Michael Tilson Thomas, 1944-2026

Kalevala · April 24, 2026, 03:25:43 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 24, 2026, 06:38:44 AMI thoroughly enjoy his Keeping Score presentations.

I stumbled across his one on Mahler and greatly enjoyed it. Looks like one can watch all of them here: https://michaeltilsonthomas.com/projects/keeping-score/

K

Kalevala · April 24, 2026, 07:19:37 PM

@Karl Henning I found out, when looking at his website, that he actually did a two-parter on Mahler, so I need to watch Part II (maybe revisit Part I as I had watched it a number of years ago).

I didn't know that he had done so many episodes featuring different composers. Thank you for mentioning the name of that series.

Glad that I can watch them.

K

Kalevala · April 24, 2026, 08:03:16 PM

I'm about 30 minutes into this one on Shostakovich...excellent, but I started it too late [I was thinking that they were about 1 hour each; this one is close to 2], so I might have to finish it tomorrow.

Really well done.

K

Kalevala · April 24, 2026, 08:44:23 PM

Quote from: Kalevala on April 24, 2026, 08:03:16 PMI'm about 30 minutes into this one on Shostakovich...excellent, but I started it too late [I was thinking that they were about 1 hour each; this one is close to 2], so I might have to finish it tomorrow.

Really well done.

K

Ah, think that I've figured it out; the first hour is a combo of discussion about the symphony, history, what Shostakovich (his family and friends and fellow artists went through and fellow countrymen) and then a performance of the whole symphony. Not certain whether or not I will be able to stay awake for the whole performance---but I do want to hear/see it. I did finish watching the first part. It helped me to understand the work much better. Some new-to-me history facts too which I appreciated. And the discussion with fellow musicians who were from Russia...what can I say.

K

relm1 · April 25, 2026, 06:08:48 AM

I'll never forget hearing him perform Prokofiev Symphony No. 3. It was terrifying and I've never heard a recording that matched that live performance - part of the shock was it being my introduction to the work so every note was a surprise but the ending was so intense! I also kind of love his background that he wasn't really raised in high society or classical music but his parents who according to AI (so this might be made up) worked more in theater and worked with Orson Welles on his radio plays.

Brian · April 25, 2026, 07:46:56 AM

FYI wikipedia says his parents were a theatrical stage manager and a middle school history teacher.

I also didn't know he first met his husband when they were age 11/12 in their school orchestra!

JBS · April 25, 2026, 07:58:32 AM

Quote from: Brian on April 25, 2026, 07:46:56 AMFYI wikipedia says his parents were a theatrical stage manager and a middle school history teacher.

I also didn't know he first met his husband when they were age 11/12 in their school orchestra!

This was his grandfather
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Thomashefsky

Kalevala · April 28, 2026, 04:44:20 AM

I watched the performance of Shostakovich's fifth yesterday with the SFS. Loved it! I was too sleepy from having stayed up too late the other day to want to watch it.

Not certain which one I'll visit next. Need to focus on yard work for the time being.

K

Belle · April 29, 2026, 06:45:23 PM

I think MTT has kept Gershwin's 'concert hall' music alive and well during his lifetime. I'm giving thanks for that!