h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ms Fitzgerald is much better. On something like;A-Tisket A-Tasket', you know she *could* scat...only she's choosing not to.

But when she *does* choose...!!!

Rather late to this particular party, but I find these seriously, but seriously, overrated:

Past - Yehudi Menuhin. Perhaps the wo/man in the street's idea of a famous violin soloist, and a great man for the world and for music education, but he should have stopped performing when he was fifteen. He has continual intonation problems. The man plays out of tune.

Present - Lang Lang (pianist). Combines admirable technique with a complete lack of taste, feeling, musicality. Because of his approach to the keyboard, he's known, not affectionately, as Bang Bang. But he's very popular with younger audiences...

Examples:

Menuhin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dagrn_9V4jE

Lang Lang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yE3Dz0-koA

Hi, Jabberwock.

One of my favorite recordings was *directed* by Yehudi Menuhin. I've just checked my master list of compact discs, and find that all my Menuhin discs are directed by menuhin, not played by him. If you're right about his pitch problems, then I guessed right in building my collection.

Lang Lang hasplayed in the Boston area more than once, but I haven't gone to hear him. There are no Lang Lang recordings in my collection.

hi paul,

Hope I've done my bit to help. Yehudi Menuhin seemed to live on the reputation of having recorded Elgar with Elgar in the 30's., at the age of about 15. He was an undoubted prodigy at that time in his life. His actions as a cultured and intelligent citizen of the world, and as a genuine philanthropist, make him a better man than I am. But he was vastly overrated as a musician.

Lang Lang is a different matter. As he girns and performs 'pain' and 'greatness' at the piano, his performances are more about him than about the music. He's a charlatan - with an unpleasant 'sound'.

So the question demanded is 'why do orchestras play with these people?' The answer must, unfortunately, 'reputations' bums on seats - money, or the wish to reach new audiences. i.e....Er...money.

Jabs.

paul:

Just try this too. Show-business showing off + butchering the piece + Bang Bang on the keys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-EGKpbIBuw

Q E D, I believe.

paul, well done, having none of his stuff. Me neither, of course.

I have nothing against the man - it's not at all racial or cultural. One of our greatest contemporary pianists is Mitsuka Uchida (Japanese).

I do have something against bad music, though.

Jabs.

"One of our greatest contemporary pianists is Mitsuka Uchida (Japanese)."

I have plenty of her CDs.

Me too.

Jabs.