David Hurwitz

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes I used to read his reviews because they were the opposite.  Concisely written, not half an hour of endless blather.

As an aside, I did appreciate that he had adopted two kittens (which he introduced one of them to viewers)--I think back in March?  I decided to watch one of his videos (forget which one now) and ran across that info.  If nothing else, he gets a "like" for me for doing that. 

PD

[Karl Henning]

Yes I used to read his reviews because they were the opposite.  Concisely written, not half an hour of endless blather.

Like a mediocre preacher on Sunday morning: he'll take up half an hour, even if what he actually has to say could be adequately expressed in ten minutes.

[Madiel]

YouTube does have facilities to skip within videos, people. I use them liberally.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Whenever I feel a need for an afternoon nap, I start one of his more verbose videos and turn off the lights. Works every time.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Okay, might as well throw my hat in the ring.

The way that Hurwitz replies to Youtube commenters who disagree with him is often disrespectful. It makes me resent how the search results are full of his videos when I'm just searching for a piece to listen to.

It's really amazing that this man has the online following he has. We live in a time when streaming services and video sites have made it easier than ever to listen for yourself and form your own opinions.

Hurwitz at his nastiest:

Comment: I quite enjoy Solti's Zauberflote remake; and several reviews I've read say that it's better than his first Zauberflote. I haven't heard the first, so I can't say whether I agree or not.

Hurwitz: Then you shouldn't comment about what you haven't heard. It's not better (but to be fair, they're both quite good). In any case, I left out discussion of opera because those recordings are more about singers than the conductor.

Leaving aside the dubiousness of H's last comment, his attack on the poster was totally uncalled for - since the poster quite specifically said he was not commenting on a recording he hadn't heard. Of course, if I called Hurwitz out on this publically, my post would be deleted. He loves deleting posts. I've had some of my most innocuous comments deleted, which is why I won't comment there any longer. But if you kiss Dave's fat ass, he loves you.

[71 dB]

My opinion of Hurwitz is that he is largely an ass in whose opinions I take no interest.

Would you Karl say he comes out as an ass in this video? Furthermore, do you disagree and in what way with what he says in this video?

[Spotted Horses]

Of course. Just a point of clarification on my side, it is no question of being offended by any opinion he expresses. I express opinions all the time, and my opinion of Hurwitz is that he is largely an ass in whose opinions I take no interest.

There are almost 8 billion people on this planet in whose opinions you take no interest. What sets Hurwitz apart? Is it that too many other people take interest in his unworthy opinions?

[71 dB]

There are almost 8 billion people on this planet in whose opinions you take no interest. What sets Hurwitz apart? Is it that too many other people take interest in his unworthy opinions?

Most of those 8 billion people do not express their opinions via a Youtube channel making them viewable to anyone with an internet connection.

[Spotted Horses]

Most of those 8 billion people do not express their opinions via a Youtube channel making them viewable to anyone with an internet connection.

Ok, only 51 million YouTube channels that I take no interest in.

[71 dB]

Ok, only 51 million YouTube channels that I take no interest in.

I bet you'd be interested in thousands of those channels if you had time to watch them (and get hooked).

[Spotted Horses]

I bet you'd be interested in thousands of those channels if you had time to watch them (and get hooked).

I have become familiar with a few. I can recommend Handyman Hal and Kids Crew. Also a few dedicated to robot vacuum cleaners, in case you'd like to see a video with two dozen (at least) robot vacuum cleaners competing to clean up confetti from a woman's bedroom floor. I don't find myself railing against any of them.

[Karl Henning]

Would you Karl say he comes out as an ass in this video? Furthermore, do you disagree and in what way with what he says in this video?

I appreciate the question. I beg to be excused from the exercise. 

[Karl Henning]

There are almost 8 billion people on this planet in whose opinions you take no interest. What sets Hurwitz apart? Is it that too many other people take interest in his unworthy opinions?

Anyone who finds value in his opinions is at liberty. 

[71 dB]

I have become familiar with a few. I can recommend Handyman Hal and Kids Crew. Also a few dedicated to robot vacuum cleaners, in case you'd like to see a video with two dozen (at least) robot vacuum cleaners competing to clean up confetti from a woman's bedroom floor. I don't find myself railing against any of them.

Thanks but I have found enought to keep me busy. For tonight I have at least these:

David Bennett Piano: Bohemian Rhapsody in 9 different scales - 14:01
Daiki Yoshikawa: I Learned How To Make Finnish Salmon Soup and Cinnamon Rolls - 13:13
The Proper People: Exploring an Abandoned Mall Frozen in Time - 28:59
Dar The Traveler: Duolingo Nordic Countries Languages Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland - 52:03

In an hour I assume this will be published (prediction):

Jules Reacts: The X Files 3x21 Avatar Reaction | First Time Watching - ~25 min
EDIT: Yes, it happened as I predicted! (24:53)

I feel like people produce and publish interesting Youtube videos faster than I am able to watch.

[(poco) Sforzando]

A much more impressive YouTube commentator on classical music:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClassicalNerd

Just turn to his video on Elliott Carter for a start.

These guys are a lot of fun too, and totally unpretentious:
https://www.youtube.com/@twosetviolin

None of this Hurwitzian "look at me show off how many compact discs I've bought."

[Madiel]

A much more impressive YouTube commentator on classical music:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClassicalNerd

Just turn to his video on Elliott Carter for a start.

These guys are a lot of fun too, and totally unpretentious:
https://www.youtube.com/@twosetviolin

None of this Hurwitzian "look at me show off how many compact discs I've bought."

I was with you until that last line. Partly because it's stupid to criticise a professional reviewer for having lots of discs, and partly because it's especially stupid to do so here in GMG where there are people who would own more copies of a work than Hurwitz does.

Also, while I appreciate the other channels, it is very quickly obvious that they are not reviewing recordings.. He is a reviewer, not a "commentator on classical music". These are not replacements.

Both of these make me think you don't actually understand what Hurwitz is doing. But especially the comment about how many CDs he has.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

A much more impressive YouTube commentator on classical music:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ClassicalNerd

Just turn to his video on Elliott Carter for a start.

These guys are a lot of fun too, and totally unpretentious:
https://www.youtube.com/@twosetviolin

None of this Hurwitzian "look at me show off how many compact discs I've bought."

Will have to check out your links.  I'm trying to remember one by someone who was a professional musician (and is employed in a classical orchestra).

I did just watch one video that D.H. did on Penderecki (also *Gerhard and Tippett which I'll probably watch those segments at some time).  I did appreciate most of his comments and musical samples that he gave.  He has some other ones on Penderecki (whom he had met and attended concerts with him conducting).  I hadn't realized that Cannes also had classical music awards and what position he had there too.  It was interesting for me to learn more about Penderecki and how his style changed over time.

*Don't know his music at all and I probably should also explore more Tippett.  I like some of the works that I've heard by Tippett, but was turned off by others of his.

PD

[(poco) Sforzando]

I was with you until that last line. Partly because it's stupid to criticise a professional reviewer for having lots of discs, and partly because it's especially stupid to do so here in GMG where there are people who would own more copies of a work than Hurwitz does.

Also, while I appreciate the other channels, it is very quickly obvious that they are not reviewing recordings.. He is a reviewer, not a "commentator on classical music". These are not replacements.

Both of these make me think you don't actually understand what Hurwitz is doing. But especially the comment about how many CDs he has.

Thank you for telling me how stupid I am. Twice. I was unaware. But I think I understand what Hurwitz is doing quite well, and it goes beyond reviewing recordings. If I had time or energy or interest, I would go into more detail, but it emphatically includes being a "commentator on classical music" in addition to being a record reviewer. And the endless need to acquire more stuff, so much that he scarcely knows all he has, and to show off to his fawning audience how much stuff he has, is part of a culture where conspicuous consumption is threatening to overwhelm musical values.

[Madiel]

And the endless need to acquire more stuff, so much that he scarcely knows all he has, and to show off to his fawning audience how much stuff he has, is part of a culture where conspicuous consumption is threatening to overwhelm musical values.

Well again, I see enough of that on GMG. And I would argue that the only people who might have a reasonable need for having so many copies of the same music are professional reviewers.

By the way I said that certain actions were stupid, not you personally.

[Florestan]

Well again, I see enough of that on GMG.

Indeed, it's one of the GMG trademarks. And it's not even a bad thing in itself. If one deeply loves a piece of music or a composer, it's not uncommon, nor unnatural, to own multiple versions of the same work.

And I would argue that the only people who might have a reasonable need for having so many copies of the same music are professional reviewers.

Plus, there is a high probability that Hurwitz, as a professional reviewer of high profile, received many of those copies for free.