What IF...??!!!

[Christo]

first thing that pops into mind:

SIBELIUS SYM. NO.8!!!!!!!!!

From all the evidence gathered by Erik Tawaststjerna, it is clear that he wrote one - and destroyed it later, possibly in the famous bonfire of 1945. See e.g. this Finnish Music Quarterly article by Kari Kilpeläinen.

So, in the case of Sibelius, one might actually wish he had died much earlier.  0:) Say, around 1940 - before he could decide to destroy his later compositions. 

[Keemun]

What if Karajan and Bernstein were best friends and routinely conducted (and recorded with) the other's orchestra? 

[Superhorn]

   Karajan and Bernstein may not have been close friends, but rumors of a bitter rivalry between them have been greatly exagerrated.
  They actually respected each other very much. Karajan conducted the New York Philharmonic in only one season during the late 50s when Bernstein was just starting out as MD in New York, and Bernstein conducted the BPO only once in 1979 doing Mahler's 9th, which was issued on DG. It's a great performance buyt I don't know if it's still available.
  Karajan also conducted the Cleveland orchestra at the Salburg festival,but never conducted them on their home turf at Severance hall.

[Renfield]

What if Karajan and Bernstein were best friends and routinely conducted (and recorded with) the other's orchestra? 

Seconding what Superhorn said of their great mutual respect. In fact, I'm aware of their having met shortly before they both died, and having had a long personal chat between them. (Which, given how shy at least Karajan was, would indicate significant trust.)


(The 1979 Mahler 9th is great indeed, but I think it's OOP at the moment.)

[King Karajan]

As they referred to each other as "The old Nazi" and "The music man", I'm sure they got on very well. Even if Karajan was head and shoulders the better talent!.....ok...I'm biased.

[Keemun]

   Karajan and Bernstein may not have been close friends, but rumors of a bitter rivalry between them have been greatly exagerrated.

I don't doubt the exaggeration, but nonetheless I would like to hear Karajan conducting the NYPO and Bernstein conducting the BPO (Mahler 9th notwithstanding).

[Renfield]

As they referred to each other as "The old Nazi" and "The music man", I'm sure they got on very well. Even if Karajan was head and shoulders the better talent!.....ok...I'm biased.

Speaking of heads and shoulders, they were certainly both about as short!

[imperfection]

Speaking of heads and shoulders, they were certainly both about as short!

Karajan is the way hotter one, though. I have fantasies about him at night sometimes...

[Diletante]

Karajan is the way hotter one, though. I have fantasies about him at night sometimes...

Watch out for the baton!

[Brian]

Karajan is the way hotter one, though. I have fantasies about him at night sometimes...

I've just been hit by the

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[Sean]

If is the middle word in life...

[imperfection]

I've just been hit by the

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[greg]

- Wagner even began his planned one-movement symphonies to be written after Parsifal's completion.

What if Wagner only wrote symphonies?  0:)

[Guido]

One often forgets that Beethoven was fairly young when he died - what if he had lived to 70?

I often wonder what Bach might have made of Beethoven's works, or Beethoven would have made of the Rite of Spring...

[Renfield]

One often forgets that Beethoven was fairly young when he died - what if he had lived to 70?

Well, not all that young! 57 for his time wasn't bad at all.

[Coopmv]

Carlos Klieber - Beethoven 9

Karajan - Mahler 8

You get the idea. What are your great "What if's"

Here's an interesting article on Carlos Kleiber ...

http://www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/040730-NL-kleiber.html

[imperfection]

Well, not all that young! 57 for his time wasn't bad at all.

He died at 56.

[Renfield]

He died at 56.

But in 1827, which was what I used for my estimate. And anyhow, the point still stands: he was quite old.

[Gabriel]

In this Haydn year...

(I read somewhere that there was such an idea). What if van Swieten and Haydn had had time and enthusiasm for completing a third oratorio, called The Last Judgment, to complement The Creation and The Seasons?

[nut-job]

But in 1827, which was what I used for my estimate. And anyhow, the point still stands: he was quite old.

In the age of google there is no justification for estimating how old Beethoven lived to be.