Michael Gielen 1927-2019

[North Star]

https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/Komponist-Gielen-ist-tot,komponist-100.html

The German-Austrian conductor and composer Michael Gielen died at the age of 91. He was considered one of the greatest conductors of our time. His repertoire ranged from Bach to Modernism, from symphonic literature to opera. In 1986 Gielen took over the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks, which was renamed SWR-Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden and Freiburg in 1996. He directed it until 1999.

[Crudblud]

RIP. Gielen has the best Mahler 7 on record. Excellent recordings of late Stravinsky as well.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Amazing longevity, and did some fine things.

[Mirror Image]

RIP. Such terrible news. Maestro Gielen was one of the greatest conductors around and seemed like a great man as well. Another blow to the classical world.

[North Star]

RIP. Gielen has the best Mahler 7 on record. Excellent recordings of late Stravinsky as well.

I'm listening to that now - his Mahler 2nd is certainly very good. I've also enjoyed very much his recordings of Bartók, Stravinsky and the 2nd Viennese School.

RIP. Such terrible news. Maestro Gielen was one of the greatest conductors around and seemed like a great man as well. Another blow to the classical world.

Sad news indeed, John, although tempered by the fact that he reached a very ripe old age, and left us a great legacy in his recordings before his retirement from conducting in 2014, at age 87.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

I'm listening to that now - his Mahler 2nd is certainly very good. I've also enjoyed very much his recordings of Bartók, Stravinsky and the 2nd Viennese School.

Indeed, I've reviewed my listening notes and I was very impressed with his Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms, and his recordings of the Schoenberg Chamber Symphonies and Piano Concerto with Brendel (a Philips release).

[ritter]

What sad news! A great conductor, and a great mahlerian.

I first became aware of Michael Gielen  more than 40 years ago, when I bought his (wonderful) recording of Moses und Aron on the Philips label (it was the soundtrack to the Straub & Huillet film of the opera, shichi only got to watch much later):



I was bowled over by the work (it was my first encounter with it, and I knew barely nothing by Schoenberg at the time), and still consider this one of the best recordings of it. Unfortunately, it's only fleetingly been reissued on CD (first in a limited Philips pressing, and later on the budget Brilliant label—which is the one I have now).

I only saw Gielen live once, in Berlin around 10 years ago, in a Mozart / Berg program (including the Three Pieces for Orchestra. It was excellent.

I also read his memoirs, Unbedingt Musik ("Necessarily Music", not translated into English AFAIK) some years ago, and they were very interesting and entertaining, and beautifully written:

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Rest in piece.

[Sergeant Rock]

I only saw Gielen live once, in Berlin around 10 years ago, in a Mozart / Berg program (including the Three Pieces for Orchestra. It was excellent.

I too only saw him once, in Frankfurt in 2006, conducting Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder. Memorable.

Sarge

[André]

What sad news! A great conductor, and a great mahlerian.

I first became aware of Michael Gielen  more than 40 years ago, when I bought his (wonderful) recording of Moses und Aron on the Philips label (it was the soundtrack to the Straub & Huillet film of the opera, shichi only got to watch much later):



I was bowled over by the work (it was my first encounter with it, and I knew barely nothing by Schoenberg at the time), and still consider this one of the best recordings of it. Unfortunately, it's only fleetingly been reissued on CD (first in a limited Philips pressing, and later on the budget Brilliant label—which is the one I have now).

(...)
Rest in piece.

Talk of a coincidence ! Same here...

[ritter]

Talk of a coincidence ! Same here...

Les grands esprits....   

[Mirror Image]

Besides his own conducting, I'll remember Maestro Gielen in this particular context in the Schoenberg documentary contained on this DVD:

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Gielen's commentary on Schoenberg's Fünf Orchesterstücke, Op. 16 remains, for me, quite enlightening and hugely informative. He gave me a whole new appreciation for it (not that I didn't enjoy the work, but Gielen's view on the work and his breakdown of each movement taught me a lot).

[Karl Henning]

I too only saw him once, in Frankfurt in 2006, conducting Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder. Memorable.

Sarge

Fantastic!

[relm1]

An exceptional conductor.  RIP Maestro!

[vandermolen]

An exceptional conductor.  RIP Maestro!

+1

[André]

Les grands esprits....   

I was spoiled by that recording in LP format. When I switched to cd I had to look at alternatives (no Gielen then  ), but none stood out. The usual bickering betwen pro et contra boulezians made me hesitate so much that over time my interest waned. I am now Mosesless...

[Karl Henning]

I was spoiled by that recording in LP format. When I switched to cd I had to look at alternatives (no Gielen then  ), but none stood out. The usual bickering betwen pro et contra boulezians made me hesitate so much that over time my interest waned. I am now Mosesless...

It may be time to re-Moses. ...

[André]

It may be time to re-Moses. ...

I found the version I've been waiting for. I just need it to come to a reasonable price, now  . But that's OK, I'm patient 😌

[Ainsi la nuit]

Absolutely one of my favourite conductors. A sharply intelligent musician with a wonderful no-nonsense approach to music-making. His wonderful recorded legacy will remain with us, fortunately...

His programming was always so interesting. Even in his recordings he combined standard symphonies with modernist masterpieces. Always thought-provoking, never just taking the easy path.

Just listened to his recording of Schoenberg's Von heute auf morgen, one of the few recordings of the piece available. RIP.