Gilbert Kaplan has died

[Brian]

They say famous deaths come in threes, and apparently this week it is Improbable Mahler Conductors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/arts/music/gilbert-e-kaplan-publisher-and-improbable-conductor-dies-at-74.html

[Jay F]

They say famous deaths come in threes, and apparently this week it is Improbable Mahler Conductors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/arts/music/gilbert-e-kaplan-publisher-and-improbable-conductor-dies-at-74.html

Who is the third? Did Gergiev die?

[Karl Henning]

Ouch!

[(poco) Sforzando]

Who is the third? Did Gergiev die?

Gergiev lives.

[Jay F]

Gergiev lives.

His name came up.

[(poco) Sforzando]

His name came up.

?

I heard Kaplan conduct Mahler 2 in the Royal Albert Hall, probably in 1997. I think it was the only piece in his repertoire other than the Adagietto from Mahler 5. The performance was not bad as I recall, quirky RAH acoustics notwithstanding. The main thing I remember is that Kaplan took literally Mahler's direction that a pause of at least five minutes must follow the first movement, so devastating would be the music's impact. What happened? The devastated audience of course started talking, and then calling out for Kaplan to get on with it.

[ritter]

Sorry, by mentioning it in the Mahler thread, the news seems to have gone unnoticed 

Slipped Disc reports the sad news of Gilbert Kaplan's passing (http://slippedisc.com/2016/01/sad-news-gilbert-kaplan-has-died/). Kaplan devoted most of his life to Mahler, and the Second symphony in particular. RIP.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Sad to hear this, but unfortunately his recordings of Mahler's 2nd didn't die with him.

[Sergeant Rock]

Sorry, by mentioning it in the Mahler thread, the news seems to have one unnoticed 

For whatever reason, I missed that! Took six days for me to get the news 

Sarge

[Brian]

Sad to hear this, but unfortunately his recordings of Mahler's 2nd didn't die with him.

WHOA now that's a harsh burn 

[Jay F]

His name came up.

?

In reaction to the news of Kaplan's death, Brian started this thread saying, "They say famous deaths come in threes, and apparently this week it is Improbable Mahler Conductors."

I'd heard about Boulez, and today Kaplan, and I asked whether the third Improbable Mahler Conductor was Gergiev, since a thread about him is circulating today.

Ergo, "His name came up."

[Sergeant Rock]

unfortunately his recordings of Mahler's 2nd didn't die with him.

        ComposerOfAvantGarde

[Sergeant Rock]

WHOA now that's a harsh burn 

I'm of the opinion that if Kaplan's Mahler were heard blind, not knowing the conductor, it would get more respect around here. In any case, his Vienna recording is my desert island M2. My only complaint is the slightly underpowered Scherzo...but I can happily live with that.

Sarge

[relm1]

He is basically a rich fan.  There was that scathing blog post from the NY Phil trombonist a few years ago that the orchestras that hire him pretty much ignore him and just follow the concertmaster.  "It seems that this work, regardless of whoever takes the podium, never fails to attract a large audience, an obvious testimony to the strength of the composition."  It is an interesting behind the scenes look at the politics of professional music...and not complimentary.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Kaplan was an excellent example of proving that repertoire itself can fill out a concert hall without the need to hire celebrity conductors or soloists.

[SimonNZ]

This discussion is interesting. Kaplan has never really been on my radar. The last I'd heard was quite some time ago now when the first couple of Mahler discs came out and were roundly dismissed as vanity projects by a dilettante. I'll try again with fresh ears.

[relm1]

This is worth a read...the blog I alluded to earlier about performing under Kaplan.

http://davidfinlayson.typepad.com/fin_notes/2008/12/some-words-about-gilbert-kaplan.html

"Mr. Kaplan and Frank Abagnale [the imposter from Catch Me if You Can] are and were, in my opinion, both impostors.  I have come to this conclusion from first hand experience. On December 8, 2008, Mr. Kaplan took the podium in front of the New York Philharmonic. My colleagues and I gave what we could to this rudderless performance but the evening proved to be nothing more than a simplistic reading of a very wonderful piece of music."

[Brahmsian]

Sad to hear this, but unfortunately his recordings of Mahler's 2nd didn't die with him.

How bad can it be?  Isn't one of them the best selling Mahler 2 recording of all time?

[jochanaan]

Well, I had one of Mr. Kaplan's recordings of M2, with the London Symphony.  It's a competent enough recording, but I would not count it among the greatest Mahler recordings.  Following the score markings exactly, as admirable and comparatively rare as that is, does not by itself make for a great performance.  Probably the London Symphony, fine orchestra that they are, took the pains and pride in their work to give a good performance whatever the conductor's gifts or shortcomings.

Still, his devotion to a single work is admirable.  Walk in beauty, sir.

[springrite]

Sad to hear this, but unfortunately his recordings of Mahler's 2nd didn't die with him.

Beautiful auto-pilot playing by the orchestra while ignoring the conductor. I listened for 10 minutes and threw it away. I didn't have the heart to give it to someone and ruin their taste.