What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[jlaurson]

Review finished...

The Sixth Symphony is Mahler's most classical, if only in structure. That's an important qualification, because although cast in the sonata-form of the classical symphony (replete with repeats, Allegro first movement, inner movements in Scherzo- and slow-form, and an Allegro moderato/Allegro energico Finale), the symphony has otherwise little else in common with its classical predecessors. For one, its individual movements are as long or longer than any one of Haydn's complete symphonies.

Mahler's symphonies are generally not of the happy, cheery kind – but at least they occasionally end on a note (or the hope) of optimism. Not so the Sixth. It's brutal, relentless, remorseless – and although it can be tamed and made to sound beautiful, the most appropriate way to perform this symphony is by riding the beast as hard as possible; foam at the mouth, wide-eyed, driven to the brink of the abyss. If the Sixth Symphony were a politician, it would promise nothing but blood, toils, tears, and sweat.

[George]

Review finished...

I fully agree with your assesment. This is the CD (well the earlier pressing, but who's counting) that convinced me that I could be a Mahler fan. Celibidache's EMI recordings sealed the deal.

[George]

Opus 2 from:

Man, I couldn't even make it though Op. 2 No. 1. This is way too plain vanilla for me, I dare say boring. Where's the excitement?

So I jumped to the last sonata, seeing how this all ends. Wow!! Incredible!! This is going to be an interesting set for sure.

[jlaurson]

This is the CD that convinced me that I could be a Mahler fan. Celibidache's EMI recordings sealed the deal.

Very droll. 

I actually quite like Celi's Bruckner -- the Third, Fifth, and Sixth are *great*. Despite the inherent difficulties of getting his approach come across on recordings.

What is your particular dislike of Celi due to?

[George]

Very droll. 

I actually quite like Celi's Bruckner -- the Third, Fifth, and Sixth are *great*. Despite the inherent difficulties of getting his approach come across on recordings.

What is your particular dislike of Celi due to?

On the contrary, I LOVE Celibidache. I was trying to say that Barbirolli opened the door and Celibidache pushed me in. I find his Bruckner to be sublime.

[Brian]

CHAPI: Symphony / Fantasia

I played this CD again to be sure what I felt about it.  Well it is reasonable well composed, but it will not be in my player again I am afraid.
It must be said that the orchestra plays well, and the conductor does his utmost to make this music to a success, but what is not in it, will not come out, whatever the excellence of the performance.
The Fantasia is a nice piece, fun to listen at. Some fine Brass writing in the first movement of the D minor Symphony "Adagio-Allegro appassionato", and a not unattractive second movement "Andante con moto espressivo" with some good string and wind writing, but it does not convince entirely. The third movement "Presto" is the best of them all, with really good ideas, but sometimes knitted together by some banal  piece of pseudo Bizet, but overall I enjoyed the writing for strings and wind, a bit like Schubert & Brahms mixed together, without the drama. It is a dapper try, but I think to many ideas, and to little orchestral experience putting it together.

My feelings about that disc almost exactly, Harry! I could barely get through the Symphony, which I found dreadfully dull, but the Fantasia was quite charming. Not something I'll be listening too again, either. 

[Brian]

I fully agree with your assesment. This is the CD (well the earlier pressing, but who's counting) that convinced me that I could be a Mahler fan. Celibidache's EMI recordings sealed the deal.

Might have to try it. I'm still unsure I could ever be a Mahler fan, but I love Metamorphosen. 

Shostakovich, Dmitri - Symphonies w/ Barshai - my first 'complete' set by one conductor! Just arrived, so starting off the New Year (and the first weekend of '09) w/ this Brilliant box set; unfortunately, did not come w/ a booklet! (did a BITCH post in the Brilliant thread, already); however, I own the 'The Symphony' book by Michael Steinberg, which covers half of these works; also found a 3 part writeup by Paul Serotsky on MusicWeb, which should be of help; in fact, copied into Word to print out - came to 48 pages! 

Wow! That link is considerably more useful than any booklet to any CD that I could imagine! Just skimming through 5, 9 and 10, what fascinating stuff ~ the explanation of 10's second movement was particularly informative, and I will have to keep this "review" handy no matter which Shosty set I end up deciding to order. (Currently leaning toward Jansons.)

[jlaurson]

On the contrary, I LOVE Celibidache. I was trying to say that Barbirolli opened the door and Celibidache pushed me in.

Oh... I guess I didn't get that, since I thought you were talking about Mahler and Mahler was anathema to Celi... (He only conducted Das Lied, and even that just once or twice.)

[Renfield]

Oh... I guess I didn't get that, since I thought you were talking about Mahler and Mahler was anathema to Celi... (He only conducted Das Lied, and even that just once or twice.)

Actually, didn't he say "I'd tell you why I don't conduct Mahler, but you wouldn't understand it" to someone who asked him about it, once?

[ChamberNut]

Beethoven

String Quartet in C, Op. 59/3, Razumovsky

Quartetto Italiano
Philips

[Homo Aestheticus]

[Renfield]

Excellent inspiration. I might follow suit.

[karlhenning]

I don't think I'd enjoy Herbie in Haydn;  I didn't care much for his Mozart.

[jlaurson]

Actually, didn't he say "I'd tell you why I don't conduct Mahler, but you wouldn't understand it" to someone who asked him about it, once?

I'm not aware of that quote... I know he said Mahler's Symphonies lacked structure.
I will be interviewing the first violist of the MPhil about his time under Celi, some time this year... any questions anybody wants to ask?

I don't mind that he didn't... why conduct something that one does not feel fully convinced about. But it's a bit of a pity that with him and now Thielemann, the Munich Philharmonic - one of the four historically most important Mahler-orchestras [along WPh, RCO, NYP] - was/is lead by dominant conductors that didn't/don't like Mahler and didn't/don't conduct it. ("Every time they play Mahler, it takes me a week to 'cleanse' my orchestra again" -- Thielemann, paraphrased.)
There's a great tradition going untapped. At least MTT is coming this season to do M5.

[Brian]

I don't think I'd enjoy Herbie in Haydn;  I didn't care much for his Mozart.

[Renfield]

I don't think I'd enjoy Herbie in Haydn;  I didn't care much for his Mozart.

Thankfully, his Haydn is of an altogether different pedigree. He seemed to enjoy the music much more, for one!

Clarification: By "pedigree", I mean Karajan's prior (and general) involvement with the music. For all the Mozart he conducted, I'm not convinced he ever cared to take the music "beyond the notes" in the way he did with other composers, Haydn included.

Do sample, at some point.

I'm not aware of that quote... I know he said Mahler's Symphonies lacked structure.
I will be interviewing the first violist of the MPhil about his time under Celi, some time this year... any questions anybody wants to ask?

I don't mind that he didn't... why conduct something that one does not feel fully convinced about. But it's a bit of a pity that with him and now Thielemann, the Munich Philharmonic - one of the four historically most important Mahler-orchestras [along WPh, RCO, NYP] - was/is lead by dominant conductors that didn't/don't like Mahler and didn't/don't conduct it. ("Every time they play Mahler, it takes me a week to 'cleanse' my orchestra again" -- Thielemann, paraphrased.)
There's a great tradition going untapped. At least MTT is coming this season to do M5.

I don't remember the source of the quote, but I'll look it up and get back to you.


Brian:

[bhodges]

Earlier today, PBS was having a New Year's Day MET Marathon, showing many of the recent Live in HD broadcasts, so I dived in. 

Verdi: Macbeth (Lučić/Guleghina/Levine/MET) - Love Adrian Noble's production, and Levine finds every bit of excitement in the score.  The MET chorus sounds just fantastic.
Britten: Peter Grimes (Griffey/Racette/Runnicles/MET) -  0:)
Puccini: La Bohème (Gheorghiu/Vargas/Luisotti/MET) - Even after having seen this Zeffirelli production a couple of times over the years (it debuted in 1982), I must confess that it is quite effective.  This broadcast captured Vargas and Gheorghiu in very good voice, and Luisotti (new to me) gives the score all the sweep needed.

Now listening to:

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Ashkenazy/Haitink/Concertgebouw)

--Bruce

[George]

Now listening to:

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 (Ashkenazy/Haitink/Concertgebouw)

--Bruce

Earlier today - the same work by Rachmaninov himself, conducted by Ormandy. Such a great work!

[PaulR]

Schnittke:  Concerto grosso#4-Symphony #5 Jarvi/Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Very interesting so far...

[bhodges]

Schnittke:  Concerto grosso#4-Symphony #5 Jarvi/Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Very interesting so far...

I have Chailly's version of this piece--fascinating!  Would be worth hearing another take on it.

Now listening to:

Verdi: Arias (Ramón Vargas/Edoardo Müller/Münich Radio Orchestra)

--Bruce