Your first classical 'hero'?

[Peregrine]

Concerning Argerich, didn't she marry a series of co-workers, anyway?

There's certainly gossip about her 'ahem' appetite...

[George]

Concerning Argerich, didn't she marry a series of co-workers, anyway?

And?

That's where many people meet their significant other. 

[Renfield]

And?

That's where many people meet their significant other. 

I meant it with regard to the likelihood of her sleeping with people in her immediate proximity.

[George]

I meant it with regard to the likelihood of her sleeping with people in her immediate proximity.

I knew I should have taken that job as page-turner for her.   

[Mark]

I knew I should have taken that job as page-turner for her.  

Head turner, more like.

[Solitary Wanderer]

This guy [having a 'bad hair' day] 

[George]

Head turner, more like.

Touche' 

[Mark]

Heard him conduct the Pittsburgh in a terrific performance of Sibelius's 5th recently.  Raised him a couple of notches in my estimation.

Tricky one, is Davis. Sometimes absolutely on the money, sometimes wide of the mark. Bit like Rattle, really. But I usually put a good deal of faith in both.

[Renfield]

Tricky one, is Davis. Sometimes absolutely on the money, sometimes wide of the mark. Bit like Rattle, really. But I usually put a good deal of faith in both.

You know, according to my sources, even Karajan tended to be like this; apart from the amazing streak of superb performances that marked his very late years, of course.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Bruno Walter.

[12tone.]

I like Harry...his ability to organize is spectacular:

[Don]

Shostakovich - I got hooked on his symphonies as I listened to them at the Boston Public Library.

[hautbois]

Unfortunately, his music making excites me.


Howard 

[val]

Artur Rubinstein, from the moment I saw him playing in concert Brahms 3rd Sonata.

[Holden]

Composer



performer

[locrian]

Beethoven

Reiner

[Tsaraslondon]

Well firstly, Callas (no surprise there then)



then Schwarzkopf



and Janet Baker



Among instrumentalists and conductors, 3 already mentioned Martha Argerich, Jacqueline Du Pre and Karajan.

[PSmith08]

Pierre Boulez.

Aside from his output, his rhetorical style really just hit home for me. It's hard to imagine, today, that the kindly old man with the awful comb-over could have terrified the musical establishment for much of his professional life and been a major factor in Igor Stravinsky's work in dodecaphony. There's something to be said for that sort of personality, even if you don't like him, his style, or his works.

[jochanaan]

Composer: Johann Sebastian you-know-who.
Conductor: Arturo Toscanini.
Instrumentalist: Marcel Tabuteau, the longtime Philadelphia principal oboist.

These three remain heroes to this day, although my taste in conductors has evolved to where Toscanini is no longer an automatic favorite.

[johnQpublic]

First on the right; second on the left: