Good things in store (I hope!)

Today is my birthday. In his 26th year, Mozart wrote the Mass in C minor and The Abduction from the Seraglio. Schubert wrote Die schöne Müllerin when he was 26. Maybe this will be my annus mirabilis.

Did I say that I missed Philly?

5 Day Forecast

Philadelphia:
Today: Mostly Sunny, High: 90°Low: 71°
Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy, High: 88°Low: 71°
Sun: Partly Cloudy, High: 93°Low: 75°
Mon: Sunny, High: 96°Low: 78°
Tue: Mostly Sunny, High: 96°Low: 77°

Maybe I want to stay in York next week...

Revisiting Old Friends

Today I listened for the umpteenth time to Sinatra’s ‘September of My Years’ album and Schumann’s ‘Dichterliebe’ (this time Mathias Goerne’s recording. He sounds marvelous, but the accompanying leaves plenty to be desired).

First the Sinatra. There’s something about this album that has always appealed to me. Maybe it’s Frank’s world-weariness or the way Gordon Jenkins channels Mahler in the slightly syrupy arrangements. The album has a totally different meaning for a young man listening to it than it might for someone around Frank’s age when he recorded it (50). Still, there is a continuity and flow to the songs which gradually builds to the superb rendering of Weill’s ‘September Song’. Sinatra was great at the concept album and he put out a number of them in the late 50's and 60's. The technique, carefully thought out interpretation and impeccable song selection are on display in such gems as “In the wee small hours”, “Only the Lonely”, and “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers”. Good stuff.

I realized that I’ve been living with ‘Dichterliebe’ for over ten years now. I can still remember the sort of epiphany I experienced at first hearing Fischer-Dieskau and Brendel’s recording at 15 (Place giant “L” on your forehead at this point.). Up to then it had been a steady diet of Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns and Roses (I think I was ready for something different though). I was immediately drawn to the communicative power of lieder: Just a guy or girl with a piano singing about all of that painful stuff that makes up life. That’s why I still love art song dearly, it can reach people in such a potent and intimate way. I can honestly say that this experience more than most anything made me follow this crazy path of singing. Does that mean Fischer-Dieskau should be responsible for my student loans?

I should also note that the York Early Music Festival is going on right now. I saw a great recital of Dowland lute songs with Mark Padmore and Elizabeth Kenny. It had all of those qualities I found in that first ‘Dichterliebe’ moment. Padmore’s voice was smooth and free and every word came across clearly. He and Kenny were spontaneous and original and each song had a flexibility dictated by the text. If the bank allows it, I hope to see a few more concerts before it’s all over on Saturday.

You thought I was kidding about Fischer-Dieskau and my loans...

In the midst of this beautiful summer, I was very sad to hear of the death of American mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Although I never had the chance to hear her live, her rare and perfect blend of polished technique and emotional honesty comes through vividly on her recordings. She was one of the leading lights of American vocal music and will be sorely missed.

English Summer

I’ve started thinking that it may be the small aspects of British life that I’ll miss the most when I leave in September: BBC Radio, the quirky intelligence of The Guardian, the great pubs and beer, the slightly lefty political outlook, the genuine politeness of most people you meet, and (at least in York anyway) the fact that everything is so old. Lately, due the recent "heatwave" (I can hardly say a few days hovering around 80 F constitutes a heatwave), people have taken to spending long evenings in the back garden with a few drinks and maybe a barbeque. The British attack barbequeing with great zeal, as if it were invented yesterday. In America it seems like barbequeing is simply a part of life and everybody has their secret marinade or burger recipe. There is almost a non-chalant confidence when Americans hit the grill. I think the British may have us beat when it comes to drinks though. The typical American barbeque features cases of Bud or Coors light – about the only time it is okay to drink that rubbish. But the British have Pimms, a gingery spirit that one mixes by the pitcherful with lemon soda and strawberries, mint and maybe cucumber. It is quite refreshing and one can easily while away the very long days (it’s still light out at 10 at night) sipping Pimms with friends. Quite a contrast to the typical sweltering Philadelphia summer evening which involves porch-sitting, drinking cheap beer and watching the world pass by your doorstep. It ain’t Pimms, but it’s nice in its own way.

So much for that...

England is out of the World Cup. It was one of those heart-breaking games where the team almost wins but never quite gets it together. A shame to lose on penalties though. More surprising is Brazil's loss to France. I still think Germany can win it all. Guess now I'll have to turn my attention back to music. I promise not to blog about sports again until the NFL season starts (unless the Phillies are in the pennant race, which looks increasingly unlikely...)