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You haven't forgotten Young Musicians is on, have you? Best of all you could listen on line[:D]

Jonz, you are definitely getting better!

And you might enjoy this one too, Norman. [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b072x1qh/virtuoso-violinists-at-the-bbc[/url]

So, all you pianists out there, here is the programme for you! [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0729r6r[/url] Brought back lovely memories for me.

Did you catch the concert tonight on France 3?  If not, you will have to watch on francetvpluzz.  Some exceptional singing amongst other treats

Blimey, just LOOK at the names of the players!!!

So, does nobody at all in all of the forum who likes the New Year's Day concert from Vienna? Year after year I have posted about it on here and there's nary a response[:'(] How sad, I mean how sad, for all the people missing out! I promise you, you've never heard a waltz until you have heard this orchestra play it.  Just listen out for the pauses and feel drawn into the music! And you could actually listen to the Radestski march without waggling even a tiny part of your foot?

Alas, can't listen at the moment as I am without sound.  Pat, I don't mind a bit of smaltz myself! As an aside, I heard the pas de deux from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker arranged for HARP and orhestra yesterday and it was not a bad interpretation.

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06sg8s6/andrea-chenier-from-the-royal-opera-house[/url] For those who don't know Giordano's Andrea Chénier, it's an opera set at the time of the French revolution.  It's been playing to wide critical acclaim at the Royal Opera House. Norman, I thought the orchestra directed by Papano played superbly and the bass baritone was unbelievably good.

Norman, I wanted you to listen to this whilst all the horror is still fresh in our minds.  It's from this morning's Andrew Marr programme; [url]https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews/videos/10153207919112217[/url]

Meant to say that although I am no big fan of Last Night, I shall be watching just to listen to  Jonas Kaufmann. And, to whet appetites, here is Kaufmann singing the Flower Song from Carmen [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1dafrlt10w[/url]

And on the basis that one could never have too much Bach[:D] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b069g9df[/url]

second helping, anyone?[:)] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b067g1dw[/url]

I am fascinated by the way she uses the bow and how she manages to apparently touch all 4 strings at the same time![8-)]

Can you still get this on iplayer? [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed9v2m#b063znx0[/url]

Guess you are too highbrow to be interested but, for everyone else, there is the 14 July concert en direct from Paris tonight on France 2 starting at 21.00! A bit Proms in the Park crossed with Top of the Pops but I have only watched it the once so my description might be a bit off. So, you don't like the music, nevermind, the fireworks are perfectly magnifique.  I'll watch the first 10 minutes or so to see if continuing is worthwhile. Hope this post comes out OK as you never know with the new, responsive, state of the art forum software that we have been gifted[;-)]

Norman, you have hit the nail on the head.  I have seen a few programmes lately where I have not liked things but not exactly sure why. It's just as you say:  all show and no substance[:'(] And everything suitably dumbed down in case you can't undestand and in case your concentration is so stretched that you might switch off........it really, really gets me down sometimes.

[quote user="NormanH"]She left me rather cold, but I can't exactly say why... [/quote] As Wooly might say:  you need to cuddle up closer perhaps?[:D]

Yes, agree entirely that Nacht und Traume was beautifully sung.  And have to agree again re the bass, the lower notes did not have the tingle factor. But do you like the soprano from Belarus?  I thought she was lovely but OH had reservations.

Yes, you are right about a French repertoire but still I wish someone would sing some Belioz for the song contest. Also, one of the pianists is better than the other.

Oh B@M!  I was going to say that the song final was wonderful and not to miss it!  Beautiful, mesmersing, captivating............I was lost in admiration. OH and I picked the winner.  The soprano from Belarus was some singer but wait till you hear the winner!!  I know you'd like him[:D] It was on BBC 4 (TV) this evening.

Norman, have you been following Cardiff Singer? The standard this year is very high indeed.  I haven't been able to hear everyone but, for example, tonight I heard a fabulous coloratura from Belarus. Hope the rétablissement is going apace[:)]

The opera wasn't even listed in our large Grove. OH and I were having a stab at whose music it was.  We debated that perhaps it was Mahler, Richard Strauss or even Wagner so then I had to listen to what was said and do the research. I love listening to France Musique for the very reason that I more often than not discover some gem hitherto unknown.

This post is principally for you, Norman, and I do hope you are getting better and stronger everyday.  I so remember starting this thread when you were also in that convalescent home a few years ago. Anyway, just want to tell you that I was listening to Acte 3 of Guercoeur on France Musique and the singing and music stunned me with their beauty. I immediately did a Google search as the opera was completely new to me and I also got straight on to Amazon to buy a CD of it. The composer, Albéric Magnard, had a very sad and tragic end.  And, Pat, if you are there, this would interest you too.  He died defending his manoir and estate from German troups in 1914.  It is thought that they killed him (though his remains couldn't be identified) and some of his music was destroyed in the subsequent fire when they burned down his house in Oise.  Act 3 was later restored.

Thank you, Pat; yes, I do know it and yes, it is very beautiful[:)]