Cholesterol and lipid metabolism used to simple. There was good (HDL) cholesterol and bad (LDL) cholesterol. Eat a diet low in cholesterol and fat and your blood vessels will be as open as a new straw. On the basis of very little solid scientific information a litany of assumptions was issued by both the medical…
The JAMA published a study online which examines the Effect of Statin Treatment vs Usual Care on Primary CV Prevention Among Older Adults. The full paper is below as a pdf file. I’ve written about the overuse of this type of cholesterol lowering drugs in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease several times. Primary prevention…
Gustave Charpentier (1860-1956) is remembered, to the extent that he is remembered at all, as the composer of Louise – 1900. The opera enjoyed some success in the first half of the 20th century; it received 52 performances at the Met between 1921 and 1949. I saw a single performance of it a long time ago…
Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier was the final HD telecast of the Met’s 2016-17 season. It also marked the last appearance of Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and Elina Garanca as Octavian. The production by director Robert Carsen was introduced to the Met last month. He sets the action just prior to World War I. Unlike most…
There are a number of operas that have fallen out of the main operatic repertory that have overtures that merit attention, but which are rarely performed, even in the concert hall. Here are few that deserve an occasional hearing. Daniel François Esprit Auber (1782-1881) was the composer of many successful French operas that gradually faded…
The following link will take to photos of the dress rehearsal of the LSO’s performance of La Bohème – La Bohème Pictures. The cast is below. The next link is to a PowerPoint presentation I gave before each performance. In order to hear the musical illustrations you will need the complete folder that has the…