This Day In Classical Music History Nov 26, 1887: Tchaikovsky conducts an all-Tchaikovsky program in Moscow, which includes the premiere of his “Mozartiana.”
This Day In Classical Music History Nov 27, 1972: The posthumous concert premiere of E W Korngold's Symphony in F# Maj, with Rudolf Kempe conducting the Munich Philharmonic. Brendan G. Carroll, Korngold’s principal biographer has written, "This Symphony is one of the most demanding orchestral works in the repertory, and conductors and orchestras that approach it thinking it is an easy ride do so at their peril. It is in a very difficult key (especially for the strings) and the writing demands virtuosity from all sections. It is also a common mistake to try to make it sound like a Hollywood film score, which it isn't. The tempi and rhythm must be kept taut and when Korngold's markings are obeyed, it makes a devastating effect.” The solemn elegiac Adagio is the emotional heart, and Brendan Carroll describes this as Korngold’s finest slow movement and has written that “many commentators have described it as the greatest since Bruckner and Mahler . . .”
This Day In Classical Music History Nov 28, 1811: Premiere of Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, with soloist Friedrich Schneider (due to his deafness, Beethoven no longer performs), and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Johann Philip Christian Schultz.
This Day in World History Dec 5, 1933: With Utah’s ratification, the 21st Amendment is passed, ending prohibition. Concurrently, FDR signs into law the Beer and Wine Revenue Act placing a federal tax on alcohol.
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 5, 1956: Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman is born in Zabrze, Poland, and grows up to win the 1975 Int’l Chopin Piano Competition.
Poland, Scott Nr 2125 (1975), issued for the 1975 Chopin Competition.
This Day in World History Dec 6, 1877: Thomas A. Edison makes the first sound recording when he recites "Mary had a Little Lamb" into his phonograph machine.
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 7, 1962: Death of soprano Kirsten Flagstad, for whom there do not seem to be enough superlatives to describe, in Oslo, at age 67.
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 9, 1900: The premiere of the first 2 of Claude Debussy’s, “Trois Nocturnes, with Camille Chevillard conducting the Lamoureux Orchestra.
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 10, 1918: Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev makes his 1st American appearance, playing his 2nd Piano Concerto with the Russian Symphony Orchestra, in New York.
This Day in World History Dec 11, 1967: The Concorde, a joint British-French venture and the world's first supersonic airliner, is unveiled in Toulouse, France.
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 11, 1918: The Cleveland Orchestra, "America's most understatedly amazing orchestra," performs its debut concert.
This Day in World History Dec 12, 1963/64: Kenya gains independence from Britain, and, 1 year later on this same date, becomes a republic. Kenya, Scott Nr 7 (1963)
This Day In Classical Music History Dec 13, 2003: Wedding bells chime for Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Nicoletta Mantovani at Modena Italy's Teatro Comunale.
This Day in History Dec 16, 1917: Arthur C. Clarke, author of Childhood’s End, Earthlight, and -- oh, what’s that other one? -- is born in Minehead, UK.
Comments
Nov 25, 1611: The Orion Nebula is discovered by Nicholas Peiresc.
Mexico, Scott Nr 774 (1942)
Nov 25, 1862: Birth of American composer and pianist Ethelbert Nevin in Edgeworth, PA
USA, Scott Nr 883 (1940)
Nov 26, 1789: The first Thanksgiving Day is declared by George Washington.
USA, Scott Nr 3546 (2001)
Nov 26, 1887: Tchaikovsky conducts an all-Tchaikovsky program in Moscow, which includes the premiere of his “Mozartiana.”
Russia, Scott Nr 5888 (1990)
Nov 27, 1895: Alfred Nobel writes his final will, which establishes the Nobel Prize.
USA, Scott Nr 3504 (2001)
Nov 27, 1972: The posthumous concert premiere of E W Korngold's Symphony in F# Maj, with Rudolf Kempe conducting the Munich Philharmonic. Brendan G. Carroll, Korngold’s principal biographer has written, "This Symphony is one of the most demanding orchestral works in the repertory, and conductors and orchestras that approach it thinking it is an easy ride do so at their peril. It is in a very difficult key (especially for the strings) and the writing demands virtuosity from all sections. It is also a common mistake to try to make it sound like a Hollywood film score, which it isn't. The tempi and rhythm must be kept taut and when Korngold's markings are obeyed, it makes a devastating effect.”
The solemn elegiac Adagio is the emotional heart, and Brendan Carroll describes this as Korngold’s finest slow movement and has written that “many commentators have described it as the greatest since Bruckner and Mahler . . .”
USA, Scott Nr 3344 (1999)
Nov 28, 1895: The first US auto race is held, from Chicago to Evanston and back. The winner averages a blistering 7 mph.
Isle of Man, Scott Nr 649 (1995)
Nov 28, 1811: Premiere of Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, with soloist Friedrich Schneider (due to his deafness, Beethoven no longer performs), and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Johann Philip Christian Schultz.
Ivory Coast (2012)
Dec 5, 1933: With Utah’s ratification, the 21st Amendment is passed, ending prohibition. Concurrently, FDR signs into law the Beer and Wine Revenue Act placing a federal tax on alcohol.
USA, Scott Nr REA156 (1933)
Dec 5, 1956: Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman is born in Zabrze, Poland, and grows up to win the 1975 Int’l Chopin Piano Competition.
Poland, Scott Nr 2125 (1975), issued for the 1975 Chopin Competition.
Dec 6, 1877: Thomas A. Edison makes the first sound recording when he recites "Mary had a Little Lamb" into his phonograph machine.
USA, Scott Nr 945 (1947)
Dec 6, 1846: First performance of Berlioz’s, “The Damnation of Faust,” in Paris, with the composer conducting.
Monaco, Scott Nr 7812-20, C75 (1969)
Dec 7, 1941: Japanese planes attack Pearl Harbor, drawing the US into World War II.
USA, Scott Nr 2559i (1991)
Dec 7, 1962: Death of soprano Kirsten Flagstad, for whom there do not seem to be enough superlatives to describe, in Oslo, at age 67.
Norway, Scott Nr 1099-1100 (1995)
Dec 8, 1980: John Lennon is shot to death outside his Manhattan apartment building.
USA, Scott Nr 5314 (2018)
Dec 8, 1813 The premiere of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, in Vienna, conducted by the nearly deaf composer.
Austria, Scott Nr B52 (1922)
Dec 9, 1848: Born on this day - Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus tales.
USA, Scott Nr 980 (1948)
Dec 9, 1900: The premiere of the first 2 of Claude Debussy’s, “Trois Nocturnes, with Camille Chevillard conducting the Lamoureux Orchestra.
Jersey, Scott Nr 355 (1985)
Dec 10, 1869: Wyoming becomes 1st state to grant women the right to vote, 50 years before the constitutional amendment.
USA, Scott Nr 784 (1936)
Dec 10, 1918: Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev makes his 1st American appearance, playing his 2nd Piano Concerto with the Russian Symphony Orchestra, in New York.
Russia, Scott Nr 4931 (1981)
Dec 11, 1967: The Concorde, a joint British-French venture and the world's first supersonic airliner, is unveiled in Toulouse, France.
France, Scott Nr C42 (1967)
Dec 11, 1918: The Cleveland Orchestra, "America's most understatedly amazing orchestra," performs its debut concert.
USA, Scott Nr 3156 (1997)
Dec 12, 1963/64: Kenya gains independence from Britain, and, 1 year later on this same date, becomes a republic.
Kenya, Scott Nr 7 (1963)
Dec 12, 1792: Beethoven becomes a pupil of Haydn, during which time he composes his three Piano Trios, Op. 1.
China, Scott Nr 4176 (2010)
Austria, Scott Nr 644 (1959)
Dec 13, 1642:New Zealand is discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.
New Zealand, Scott Nr 1418 (1997)
Dec 13, 2003: Wedding bells chime for Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Nicoletta Mantovani at Modena Italy's Teatro Comunale.
St Vincent, Scott Nr 1505 (1991)
Dec 15, 1939: The movie, Gone With the Wind,” opens, at Loew’s Grand Theater, in Atlanta, Georgia.
USA, Scott Nr 3185i (1998)
Dec 16, 1917: Arthur C. Clarke, author of Childhood’s End, Earthlight, and -- oh, what’s that other one? -- is born in Minehead, UK.
Isle of Man (2018)