The Music:Symphony in G minor, by Ernest John Moeran
Ulster Orchestra, Vernon Handley, conductor
Chandos 10169
What holiday gathering would be complete without a nice chilled bowl of punch? Here's a version we found at london-eating.co.uk that you can whip up by clicking here. Hope you like it, and please have a safe and Happy New Year!
Thanks for listening.
The Music:Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, by Johannes Brahms
Gil Shaham, violin; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado, conductor
Deutsche Grammophon 469 529
Whether served as a tasty dessert or the main course for your Sunday brunch, these German Apple Pancakes will be a hit with your guests. Click here for all the details.
Guten appetit, and thanks for listening.
Symphony No 2 in E flat by Charles Gounod
Orchestra of St. John's, Smith Square, John Lubbock, conductor
ASV 981
The Recipe:Here's something rich and decadent that's also relatively light to get your New Year's resolution list off to a good start. It comes to us from the folks at Cooking Light and can be made a day ahead. Check it out by clicking here.
Bon appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Music:Low Symphony, by Philip Glass
Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor
Philips B0000840
There must be hundreds of pot roast recipes out there, but in honor of today's Midday Entree composer, Philip Glass (who once hacked a cab on the streets of New York), we feature this verion from Charlie Palmer, one of Manhattan's more successful chefs. Try it in your own kitchen by clicking here.
Bon appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12, by Camille Saint-Saens
Soloists, Choir of the Church of the Holy Cross; Dresden Philharmonic, Martin Flamig, conductor
Capriccio 10216
The Recipe:This is the sort of delicate soup you might find served Christmas Eve on a dinner table in Provencal before midnight mass. The details can be found by clicking here. (For simple instructions on how to make your own creme fraiche, look here.)
Joyeux Noel, and thanks for listening.
The Music:Hodie, A Christmas Cantata, by Ralph Vaughan-Williams
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox, conductor
EMI 135 314
OK, it doesn't have to be flaming, but just imagine this traditional British Christmas delicacy making its way to your table with that brandy-fueled bluish flame hovering above it. Check it out by clicking here.
Bon appetit, and thanks for listening.
In Nativitatem Domini Canticum, H 416, by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Les Arts Florrissants, William Christie, conductor
Erato 85820
The Recipe:Buche de Noel is a French version of the traditional yule log, and contains such lovely ingredients as unsweetened chocolate, orange zest, espresso powder and a dash of Grand Marnier. Get the details by clicking here.
Bon appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Art of the Fugue, BWV 1080, By Johann Sebastian Bach
The Canadian Brass
Sony 89731
The Recipe:Here from the German diplomatic mission to the United States is their authentic recipe for beer soup. Not surprisingly, they point out "for best results, we recommend using German beer." Give it a try by clicking here.
Guten appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Music:Gloria in D, R 589 by Antonio Vivaldi
Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra, Ferenc Szekeres, conductor
Brilliant 92389
This past dish is traditional Italian Christmas fare, but as they say at inmamaskitchen.com, "I serve this pasta dish now on any occasion, year-round. Like my grandmother says, 'Eat! No matter what happens, eat and enjoy'."
Get the lowdown by clicking here.
The Christmas Story SWV 435, by Heinrich Schutz
Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh, conductor
Archiv 463046
The Recipe:Just the thing for the day after, enjoying the calm with a cup of coffee and the morning paper. You'll find all the info you need to make up your own after clicking here.
Guten appetit, and thanks for listening.
For my brothers Carl and __________ Beethoven
O ye men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do ye wrong me, you do not know the secret causes of my seeming, from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feelings of good will, I was even ever eager to accomplish great deeds, but reflect now that for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible), born with an ardent and lively temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was compelled early to isolate myself, to live in loneliness, when I at times tried to forget all this, O how harshly was I repulsed by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing, and yet it was impossible for me to say to men speak louder, shout, for I am deaf.
Ah how could I possibly admit such an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or have enjoyed - O I cannot do it, therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would gladly mingle with you, my misfortune is doubly painful because it must lead to my being misunderstood, for me there can be no recreations in society of my fellows, refined intercourse, mutual exchange of thought, only just as little as the greatest needs command may I mix with society.
I must live like an exile, if I approach near to people a hot terror seizes upon me, a fear that I may be subjected to the danger of letting my condition be observed - thus it has been during the past year which I spent in the country, commanded by my intelligent physician to spare my hearing as much as possible, in this almost meeting my natural disposition, although I sometimes ran counter to it yielding to my inclination for society, but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence - truly wretched, an excitable body which a sudden change can throw from the best into the worst state - Patience - it is said that I must now choose for my guide, I have done so, I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it please the inexorable parcae to bread the thread, perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not, I am prepared.
Forced already in my 28th year to become a philosopher, O it is not easy, less easy for the artist than for anyone else - Divine One thou lookest into my inmost soul, thou knowest it, thou knowest that love of man and desire to do good live therein. O men, when some day you read these words, reflect that ye did me wrong and let the unfortunate one comfort himself and find one of his kind who despite all obstacles of nature yet did all that was in his power to be accepted among worthy artists and men. You my brothers Carl and [Johann] as soon as I am dead if Dr. Schmid is still alive ask him in my name to describe my malady and attach this document to the history of my illness so that so far as possible at least the world may become reconciled with me after my death.
At the same time I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if so it can be called), divide it fairly, bear with and help each other, what injury you have done me you know was long ago forgiven. to you brother Carl I give special thanks for the attachment you have displayed towards me of late. It is my wish that your lives be better and freer from care than I have had, recommend virtue to your children, it alone can give happiness, not money, I speak from experience, it was virtue that upheld me in misery, to it next to my art I owe the fact that I did not end my life with suicide.
Farewell and love each other - I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmid - I desire that the instruments from Prince L. be preserved by one of you but let no quarrel result from this, so soon as they can serve you better purpose sell them, how glad will I be if I can still be helpful to you in my grave - with joy I hasten towards death - if it comes before I shall have had an opportunity to show all my artistic capacities it will still come too early for me despite my hard fate and I shall probably wish it had come later - but even then I am satisfied, will it not free me from my state of endless suffering? Come when thou will I shall meet thee bravely.
Farewell and do not wholly forget me when I am dead, I deserve this of you in having often in life thought of you how to make you happy, be so -
Heiligenstadt
October 6,1802 Ludwig van Beethowen
For my brothers Carl and __________
to be read and executed after my death.
Heiligenstadt, October 10, 1802
Thus do I take my farewell of thee - and indeed sadly - yes that beloved hope - which I brought with me when I came here to be cured at least in a degree - I must wholly abandon, as the leaves of autumn fall and are withered so hope has been blighted, almost as I came - I go away - even the high courage - which often inspired me in the beautiful days of summer - has disappeared - O Providence - grant me at least but on e day of pure joy - it is so long since real joy echoed in my heart - O when - O when, O Divine One - shall I find it again in the temple of nature and of men - Never? no - O that would be too hard.
Mass in C Major, Op. 86, by Ludwig van Beethoven
Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Archiv 435 391
OK, so maybe Ludwig never had pretzel-crusted pork chops (with an orange-mustard sauce, yet), but don't you think he might have liked this on his birthday? You can try them yourself by clicking here.
Guten appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Music:Partita in a, BWV 1004 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Andrew Lawrence-King, harp
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77523
Today's offering comes to us from cooks.com and has been handed down from generation to generation. These Christmas cookies are easy to make and just may find a place in your own family's Christmas traditions. Get the info by clicking here.
The Fairy's Kiss by Igor Stravinsky
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Igor Stravinsky, conductor
Sony 87990
The Recipe:Just the thing for your Christmas dessert table, Black Russian Cake. Easy and tasty, you'll be the hit of the party. Get the details by clicking here.
Prijatnogo appetita, and thanks for listening.
The Music:The Planets, Op. 32, by Gustav Holst
Philharmonia Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, conductor
RCA 68018
Why Neptune? Because of the addition of some tasty crab meat from Neptune's realm to these succulent chicken breasts. A little dry white wine (be sure to save some for yourself) and a few other items and you're in business. Get the lowdown by clicking here.
Bon appetit, and thanks for listening.
The Music:Concerto for Violin No 1 in D, Op 6, by Nicolo Paganini
Itzhak Perlman, violin; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Lawrence Foster, conductor
EMI 562 594
Gracing the Christmas tables of many Italian homes will be any number of pasta and meatball dishes. Here's one we found on foodnetwork.com. Get the details by clicking here.
Buon appetito, and thanks for listening.
Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Andre Previn, conductor
EMI 566951
The Recipe:I don't know if the Bavarian monks who inscribed the original texts for Carmina Burana ever had something like this Tangerine Bavarian, but I bet they would have liked it. It comes from epicurious.com and you can get all the info by clicking here.
Guten apetit, and thanks for listening.
Symphony No 5 in E flat, Op 82, by Jean Sibelius
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Jarvi, conductor
BIS 222
According to RecipeZaar.com, "This is a moderately sweet cardamom flavored bread. We like this lightly toasted with either peanut butter or butter and orange marmalade."
To make your own batch for the holidays, click here. Note that the posted recipe makes four loaves, but can be halved or quartered as necessary.
Smaklig måltid, and thanks for listening.
