A friend slyly took the above photo of me about ten days ago. I like to think, playing ‘fantasy conductor’, that the snap captures me rehearsing the Orchestra of the Mind, my left-hand about to cue the basses (placed on that side of the platform), while contemplating my spiel to the players about preparing a first-class performance. Sticking with conductors, below are ***some*** of my most-admired maestros leading a range of repertoire. Guilt will fill my day for not including such as Klemperer, Neumann and Szell, and a few other luminaries. Time!
Dip in as you wish, if you wish – welcome to my musical world, which just got a year older, if only statistically.
Ernest Ansermet
Herbert Blomstedt
Pierre Boulez
Boulez’s first Cleveland Rite (the second is for DG).
“Chronologically, Earth Dances occupies the same position at the end of the twentieth that The Rite of Spring takes at the beginning of it…”
Adrian Boult
Recorded 1971.
Martyn Brabbins
Brian Ferneyhough’s La terre est un homme; BBCSO.
Sergiu Celibidache
Munich Philharmonic, 1992; recording as per EMI/Warner.
Also mesmerising (credits as above)…
Colin Davis
Staatskapelle Dresden (RCA).
JoAnn Falletta
Michael Gielen
Paavo Järvi
Rafael Kubelík
Lorin Maazel
(1890 score, ed. Nowak).
Zubin Mehta
Vienna Philharmonic; Decca.
Sakari Oramo
November 21, 2024.
Antonio Pappano
Leonard Slatkin
And, nearly finally, where would writers be without…
And now the…
That’s all folks!
Happy birthday Col
Let the sunshine in with a bit of Kubelik (Maybe Mahler 7 with the BRSO)
x
Done Rob. The one on Audite (found first) rather than DG.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GOOD DEED IN A NAUGHTY, SCARILY RIDICULOUS WORLD. What would we gramophiles and vicarious musicians do without your sanity-saving column? Yup, that EMI Boult/Job is indeed the business, but do you know his BBC Northern SO from 1977 – the last time he conducted it, and his last appearance at the Proms? Visionary, profound.
Happy birthday Col.
You deserve something special and I wish you further exciting discoveries
Very best wishes,
Edward
Happy Birthday, young Colin.
Congratulations Colin, keep up the enthusiasm and interest. You are a great supporter for our industry. And talking of archives, I will have to investigate Andrew’s mention of Boult’s Job for ICA! Have a wonderful day.
John… good to see that you’re a fellow reader of Col’s column. How are things with you? Where are you living these days? Would be nice to meet for a catch-up end-of-day drink. Drop me an email? keener.classical@gmail.com
Many Happy Returns, Colin; you are a voice of musical sanity in our uncertain world. Best wishes, Bob
Great celebrations, youngster! Keep fit and well for us all!
Congratulations Colin and may you have many more such anniversaries.
You continue to breathe such life, experience, deep knowledge and enthusiasm into the rapidly diminishing world of real music. Very well done! John
Happy Birthday young Colin!
My favourite Boult story for you was playing in an all VW concert at the St Asaph Festival with the RLPO in the early 70s. After spending all the rehearsal time sorting out the Double Piano Concerto, he turned to the front of his score of the 6th Symphony: “I see we played this together in 1954 – just one or corners….”!!
Many happy returns of the day, Colin!
What a cornucopia of music you have programmed for us today!!
Your column brings balm to our souls in these uncertain times. Long may that continue!
Well done Colin. Look forward to calling on you in a month or so.
Mighty smart coiffure, incidentally !
Birthday regards Ian M
Congrats! You will always be 17 days younger than me….lovely to have the Suk…what an ohrwurm! I waited all my life to hear it live and recently heard it in Liverpool as well as Manchester…
Happy Birthday Colin….
Seems a long time since we first met in Gramex….!
I’ve got the Big 60 looming in May so not too far behind you… Anyway hope you’re having a lovely day….! I’m spending it in Bristol with Maestro Bereyko and yet another Tchaik 4…! All best, Stewart
Great photograph of you, All best for a very happy birthday
A belated happy birthday, Colin. Great to ‘see’ you here…raising you a toast from afar!
Thanks to everyone above, and others on email, for the generous Birthday comments. I hope some music likes were found. Colin
Happy birthday, Colin, and long may you continue to thrive and bring the joy of music to us in these very troubled times. The column’s heading mentioned Johann Strauss Jr but I don’t see any recordings listed/recommended. I would opt for either of Carlos Kleiber’s New Year’s concerts, esp. on video, as among the most life affirming breaths of fresh air to be had – in performances that have never been equaled! Richard keeps me informed of your doings and there may yet be enough stamina in these old bones for another trip to London, during which we will surely be able to get together. I will drink a toast to your health at dinner tomorrow.