Category Archives: Beginnings

Entries related to my biography and development as an artist.

GORDON PARKS captures INGRID BERGMAN at a fraught time

Posted on October 3, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

This Spring I was enjoying a sprawling exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum featuring select works of many African and African-American artists, when I came upon this photo of Ingrid Bergman. A photo that by itself vibrates with meaning and emotion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Paw Paw Harvest

Posted on September 26, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Above is a bowl of paw paws, the only North American tropical fruit. You won’t find it the grocery store, because it so easily bruises it is considered unmarketable. It also only ripens on the tree, and then must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Notes in the News, Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EVOCATION XXXI

Posted on July 12, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Today is Ed’s birthday. And I have presented him, as I have for the past 31 years, with another viola piano duet for us to play. Below is the score you may follow along while you listen to the computer … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BEYOND / JENSEITS – On the Therapist’s Couch

Posted on April 5, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

At the beginning of Section XII of the little night opera “Beyond” AKA “Jenseits”, written for my mother Catherine Gayer (catch up on previous installments via the opera’s main page), the 1st Angel takes on the persona of the 4th … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Musicabilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

R.I.P. Aribert Reimann

Posted on March 24, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Aribert Reimann with my mother, Catherine Gayer, at rehearsal in 1971 Two Thursdays ago my mother called me from Berlin. Normally we talk on Sundays, so I was curious what occasioned this call. “Aribert Reimann has died”, she told me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Melodies Linger On, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BEYOND / JENSEITS – An Encounter with the Conductor

Posted on March 14, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Above is a picture of myself, my mother Catherine Gayer and family friend Helga Krauss after the New York stage premiere of Beyond, the little night opera Helga and I wrote for my mother. This is Part 3 of sharing … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Musicabilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wig Made From My Hair

Posted on March 3, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

That is a picture of a wig that was made with my hair. Hair I donated. Multiple pony tails in zip lock baggies I shipped off to an organization called Hair We Care. Their mission statement is “to help maintain … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BEYOND / JENSEITS – an Opera for my Mother

Posted on February 29, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Twenty years ago family friend and screenwriter Helga Krauss and I created a one-act opera for my mother, Catherine Gayer (AKA Catherine Ashkenasi, her maiden name being her stage name). Helga wrote the libretto and I composed the music. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Musicabilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MOM’s NEW YORK TIMES BIRTHDAY PUZZLE

Posted on February 25, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

My mother Catherine spent two weeks in New York with us in February. Her birthday was celebrated during her visit. And one birthday present was a puzzle of the New York Times front page of the day she was born. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Live! On Stage, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Palm Trees on Sunset Boulevard

Posted on October 29, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Two Fridays ago, when I spent a day in LA for a screening of P&P, I walked to North Ardmore Ave to take pictures of the house where my mother grew up many years ago, and then walk to her … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Beginnings, Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Catherine Gayer on the Radio

Posted on October 3, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

The German radio station Deutschlandfunk has posted a 55 minute program interviewing the opera soprano Catherine Gayer, and playing excerpts from her fantastic 60+ year career, highlighting her work with contemporary music. Listen to it here. Oh, Catherine Gayer just … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Live! On Stage, Melodies Linger On, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

P&P – DAY 9 – The Day the Hair Went Bye-Bye!

Posted on September 14, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Alt Title: The Day the Hair Got Snipped, Shorn and Shaved Off! The announcement, take one (with AD Charlotte Purser): Day 9 in the 10 days shooting “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” was fully devoted to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rosenkavalier Remembrances and Ruminations

Posted on April 8, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Childhood Anecdote and Queer Cornucopia Last Tuesday I attended “Der Rosenkavalier” for the first time. Or rather I attended all three acts of Richard Strauss’ opera “Der Rosenkavalier” for the first time. Family lore has it that I attended Act … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, LGBTQ Alphabet Soup, Melodies Linger On | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

PODCAST INTERVIEW LIVE!

Posted on April 5, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Karl Kaefer from the Deviant Legion Network interviewed me about “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” This Thursday at 4pm EST I was interviewed live on Blog Talk Radio. The interview is now be archived at this link: … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Notes in the News, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home Details

Posted on March 9, 2023 by dannyashkenasi
Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Beginnings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Musicabres and Me

Posted on March 3, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Extensive Interview on [re]Search My Trash Mike Haberfelner, who already posted a very nice review of my musical short film Edgar Allan poe adaptation “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” on his website [re]Search My Trash, has now … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Literary Lyricism, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment