Period or Modern Instruments

[knight66]

I voted for the period instruments; Bach keyboard music would be an exception, as I prefer most of it on piano, (though not the organ music obviously).

I remember listening to the Norrington version of Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique; the sound of the orig. instruments gave a completely different colour to the music and although I treasure my modern instruments versions, I often spin the Norrington.

Mike

[jochanaan]

It was our high school mascot.

And mine.

If you want a period-instrument version of Wagner or Mahler or other late Romantic composers, one major orchestra fits the bill, or so I understand, since the design of its instruments hasn't changed for a hundred years or so.  I've seen them in television broadcasts, and their woodwinds and brass look very different from those I'm used to.  The orchestra: the Vienna Philharmonic.