Are You Experienced?

BBC Radio 3's "The Beethoven Experience" began today, launching six days of all Beethoven, all the time, featuring every work that Beethoven composed. The temptation to give up family, work and sleep in order to immerse myself in this marathon is overwhelming, but I'm being regretfully sensible, and "tuning in" via the live web feed, catch as catch can, as time permits. Lots of good bits today, including the Fifth Symphony with Antal Dorati conducting and the Seventh Symphony with Carlos Kleiber conducting (both excellent choices, although it might have worked even better to have the Kleiber Fifth and the Dorati Seventh). BBC3 is also including in-studio performances as well as recordings as part of the "Experience", which is a terrific idea, and I was bowled over by a remarkable and vivid live performance by Alice Neary and Gretel Dowdeswell of Beethoven's fourth cello sonata. I've enjoyed all the lieder and other vocal works that seem to be interspersed throughout the programming, but particularly favor the chamber pieces. I was happy to have caught the seminal recording of the C sharp minor string quartet (Op. 131) from the '50s by the Hungarian Quartet, which brought back fond memories of hearing the Takács Quartet's energized performance of this same piece last fall here in Madison. I didn't get to hear as many of the piano sonatas today as I would have liked, but made sure I led myself back to the computer in time to hear Alfred Brendel discuss the final three sonatas, leading into his recordings of them. Brendel isn't my favorite Beethoven interpreter; I find myself often bickering with his tempo choices ("too fast, Brendel! too slow, Brendel!"), but his work on the late sonatas is very satisfying. (All the more disappointing that he had to cancel his recital in Madison a few months ago due to illness, but I'm hoping that his participation in this program means that he's been on the mend.) And now, the Kreutzer sonata with Sandor Vegh and Andras Schiff. I'll even stay up past my bedtime for another Seventh, this time with Otto Klemperer conducting. Hmm...can't I go AWOL for the next five days? Laptop, headphones, high-speed internet connection, room service and NoDoz? Sounds like a plan.

Newly blooming: Roses (Rosa carolina, rugosa rose 'Roseraie de l'Haÿ, David Austin rose 'Redouté'), peonies ('James Pillow' [Pillow, 1936], 'Lillian Gumm' [Gumm, 1921], 'Bev' [Krekler, 1975], 'Dai jo kuhan' [Millet, year unknown], and 'Festiva Maxima' [Mielles, 1851]), Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum), Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold' (ninebark), Salvia x superba 'Mainacht' (May Night salvia), Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle), Anchusa azurea 'Dropmore' (Italian bugloss), and Allium christophii (Star of Persia).

Comments

[Kathy]

'Bev' is not yet blooming for me, but then, you've been earlier than me in all plants we grow in common.

[Chan S.]

All my peonies are in the indubitably-zone-5 area of the garden with hot baking sun and virtually no shade. Some of last week's bloomers are already starting to fade, but there are a handful that haven't opened up yet.