I am a freelance medical editor based in London, UK. I have many interests, but I am especially passionate about music (particularly the piano) and books.
A post on Instagram got me thinking about the important role translators have (e.g. William Weaver for Umberto Eco, Lucia Graves for Carlos Ruiz Zafón). Translators should be recognized and thanked for the incredible work they do. It opens up access to worldwide literature.
@SheaVentris I agree. As an editor, I use fewer with countable nouns (e.g. fewer chairs). Less is used for uncountable nouns or units of measurement (e.g. money, distance). But, as David Crystal said, language is driven by the political, economic, and social power of the people who speak it.
Listening now to the grandiose & martial 2nd suite (1st mov.) 'Dance Of The Knights' (Montagues and Capulets) in Prokofiev's ballet 'Romeo & Juliet' superbly played by the LSO conducted by Andre Previn in this 1973 Lp recording. Enjoy!
How timely to see this posted on Twitter! On 23 September, the @royalphilorch celebrates its 80th birthday with Beethoven's Triple concerto, with @janlisiecki (piano), Julia Fischer (violin) and @Pablo_Ferrandez (cello). This description by Teatro La Fenice makes perfect sense.💙
IL Concerto per piano, violino, violoncello e orchestra op. 56 di Beethoven è un dialogo a tre, una ricerca di equilibrio nell'armonia. Un’unione di suoni che, pur restando su toni lievi e tenui, regala una carica e un trasporto incredibile. L'Orchestra del nostro Teatro con la direzione del maestro Chung, Roberto Baraldi al violino ed Emanuele Silvestri al violoncello ci regalano un grande momento di musica.
Tate Britain (one of the best art galleries in London and my favourite) is showing the first major European exhibition in 30 years of James McNeill Whistler (paintings, drawings, prints, and designs). It runs until 27 September. https://t.co/t3xmhHhM36
@musicandroots I find Jupiter anything but dull. Still, we all have our preferences, so I am not going to press the point home. And I am not antagonistic by nature. There is much to be enjoyed in music for all concerned.
@visafreeworld Absolutely agree! I love Florence but too many tourists unless you go off season. Bologna is lovely and the food is the best to be had. Bologna: la rossa (colour of the buildings), la grassa (food), la dotta (the learned). It has the oldest university (1088). Love the porticos!
@janlisiecki@banffcentre Hope (well, I know they will) both concerts in beautiful Banff will go spectacularly well, Jan. Lucky those who will be there to watch your performance and enjoy every note. 🙂👏👏
@FlavioVolpe1 Let’s not forget some representatives from the classical music field, like Glenn Gould and the hugely talented @janlisiecki. An outstanding pianist but also a great example of the caliber of classical musicians Canada has and continues to produce. Something to be celebrated.
As resources go, this is a very important one, and one I intend to make full use of. I have not been to Teatro alla Scala yet, although I plan to in the future. My parents went quite frequently. It is funny, when I was growing up in Milan, I never thought to go. Oh well!🙂
One of the fondest memories I have of Milan, my birthplace, is taking the nos. 10 and 1 trams to go to school, alighting at Piazza della Scala (by Teatro alla Scala, where many have performed, including @janlisiecki), to be greeted by Leonardo da Vinci! Trams make Milan unique.💙
Chopin was not just a composer and pianist, but also a teacher. ‘Chopin: Pianist and Teacher: As Seen By His Pupils’ by Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, explores this lesser known role. A worthwhile read of how Chopin viewed how the piano ought to be taught and learned.
‘Be bolder, let yourself go more. Imagine you’re … listening to the most beautiful performance in the world. Make yourself want to hear it, and then you’ll hear yourself playing it …’ Frédéric Chopin to one of his students
Such a beautiful rendition of Scarborough Fair. The warmer, richer tone of the cello complements the brightness of the guitar. Theoretically, it should not work, but it very much does. Music should be about experimentation. When it works, it sounds like this. A real treat! ❤️
There’s something remarkably clever about pairing a cello with a classical guitar that most people completely gloss over.
Technically speaking, a cello should easily overpower an acoustic guitar. Its deep body and massive natural resonance can swallow up lighter plucked strings in a heartbeat. But what makes this arrangement of "Scarborough Fair" work so well is how they control their frequency space.
The guitar stays remarkably tight, anchoring both the rhythmic foundation and those crisp high-mids to keep the arrangement glued together. Meanwhile, the cello refrains from bullying its way through the low end, gliding instead with smooth legato phrasing like a lead vocalist. They simply give each other room to breathe.
It’s a neat little reminder for creative work in general: making someone else sound good doesn't mean shrinking your own presence—it just means knowing when to leave space.