What Tennstedt?

[dirkronk]

I once heard Tennstedt in concert and was impressed, but not enough to seriously investigate his recordings. Later, a friend provided me with copies of a number of his Mahler symphonies (1,2,3,4,5,9 and 10) and I enjoyed my first pass through these, but am just now pulling them out to listen afresh. What else by this conductor would you consider an absolute must-hear?

Thanks again to everyone. I hope this series is fun for you--it's certainly eye-opening for me.


Dirk

[rw1883]

Hey Dirk...Paul here,

Hope you're doing well.

Here are a few to start with:

Beethoven symphonies (live cycle) on Memories (at Berkshire)
Bruckner 4, 7, & 8 on LPO
Mahler 1 & 8 on DVD (EMI)
Beethoven 9 on BBC

[Lethevich]

His Bruckner 8 broadcast with the BSO is just... wow. A white heat of the moment performance. I think it was eventually issued on CD by one label, but the original broadcast sounds good enough (without need for "remastering") to have been distributed on Operashare etc. I don't have the files atm, but perhaps somebody else does?

[rw1883]

His Bruckner 8 broadcast with the BSO is just... wow. A white heat of the moment performance. I think it was eventually issued on CD by one label, but the original broadcast sounds good enough (without need for "remastering") to have been distributed on Operashare etc. I don't have the files atm, but perhaps somebody else does?

Do you remember the date on that telecast?  I probably have a good copy...

[rw1883]

His Bruckner 8 broadcast with the BSO is just... wow. A white heat of the moment performance. I think it was eventually issued on CD by one label, but the original broadcast sounds good enough (without need for "remastering") to have been distributed on Operashare etc. I don't have the files atm, but perhaps somebody else does?

OK, I found it...Bruckner 8/Tennstedt with the BSO was on December 20, 1974.  That's the only one listed on Berky's website.

[Renfield]

Do you restrict recommendations to things currently in print? If not, the live EMI CSO Mahler 1st is a must, in my view. As are his studio recording, and especially his live video recording of Mahler's 8th, both happily still available from EMI (the latter on DVD, of course*).

* And coupled with the video version of the CSO Mahler 1st I just recommended, if I'm not mistaken. That is to say, it is a CSO Mahler first, but I'm not entirely sure it is the exact same performance.


Beyond those, there's the eye/ear-opening Mahler 7th on BBC Legends, coupled with an unexpectedly brilliant (big-band) Mozart 41st:



And also a stunning, in my opinion, live (very live) Beethoven 9th, again on BBC Legends:




Additionally, there is a live Mahler 5th and 6th from his later years with the London Philharmonic that some people seem to swear by (I have the 5th, but I wouldn't rank it all that highly), and of course the rest of his studio Mahler cycle, which I highly recommend.


Re Bruckner, I've never heard any under Tennstedt. But he was an extraordinary enough musician that I wouldn't be surprised if he could cook something great up with Bruckner's music, too.

(Although I'd be surprised if it was anything but highly individual in approach, Tennstedt being who he was! )

[Dancing Divertimentian]

And also a stunning, in my opinion, live (very live) Beethoven 9th, again on BBC Legends:

That's an exceptional performance but I would caution that the sound is very reverberant and borders on execrable. Tennstedt gives it a good ride, though, and his energy is contagious, which more than justifies BBC Legend's decision to release this particular performance. If only all music-making were this good.

So, just a heads up.

[dirkronk]

Oh, what the heck. I've only got...what? maybe 40 or so Beethoven 9ths? Not counting the 18 or 20 I culled years ago. I guess I could always do with another one.


Meanwhile, I managed to find that Bruckner 8 w/ BSO on Operashare. Thanks for the heads-up, Lethe.

Dirk

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Dirk,

The Tennstedt 9th is good, and I could even see it rising *almost* to the level of reference material - yes, it's that good - if only the sound were up to snuff. But for me high reverb is tough to stomach and ultimately is the deal breaker for me. 

[Renfield]

Dirk,

The Tennstedt 9th is good, and I could even see it rising *almost* to the level of reference material - yes, it's that good - if only the sound were up to snuff. But for me high reverb is tough to stomach and ultimately is the deal breaker for me. 

This is a point. I've had a friend to whom I sent samples of the recording take the same stance, and I do suppose it comes down to how much one minds the - admittedly odd - sound.

As for the performance, I did mean it when I said "stunning", at least as far as I'm concerned. And live.


Particularly since you seem to be a fellow 9th-a-holic, this is one I believe you certainly should not ignore!

[Dancing Divertimentian]

As for the performance, I did mean it when I said "stunning", at least as far as I'm concerned. And live.

Certainly no argument there!

[eyeresist]

Of my three Mahler boxes I rank Tennstedt top, above Bertini and Bernstein (NYPO). His 7th is the best I've heard, and 6 is also interesting, brisk and quite "classical". (I mention these because you don't have these recordings from his cycle.)

Other that these, I'm not very familiar. I was unimpressed by an EMI disc with Mendelssohn 4 and Schubert 9, ditto his Prokofiev 5 and 7 on Hanssler - proficient run-throughs but not exceptional.

[Lethevich]

Meanwhile, I managed to find that Bruckner 8 w/ BSO on Operashare. Thanks for the heads-up, Lethe.

Neat - I assumed it would've expired by now. I have an account so I'll get it and rehost it for GMG people

Edit:

http://rapidshare.com/files/130557872/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/130559802/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.002

http://www.mediafire.com/?29mymcy09mt
http://www.mediafire.com/?zbztzxq5imm

Join with HJ Split.

[not edward]

Neat - I assumed it would've expired by now. I have an account so I'll get it and rehost it for GMG people

Edit:

http://rapidshare.com/files/130557872/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/130559802/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.002

http://www.mediafire.com/?29mymcy09mt
http://www.mediafire.com/?zbztzxq5imm

Join with HJ Split.

Thanks for this (I got it in its earlier incarnation but it's good to see it back).

Btw, rapidshare is now accepting uploads up to 200MB. Makes a really handy difference with big works.

[Lethevich]

Thanks for this (I got it in its earlier incarnation but it's good to see it back).

It's also apparently a different source, that doesn't have the light static at the start.

Edit: hmm there is a bit of a swishy sound during the quiet parts which I am not sure was there last time. Wish I could remember the exact SQ of the old one to work out which was best.

[Keemun]

Neat - I assumed it would've expired by now. I have an account so I'll get it and rehost it for GMG people

Edit:

http://rapidshare.com/files/130557872/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/130559802/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.002

http://www.mediafire.com/?29mymcy09mt
http://www.mediafire.com/?zbztzxq5imm

Join with HJ Split.

Thanks for posting that, Lethe!

[dirkronk]

Neat - I assumed it would've expired by now. I have an account so I'll get it and rehost it for GMG people

Edit:

http://rapidshare.com/files/130557872/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.001
http://rapidshare.com/files/130559802/Bruckner_8_Tennstedt.zip.002

http://www.mediafire.com/?29mymcy09mt
http://www.mediafire.com/?zbztzxq5imm

Join with HJ Split.

I listened this morning--love the performance. However, I sourced from the Operashare rapidshare files last night, and noticed while listening that there are some stereo channel issues in a few places (mainly channel-switching or momentary weakness/dropout) and some general quavery sound. I can't be sure that it isn't something in the download on my machine, though, so I might try sourcing from the mediafire files at a later date to see if they provide cleaner sonics. Thanks so much for posting these!

Dirk

[jwinter]

I'll add a couple of EMI cheapies I picked up a while back -- Wagner overtures with Berlin, very nice indeed; and a coupling of Mendelssohn 4 and Schubert 9 that was strong in the Mendelssohn, good but not exceptional in the Schubert.  I wouldn't say either disc is a top choice, but well worth considering at bargain price if you're curious.

[M forever]

Of these, I only know the Schubert 9 which I have coupled with Schumann's Konzertstück für 4 Hörner. Both are rather heavy and massive performances, but basically musically interesting, except that - man, is the sound brutally bad! This is so dry and glaring and plasticky, everything that some people say early digital (or even digital recordings in general) sound like (and I don't even remember if they were actually digitally recorded). Which is of course not generally true, but the sound here really is highly unpleasant to listen to and doesn't do the sound of the orchestra justice at all.

[Renfield]

Incidentally, is the Bruckner 8 discussed above identical to this?