Benjamin Zander?

[relm1]

What are your thoughts about the conductor, Benjamin Zander?  Is he a very solid conductor or generally considered more of an educator than a nuanced, highly gifted interpreter/orchestral leader?

[PerfectWagnerite]

What are your thoughts about the conductor, Benjamin Zander?  Is he a very solid conductor or generally considered more of an educator than a nuanced, highly gifted interpreter/orchestral leader?

I have all his recordings. In general I like him, a bit wordy but explains the pieces very well. The best one might be the Mahler 9th which includes the first page of the score which is interesting. I know he gets a bad reputation as boring, at times condescending and mostly a spazzoid but I learned quite a bit listening to him.

[Mirror Image]

mostly a spazzoid...

Go watch Solti conduct. Talk about a spaz!

[relm1]

What about his musical interpretations? Are those listless and dull?    The competition is extremely fierce and I'm really low on cash but have my eyes out on these:

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-shostakovich-symphony-no-5.aspx

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-mahler-symphony-no-2-resurrection.aspx

Is this music too big for him?  The excerpts are brief but they sound good though these monstrous symphonies demand long structural control and something new to say.

[Karl Henning]

I only know the earlier recording of the Op.47 made with the Boston Phil (non-Youth version), which IMO is almost a recording which was not worth the trouble to release.  Ben is a highly interesting speaker, but (at least in my experience) is more interesting as a speaker than as a conductor.

[Mirror Image]

What about his musical interpretations? Are those listless and dull?    The competition is extremely fierce and I'm really low on cash but have my eye out on these:

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-shostakovich-symphony-no-5.aspx

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-mahler-symphony-no-2-resurrection.aspx

Is the music too big for him?  The excerpts are very brief but they sound good but these monsterous symphonies demand long structural control.

Given the competition you speak of, why are you so fixated on Zander's conducting? Honestly, I have a Bruckner recording of his and I almost fell asleep, not because the music is boring, but because he didn't have anything fresh or awe-inspiring to add to the work. Spend your money on something else is my suggestion.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Given the competition you speak of, why are so fixated on Zander's conducting? Honestly, I have a Bruckner recording of his and I almost feel asleep, not because the music is boring, but because he didn't have anything fresh or awe-inspiring to add to the work. Spend your money on something else is my suggestion.

I haven't heard the DSCH but as far as his Mahler goes I would say his conducting illustrate his points well. The problem is he is not an inspiring figure behind the podium and I sense the musicians go on some kind of auto-pilot as they are certainly no strangers to any of the music he is conducting. I would say save your $$$ and go elsewhere as you can always read up on the music in some other way.

[relm1]

Thanks for the opinions.  I will pass on these.

[Classical Performances]

I've seen 2 concerts that he has conducted and I find he is both a captivating teacher and conductor. 

Here is something you might find interesting about Benjamin Zander that just happened this past week. This past weekend the Boston Philharmonic performed Verdes Requiem with Chorus Pro Musica but there was some drama.    Last week 3 out of the 4 soloist left for some undisclosed reason.  A friend of mine at work is in the chorus and although there were many rumors going around there was no definitive reason why the solists left. Benjamin Zander quickly found three other solists to take their place and the performance this past weekend was very well received by the public and those in the orchestra and chorus.  So he is also quite resourceful.

[relm1]

I've seen 2 concerts that he has conducted and I find he is both a captivating teacher and conductor. 

Here is something you might find interesting about Benjamin Zander that just happened this past week. This past weekend the Boston Philharmonic performed Verdes Requiem with Chorus Pro Musica but there was some drama.    Last week 3 out of the 4 soloist left for some undisclosed reason.  A friend of mine at work is in the chorus and although there were many rumors going around there was no definitive reason why the solists left. Benjamin Zander quickly found three other solists to take their place and the performance this past weekend was very well received by the public and those in the orchestra and chorus.  So he is also quite resourceful.

I understand organizational resourcefulness is a valuable skill for any conductor to have but it is low on the list of why a costly recording in a crowded and competitive field should be sought.  It seems to me that the general consensus is that Benjamin Zander is a passionate advocate but not a spectacular interpreter.  Sort of like Gilbert Kaplan (with greater musical acumen)...Gilbert being the last person I would purchase a recording from despite their considerable passionate enthusiasm and financial impact.