Phipps Conservatory

11/21/2021

 

The Magic Flute

 

What a fantastic performance! It was truly moving with layers and layers of symbolic personas and the philosophical undertow. Mozart died around 10 weeks after writing the Magic Flute. Maybe I attended this opera in the nick of time!

Tuesday, 11/9/2021

(With fever and chills)

The Burden of Pettiness

After all the inept pointless comments you've received during a recent discussion over PETTY matters, it is you and the cup of tea and the universe of beautiful things that will embrace you. As long as you stand by your rationale and maintain an open-minded attitude and do not let dogma take over, these encounters will strengthen your personality.  It is you and the discipline inside that you decide the winner, not them and their agenda. This is a nice study in tolerance and being receptive.

In the end, you remain and your mind, intellect, ego, and memory. You remain and your subtle body.

Pedram

11/6/2021

Pat Martino (1944 – 2021)

 Very sad news. Pat Martino, the legendary jazz guitarist, was a musician I discovered when I was fervently exploring the realms of jazz guitar.  The first album I listened to was the 1972 "The Visit". Afterward, I listened to 1968 "East" and then the 1974 "Consciousness". 

His masterful music always absorbed my attention. The key event that made his career more intriguing is the brain injury that led to his amnesia. The memory loss forced Mr. Martino to re-learn all his previous music. This was an uphill battle but boy how fruitful and inspiring all this endeavor turned out to be. 

Rest in peace!

 Pedram, 11/2/2021

Black Sunday: An Enduring Masterpiece

 Watched this gothic masterpiece last Sunday. What a pleasant surprise it was. There are certain works that are decades ahead of their time both conceptually and stylistically. And no surprise, the reaction to most of them was pretty damning. But in long term, adventurous endeavors are appreciated.

Black Sunday (1960)

Directed by: Mario Bava

Starring: Barbara Steele, John Richardson, and Andrea Checchi

Ethics

 Ethics ingrained in a lifestyle, maybe that is all I ever desired. Going toward the apogee of our capacity!

Pedram

10/24/2021

Sunday October 10, 2021

Another outstanding evening with the Pittsburgh Symphonic orchestra. (PSO)

The program comprised Beethoven's Egmont,  the "Wings of the  Dream" or (Aile du Songe) by Kaija Saariaho, and Mendelssohn's Scottish symphony. The contemporary piece was composed by the Finnish musician, Kaija Saariaho, (born 1952), and is a concerto for flute and orchestra. It was superbly played by the principal flute of PSA, Lorna McGhee. Beautiful music resembling the flight of a bird.

Sunday, harbored a lot of emotions as I was constantly wrestling with recent developments in my life.

Pedram, 10/17/2021

Afghanistan

 Over the years, as I read and learned more about history, I came to realize how unfortunate the course of the historical events have developed for Afghanistan and Afghans. I see Afghans as very kind, gracious, and hard-working people. They definitely deserve better living conditions. The unity I feel has blossomed between Iranians (and people from many other countries) and Afghans, the solidarity with Afghans was impressive, so real, and so heart-warming. But I hope in real life this can result in a better situation for all Afghans. To expect politics to understand and acknowledge the fundamental rights of innocent men, women, and children is too much to ask?