New Releases

Started by Brian, March 12, 2009, 12:26:29 PM

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Mirror Image

Quote from: Renfield on September 25, 2011, 08:24:17 PM
No, you misunderstand me. :) What I was saying was that the way you said it made it seem as if Rattle rarely conducts 'interesting' music, and so if even he conducts more interesting repertory than Chailly... Which, as you yourself just said, isn't quite true.

Oh...whoops.... :P

Anyway, yes, Rattle has been doing much more interesting things than boring ol' Chailly.

kishnevi

Quote from: Bulldog on September 25, 2011, 08:09:14 PM
Although not rare, I don't think that Chailly conducting at least 3 Bach recordings is an ordinary or expected event.  I feel it's fairly gutsy for him, at this stage of his life, to dig into Bach. 

I don't know why some of our members seem to consider it obligatory for Chailly or any other conductor to record new and/or obscure works.  My expectation is that he would record whatever he wants, subject to reasonable market realities.

I'm fine with Chailly recording what he wants--but given his apparent goals with the Gewandhaus,  I think ignoring modern works is a mistake.  He certainly didn't ignore 20th century stuff earlier in his career.  Of course, since I'm much less a fan of 20th century music, I'm more interested in hearing what he does with, f.i., Beethoven than MI is. I'm interested in the "mainstream" unlike MI--but I think if I was in charge of an orchestra trying to raise its profile and reputation, I'd consider some modern music to be a necessary part of the program.  Not necessarily a large part, but something that would need to be included in at least some degree.  But apparently his most substantial  recent foray into the 20th century for Decca is music by an unusually obscure composer named George Gershwin.

BTW, the Bach series is now up to four, with apparently more on the way--Brandenburgs, SMP, Christmas Oratorio, and now the keyboard concertos (on modern piano).  Given how HIP now rules the roost in Baroque era music, it is somewhat daring nowadays to a conductor to record Bach this extensively with a modern orchestra.

Bulldog

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 25, 2011, 08:20:18 PM
He can perform, and record, whatever he wants, but my objection is merely that he is treading on an uninteresting path (i. e. Bach, Mendelssohn, Beethoven). Of course, I don't have to listen to music that does nothing for me and that is certainly my right, but it is also my right to criticize any conductor I want. None of them are hands off to me. Chailly hasn't done anything remotely noteworthy in years.

Sounds like your criticism of Chailly has a lot to do with the music you are currently smitten with. 


Renfield

Frankly, and despite the lukewarm reviews, I'd be amenable to hearing some of Chailly's Bach at some point.


And I'm certainly very intrigued by the Beethoven cycle, mainly due to my always being quite happy to have more Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler and Bruckner around for comparative listening. (Or I wouldn't collect such cycles in the dozens.)

So I don't know whether the cycle itself is a good or a bad thing: but since it's within my primary interests, I'll welcome the results.

Bulldog

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 25, 2011, 08:35:22 PM
BTW, the Bach series is now up to four, with apparently more on the way--Brandenburgs, SMP, Christmas Oratorio, and now the keyboard concertos (on modern piano).  Given how HIP now rules the roost in Baroque era music, it is somewhat daring nowadays to a conductor to record Bach this extensively with a modern orchestra.

That's very true.  There aren't many famous  modern-instrument conductors who have recorded Bach in the past couple of decades, so my hat's off to Chailly for making the effort.  From the many reviews I have read, it appears that he's been quite successful at it also.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Bulldog on September 25, 2011, 08:39:27 PM
Sounds like your criticism of Chailly has a lot to do with the music you are currently smitten with.

No, my criticism of Chailly has to do with his lack of risk-taking by not performing Modern repertoire. As I said, he can conduct whatever he wants, but if his idea of ignoring what has gone on in classical for the past 100 years is somehow more fruitful and compelling than he's sadly mistaken. My problem is he's starting to get a bit too comfortable with the idea preserving tradition when most of his early career has been about going beyond tradition.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 08:59:02 PM
He/She doesn't listen TO music. He/She listens AT music.

::)

Right and you don't listen to music you judge it from a 0 to 5 scale. Really juvenile.


Mirror Image

Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 09:05:17 PM
So you don't make artistic assessments about the music you listen AT?

How old are you again? Does your Mommy know you're on the computer little boy?

Mirror Image

Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 09:07:39 PM
My mother's dead. Thanks for the class.

It was joke...

Is this what you do when you're bored? By the way, I thought you were "ignoring me"? Good to see that I still irritate the living hell out of you. :D

springrite

We are still technically "on topic" but we are giving a whole new definition of "new releases".
Do what I must do, and let what must happen happen.

Mirror Image

Quote from: springrite on September 25, 2011, 09:15:07 PM
We are still technically "on topic" but we are giving a whole new definition of "new releases".

Getting back on topic...

I wish Chailly would record more Berg! Man, he would could get such a gorgeous sound from the Leipzig Gewandhaus.

Mirror Image

#191
Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 09:20:32 PM
To "legally" get back "on topic":

This is a disc that I'm pretty excited about:

[asin]B004TWOWWC[/asin]

John Corigliano is probably one of the least interesting Contemporary composers on the scene right now.

"What's that you're playing, Eddie?"

"Oh this is Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man."

"The Byrds's version is better."

"Yeah, that's true, why the hell am I listening to this garbage?"

"Beats me."

[Man takes CD out of player and smashes it with a bat.]

Mirror Image

Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 09:29:14 PM
In general, that may be true, but when it comes to Ursuala Oppens, I tend to side with her. She makes fairly bold pianistic choices, and I'm always interested to hear what she has to offer.

Good luck with that.

Renfield

As one already a member of the prestigious People That Annoy Philo club myself, may I nonetheless suggest this is pointless?

Your tastes speak for themselves, without either of you having to declare anything further.

Renfield

Quote from: Philoctetes on September 25, 2011, 10:22:47 PM
It's almost as if no one has ever been part of an Internet forum.

It's almost as if one has been part of too many.


You can just live and let live.

premont

Quote from: Bulldog on September 25, 2011, 08:43:50 PM
That's very true.  There aren't many famous  modern-instrument conductors who have recorded Bach in the past couple of decades, so my hat's off to Chailly for making the effort.  From the many reviews I have read, it appears that he's been quite successful at it also.

I have not heard but his Brandenburgs. Well, they are good, but nothing special - bordering the superfluous, considering the enormous competition.

His Beethoven will probably be more relevant - even considering the competition.
γνῶθι σεαυτόν

Brahmsian

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 25, 2011, 08:20:18 PM
He can perform, and record, whatever he wants, but my objection is merely that he is treading on an uninteresting path (i. e. Bach, Mendelssohn, Beethoven).

John, I don't think this is a fair statement.  I'm just being honest with you here. 

I can understand and see that Bach, Mendelssohn and Beethoven are an uninteresting path for you and other listeners too, but that is certainly not the case for many other listeners of classical music.



DavidRoss

Quote from: ChamberNut on September 26, 2011, 05:56:48 AM
John, I don't think this is a fair statement.  I'm just being honest with you here. 

I can understand and see that Bach, Mendelssohn and Beethoven are an uninteresting path for you and other listeners too, but that is certainly not the case for many other listeners of classical music.
The man who is tired of London is tired of life.

Novelty in and of itself is worth little or less.
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Opus106

Quote from: Leon on September 26, 2011, 06:04:37 AM
I might argue that it displays more courage (risk-taking) to record a Beethoven symphony than something from the modern repertory.  After all, the competition is so stiff in the territiry of Beethoven, one must have a firm idea of what they wish to accomplish and put it out there knowing that they will compared to the best of the last 50 years, and it is a risk that their effort will join the many also-rans.

Of course YMMV.

:)

Is that a risk taken by Chailly or Decca? I'm sure a lot of conductors would be willing to announce to the wider world what the feel about those symphonies, but eventually isn't it up to the label to decide whether it will be a risk worth taking?
Regards,
Navneeth

Opus106

Regards,
Navneeth