Thanks to technical assistance from our in-house computer expert William (who recently solved in three minutes a problem the 'help desk' couldn't fix in an hour's telephone consultation), I now have iTunes on my computer, and a vast library of music to browse in. Combining that with my other new discovery, youtube, means I can see whole performances of pieces and compare versions before reverting to iTunes to download them. This is a revelation to me!
In case there's anyone reading this (yes, dear friend, I mean you) who thinks my musical tastes are confined to Freddie Mercury (but what a voice, what a showman, what stage presence, what...OK, enough), I must say that last night I was in full-blown Wagnerian mood as I listened to four recordings of a favourite piece, the Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde. Two were orchestral (Solti and Rattle), two featured major sopranos; of these, one was pretty disappointing, but the other - Jessye Norman - is stunning. I'm not an expert on opera as Elaine is, but I've seen Jessye perform on several occasions at the Edinburgh Festival and she has never been less than sublime.
If you've followed the link above and listened to her sing, there is nothing more to say and certainly no other music I could offer here 'in the same breath'. Further aspects of my eclectic tastes will get an airing another day. Bet some of you can't wait to hear what they are!
...And just wait until you put a boook or two on your iPod or (one of my favorites) lectures on the Byzantine emperors or French lessons (okay, so I haven't started yet) or The Naked Scientist or ... the possibilities are endless. Do yourself and your ears a favor, though. Ditch the earbuds and get yourself something better. The potential accessories are endless...
Posted by: Avice | 28 June 2007 at 01:12 PM
Have you heard Germaine Lubin's version? It's in French, but gives me goosebumps every time.
Posted by: Leena | 28 June 2007 at 03:50 PM
Cornflower - we have Itunes, but I need to take the time to learn how to download to my MP3 player! I already listened to Jessye Norman this morning - thanks, it lifts the soul!
Posted by: Peg | 28 June 2007 at 04:18 PM
Congratulations on getting iTunes installed on your computer. Should we cut your credit cards now? ;)
I am with you about eclectic tastes. There is nothing like a diversified music library.
Posted by: Francesca | 28 June 2007 at 07:19 PM
Itunes is great fun! I've lost many an hour browsing there myself. My husband really enjoys downloading (free) podcasts which are available on any subject you can think of.
Posted by: tara | 28 June 2007 at 07:24 PM
iTunes seems like a licence to print money to me because it's so easy to buy the music and have it in the iPod within a nano-second. I'll own up right now to being an opera-loather and as soon as I hear it on the radio something grates horribly in my head and my ears and I just can't bear it, so to be made to sit through one would be a good way of torturing me.But then not everyone likes Freddy either (but I love him) so I guess it's OK to admit to these things.And yes I'm ditching the earbud headphones too.
Posted by: dovegreyreader | 28 June 2007 at 11:00 PM
I have yet to sit through an entire performance of Tristan. Evan a Wagnerite like me finds it rather too much to take as it is so overwhelming. The Liebestod is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever and whether it is an orchestral version or the full vocal it is stunning. Jessye Norman has a fabulous voice but do try the old recording of Birgit Nilsson. Wow!
Posted by: Elaine | 05 July 2007 at 07:19 AM