What Muti?

[dirkronk]

I'm going through my CD listings and notice that I have exceedingly few recordings by a few conductors who--perhaps--should be much better represented. And I will ask you folks to educate me in what specific recordings (say, your top 5, if you want a number to shoot for) can make me into a true fan of said conductor. Or, if you think I'd be better off staying away, it will give you a chance to say why.

Let's start with Muti. I see that I have literally one (count them, 1!) CD, of Ponchielli/Catalani/Puccini pieces on the Sony label. I can recall perhaps a handful of items conducted by Muti that I have owned on LP. Other than this, I have zero experience. So what should I listen to? Make me a believer!


Dirk

[karlhenning]

Muti leading the Phila Orchestra in Berlioz's Roméo et Juliette, Opus 17

The Schumann Symphonies with the Philharmonia Orchestra

Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps, again with the Phila Orchestra

Prokofiev's Symphony No. 3 (after The Fiery Angel), again with the Phila Orchestra

[Todd]

Scriabin - Symphonies
Verdi - Aida (EMI), Otello (TDK) and Falstaff (EuroArts)

[Tsaraslondon]

I don't think it's available anymore, but a DVD of La Traviata with Tiziana Fabbricini and Roberto Alagna.

An excellent CD of works by Busoni, Casella and Martucci (not sure that's available either).

[knight66]

He produced one of the very best sets of the Verdi Four Sacred Pieces, excellent singing and he shapes them with sensitivity and drama. He produced a well thought of Macbeth, but to me it comes behind Abbado in terms of modern recordings.

Mike

[M forever]

The Schumann Symphonies with the Philharmonia Orchestra

Better: his later remake with the WP on Philips. Better played, better recorded, much clearer musical vision, one of the few Muti albums I would recomment.

Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps, again with the Phila Orchestra

This is one of the few others. Still one of my favorite versions of "Le Sacre".

Prokofiev's Symphony No. 3 (after The Fiery Angel), again with the Phila Orchestra

I have a little hard time imagining that because I know his solid, but undistinguished and rather routine recording of Prokofieff 5.

[val]

I prefer Muti as an opera conductor.
A very good version of Verdi's Nabucco, Attila and Macbeth and Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

I also like his version of Tchaikovsky's Manfred.

[knight66]

The Rossini Stabat Mater is another success, full of colour and drama.

Mike

[karlhenning]

Better: his later remake with the WP on Philips. Better played, better recorded, much clearer musical vision, one of the few Muti albums I would recomment.

Thanks for the suggestion, M!

Say, have you been around at all, or you just doing the workaholic thing?

[karlhenning]

He produced one of the very best sets of the Verdi Four Sacred Pieces, excellent singing and he shapes them with sensitivity and drama.

Good to know, thanks, Mike!

[johnQpublic]

I see that I have literally one   CD, of Ponchielli/Catalani/Puccini pieces on the Sony label.

I have that one too. Picked it up in a Mom & Pop used CD store cheap.

I feel that my best Muti is his 2-volume set of Verdi Overtures & Preludes he did for Sony with the La Scala Orchestra.

[Moldyoldie]

There's only one Muti recording I can recommend unequivocally -- his Respighi Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, and Feste Romane from Philadelphia on EMI.  I don't know if it's readily available, however.

I'll also second the suggestion of Muti's Schumann symphonies cycle from Vienna on Philips -- surprisingly convincing!

[mahler10th]

Scriabin Symphonies - he brings something to them I have not heard anywhere else.  Magic.  Wish Scriabin was heard more often.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Scriabin Symphonies - he brings something to them I have not heard anywhere else.  Magic.  Wish Scriabin was heard more often.

Seconded (both the recommendation and the wish).

[dirkronk]

I'm popping back into this thread to say "thank you" here, too, to all who've posted. I take special note of the Scriabin symphonies, since I have only older recordings, mainly by Russian conductors in this category. I once owned Inbal's set of Scriabin symphonies on Philips LP, which was treated like critical gold when it first appeared; I don't know if it was the interps or that perhaps I simply wasn't yet ready to appreciate the music, but I reacted at the time with a resounding "meh." I'll look for the Muti set.

Thanks again...and keep the recs a-comin'.


Dirk

[jwinter]

I don't have too much Muti on my shelves, but I'll support the recs for Scriabin and Rite of Spring -- I still think overall it's the best Sacre I've heard, and I got it for 5 bucks.  Very energetic, forceful reading, well-recorded.

I've also enjoyed his Tchaikovsky symphony set, which Brilliant re-released a while back.  Some of the later symphonies are a little tame IMO, but he really shines in some of the earlier & smaller pieces, and his Manfred is excellent.

I've heard some of his Beethoven cycle, and have been pleased, but not enough so to hunt down the whole set.  I would strongly recommend a great bargain coupling of 7 & 8, his 7 is quite lively, if a bit sloppy in the strings at points (surprising for Philadelphia).  I also enjoyed his Pastorale quite a bit.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I've also enjoyed his Tchaikovsky symphony set, which Brilliant re-released a while back.  Some of the later symphonies are a little tame IMO, but he really shines in some of the earlier & smaller pieces, and his Manfred is excellent.

Yes, I had forgotten about that set. The Third Symphony, to me, was a revelation. Marvellous work - very cogent, no surplus fat.

[jwinter]

Rummaging through my iPod, I'm reminded of Muti's Verdi Requiem -- it's my favorite for that work, although I've only heard a couple of others.  A very high octane reading, if you get my meaning...

[Tsaraslondon]

Rummaging through my iPod, I'm reminded of Muti's Verdi Requiem -- it's my favorite for that work, although I've only heard a couple of others.  A very high octane reading, if you get my meaning...

Which one are you refering to? He recorded it twice.

http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Requiem-Mass-Cherubini-minor/dp/B0002Z83M0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216887622&sr=1-1

and

http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Requiem-Studer-Zajick-Pavarotti/dp/B000002RQ7/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1216887622&sr=1-2

I don't know the one with Pavarotti, but did own the earlier on LP, an intensely dramatic, if somewhat hard driven performance. Baltsa is the best of the soloists. Scotto is pushed to the limits of her abilities (and sometimes beyond them), but makes more sense of the soprano part than almost anyone.

[jwinter]

I meant the one you have, coupled with the Cherubini.    And I'd agree with your assessment, intense & hard-driven.