Ramblings Archives - Colin's Column

The NHS is 72 today, July 5. Thank-you very much!

Jul 5, 2020 | News, Ramblings

I know from my own recent experiences just how caring, skilled and dedicated NHS staff are. Hip Hip. Colin

Let’s lighten the mood and scintillate to Celibidache conducting Enescu’s First Romanian Rhapsody: now republished as a regular tonic.

Jul 2, 2020 | Ramblings, Videos

George Enescu, 1881-1955, pictured. 1978, Bucharest, Sergiu Celibidache (1912-96), a native of Romania, if particularly associated today with orchestras in Stuttgart and Munich, and not forgetting some remarkable LSO appearances, here conducts the George Enescu...

Many Happy Returns to Norman Carol, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra for three decades (for Ormandy, Muti and Sawallisch), 92 today.

Jul 1, 2020 | News, Ramblings, Videos

On the link below, Mr Carol plays Fritz Kreisler’s arrangement of a Chopin Mazurka, in A-minor, Opus 67/4. Rather lovely. The pianist is Julius...

Many Happy Returns to Esa-Pekka Salonen, 62 today.

Jun 30, 2020 | News, Ramblings

Same age as me but I am older! A long time ago I interviewed Esa-Pekka Salonen on the phone. He was scheduled to call me at 11.30 on the morning in question from Munich airport; he did so, to the second.

Many Happy Returns to conductor James Loughran, Barbirolli’s successor at the Hallé, 89 today.

Jun 30, 2020 | News, Ramblings

A few years ago I met James Loughran at a lunchtime function and we had a pleasant chat, and he also bought me a beer.

Christoph von Dohnányi conducts the Vienna Philharmonic on BBC Radio 3.

Jun 30, 2020 | Concert Reviews, Ramblings

Christoph von Dohnányi, who turned ninety on September 8 last year, has been a regular visitor to London (my neck of the woods) for many years, invariably with the Philharmonia Orchestra (pictured) – as Principal Guest, then Chief, and now he is Honorary Conductor for...