The French Druggist Vs. The Good Brother

[Gurn Blanston]

An extremely ahead-of-his-time move on Berlioz' part - like all of Berlioz' moves - since as far as I know the next symphony with prominent solo role would not appear until 1888.

Haydn did it in 1760... 

[DavidW]

Viola, you mean, of course.  Berlioz's idea for the piece really was a symphony with prominent viola solo part . . . where Paganini had more of a 'traditional' concerto in mind, so yes, Paganini declined to play it.

These seems to be a good argument against Berlioz, because we all know that a viola is not a serious instrument it's just a broken violin.  Anyway writing a solo part for that instrument must be mad!

[Brahmsian]

Mendelssohn blows.

Hah, well I wouldn't agree with that.  I do like Mendelssohn a good deal.

Perhaps Dave, you would chose Mendelssohn if it was a poll between Mendelssohn and some atonal honky tonker?   

I did chose Berlioz in this poll.

[Scarpia]

Haydn did it in 1760... 

Brahms did it much, much, much better (than Berlioz) in 1858.   

[Florestan]

For me, a tie.  If you want Felix to do well, you need to put him up against von Dittersdorf.

Now, gentlemen! Poor Dittersdorf is (perhaps) the most underrated composer here on GMG (alongside Elgar). Being a loser myself (no kidding, I'm just an overqualified unemployed guy) I side with Karl Ditters and say it loud and proud --- I love his SQs! There, stone me! 

[karlhenning]

(I don't believe we underrate Elgar; there is discussion about the symphonies, but the overall spiffiness of large stretches of the Elgar catalogue is uncontested.)

[Brahmsian]

If you want Felix to do well, you need to put him up against von Dittersdorf.

Or against Chopin or Paganini.

[DavidW]

Or against Chopin or Paganini.

Chopin would hand Mendelssohn his ass.  Chopin is the Flaubert of music. Each note chosen carefully to create a complex, beautiful elegant experience that is both emotional moods and high art. 0:)

[karlhenning]

Mendelssohn, favorable as against Chopin? Jamais! : ^ )

[Florestan]

spiffiness

Are you so kind as to translate this peculiar word for a non-English-mother-tongue-speaker, dear Carol?

[Brahmsian]

Chopin would hand Mendelssohn his ass. 

Probably, but Mendelssohn would get at least one vote.  Mine.

[Florestan]

Chopin would hand Mendelssohn his ass.  Chopin is the Flaubert of music. Each note chosen carefully to create a complex, beautiful elegant experience that is both emotional moods and high art. 0:)

Much as I appreciate gentlemanish behavior and music, I agree. Give me Chopin anytime!

[karlhenning]

Are you so kind as to translate this peculiar word for a non-English-mother-tongue-speaker, dear Carol?

Dashed goodness.

[Florestan]

Dashed goodness.

Still incomprehensible to me... One word, please! 

[Bulldog]

Still incomprehensible to me... One word, please! 

Attractive.

[Florestan]

Attractive.

I'm not attracted to men... give me Beyonce then! 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Berlioz by a bazillion light years.

I'm too tired to write anything right now - but I do want to contribute so please forgive my cut-and-paste from my opening post from the Berlioz thread I started:

To be honest, I spent the better part of my listening career avoiding Berlioz. It took a chance encounter five years ago in my car to change all that.

The piece was the starlit Les Nuits D'été. Stopped me dead in my tracks.

What first struck me about the piece was its unorthodox construction. Seemed kinda 'loose' compared to some of the more stricter classical forms. Though before long I jettisoned any preconceptions about form and took to basking in the wondrous sounds.

Not to mention as I listened on an overarching sense of architecture began to take shape. What first appeared formless began to take on perfect symmetry. And I've come to enjoy this quality most in Berlioz: his "formlessness" begets the most dizzying of architectural designs.

Been a fan ever since.

[Gurn Blanston]

Probably, but Mendelssohn would get at least one vote.  Mine.

Make that 2 votes...



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Now playing:
Franco Mezzena (Violin) - Viotti G 090 Concerto #18 in e for Violin 3rd mvmt - Presto

[kishnevi]

Paganini was offended because Berlioz didn't make the violin part virtuosic enough for him. When he heard the piece performed he liked it so much though that he rewarded Berlioz with a big fat check and some pretty lavish praise (i think he even referred to the latter as the "true heir of Beethoven").

HeI features a viola, not a violin.  voila!

But I go for Felix.  I find much more emotional range.  Plus, did Berlioz write any chamber music? I don't know of any.

[Mirror Image]

Berlioz wins this poll without a doubt in my mind.