I got up this morning, and A&E was showing Breakfast with the Arts.
Their first offering was a videotaped broadcast of Karajan and the BPO
in the Philharmonie.

The only thing I can say about that pairing is:

What a finely tuned machine...what a fount of artistic expression...what
effortless fortissimos and pianissimos.  Like Karajan or not, he was a
master both of conducting and of handling the orchestra (part of
Toscanini's legacy).  It was a truly uplifting experience.  Before Karajan
died in 1989, my dream was to play 1st Clarinet in the Berlin Philharmonic.
Although Karl Leister is so good he breathes different air than the rest of
we mere human beings, it was still my dream.

Though fantastic video like this, it's just a little leap of faith to
superimpose my image on that of the principal clarinet...:)

I just had to share that.  Thanks for listening.

Charles L. L. Dalmas
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http://www.winternet.com/~davion