"Drinking the Kool-Aid"

[Karl Henning]

[snip]

... but then, isn't a lot of Bernstein overrated?

Many major artists have incontinent enthusiasts, but I don't think we should equate the attachment of these, as general overrating. The motto of a local investment firm goes: Consistently good; not occasionally great. I think most reasonable and musical ears consider Lenny consistently good, frequently great; and even when he takes startling chances, he can surprise you by winning the throw.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Many major artists have incontinent enthusiasts, but I don't think we should equate the attachment of these, as general overrating. The motto of a local investment firm goes: Consistently good; not occasionally great. I think most reasonable and musical ears consider Lenny consistently good, frequently great; and even when he takes startling chances, he can surprise you by winning the throw.

That sounds about right... but he's probably overrated as a composer, right? Who quipped so wonderfully: "Bernstein can do anything he doesn't put his mind to" - on how whenever he tried hard, it became cringe (not gringe)-worthy to the highest degree...

[Karl Henning]

That sounds about right... but he's probably overrated as a composer, right?

That may be. West Side Story was so signal a popular success, his name enjoys marquee status. I think very well of Age of Anxiety, and the Serenade; but, I also remember (as if it were yesterday) the degree of surprise I felt, that they are as good as they are. To this day, I've not listened to the Mass, nor to Candide (apart from the effervescent Overture) ... because, I suppose, I don't want them to drive the curve down   The dances from On the Town, and the Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, I find all right, but unexceptional. At times, he is a sensitive musical chameleon; at his best, he transcends that. So ... whenever I read a critique which speaks of his genius as a composer, I do feel that Lenny--fond of him though I am--is being oversold.

[Ken B]

I tried for three decades (in the case of Debussy). Finally hearing La Mer live at a concert in Mannheim (Dutoit conducting the O National de France) provided the breakthough moment. It's been love ever since 

Sarge

Beaten into submission. 

TD
The Heifetz Piatigorsky Concerts.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

. To this day, I've not listened to the Mass, nor to Candide (apart from the effervescent Overture) ... because, I suppose, I don't want them to drive the curve down

I find the Meass to be one of his worst -- but Candide arguably his very best [not counting West Side Story, since that's a different beast altogether] work. I wouldn't have any trepidations about exploring that. 

[Karl Henning]

I find the Meass to be one of his worst -- but Candide arguably his very best [not counting West Side Story, since that's a different beast altogether] work. I wouldn't have any trepidations about exploring that. 

Very good.  Let me substitute the Chichester Psalms, not because I think it likely to be bad, but because (and germane to this thread) I am skeptical that it will match the praise I have heard on its behalf.


When I have heard the odd movement from the Mass by chance . . . I have considered my caution justified   0:)

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Very good.  Let me substitute the Chichester Psalms, not because I think it likely to be bad, but because (and germane to this thread) I am skeptical that it will match the praise I have heard on its behalf.

I think it's an overrated work, but I don't suppose I could make as good an argument as with the Mass that it's outright bad. So I think you're right on.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Very good.  Let me substitute the Chichester Psalms, not because I think it likely to be bad, but because (and germane to this thread) I am skeptical that it will match the praise I have heard on its behalf.


When I have heard the odd movement from the Mass by chance . . . I have considered my caution justified   0:)

I think it's an overrated work, but I don't suppose I could make as good an argument as with the Mass that it's outright bad. So I think you're right on.

Actually, my inebriated wife just insisted that they are "awesome" and she sang them. So I'll give them Psalms the benefit of the doubt. [We're listening to Candide (the version w/German comedian Loriot), which is why it came up.]

[Karl Henning]

What's her opinion when not in her cups? 

[Brian]

but then, isn't a lot of Bernstein overrated? Important/exciting then... but wouldn't be that special if the same performance was conducted by, say, Juraj Valcuha.

Take this one to Unpopular Opinions 

[SurprisedByBeauty]

Take this one to Unpopular Opinions 

Speaking of which:


Not The CD Of The Week: Claudio Abbado's Croaking Swansong

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2017/08/30/not-the-cd-of-the-week-claudio-abbados-croaking-swansong/#54df779a5f29

[Scion7]

I think most reasonable and musical ears consider Lenny consistently good, frequently great;

Um, no.
Just an example - his Beethoven series. Ugh.
On the other hand,  he was the best conductor of Schuman.

[Karl Henning]

Um, no.
Just an example - his Beethoven series. Ugh.

You don't like his?  What don't you like?

[Monsieur Croche]

Very good.  Let me substitute the Chichester Psalms, not because I think it likely to be bad, but because (and germane to this thread) I am skeptical that it will match the praise I have heard on its behalf.

Kitchy-catchy pop musical theater ersatz 'serious classical' music in a relentless dance-y mixed metric of 7, sub-grouped 1,2/1,2/1,2,3 -- which holds relentless throughout the main piece, the slow section may even also be in the same meter, but augmented. 

It is,  'but of course,' pretty damned popular, and since it is so zip-nada, in my book, if you never heard it for several lifetimes you should hold no regrets.


Best regards.

[Karl Henning]

Kitchy-catchy pop musical theater ersatz 'serious classical' music in a relentless dance-y mixed metric of 7, sub-grouped 1,2/1,2/1,2,3 -- which holds relentless throughout the main piece, the slow section may even also be in the same meter, but augmented. 

It is,  'but of course,' pretty damned popular, and since it is so zip-nada, in my book, if you never heard it for several lifetimes you should hold no regrets.


Best regards.

Thanks!

[Turner]

Um, no.
Just an example - his Beethoven series. Ugh.
On the other hand,  he was the best conductor of Schuman.

I wasn´t impressed by the Beethoven/Bernstein DG set, but the earlier, more dramatic CBS-Sony set was more to my taste.
In Schuman, Lenny is better than say the Naxos series, in Schumann however I prefer Sawallisch to Lenny.

Overall, Bernstein did a lot of good stuff, especially in the CBS-sony years - some examples are Mahler, Verdi Requiem, Nielsen, Bartok, Haydn ...

Opinions vary ... but in general I don´t go that much for further mainstream recordings of standard works any more.

[aukhawk]

There is the visual aspect to consider too.  Demonstrative arm-wavers (and their pianistic counterparts) really raise my hackles.  Fortunately I've only seen a very few video clips of Bernstein in action so can easily suppress that image, while enjoying his music-making.

[SurprisedByBeauty]

There is the visual aspect to consider too.  Demonstrative arm-wavers (and their pianistic counterparts) really raise my hackles.  Fortunately I've only seen a very few video clips of Bernstein in action so can easily suppress that image, while enjoying his music-making.

That's one of my problems with Alsop, who's taken that page straight out of Bernstein's book...

[geralmar]

I've always wondered if Stravinsky's compositions after 1913 would have become as popular if he hadn't been adopted as the "house composer" for Columbia Records (now Sony).