l. mazel without the score

[pianistimo]

yesterday, i watched the ny philharmonic on tv.  lorin mazell was conducting.  i told my sister-in-law that i respected his ability, especially since he looked at the orchestra so much and was quick on cuing.  she immediately noticed that he had no music.  sure enough, no music stand, no score!  (was disappointed i didn't notice that first) how does one become such a good conductor that they don't even need a score??? 

the only thing i could have done without was the solo vocal - just wanted to hear the philharmonic alone (or better yet, with a pianist).

[arensky]

yesterday, i watched the ny philharmonic on tv.  lorin mazell was conducting.  i told my sister-in-law that i respected his ability, especially since he looked at the orchestra so much and was quick on cuing.  she immediately noticed that he had no music.  sure enough, no music stand, no score!  (was disappointed i didn't notice that first) how does one become such a good conductor that they don't even need a score??? 

the only thing i could have done without was the solo vocal - just wanted to hear the philharmonic alone (or better yet, with a pianist).

He has been conducting for over 60 years, he made his conducting debut in the 40's, I believe on that concert a very young Byron Janis also made his debut, while Mazell conducted. I guess you don't need it after awhile! I was very impressed with him also, he's an excellent conductor. I could have done without Gherogiu or whatever her name is, where was her husband, whathisname the tenor? My wife calls them "The Love Couple". Maybe there's trouble in paradise....oh well, tonight is "New Year's from Vienna with Walter Cronkite"...we watch it every year!

[pianistimo]

ooh, yes!  vienna.  they are the only ones to top the ny philharmonic.  i knew mazell had been around, but it's interesting exactly how long and who he paired up with then.  thanks!

you have a good memory for names.  i couldn't remember the soloists name.  yes.  gherogiu.  she seemed to have a tenseness in her singing - even though she hit some awesomely high notes.  her mannerisms bothered both my sister-in-law and myself.  otherwise - her singing was ok.  just not what we were wishing for on new years!  then we watched 'you've got mail.' 

my bro and sister-in-law were thinking of being in nyc for the ball drop...but they decided to stay another couple days here and were glad last night when they watched it on tv because they could just chill out and go to bed.  people would be stuck for 2 hours afterwards just trying to go anywhere.  guess that's why the crowd was mostly younger people with no kids.  sister-in-law got a blister from all the walking in ny last week.  always wear COMFY shoes!!!

[lau]

lorin mazell is awesome

[pianistimo]

and he doesn't sweat as much as the vienna philharmonic's conductor.  say, did you notice they are made up of mostly younger musicians, whereas the ny philharmonic looks like all retired folk?  they are both top notch players, it's just interesting.

vienna philharmonic played a lot of strauss waltzes last night!  one was ended by a cell phone beeping.  it was the conductors, and he took it out of his pocket (laughed, turned it off) and kept on til the end.  it was cute.  if it wasn't planned, all the funnier.