Jaw-dropping Jurowski

[Mark]

I don't often feel the need to evangelise about a conductor. Especially not on the strength of a single recording. But today I encountered for the first time the work of the young Vladimir Jurowski ... and I'm utterly blown away.

Onto my doormat this morning plopped the latest edition of BBC Music magazine, sporting on its cover a 75th anniversary CD of performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. My interest wasn't particularly piqued until the final four tracks: a performance of Tchaikovsky's delightful masterpiece, 'Serenade for Strings', recorded live at Snape Maltings on April 1st this year. In charge, Jurowski.

Never mind this performance being captured on April Fool's Day - it's anything but foolish. From the first bars, Jurowski shapes the work immaculately; and his pacing throughout is absolutely superb: tightly controlled, yes, but somehow just ... right. I've heard this work played live, and I've heard many recordings. Never, until today, have I heard a version which convinces me as much as does Jurowski's that this is how it's 'meant to go'. Particularly in the third movement Elegy, which so many conductors seem to want to take nice and slowly, then belt through the rest. Here, as in the other movements, Jurowski keeps measured tempi, never slackening too much, never whacking on the gas. Perfect, IMO.

So tell me, what's your opinion of Jurowski, and which recordings of his should one spring for?

[uffeviking]

This incredibly talented conductor already blew me away years ago with his Die Fledermaus performance in Glyndebourne! I seem to recall I even wrote about it in the old forum and made subsequent remarks about Jurowski without getting any, or very few replies. - Story of my life at GMG anyhow! -

My post at the NYT classical music forum got one reply though by a female member: "What a hunk!" 

[Sergeant Rock]

So tell me...which recordings of his should one spring for?

Sarge

[uffeviking]

And this charming and talented pianist is the accompanist to Thomas Quasthoff on the uTube presentation from the 2007 Verbier Festival featuring songs by Brahms and Schumann.

[stingo]

He conducts in Philadelphia periodically, and I seem to recall a Philadelphia Inquirer reviewer being lukewarm to his talents.

[Don]

I very much like Jurowski's LPO recording of Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony.

[uffeviking]

He conducts in Philadelphia periodically, and I seem to recall a Philadelphia Inquirer reviewer being lukewarm to his talents.

ONE reviewer? Have you listened to any of his recordings or watched him on video? 

[stingo]

ONE reviewer? Have you listened to any of his recordings or watched him on video? 

I was just passing on info from what I read - this was in the context of picking a successor to Eschenbach. To answer your question though, no, I haven't. I've only seen him conduct in Philadelphia. Cheers.

[uffeviking]

I've only seen him conduct in Philadelphia. Cheers.

In that case, would you please honour us with your opinion of him and his talent in the life performance(s)? 

[Mark]

In that case, would you please honour us with your opinion of him and his talent in the life performance(s)? 

Hate to say it, Stingo, but Lis does have a point here.

C'mon - share your thoughts.

[MISHUGINA]

Sarge

Crap. the albums screams BUY ME! all over...must.....resist.......

btw sargeant, you've heard the album? the release date is oct 9th

[stingo]

Hate to say it, Stingo, but Lis does have a point here.

C'mon - share your thoughts.

Agreed - I just didn't care for the manner in which the point was presented. My recollection of reading that particular review was that the reviewer was much too hard on Jurowski - the performances I've seen have always been enjoyable if not notable either way (spectacularly good or spectacularly bad). However, take that with a grain of salt - it's been a while since I've seen him conduct. That will change in April when he will be conducting the music used in 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Zarathustra, Blue Danube, Lux Aeterna, et al).

[Sergeant Rock]

Crap. the albums screams BUY ME! all over...must.....resist.......

btw sargeant, you've heard the album? the release date is oct 9th

Yes I have. It was on sale at her concert last Thursday evening with the Staatskapelle Dresden. Fabio Luisi conducted that live Emperor.

Sarge

[Renfield]

Yes I have. It was on sale at her concert last Thursday evening with the Staatskapelle Dresden. Fabio Luisi conducted that live Emperor.

Sarge

Now here is a superb accompanist for Beethoven concerti!

In the same concert where I heard his fantastic Heldenleben (Strauss) with the Staatskapelle Dresden, he was also accompanying Radu Lupu in Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto.

And even though Lupu's age seemed to show in the slight "rigidity" of his otherwise excellent piano-playing, the accompaniment was one of the best I've heard. Rarely does one hear such a meticulously-crafted, yet "punchy", orchestral contribution in a piano concerto.

[Sergeant Rock]

Now here is a superb accompanist for Beethoven concerti!

In the same concert where I heard his fantastic Heldenleben (Strauss) with the Staatskapelle Dresden, he was also accompanying Radu Lupu in Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto.

And even though Lupu's age seemed to show in the slight "rigidity" of his otherwise excellent piano-playing, the accompaniment was one of the best I've heard. Rarely does one hear such a meticulously-crafted, yet "punchy", orchestral contribution in a piano concerto.

That was my impression of him too...and the Alpensinfonie I heard bodes well for his Strauss cycle...one I'll have to add to the Kempe. As Hector and I have pointed out, Luisi's Schmidt cycle is worth having too (the Concerto for Left Hand is the latest addition). Unfortunately it remains pricey.

Sarge

[matti]

Lupu's age seemed to show in the slight "rigidity" of his otherwise excellent piano-playing

Ouch, Lupu is so young. Some pianists of the past were only approaching their prime at his age.

But on the other hand, Lupu has never been famous for acrobatics or pyrotechnical capabilities, his fortes lie elsewhere. Nevertheless, not a nice predicament to be condemned as a senior moment pianist at the tender age of 62!

[Renfield]

Ouch, Lupu is so young. Some pianists of the past were only approaching their prime at his age.

But on the other hand, Lupu has never been famous for acrobatics or pyrotechnical capabilities, his fortes lie elsewhere. Nevertheless, not a nice predicament to be condemned as a senior moment pianist at the tender age of 62!

Indeed.

And he looked every bit as old and tired as his playing felt like, that night... Possibly part of the reason why he's stopped recording?

Of course, it could've simply been a bad night for him: it was the second of two appearances in two consecutive days, and I wasn't in the previous one, to compare. Still, I hope he's alright.


And is the Luisi Alpensinfonie as good as his Heldenleben (which I also heard live in that same concert with Lupu), Sarge? I'm keen on adding another good one to my collection, next to the Karajan and the Wit.


P.S.: I just realised how off-topic I am! Alas, I've yet to hear Jurowski's conducting, and so have little to offer on that subject...