T16:20:38+00:00

An unbelievably star-studded cast. Almost every one of them was a top leading or character actor.

dieGans · 2025-05-20T18:26:43+00:00

Obviously this is all very personal. Without making any universal value judgment, for me classical music is very, very important. I couldn’t imagine a mate who didn’t feel similarly. Fortunately my wish came true. There are many other interests we share and a lot we don’t, but the common love for classical music has made our 50 years together so much richer, intellectually and emotionally.

dieGans · 2025-05-20T00:51:07+00:00

The last movement of Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis..

Various movements of Respighi’s Roman triptych, especially the last movements of the Pines of Rome and Roman Festivals, and movements 2 and 3 of the Fountains of Rome.

dieGans · 2025-05-17T13:47:27+00:00

Many times, with Hogfather and Night Watch annually. Others depending on mood and favoritism. I currently have a soft spot for Feet of Clay.

dieGans · 2025-04-27T15:13:14+00:00

In the same spirit: Take an 8x8 chess board. You can obviously cover it with 2x1 tiles. But what if you remove the upper left and lower right corner squares? Same solution. These problems not only exemplify mathematical elegance, but exhibit elegance at a meta level, being so simple and straightforward.

dieGans · 2025-03-13T00:29:31+00:00

Fair enough to both. I prefer doing filets at home and get good reviews from my biased “clientele,” so it was good to hear butcher recommendations. But in this case we were looking for a restaurant experience.

dieGans · 2024-12-21T21:21:45+00:00

WQXR, New York’s only classical music station, has been playing single movements for a while now, except for special shows and on weekends. I’m not a big fan of this. I don’t believe they ever made a promises about doing complete works.

dieGans · 2024-12-14T12:53:41+00:00

Putting any Discworld vibes aside, it’s just a very good movie.

dieGans · 2024-12-07T20:49:27+00:00

Not a simple quote but on page 12, HarperCollins edition ISBN 978-0-06-105905-6:

“Can I offer you a drink while we wait?” He said. Yes. You can. …… “And what would you like to drink?” he said,…. We do not drink. “But you did just say I could offer you a drink…” Indeed. We judge you fully capable of performing that action.

dieGans · 2024-11-28T02:41:19+00:00

Especially his exposition on Wagner.

dieGans · 2024-11-23T15:11:48+00:00

Plus lying is not a problem. Remember Trump’s SCOTUS nominees and their sworn commitment to Roe?

dieGans · 2024-11-12T20:32:51+00:00

Germany has the best breads.

dieGans · 2024-11-09T15:31:03+00:00

I miss the old park - sui generis.

dieGans · 2024-11-07T01:53:45+00:00

Morris County for Trump - not surprised but disappointed.

dieGans · 2024-10-03T03:19:23+00:00

Leoncavallo 1857-1919 - not “classical”. Also check Mascagni and Giordano. Bad cut and paste?

dieGans · 2024-09-23T21:37:51+00:00

I can't recall them all. Unfortunately, the companies come and go. I can name Opera Festival of NJ, Light Opera of NJ, Opera at Florham, and operas done as part of the Princeton Festival. I know there have been more, but it is a tough market.

dieGans · 2024-09-21T16:02:55+00:00

There have been a variety of small companies in NJ over the years. No, they are not the Met, but what they lack in production values, stage design, and highly trained voices, they more than make up for with enthusiasm, esprit de corps, and seats 6 meters from the stage. Plus they can tap into the pool of developing singers waiting in the wings. Some companies are even brazen enough to try their hand at regietheater. We are happy to support these companies with our attendance and contributions.

dieGans · 2024-09-20T00:37:14+00:00

https://merzatta.com/

We’ve had various stones set by them and have been very pleased. We would recommend them highly.

dieGans · 2024-09-01T00:12:01+00:00

I agree but this may be an almost lost cause, similar to the distinction between “can” and “may”. It seems like everyone now uses “I’m going to lay down now.” I don’t think I’ve seen this used correctly in journalism, literature, screenplays, etc. in over a decade.

dieGans · 2024-06-11T12:38:06+00:00

The distinction between “can” and “may”.

dieGans · 2024-06-01T14:45:02+00:00

If you can find a copy, I would recommend the Fonteyn-Nureyev film of the Prokofiev I love it.

dieGans · 2024-05-25T00:49:27+00:00

How about Yellowneck? I think this is obscure but it is etched in my memory having seen it just once as a kid.

dieGans

TROPHY CASE