For today's late lunch break, Renaud Capuçon and Martha Argerich playing Kreisler's Liebesleid (Love's sorrow) for Violin and Piano.

We continue in the same "mood" with Krystian Zimerman playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 “Emperor” III. Rondo. Allegro, together with the Philharmonic of Vienna and directed by Leonard Bernstein. It was recorded at the Musikverein, Vienna, in September 1989.

A peaceful start of the day with Schubert's Impromptu in B flat major, Op. 142, No. 3., which isn't exactly the most known, but we're here for inspiration too. Have a great day!

After a long time, we had a few hours of sun and it made it into the news. They even said that we might see the sun again in ten days. 😂 Anyway, Vivaldi's Winter makes it easier, especially through Mari Samuelson's violin. Have a good evening!

For today's lunch break, Tine Thing Helseth sings Astor Piazzolla's Libertango, arranged by Øivind Westby. (2013)

Sharing with you what I'm listening to. András Schiff performing Schubert Impromptus D899 No. 2 & 3 (1989)

It's a "two birds, one stone" moment because I wanted to listen to Barber's Adagio while today is Dudamel's 45th birthday. So let's listen to the Vienna Philharmonic performing under Gustavo Dudamel's baton Barber's Adagio for Strings, Op. 11, during The Summer Night Concert 2019, in the gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. And with this, I wish you all a beautiful evening! 🥂

Austria just had its 83rd Vienna Philharmonic Ball. Not an event for me, because I'm no blue blood but a blue collar with the grace of a crushed brick, tho it's a nice tradition. Enjoy!🥂

We start the week as we finished it, with Yuja Wang, this time playing Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words Op. 67, No. 2. (Vienna Konzerthaus, 2019)

Probably the best "Flight of the Bumble Bee" I'll hear during my lifetime is György Cziffra's arrangement played by Yuja Wang. Have a beautiful Sunday and meet you again tomorrow!

For lunch break, I propose a moment with Ramona Zaharia singing Acerba voluttà, an aria from the Italian opera Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea.

Today, we begin with Anne-Sophie Mutter's violin performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, together with Herbert von Karajan and Berliner Philharmoniker. I also attached the YouTube link for the whole performance. (1984) Side note: Mutter was discovered by Karajan when she was only 13 years old, but he recognised the talent and kept her under his wing. This specific recording is Karajan's last, and due to his deteriorating health, it remained unpublished until after his death in 1989, and it went unnoticed for many years before becoming a symbol of the German music school.

I never refer to someone's nationality or whatever personal details unless it's absolutely relevant to the plot. This time, I will make an exception. Mezzo-soprano Anja Mittermüller, from my beautiful adoptive country, Austria, won the SWR contest for young opera singers, on January 17. And she's magnificent! 👏👏👏👏👏 I uploaded the trailer and added the YouTube link for the (small and friendly) contest. [Ruperto Chapí y Lorente's "Al pensar en el dueno de mis amores" from "Las Hijas del Zebedeo"]

Probably the last jazz post for today, Lester Young's "Pennies from Heaven". (1950) "Originality is the thing. You can have tone and technique and a lot of other things, but without originality you ain't really goin' nowhere. Gotta be original." (Lester Young) Lester Young (tenor sax) Bill Harris(trombone) Hank Jones (piano) Ray Brown (bass) Buddy Rich (drums)

While I usually prefer "old jazz", a notable exception would be The Midnight Hour, on this occasion performing "Redneph in B Minor". (Live at Linear Labs, 2018) Not like anyone asked, but my "favourite" jazz, so to speak, is played at night in basements full of cigarette smoke.

A late start today, with McCoy Tyner performing a solo piano performance of John Coltrane's Giant Steps. (Hamburg, 1996) I didn't post Jazz in some time so here we go.

I wish you all a fine weekend with the finale of Mahler's Symphony No. 1, Titan, with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle.

For today's lunch break, let's have a change of rhythm with Anne-Sophie Mutter playing John Williams' "Across the Stars" from "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" together with the Staatskapelle Berlin, under the baton of Manfred Honeck.

Today we start with opera. Christian Van Horn sings "Cinta di fiori" from Bellini's "I Puritani", in a more theatrical presentation, from The Metropolitan Opera. Have a great day!

A history page with Camille Saint-Saëns playing his Valse Mignonne, Op.104. The video is from a silent film of Saint-Saëns, made by Sacha Guitry in 1914, synchronised with the composer's audio recording of 24 November 1919. Have a great evening!