Unpopular Opinions

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is really not quite up to the balance and blend and unified strength of many other world class orchestras based on recordings I've heard......of course they can play with great expression but many times the expression is slightly different for each player.  Accented notes are accented at different times, simultaneous entrances aren't often simultaneous, imbalance between sections often obscure the texture of a composition rather than bring it out, the top registers of the violins rarely hold together as an ensemble and sound rather weak, fast string passages in one bow are often weak and they tend to play 'underneath' the rest of the orchestra whenever there are fast runs..............

Am I the only one who thinks that this orchestra isn't quite as good as people say they are?

[Parsifal]

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is really not quite up to the balance and blend and unified strength of many other world class orchestras based on recordings I've heard......of course they can play with great expression but many times the expression is slightly different for each player.  Accented notes are accented at different times, simultaneous entrances aren't often simultaneous, imbalance between sections often obscure the texture of a composition rather than bring it out, the top registers of the violins rarely hold together as an ensemble and sound rather weak, fast string passages in one bow are often weak and they tend to play 'underneath' the rest of the orchestra whenever there are fast runs..............

Am I the only one who thinks that this orchestra isn't quite as good as people say they are?

Depends on what you mean by good. I wouldn't say they are the very best in technical mastery and virtuosity. But they maintain their own distinct style in an age where orchestras have become "international."

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Depends on what you mean by good. I wouldn't say they are the very best in technical mastery and virtuosity. But they maintain their own distinct style in an age where orchestras have become "international."

Wellll........personally their style isn't really for me in the first place

[Sergeant Rock]

I think we're safe not ranking the scherzo of no.3.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

As a matter of mere history, I must have listened to it.  But do i remember it?  No.  So I needed to have a look to appreciate the jest.

Which I do  0:)   

[Karl Henning]

That's almost true but...more correctly, it's tied with the Eighth's Scherzo for the number one slot [....]

The Allegretto grazioso of the Op.88 is utterly exquisite.

[Sergeant Rock]

The Allegretto grazioso of the Op.88 is utterly exquisite.

It is, heartbreakingly exquisite.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

That's almost true but...more correctly, it's tied with the Eighth's Scherzo for the number one slot, followed by:

7, 9, 6, 5, 1, 2



Sarge

Entirely bemusedly, I have of course taken this opportunity to listen to just the scherzi, thank you very much  0:)

[Sergeant Rock]

Entirely bemusedly, I have of course taken this opportunity to listen to just the scherzi, thank you very much  0:)

They are amazingly diverse. They make a good listen on their own.

Sarge

[DaveF]

The best scherzo in a Dvorak symphony is No. 4's.

Now if you thought the best finale was no.4's, that would be an opinion truly worthy of this thread.

[Sergeant Rock]

Now if you thought the best finale was no.4's, that would be an opinion truly worthy of this thread.

True, true 

I think Mrs. Rock might be the only member here to advance that opinion    Seriously, she loves it but she'd probably rank the finale of the Seventh the best.

Sarge

[Brian]

Okay.

Dvorak first movements: 8, 7, 9, 6, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
Dvorak slow movements: 9, 3, 7, 8, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1
Dvorak scherzos: 4, 8, 7, 9, 6, 2, 5, 1
Dvorak finales: 7, 8, 6, 3, 9, 2, 4, 5, 1
Overall split into tiers: 8, 7, || 9, 6, 3, || 4, 2, || 5, || 1

Hardest choice was best finale - 7 and 8 are equally perfect - and the top four slow movements are a spur-of-the-moment judgment call that might be different tomorrow.

[TheGSMoeller]

Okay.

Dvorak first movements: 8, 7, 9, 6, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
Dvorak slow movements: 9, 3, 7, 8, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1
Dvorak scherzos: 4, 8, 7, 9, 6, 2, 5, 1
Dvorak finales: 7, 8, 6, 3, 9, 2, 5, 4, 1

Hardest choice was best finale - 7 and 8 are equally perfect - and the top four slow movements are a spur-of-the-moment judgment call that might be different tomorrow.

Fun Game, and great choices, Brian. For me, for this moment at least, it goes..

Opening Movement: No. 9
Slow Movement: No. 8
Scherzo: No. 4
Finale: No. 6

Honorable mention...Best opening: No. 1 - that opening Horn line is chills-inducing. 

If I had to choose only 1 Dvorak symphony to live with I'd have to go No. 8,.

[Sergeant Rock]

Okay.

Dvorak first movements: 8, 7, 9, 6, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
Dvorak slow movements: 9, 3, 7, 8, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1
Dvorak scherzos: 4, 8, 7, 9, 6, 2, 5, 1
Dvorak finales: 7, 8, 6, 3, 9, 2, 4, 5, 1
Overall split into tiers: 8, 7, || 9, 6, 3, || 4, 2, || 5, || 1

Hardest choice was best finale - 7 and 8 are equally perfect - and the top four slow movements are a spur-of-the-moment judgment call that might be different tomorrow.

It's too late to take up the challenge tonight (the sun will be up shortly in Germany...I'm way past my bed time  ), but I'll give it a try tomorrow...or rather, later today.

Sarge

[amw]

first movement tiers - 7, 5, 8 || 6, 9, 4 || 3, 2 || 1
slow movement tiers - 9 || 3, 7 || 6, 8 || the rest in some order
scherzo tiers - 8 || 7, 4, 6, 9, 5 || 2, 1
finale tiers - 7, 6, 8 || 5, 4 || 3, 1, 2, 9

Yes I also like the finale of No. 4, shush.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Seem pretty unpopular to opine that the first movement of no. 1 is one I most enjoy.........

[Uhor]

Throwing a piano down the stairs is more expressive than pressing the keys, though less musical the result.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Throwing a piano down the stairs is more expressive than pressing the keys, though less musical the result.

Poetry.

Actually I think Uhor is the most quotable member of GMG.

[Karl Henning]

Well, then:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/26/mit-students-bring-back-tradition-tossing-piano-off-building/1fXYDASM5jFR9DkLEvkC8K/story.html

[Brian]

amw and I have the same top three slow movements in the same order.

finale tiers - 7, 6, 8 || 5, 4 || 3, 1, 2, 9

Now here is an unpopular opinion!!! I would like to hear more about this