Top Ten posts of April 2015

Here are the top ten most viewed posts on andantemoderato.com in April 2015. Maria Callas is leading the list.

Click to see Top Ten posts of May 2015
Click to see Top Ten posts of March 2015

1. Maria Callas sings “Casta Diva” from Norma, Bellini

   2,793 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   Maria Callas sings “Casta Diva” from Norma, Vincenzo Bellini’s 1831 opera in two acts. Paris, 1958. The opera is regarded as a leading example of the bel canto genre and a major soprano aria, “Casta diva”, in act 1, is one of the most famous of the nineteenth century. A notable Norma of the post-war period was Maria Callas.
2. Boléro (Ravel) – Wiener Philharmoniker

   2,706 views in April 2015
   #2 in March 2015 with 4,640 views

   

   Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) plays Maurice Ravel’s “Boléro”, a one-movement orchestral piece, originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian actress and dancer Ida Rubinstein. Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel.
3. Barenboim plays Beethoven – Piano Sonata 17 (The “Tempest”)

   1,881 views in April 2015
   #6 in March 2015 with 2,878 views

   

   Daniel Barenboim plays Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, usually referred to as “The Tempest” (or Der Sturm in native German).
4. Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue (piano: Fazıl Say)

   1,617 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   Turkish pianist Fazıl Say performs George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects. hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) conducted by Miguel Prieto. Alte Oper Frankfurt, January 18 2013.
5. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake (the Kirov Theatre)

   1,519 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   Probably the best loved classical ballet, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” Op. 20. It tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. Here the naturally gifted Russian ballet dancer Yulia Makhalina dances the challenging role of Odette/Odile while the part of Prince Siegfried is danced by Igor Zelensky. This classic Kirov production includes the familiar happy ending in the final act where Siegfried fights and ultimately defeats the evil magician von Rothbart and at dawn is reunited with Odette. Artistic director: Oleg Vinogradov.
6. Chopin – Nocturnes (Complete) Piano: Maurizio Pollini

   1,281 views in April 2015
   #4 in March 2015 with 3,006 views

   

   Italian classical pianist Maurizio Pollini plays Chopin nocturnes, 21 short pieces for solo piano written by Frédéric Chopin between 1827 and 1846.
7. Paco De Lucia Plays Zequinha De Abreu’s “Tico Tico”

   1,148 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   One of the best flamenco guitarists ever, Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia plays Zequinha de Abreu’s “Tico Tico”, the best known work of the Brasilian composer. Because of the lack of written tradition, Tico-Tico is played in various melodic versions all over the world.
8. Brahms – Hungarian Dance No.5 (Hungarian Symphony Orchestra)

   1,127 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Budapest plays Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No.5 at the Wiener Musikverein, Austria.
9. Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1 (Lang Lang)

   886 views in April 2015
   Not in list in March 2015

   

   Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang plays Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23. Orchestre de Paris conducted by Paavo Järvi. From the opening of the Philharmonie de Paris, January 2015. A brilliant interpretation of the famous piece.
10. Vivaldi – Four Seasons

    720 views in April 2015
    #1 in March 2015 with 6,183 views

    

    Vivaldi and the beautiful Venice. These great videos of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are probably some of the best classical music performances on the Internet. Enjoy. The videos are from the DVD named “I Musici”, a film by Anton van Munster.