A collaboration of: “The Classic Music Mafia”
nkit, Austrian Peter, and Steve C.
Every Sunday morning we present selections for our TBP family to enjoy.
We present symphonies, ensembles, quartets, octets, etc.
Not all of our music is strictly ‘classical’. We may stray a little, but we strive to make all of our selections ‘classy’.
We offer tips on proper ‘symphony etiquette’ and even some selections that are a bit light-hearted and fun aimed at a younger audience. Those pieces will be so designated, and might be a good way to introduce kids to a world of music that they might not have been exposed to or think of as old and ‘stuffy’.
A full symphony will run as long as it will. We don’t want to cut a symphony short. However, we also include some shorter pieces that we try to keep under fifteen minutes in length. You can sample each and hopefully find one or more that pleases you.
We hope that you enjoy our Sunday selections.
This one comes to us from TS.
The Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra Chamber Music Program – Millennium Stage (January 21, 2020)
The Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra Chamber Music Program offers talented young musicians the opportunity to closely work in small ensembles (trios, quartets, quintets, etc) with exceptional faculty, perform in master classes, and participate in chamber music concerts and competitions.
They start with a group pf thirteen year-olds then go to a flute quartet.
They then move on to the Junior Flute assemble with 4th thru 8th graders.
Play this one for the kiddos…
Time To Say Goodbye
I’m going to start this with some beautiful music from Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra that Rieu created in 1987.
Andre Leo Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist, composer and conductor born 1-10-1949. Rieu frequently leads his Johann Strauss Orchestra while playing his Stradivarius violin that is dated from 1667.
Rieu and his orchestra have appeared throughout Europe, North and South America, Japan, and Australia. The size and revenue of their tours are rivaled only by the largest pop and rock music acts. He and his orchestra have turned classical, waltz, and Popular music into a worldwide concert touring act.
The first piece will be the popular song titled “Time To Say Goodbye.”
His regular Soprano goes by the stage name “Mirusia”. Born in Brisbane Australia to Dutch parents Mirusia Louwerse attended and graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane obtaining a Bachelor of Music in Performance in Classical Voice.
In 2006, Louwerse became the youngest ever winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Opera Award and went on to record a debut EP entitled She Walks in Beauty. She has been Rieu’s number one Soprano since her aunt in The Netherlands told Rieu about her niece. Two days later Mirusia was stand in front of Rieu at his studio. She has been with him since that day in 2007.
So, with that info let’s listen in.
You Raise Me Up
Next we will hear Rieu and his legendary Stradivarius play “You Raise Me Up.” Some beautiful violin here.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Next, enjoy “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” featuring Holland’s own Suzan Erens.
Nearer, My God, To Thee
I will follow that up with Rieu playing “Nearer, My God, To Thee” Live in Amsterdam.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Next, Rieu performs “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – again with Mirusia.
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
Lastly, Rieu and Mirusia perform “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” live in Maastricht.
Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli – Time to Say Goodbye
This live version is from Brightman’s first full concert recording, “Sarah Brightman: In Concert”, from London’s Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Paul Bateman.
Guest artists include Andrew Lloyd Webber, Adam Clark and Andrea Bocelli.
The concert was released to video in 1998.
The concert was directed by David Mallet.
Borodin – Prince Igor, Polovtsian Dances
“La Follee Journee de Varsovie – Russia”
Grand Theatre, Warsaw 2012
Poland Symphony Orchestra of the Felix Nowowiejski
Music School in Gdańsk, Poland
Sylwia Anna Janiak – conductor
Alexander Borodin Prince Igor – Polovtsian Dances
Aleksander Borodin Tańce Połowieckie z opery Kniaź Igor
Orkiestra Ogólnokształcącej Szkoły Muzycznej II st im. F. Nowowiejskiego w Gdańsku
Koncert na festiwalu “Szalone Dni Muzyki – Rosja” Teatr Wielki w Warszawie 2012
The Classic Music Mafia – Adding some class to this joint one Sunday at a time.
Heaven help us…
Beautiful stuff gentlemen. Amazing that “Climate Change”, caused by God not man, aka the Little Ice Age or the Maunder Minimum, created the proper density of wood then utilized by Stradivarius to create the beautiful instruments that produce sound like no others.
It does make you think doesn’t it?
I’ve also read that his glue had a lot to do with it…
Silly … glue is a hair product …
Thanks much for your knowledgeable comment, Doc. Thanks for listening and commenting week after week. Knowing that there are good folks out there enjoying our offerings, inspires us to carry on. I think that Steve and Peter would agree.
Yes absolutely nkit – with you all the way!
Great stuff, guys. The sound from the Stradivarius is phenomenal, especially in the skilled hands of a master.
Phenomenal indeed, TN Patriot. I can listen to that piece over and over. Thanks for commenting, friend.
Beautiful selections. I noticed that Janiak conducted the Dance at a bit more sedate, or maybe stately, pace and tone than other conductors I have heard with this piece.
Rieu’s version of ‘You Raise Me Up’ was absolutely beautiful, and well worth the price of admission!
Janiak’s composition of the piece certainly is interesting. I wonder if it had anything to do with her conducting a youth orchestra.
nkit contributed the Rieu pieces so I will let him comment on them.
You are spot on concerning Rieu’s performance of “You Raise Me Up”, TS. I’m not sure if there is much more that is as, or more, beautiful. Thanks as always for listening.