Luciano Pavarotti, Dead at Age 71

According to various news sources, Luciano Pavarotti died today, 06 September 2007, at the age of 71. While I am not familiar with much of Maestro Pavarotti's work, I do know that his rendition of the literature can impress even the strongest opponent of opera.

Let us conclude this entry by quoting one of Pavarotti's signature work's, Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot.

Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!

Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!

Only through your legacy of recordings will we ever hear your magic again, Maestro. We will watch the stars that tremble with love, and with hope.

Goodbye, Friend

Sadly, Tower Records has now ceased to exist in everywhere but cyberspace. I have many fond memories of the Tower Records location on Clark Street on the north side of Chicago, and even the Wabash Street location. There was always a wonderful selection of classical music and knowledgeable staff. While superstores such as Border's Books and Music and Barnes and Noble keep a decent stock of classical music, their support staff is often unaware of even the more popular classical and operatic recordings. Recordings in these stores are often incorrectly sorted in the wrong bin, jewel cases are often damaged, and special demands are not easy to request. It appears that classical music sales are entirely going the way of the Internet. At the "we sell everything megastore" near my home, the classical music selection consists of two small racks of compact discs. Perhaps the message is that it's time to find a new genre to love, or enjoy my already-purchased recordings and simply swap digital music collections with other classical fans.

Roland Kohloff Dies

I learned of the death of Roland Kohloff today while reading the Percussive Arts Society message board. Within a posting on the PAS message board there was a link to this article (local copy) on the death of Roland Kohloff, former timpanist of the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Kohloff was born on 30 January 1935, attended the Julliard School of Music, performed as principal timpanist of the San Francisco Symphony for 16 years, then moving to the New York Philharmonic where he performed for 32 years. He died on 24 February 2006.

Many of Mr. Kohloff's students have gone on to become accomplished and notable timpanists. He is the timpanist that is heard in many great recordings, including notable recordings by Leonard Bernstein.

Farewell to this great musician.

Eugene Espino Dead at 65

From pas.org...a bit late, but worth quoting.

Eugene Santiago Espino, Principal Timpanist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 37 years, died of a heart attack on April 23 in California. He was 65.

"He was a legendary personality in the orchestra and a popular figure in town," Cincinnati Symphony music director Paavo Järvi told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "He was a good example of a great pro and a great old-timer. He's done it all and knew the repertoire and was a real master."

Espino joined the Cincinnati Symphony in 1967, after spending one year as Principal Timpanist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure, he performed two world premieres, an American premiere and a Cincinnati premiere as soloist. Espino also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. A native of Oakland, Calif., Espino graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with Saul Goodman.

Harry Brabec

Harry Brabec, a former percussionist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, passed away on 03 February 2005. He played under the baton of Fritz Reiner in the mid-1950's. More on his life can be found here. We wish you farewell, Harry.

Artie Shaw

Artie Shaw, the clarinetist and band leader whose recording of Begin the Beguine epitomized the Big Band era, died Thursday, 30 December 2004, in his home at the age of 94. Farewell, Artie.