Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

[LKB]

Won't hear a word against Berlioz. He's capable of stirring delicacy, too.

It's not really a dig against Berlioz per se. Hector is, for instance, capable of a very specific quality of tenderness ( or vulnerability ) which I've not encountered anywhere else. " L'amour l'ardente flamme ", from La Damnation de Faust, is an example:

I think it's more a question of Beethoven's advantage in being more strongly grounded in the Classical tradition. He knew he could " find Heaven " within the string quartet, because Mozart and Haydn had already done so - large orchestral forces were not required.

[Karl Henning]

I think it's more a question of Beethoven's advantage in being more strongly grounded in the Classical tradition. He knew he could " find Heaven " within the string quartet, because Mozart and Haydn had already done so - large orchestral forces were not required.

I see what you say, now. I guess I don't see any question of advantage here, simply that each artist has both his own context and his own interior world. Wouldn't occur to me, e.g., to regard Ein deutsches Reqiuem as at all "less economical" than a Byrd motet.

[Iota]

It's not really a dig against Berlioz per se. Hector is, for instance, capable of a very specific quality of tenderness ( or vulnerability ) which I've not encountered anywhere else. " L'amour l'ardente flamme ", from La Damnation de Faust, is an example:

Oh my I can hardly tear myself away from this. La Damnation de Faust is not a work I know, but the cor anglais solo in that aria is indeed meltingly tender, and tonight seems like such a balm in this topsy-turvy world 

[LKB]

Oh my I can hardly tear myself away from this. La Damnation de Faust is not a work I know, but the cor anglais solo in that aria is indeed meltingly tender, and tonight seems like such a balm in this topsy-turvy world 

Indeed, and while you'll find recordings with arguably preferable singers ( not better, mind you, just true mezzos or Altos. Ms. Mathis was world-class in her day but was a true soprano, and this piece needs a deeper tone ), The Cor Anglais soloist here, Laurence Thorstenberg, was one of the very best.

[lordlance]

I did not expect much when I decided to listen to Estrada's Beethoven 8th with hr-sinfonieorchester (as part of his video cycle on YT) but I was very pleasantly surprised. The tempi are breakneck in a Zinman-esque fashion and this performance would not be my reference recording but it is very accomplished for its type and makes a better case for this frenetic pace that apparently Beethoven notated. It's also well-recorded so aural separation is easier to tell on speakers. Overall: it is something worth trying.

[lordlance]

To those it may interest - Mitropoulos rehearsing the Third Symphony: