Jacques' Ponteefication: 2011

W. A. Mozart: Symphony #40

My 2-cent recommendation: a) Prague Chamber Orchestra / Mackerras Still my favourite choice. Rapid pace, exciting and filled with drama. After recording the Mozart symphonies with Prague Chamber Orch. in 1987 Sir Charles recorded the series again with the Scottish Chamber Orch., I heard from a bird the recording quality on the latter series is much better.

b) Berlin Philharmonic Orch. / Bohm Growing on me... Controlled and well balanced without sacrificing color. The recording quality is something to be desired for.

c) Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (ASMF) / Marriner Smooth and fluent without sacrificing the thrill of the ride. A very systematic and rhythmic performance. Uniquely ASMF and Marriner, the brand of magic only they can produce. It figures why Marriner & ASMF were selected to perform for the movie Amadeus.

d) Bruno Walter One other recording worth mentioning is by the late Sir Bruno Walter. Being a close friend of Mahler one might say Bruno Walter is almost legendary when comes to Mahler symphonies. However his approach to Mozart's symphony #40 is quite unique and refreshing. Especially

W. A. Mozart: Piano Concerto 23 (KV488) & 19 (KV459)

My 2-cent recommendation:

Maurizio Polinni / Vienna Philharmonic Orch. / Karl Bohm

This is my all time favourite Mozart piano concerto (especially the second movement). This recording exemplifies the genious of Mozart. A perfect collaboration between Pollini and Karl Bohm. The performances are genial and unhurried, often very poetic but never lacking in drive or motive power. Pollini's playing is refined and beautifully poised and the Vienna Philharmonic plays with sparkle and affection for Böhm.

Beethoven Symphony #5

My 2-cent recommendation:

a) Vienna Philharmonic Orch. / Carlos Kleiber

In June 1975, Deutsche Grammophon released its first symphonic recording with Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic. It was of a single (and pretty short) symphony, Beethoven’s Fifth. Richard Osborne, defiantly flouting the Editor’s commissioned wordage, submitted a review three times the length requested. But he’d spotted a winner and within months, this blazing Fifth had become a Classic Recording.

Tyranny

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

C. S. Lewis

George Lam 10 Minutes 12 Inches

I am in the process of buying back pieces of my past which brings me to:

George Lam 10 Minutes 12 Inches

This medley single came out in 1985. Until that time it is the first of its kind. In this single George Lam sang a 10 minute long medley comprised of the most popular Cantonese songs (of different genre) by various Hong Kong artists (including: Sam Hui, Alan Tam, Leslie Cheung and many more) at the time.

The way this medley was mixed and arranged was sear genius, not to mention witty and it possesses George Lam's brand of quirky humour. The reception to the single was hot, subsequently inspired a series of medleys from different Hong Kong artists (Sam Hui even released a whole album on nothing but medleys).

After searching high and low I managed to find a used copy of this single on eBay...

Relevant Links:
George Lam's medley on YouTube

Sam Hui's medley on YouTube

Tears For Fears: Everybody wants to rule the world

I am in the process of buying back pieces of my past which brings me to:

Tears For Fears: Everybody wants to rule the world

When I first heard this song ages ago (1985), I was hooked and has been ever since obsessed.

The song was released on the 18th March 1985. It was the 9th single released by the band. By April 1985 the song climbed to the second spot in the UK chart. It won the best single in the British Award the following year.

The song's success was much more pronounced across the Atlantic ocean. It reached the top spot in the US chart on the 8th of June 1985 and stayed there for 2 weeks. The song also reached the number one spot in the US Hot Dance Music chart and US Hot Dance singles sales the same year.

Due to the massive reception of the song internationally the song was remixed and re-released in 1986 under the name "Everybody wants to run the world". The purpose of the re-released was to promote the Sport Aid campaign which helped in raising money for the famine crisis in Africa at the time. The song peaked at number 5 in the UK chart in June 1986

The song has an accumulated radio broadcasts of over 2 million by 1994 which affirmed the song's endearing popularity. This song represents the pinnacle of the band's success (sadly).

Roland Orzabal commented that the song almost did not make it into the album "Songs from the Big Chair". After much convincing from the producer Chris Hughes the band eventually agreed to record the song... and the rest is history.

Here are the different versions of the song:

Everybody wants to rule the world 4:10

7, 10, 12 inch singles

Songs from the big chair (Album)

Everybody wants to rule the world (urban mix) 6:06
7 & 12 inch singles

Everybody wants to rule the world (extended version) 5:43
12 inch single

Everybody wants to run the world 4:30
7 & 12 inch singles (Sports Aid, Run the World)

Everybody wants to run the world (running version) 4:30
7 & 12 inch singles (Sports Aid, Run the World)