http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml en-gb 30 Wed 23 Dec 2009 04:34:47 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=16#comment5 To all those who came along, thank you. What a night it turned out to be! Congratulations to all!It was probably the best song recital we have ever attended at Wigmore Hall, Jessica, as Kate and Christine pulled out all the stops.Felix Mendelssohn may just have had the edge over Henry Purcell on this particular occasion, although in all truth, the jury was split. Johannes Brahms was pretty good, as well!;) Mon 26 Jan 2009 08:41:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=13#comment4 Felix Mendelssohn was unfortunately left out of the Barbican's epic Cecilian confrontation of Purcell, Handel and Haydn last Sunday night, Jessica. Fortunately, Purcell and Mendelssohn can be compared and contrasted rather more directly tonight at Wigmore Hall:Kate Royal (soprano)Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano)Roger Vignoles (piano)Purcell Sound the trumpet; Lost is my quiet forever;What can we poor females do?Mendelssohn Abschiedslied der Zugvögel; Pagenlied;Auf Flügeln des Gesanges; Venetianisches Gondellied;Der Mond; HerbstliedSaturday 24 January 2009 - 7:30 PM http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/productions/kate-royal-soprano-22474There are still a few tickets left, so both Rick and Jessica, and anyone else on 3 who may be interested, are cordially invited along. Join us!:) Sat 24 Jan 2009 11:35:07 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=10#comment3 On the Octet: Larry Todd has a nice theory in his bio of Mendelssohn that the Octet evokes scenes from Goethe's "Faust", with the 1st violin part (written for Felix's teacher and friend Eduard Rietz) perhaps representing the devil. Certainly, the Octet quotes Handel's Messiah, which would seem to argue for a spiritual interpretation.Also, in support of your argument, listening to the 12 string symphonies, ernables you to hear Felix trying out ideas and effects which he uses in his other, more well-known music. The great peaks of youth -- the Octet, the Overture to Midsummer Night's Dream, etc -- were no flukes, when you hear his other music of the time. We should also not under-estimate the benefit to both young composers (Felix and his sister Fanny) of having access to your own orchestral ensemble comprising some of Berlin's best performers happy to play your music each Sunday evening. Mon 19 Jan 2009 20:17:15 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=6#comment2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/composers/mendelssohn/pictures/10/#photoI suspect that music is often used to express our individual and collective identity, farin16. What Mendelssohn's great oratorio, 'Elijah', says about his Jewish identity, I really am not qualified to say. Jessica, I trust, will have a few good ideas for us all.:) Thu 08 Jan 2009 17:13:49 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=3#comment1 I'll be very interested to hear what you make of Elijah- if I remember correctly, it was written about the time he realized that his family was actually Jewish, right?And thanks for finally explaining why different editions (German or American) use different versions of his name! :) Thu 08 Jan 2009 15:35:50 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/composersoftheyear2009/2009/01/the_prodigy.shtml?page=0#comment0 I would put it at 99% perspiration, Jessica, although possibly not in this cold weather. If you do not wish me to comment so much on your blog(s), please do not hesitate to let me know. Thanks. c. Wed 07 Jan 2009 14:39:16 GMT+1