David Hurwitz

[Irons]

The Dilkes recording is available on CD, as a used item on the market place. It's my favourite version of the work. I know it through Jeffrey's advocacy  .

Excellent. Thanks for correction.

[Symphonic Addict]

I've been rather unfair with this gent. I've been watching several of his videos and I've changed my mind about him. His stuff is informative, insightful and has a huge touch of good humour. But above all I admire his enthusiasm and certain impudence to share his knowledge and tastes. It's rather infectious, isn't it? I don't stumble upon people who have that spark to convey that authentic passion about classical music. I really admire that, and, of course, I feel fully identified with that behavior. And what about when he hums a tune while explaining? Very hilarious! I don't share many of his views on recordings and works, though, but I've found many of his reviews and comparisons spot on.

[vandermolen]

The Dilkes recording is available on CD, as a used item on the market place. It's my favourite version of the work. I know it through Jeffrey's advocacy  .

That recording had a huge impact on me when I bought the LP in the Record Dept. of Harrods when I worked there in my university summer holidays.

I recently watched and greatly enjoyed Mr Hurwitz's tribute to the conductor Maurice Abravanel and the Utah SO on the Vanguard label, focusing on CDs of music by Milhaud, Varese VW, Satie and Honegger.

[ritter]

...I recently watched and greatly enjoyed Mr Hurwitz's tribute to the conductor Maurice Abravanel and the Utah SO on the Vanguard label, focusing on CDs of music by Milhaud, Varese VW, Satie and Honegger.

+1....and as proof thereof, https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,21529.msg1309253.html#msg1309253

[vandermolen]

+1....and as proof thereof, https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,21529.msg1309253.html#msg1309253

Excellent!
The way in which he says 'Hello!' at the start of his presentations amuses me.

[mc ukrneal]

Can we please change the name of this thread to something less insulting? Just taking out the offending word would be the bare minimum. Thank you.

[Jo498]

Hurwitz has a bunch of pet peeves and oddball favorites and he uses especially the former to provoke people (create traffic). It's been like that on ClassicsToday for a long time. Some of his bêtes noires are Rattle, Furtwängler, Horenstein, Norrington (and to a lesser extent historically oriented musicians in general), historical recordings, Lieder and the fans of all these artists or genres. Some of his obsessions are percussion, especially tamtam and string vibrato.

[Christo]

Can we please change the name of this thread to something less insulting? Just taking out the offending word would be the bare minimum. Thank you.

+1

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Can we please change the name of this thread to something less insulting? Just taking out the offending word would be the bare minimum. Thank you.

+1

+2

[Todd]

The thread title as-is gets more clicks.  I suspect Mr Hurwitz would be fine with it if he paid any attention to this site.

[Brian]

The thread title as-is gets more clicks.  I suspect Mr Hurwitz would be fine with it if he paid any attention to this site.

He'd probably find this whole thread quite amusing (especially the edited/removed first post). Maybe we should forward it.

I've been rather unfair with this gent. I've been watching several of his videos and I've changed my mind about him. His stuff is informative, insightful and has a huge touch of good humour. But above all I admire his enthusiasm and certain impudence to share his knowledge and tastes. It's rather infectious, isn't it? I don't stumble upon people who have that spark to convey that authentic passion about classical music. I really admire that, and, of course, I feel fully identified with that behavior. And what about when he hums a tune while explaining? Very hilarious! I don't share many of his views on recordings and works, though, but I've found many of his reviews and comparisons spot on.

Welcome to the club!

[TheGSMoeller]

Hurwitz has more pages in his thread than Alban Berg's.

And his videos continue to be a great watch. I also found out a few years ago that a book I bought back in high school, around 1993, titled Beethoven or Bust was written by Hurwitz. I believe it was his first book too.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I noticed a little while ago that someone has adjusted the thread's name. 

PD

[mc ukrneal]

I noticed a little while ago that someone has adjusted the thread's name. 

PD

For which I offer my thanks!

[vandermolen]

Hurwitz has a bunch of pet peeves and oddball favorites and he uses especially the former to provoke people (create traffic). It's been like that on ClassicsToday for a long time. Some of his bêtes noires are Rattle, Furtwängler, Horenstein, Norrington (and to a lesser extent historically oriented musicians in general), historical recordings, Lieder and the fans of all these artists or genres. Some of his obsessions are percussion, especially tamtam and string vibrato.

I very much agree with him about Rattle and Norrington but totally disagree with his verdict on Horenstein and Furtwangler.

[j winter]

I've been rather unfair with this gent. I've been watching several of his videos and I've changed my mind about him. His stuff is informative, insightful and has a huge touch of good humour. But above all I admire his enthusiasm and certain impudence to share his knowledge and tastes. It's rather infectious, isn't it? I don't stumble upon people who have that spark to convey that authentic passion about classical music. I really admire that, and, of course, I feel fully identified with that behavior. And what about when he hums a tune while explaining? Very hilarious! I don't share many of his views on recordings and works, though, but I've found many of his reviews and comparisons spot on.

I would largely agree with this.  I definitely don't agree with all of his picks, but he's definitely knowledgeable and IMO the videos are worth the time if the repertoire under discussion is of interest.  I've watched quite a few and enjoyed them.

As Hurwitz himself points out in one of videos, it can be very difficult sometimes to convey a sense of humor in writing -- a statement that might seem simplistic or needlessly argumentative in print can come across very differently when you can hear the tone of his voice and see the twinkle in his eye.  I suspect the same thing happens quite often on this forum actually -- a lot of the misunderstandings and arguments we get into would probably never happen if we were in the same room, or could at least see and hear the cues that contribute to a good conversation... alas, there are inevitable downsides to a text-based format such as this... 

[TheGSMoeller]

I see posters here saying they don't agree with Hurwitz 100% of the time, and that includes me saying that as well. But I've also never read, or watched, a critic of any art form that I agreed with 100% of the time, I don't see that being possible. I really enjoy reading negative reviews, or criticisms, that I don't agree with, or those that have a different opinion of mine. It helps me to experience the piece from a side I may have missed, or ignored. Or it could even confirm my opinion. Of course I would need more than a "I just didn't like it" review to make it worth it.
When shopping I often find myself seeking out negative reviews of that product, or service, more than I do the positive reviews. Anyone else find themselves doing this?

[vandermolen]

I would largely agree with this.  I definitely don't agree with all of his picks, but he's definitely knowledgeable and IMO the videos are worth the time if the repertoire under discussion is of interest.  I've watched quite a few and enjoyed them.

As Hurwitz himself points out in one of videos, it can be very difficult sometimes to convey a sense of humor in writing -- a statement that might seem simplistic or needlessly argumentative in print can come across very differently when you can hear the tone of his voice and see the twinkle in his eye.  I suspect the same thing happens quite often on this forum actually -- a lot of the misunderstandings and arguments we get into would probably never happen if we were in the same room, or could at least see and hear the cues that contribute to a good conversation... alas, there are inevitable downsides to a text-based format such as this... 

Very good point about text-based communications.

[André]

I very much agree with him about Rattle and Norrington but totally disagree with his verdict on Horenstein and Furtwangler.

Exactly.

[Karl Henning]

I see posters here saying they don't agree with Hurwitz 100% of the time, and that includes me saying that as well. But I've also never read, or watched, a critic of any art form that I agreed with 100% of the time, I don't see that being possible. I really enjoy reading negative reviews, or criticisms, that I don't agree with, or those that have a different opinion of mine. It helps me to experience the piece from a side I may have missed, or ignored. Or it could even confirm my opinion. Of course I would need more than a "I just didn't like it" review to make it worth it.
When shopping I often find myself seeking out negative reviews of that product, or service, more than I do the positive reviews. Anyone else find themselves doing this?

Good sense!