While hunting around the web for information on airplane crashes (yes, I know!), I came across this most beautiful piece of violin playing from Ginette Niveau who died 60 years ago in an Air France airplane that crashed into the side of a mountain.

It really is THE most beautiful thing to see her eyes go glassy and the intense concentration – on the conductor, and the whole ‘thing’.  She is ‘in’ the piece; dans le ballon as I call it.

Since I’d never heard of the young lady, I enquired more and found this piece by Gluck (1714 – 1787) to entertain me.

And then it struck me!  It’s one of my favourite Beethoven(1770 – 1827) pieces, but slowed down!   So Beethoven basically heard the Gluck thing, which is what they did, then speeded it right up, different key, and added a few frilly bits and different kind of emotional changes.  But in my ears, for each harmonic and ‘feel’ change, it’s the same thing.  Compare and contrast.  And enjoy!

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