Anne-sophie Mutter

[Guido]

Great question, lol.  Buying this cd for Bartok was wise.  Bartok, once he disengaged himself from Liszt's influence, was and remained an original composer.  Not so Penderecki who, after writing lots of unhibited & raunchy stuff during the sixties, gave up on his talent, for the sake of imitating the music of the late nineteenth, early twentieth century.  In the case of the second violin concerto, a moderated Bartok is what you'll hear, verging toward a watered down expressionism. What a shame!  What a waste!  Anne-Sophie Mutter, though, does a good job trying to make it seem like Penderecki's later music is worth performing. Like an actress who manages to do well with a bad script.

Presumabl you haven't heard the cello concerto. Or much else by him.

[Maciek]

Which Cello Concerto is that, the first or the second? You do not know

You might want to check up on posters before taking them head on like that. It is... well, highly improbable that there exists a notable cello concerto that Guido hasn't heard or hasn't at least heard of.

I think it's safe to say that he meant the Second, since you were both discussing "later" Penderecki. (I suppose that means late 1970s and beyond...?)

[Todd]

Can't wait to get to know the entire disc. Any thoughts?

Not a bad disc.  The Penderecki is better than I thought it would be, though I listen to it very rarely.  The Bartok is better (of course), and Mutter & Orkis do quite well in the sonata.  That written, Tetzlaff/Andsnes is the way to go there for a modern recording.  (And of course Bartok/Szigeti is the way for older recordings.)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Not a bad disc.  The Penderecki is better than I thought it would be, though I listen to it very rarely.  The Bartok is better (of course), and Mutter & Orkis do quite well in the sonata.  That written, Tetzlaff/Andsnes is the way to go there for a modern recording.  (And of course Bartok/Szigeti is the way for older recordings.)

Thanks, Todd.

That's encouraging to read re: the Penderecki.

So far all I've listened to is the Bartok violin sonata but I'm happy to say it made quite an impression. Full of energy and agitation and with ample serenity in all the right places (especially the ending).

Interesting about that Tetzlaff/Andsnes pairing. I'll be thinking hard about that one. Andsnes is such a great talent, though admittedly Tetzlaff I'm on the fence about. But this may be just the recording/repertoire to change my mind.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Another recent acquisition. Bought it on the strength of the Crumb clips on Amazon:

[Maciek]

Mmm... I'm definitely wishlisting that one! Thanks for pointing it out!

[Todd]

Another recent acquisition. Bought it on the strength of the Crumb clips on Amazon:

That's an excellent disc.  They even make Resphigi sound interesting.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Mmm... I'm definitely wishlisting that one! Thanks for pointing it out!

I just gave the Crumb piece a spin. Confirms what I heard on the Amazon clips - quite a novelty. Part of the pianist's job is to actually reach inside the piano and play the strings. Nothing elaborate - a pluck here, a scrape there, and even a scratch with a wire brush. Great effects that somehow sound wholly natural and ungimmicky.   

Mutter's into it, too. The piece as a whole comes off sounding vibrant. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

They even make Resphigi sound interesting.

This one is up next. Very curious...

[Bunny]

I just gave the Crumb piece a spin. Confirms what I heard on the Amazon clips - quite a novelty. Part of the pianist's job is to actually reach inside the piano and play the strings. Nothing elaborate - a pluck here, a scrape there, and even a scratch with a wire brush. Great effects that somehow sound wholly natural and ungimmicky.  

Mutter's into it, too. The piece as a whole comes off sounding vibrant. 

As an aside:

If you enjoy Crumb's music, then you will enjoy the dvd of Margaret Leng Tan doing the Makrokosmos I and II.  It's an amazing performance -- mesmerizing (even without AS Mutter).

[Dancing Divertimentian]

As an aside:

If you enjoy Crumb's music, then you will enjoy the dvd of Margaret Leng Tan doing the Makrokosmos I and II.  It's an amazing performance -- mesmerizing (even without AS Mutter).

Thanks, Bunny. Looks very tempting.

I like the visual allusions to Kubrick's 2001 on the cover. Sort of an orbiting peace sign space station!

Are we talking just a video of the pianist playing Crumb or is there something conceptual going on?

[Senta]

Wondrous stuff!

More comments welcome! How is the Gubaidulina piece, the performance? I'd love to get this disc. Can't believe I have not looked into her Stravinsky/Dutilleux disc yet, another to put on my wishlist!

[Maciek]

Anne-Sophie Mutter is sexier than Helene Grimaud and a much better musician. Who could ask for more?  Andre Previn. LOL.

We should make that the motto of this thread!

[mn dave]

Today's (11/27) Amazon Daily mp3 Deal is some Mutter Brahms for 99 cents.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TGXMPU/ref=amb_link_82713311_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=browse&pf_rd_r=0TCFEGDFQA2Z3MG9NFCS&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=464107371&pf_rd_i=163856011

[Spitz]

Last year I went to a concert featuring Anne-sophie Mutter. Hideous is a word Bulldog once used to describe his distaste for one of her recordings. Well, in person she plays just as repulsively. Her performance was rarely on key, lifeless, and--it seemed--witheringly long. I squirmed a lot and was tempted to toss a tomato at her (too bad I hadn't brought one or more with me). I had anticipated being in the presence of a superstar. What I got was a burnt-out nova.

[Bunny]

As an aside:

If you enjoy Crumb's music, then you will enjoy the dvd of Margaret Leng Tan doing the Makrokosmos I and II.  It's an amazing performance -- mesmerizing (even without AS Mutter).

Thanks, Bunny. Looks very tempting.

I like the visual allusions to Kubrick's 2001 on the cover. Sort of an orbiting peace sign space station!

Are we talking just a video of the pianist playing Crumb or is there something conceptual going on?

Sorry, but better late than never...

The dvd is of Margaret Leng Tan playing the piece on the piano.  Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else necessary.

[Bulldog]

Last year I went to a concert featuring Anne-sophie Mutter. Hideous is a word Bulldog once used to describe his distaste for one of her recordings.

I did?  Must have been in a bad mood.  Actually, I was impressed with her most recent Mozart Violin Concertos set, although it was more about her than Mozart.  But her Bach disc and her Mozart Piano Trios set were hard to take.  Playing these relatively early composers as if they are related to Tchaikovsky is off-center in my little corner of the world.

[Coopmv]

I hope to play this set - CD and DVD this weekend.  This combo package has been sitting around for a few weeks ...

[Sergeant Rock]

Last year I went to a concert featuring Anne-sophie Mutter. Hideous is a word Bulldog once used to describe his distaste for one of her recordings. Well, in person she plays just as repulsively. Her performance was rarely on key, lifeless, and--it seemed--witheringly long. I squirmed a lot and was tempted to toss a tomato at her (too bad I hadn't brought one or more with me). I had anticipated being in the presence of a superstar. What I got was a burnt-out nova.

I've heard her live several times (and own most of her recordings). Your description doesn't jive with my experience. Maybe she was having an off night? What did she play the evening you heard her?

Sarge

[Tsaraslondon]

I've heard her live several times (and own most of her recordings). Your description doesn't jive with my experience. Maybe she was having an off night? What did she play the evening you heard her?

Sarge

Nor with mine, Sarge. I've heard her live several times and have never been disappointed.