Grace Magazine

There is nothing in the world like hearing Beethoven performed live.

I went to see the Philharmonia Orchestra of London conducted by Christoph von Dohnányi perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

I have to share the experience with you. Here is a vintage clip of Beethoven’s Fifth that I found on youtube:

Beethoven himself has described the first four notes as “Fate knocking at the door.”

Buy some Ludwig Van today.

Moms are great. How can we ever repay them for all they’ve done for us, taught us, shown us.

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is Sunday May 11, 2008.

Here are some ideas for gifts so you can give back in a small way.

Numi Tea Assorted Teas and Tessans - $32.41

Includes Morning Rise, Aged Earl Grey, Berry Black, Golden Chai, Temple of Heaven, Monkey King, Water Sprite, Moonlight Spice, Sweet Meadows, Simply Mint, Fields of Gold, and Ruby Chai varieties. Certified organic, fair trade, and kosher.

Packaged in a mahagony wood chest, this set included 60 tea bags. My personal favorite is Monkey King (Jasmine Green).

Leading Ladies Collection, Vol. 2 - $44.99

DVD set includes:
A Big Hand For The Little Lady
I’ll Cry Tomorrow
Rich And Famous
Shoot The Moon
Up The Down Staircase

I particularly love Up the Down Staircase and I’ll Cry Tomorrow.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Divas - $14.99

Tracks include:
1. Memory (From Cats) - Betty Buckley
2. Music Of The Night (From The Phantom Of The Opera) - Katherine Jenkins
3. Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina (from Evita) - Madonna
4. All I Ask Of You (From The Phantom Of The Opera) - Shirley Bassey
5. Surrender (From Sunset Boulevard) - Sarah Brightman
6. With One Look (from Sunset Boulevard) - Glenn Close
7. Learn To Be Lonely (From The Phantom Of The Opera) - Minnie Driver
8. The Perfect Year (From Sunset Boulevard) - Dina Carroll
9. I Don’t Know How To Love Him (From Jesus Christ Superstar) – Yvonne Elliman
10. Buenos Aires (From Evita) – Patti Lupone
11. As If We Never Said Goodbye (From Sunset Boulevard) – Barbra Streisand
12. Rainbow High (From Evita) - Elaine Paige
13. Tell Me On A Sunday (From Song And Dance) - Marti Webb
14. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
15. Another Suitcase Another Hall (From Evita) - Barbara Dickson

Stand-out numbers include Surrender By Sarah Brightman and The Heart Is Slow To Learn By Kiri Te Kanawa.

Andre Rieu - Tuscany - $14.00

Product Description:
1. The Godfather (Love Theme) 2. Strangers In Paradise 3. Romance Anonyme - Jeux Interdits 4. Once Upon A Time In The West 5. Chanson d’Amour 6. O Mio Babbino Caro 7. William Tell Overture 8. Opera Potpourri 9. Italian National Anthem 10. L’Italiano 11. Marina 12. Roses From Tyrol 13. Lagune Waltz 14. The Rose 15. Italiana 16. Barcarole 17. La Paloma 18. Light Cavalry 19. All Men Shall Be Brothers (Ode To Joy) 20. Radetzky March 21. Vino 22. La Montanara 23. I Love You

A joyous concert set in beautiful Tuscany. The players really look like they’re having fun and their spirit is infectious.

Divisadero (Vintage International Paperback) - $10.32

From the celebrated author of The English Patient, comes another breathtaking, unforgettable story, this time about a family torn apart by an act of violence. Divisadero is a rich and rewarding read, Ondaatje’s finest novel to date.

If you loved the English Patient, Ondaatje’s latest novel will captivate you.

All items available from Amazon.com.

Dolly Parton was the guest on American Idol tonight. She’s such a wonderful song writer.

Here is Smokey Mountain Memories. David Archuleta sang it on the show and almost brought me to tears. Damn, that kid is good. And Dolly is amazing.

Have a listen.

When I was a teenager I wanted to be Rachel Sweet.

Here’s a clip of her singing Voo Doo.

Ah, early music videos were so low budget.

On this date in history, the 15th of March in 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of his so-called friends and co-workers, who called themselves the Liberators.

That’s putting it simply, of course.

Here’s the account as told by Plutarch:
The Parallel Lives, The Life of Julius Caesar

Well, then, Antony, who was a friend of Caesar’s and a robust man, was detained outside by Brutus Albinus,who purposely engaged him in a lengthy conversation; but Caesar went in, and the senate rose in his honour. Some of the partisans of Brutus took their places round the back of Caesar’s chair, while others went to meet him, as though they would support the petition which Tillius Cimber presented to Caesar in behalf of his exiled brother, and they joined their entreaties to his and accompanied Caesar up to his chair. But when, after taking his seat, Caesar continued to repulse their petitions, and, as they pressed upon him with greater importunity, began to show anger towards one and another of them, Tillius seized his toga with both hands and pulled it down from his neck. This was the signal for the assault. It was Casca who gave him the first blow with his dagger, in the neck, not a mortal would, nor even a deep one, for which he was too much confused, as was natural at the beginning of a deed of great daring; so that Caesar turned about, grasped the knife, and held it fast. At almost the same instant both cried out, the smitten man in Latin: “Accursed Casca, what does thou?” and the smiter, in Greek, to his brother: “Brother, help!”

So the affair began, and those who were not privy to the plot were filled with consternation and horror at what was going on; they dared not fly, nor go to Caesar’s help, nay, nor even utter a word. But those who had prepared themselves for the murder bared each of them his dagger, and Caesar, hemmed in on all sides, whichever way he turned confronting blows of weapons aimed at his face and eyes, driven hither and thither like a wild beast, was entangled in the hands of all; for all had to take part in the sacrifice and taste of the slaughter. Therefore Brutus also gave him one blow in the groin. And it is said by some writers that although Caesar defended himself against the rest and darted this way and that and cried aloud, when he saw that Brutus had drawn his dagger, he pulled his toga down over his head and sank, either by chance or because pushed there by his murderers, against the pedestal on which the statue of Pompey stood. And the pedestal was drenched with his blood, so that one might have thought that Pompey himself was presiding over this vengeance upon his enemy, who now lay prostrate at his feet, quivering from a multitude of wounds. For it is said that he received twenty-three; and many of the conspirators were wounded by one another, as they struggled to plant all those blows in one body.

Caesar thus done to death, the senators, although Brutus came forward as if to say something about what had been done, would not wait to hear him, but burst out of doors and fled, thus filling the people with confusion and helpless fear, so that some of them closed their houses, while others left their counters and places of business and ran, first to the place to see what had happened, then away from the place when they had seen. Antony and Lepidus, the chief friends of Caesar, stole away and took refuge in the houses of others. But Brutus and his partisans, just as they were, still warm from the slaughter, displaying their daggers bare, went all in a body out of the senate-house and marched to the Capitol, not like fugitives, but with glad faces and full of confidence, summoning the multitude to freedom, and welcoming into their ranks the most distinguished of those who met them. Some also joined their number and went up with them as though they had shared in the deed, and laid claim to the glory of it, of whom were Caius Octavius and Lentulus Spinther. These men, then, paid the penalty for their imposture later, when they were put to death by Antony and the young Caesar, without even enjoying the fame for the sake of which they died, owing to the disbelief of their fellow men. For even those who punished them did not exact a penalty for what they did, but for what they wished they had done.

I’m going to ward off the Ides of March by going to a concert of Respighi’s Pines of Rome.

Sarah Brightman has a new musical recording.

I don’t know what to call them anymore: records? albums? CDs? music files? So, I’ll just say music.

Sarah Brightman is one of those artists that is hard to categorize. She’s one of my favorite sopranos. Her crystal clear voice can be big and strong. But she also has a pop voice that is soft and light. But then there’s that third voice, the musical theatre voice that can interpret lyrics and reach the back of a Broadway house.

Her new music, Symphony, is a perfect example of her range. She dips into gothic rock with Fleurs Du Mal, does a rocky pop duet with Paul Stanley on I Will Be With You, gives us another great romantic pairing with Andrea Bocelli on Canto Della Terra, and much more.

Symphony has 13 tracks in various languages. It’s available at Amazon for $12.99.

Here is a clip of Sarah performing two of the selections live on The Early Show.

Susanna Hoffs and Matthew Sweet sing A Different Drum.

Here are Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli singing Time To Say Goodbye:

Such a romantic song.

Happy New Year!!!

Tom Jone and Cerys Matthews (of Catatonia) singing Baby, It’s Cold Outside.

Very cute.

This is Nora the cat. She plays the piano. She’s cute, too.