Magnus Lindberg's lair

[bhodges]

Somebody asked me one time why don't I go see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra? The reason I don't is because I can listen to the same old workhorses at home. I want to hear music I can't hear anywhere else and this speaks volumes about the state the ASO is in right now. They play music that sells, but don't offer enough "meat" to people who are hungary for something fresh.

A quick look at the ASO 2011-2012 season online looks pretty more than decent to me, e.g., Spano is conducting a new Salonen piece, on a concert that doesn't look very commercial at all:

Thu, October 27, 2011
Sat, October 29, 2011

Esa-Pekka Salonen: New Work
Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy
Rachmaninov: The Bells

Robert Spano, Conductor
Tatiana Monogarova, Soprano
Sergey Romanovsky, Tenor
Denis Sedov, Bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Just sayin'...

--Bruce

[Mirror Image]

I'm only mentioning these things because you're making a habit of drawing a picture of snobs dismissing your composer for every composer that you like.  Maybe that is not actually the case, and even if it is, maybe you can enjoy the music without needing an imaginary audience sneering at it to make you feel validated.

I don't make a habit of anything but sharing my opinion and listening to the music. I'm speaking about a general problem with classical audiences and not just about Lindberg.

Yes, Lindberg gets recordings, but so does Xenakis and Boulez and Koechlin. WTF?!?!?

[bhodges]

Also just noticed (to stay on topic) they're doing Lindberg's Arena next May.

--Bruce

[DavidW]

Well I wish I was in driving distance of that orchestra!

[Mirror Image]

Getting back on topic, what are everybody's impressions of his Violin Concerto?

[lescamil]

The Violin Concerto to me is similar to the Clarinet Concerto in that it doesn't demand a lot from its audience. I am not hugely familiar with it, but it seems to have that same sort of quasi-folk music influence in it and there is almost a hint of Mozartean influence, especially in the orchestra, which is of Classical proportions, and is a far cry from his other concertos in forces (except for the Piano Concerto, which has a small orchestra also). It didn't leave a huge impression on me like the other concertos did, and perhaps I need to listen to it a bit more.

[Mirror Image]

The Violin Concerto to me is similar to the Clarinet Concerto in that it doesn't demand a lot from its audience. I am not hugely familiar with it, but it seems to have that same sort of quasi-folk music influence in it and there is almost a hint of Mozartean influence, especially in the orchestra, which is of Classical proportions, and is a far cry from his other concertos in forces (except for the Piano Concerto, which has a small orchestra also). It didn't leave a huge impression on me like the other concertos did, and perhaps I need to listen to it a bit more.

It will be interesting to the hear his VC. I heard an excerpt from it on YouTube and loved the sound of it.

[Kontrapunctus]

The NYP is premiering Lindberg's Piano Concerto No.2 (written for Yefim Bronfman) in San Francisco next May--if it's not sold out, I'll be there!

[Mirror Image]

The NYP is premiering Lindberg's Piano Concerto No.2 (written for Yefim Bronfman) in San Francisco next May--if it's not sold out, I'll be there!

That should be interesting. I'm assuming Alan Gilbert will be conducting correct?

[Mirror Image]

Did anyone catch the exchange between Alec Baldwin and Alan Gilbert in regards to Tchaikovsky and Lindberg?

http://www.youtube.com/v/4-m6SbZQllc

[lescamil]

I totally lost where both people were going once Lindberg was brought up. I think it might have been a bit over Baldwin's head after a certain point, so a bunch of rambling was inevitable.

[Mirror Image]

I totally lost where both people were going once Lindberg was brought up. I think it might have been a bit over Baldwin's head after a certain point, so a bunch of rambling was inevitable.

Yeah, it didn't make a whole lot of sense. Both men are obviously intelligent, but the title of this YouTube video made it sound as if there was some kind of rigorous debate between the two of them.

[lescamil]

What I got from Baldwin's point of view is that Lindberg and many modern composers today are not for a typical audience, I think, whereas Gilbert disagreed. I think you can safely say that Lindberg's works from the last 10 years would fall into the category of "pieces for a wider audience", but not his other works.

[Mirror Image]

What I got from Baldwin's point of view is that Lindberg and many modern composers today are not for a typical audience, I think, whereas Gilbert disagreed. I think you can safely say that Lindberg's works from the last 10 years would fall into the category of "pieces for a wider audience", but not his other works.

Yes, but I think the comparisons made between Tchaikovsky and Lindberg were kind of far-fetched and not very well-thought through, but as Alec said that's the beauty of a live interview.

[Mirror Image]

I've really been enjoying the Lindberg recordings I own and I think I have heard them all now. So far these are my favorites:

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All of the works on these two recordings really have connected with me, especially Graffiti, which I think is absolutely astonishing. I'm having a harder time with some of his early 80s/90s works, though parts of his Piano Concerto and Kraft were very interesting. I did not connect with the recording with Kinetics, Marea, and Joy. Of the mid-90s and 00s, I really loved his concertos for violin, cello, and clarinet. Pretty much all the works for the Salonen/Philharmonia disc were good.

[Mirror Image]

BUMP!

[snyprrr]

bump

[Mirror Image]

bump

Do you have any favorite Lindberg compositions, snyprrr?

[lescamil]

Anyone know a way I can get a recording of Souvenir without shelling out ~$50 on iTunes for a New York Phil pass? I really want to hear this work, especially after perusing the score. It looks like a condensed version of the Concerto for Orchestra.

[snyprrr]

Do you have any favorite Lindberg compositions, snyprrr?

I think the Clarinet Quintet is a Masterpiece! The one with the Arditti is the The One.

The atmosphere in this piece reminds me of Tarkovsky, though it is by no means slow moving. I like the 'cool', 'icy' treatment,... I don't know, I had a few of those Ondine discs when they came out, and, Lindberg did have a 'Poster Child' sound (meaning very 'up-to-date- and-in-the-know-wink-wink) sound at the time which, I liked, but not enough to keep the cds (I'm being unfair,... I think I just needed the money!,... I would readily try some again). The CQ, however, I find very singular (I suppose since, at the time, it was to be his 'String Quartet' piece).

Yea, sign me up for the Clarinet Quintet, by the Arditti.