Maazel's key recordings (recent article)

[gggg...@gmail.com]

http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-key-recordings

[Oscar]

A list of Maazel's 'five key recordings' and no mention of his Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet with Cleveland Orchestra or early Mendelssohn Italian and Reformation Symphonies? And the new Philharmonia Mahler set over VPO? Wagner Ring Without Words?? Enough already.


From The Guardian, July 14, 2014 http://tinyurl.com/peuuste

<< Tom Service selects his five essential recordings made by the US conductor, who directed many of the top orchestras in Europe and the United States -- including Cleveland, Paris and Munich -- for more than 40 years. Maazel died on 13 July.

1. Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Vienna Philharmonic)
Huge sound, huge thrills, and a hugely important cycle that brought Sibelius to the centre of the Austrian's repertoire in the 1960s. 1.

2. Mahler: Symphonies (Philharmonia Orchestra)
Maazel's last cycle of Mahler's symphonies; listen and discover what you think of Maazel's interpretative insights and idiosyncrasies.

3. Mozart: Don Giovanni
Maazel conducted the performance for Joseph Losey's iconic 1979 film of Mozart's opera, with Ruggero Raimondi, Kiri te Kanawa and Teresa Berganza among the cast.

4. Maazel: 1984
Maazel's own magnum opus, his opera on Orwell's 1984. Did the achievements of Maazel the composer match his achievements as a conductor? (Read our review of the Royal Opera House's 2005 production)

5. Wagner: The Ring Without Words
A performance from Toyko in 2012 of Maazel's own virtuosic orchestral distillation of Wagner's Ring Cycle into an hour and 20 minutes. >>

[Willem Orange]

The Romeo and Juliet is still my favorite recording of the piece - sound and playing are magnificent and he captures the hard edges of the piece.

[tomdeacon]

<gggg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-key-recordings

I must say that I was quite unaware that Maazel had rerecorded the Mahler
symphonies. And with the Philharmonia Orchestra, to boit!

The label is Signum, a tiny indie. I guess that's the explanation.

--
TD

[Christopher Webber]

On 16/07/2014 13:10, tomdeacon wrote:
> The label is Signum, a tiny indie.

"Having started the label in 1997 Signum now boasts a catalogue of over
300 titles and many of which are award winners, nominees or five star
review recipients from around the world.

The small Signum team strives to provide a first class service at all
times with clients, artists, suppliers and colleagues. Signum works with
new and emerging artists and composers through to established artists,
making available much-loved areas of repertoire as well as previously
unheard, innovative recordings."

300 CD and DVD titles, most of great interest and quality.

So not exactly "tiny" - and putting the tired, so-called "majors" to
shame. Signum are a typical example of the style of company - often
overlooked in doom-laden "mainstream" surveys - that is keeping the
recording world as fresh, varied and exciting as it has ever been.

http://www.signumrecords.com

... makes interesting browsing.

[wkasimer]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 8:10:34 AM UTC-4, tomdeacon wrote:

> I must say that I was quite unaware that Maazel had rerecorded the Mahler symphonies. And with the Philharmonia Orchestra, to boit! The label is Signum, a tiny indie. I guess that's the explanation.<

Perhaps if you spent less time spewing bile on RMCR, you'd be more aware of the outside world.

Bill

[jrsnfld]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 1:41:43 AM UTC-7, Oscar wrote:
> A list of Maazel's 'five key recordings' and no mention of his Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet with Cleveland Orchestra or early Mendelssohn Italian and Reformation Symphonies? And the new Philharmonia Mahler set over VPO? Wagner Ring Without Words?? Enough already.>

This is not "Maazel's greatest" but instead, "5 Key Recordings to Raise Questions About Maazel's Legacy":

> 1. Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Vienna Philharmonic)

Was Maazel all about sound and virtuosic thrill, or did he have something to say about the music?

> 2. Mahler: Symphonies (Philharmonia Orchestra)

Was Maazel getting more perverse with age?
>
> 3. Mozart: Don Giovanni
Was Maazel a great opera conductor? And why record so little repertoire pre-1800?

> 4. Maazel: 1984
Was Maazel a significant composer?

> 5. Wagner: The Ring Without Words

Is the lack of complete Wagner operas (the Bayreuth Lohengrin doesn't count!) the biggest hole in his commercial recorded legacy?

--Jeff

[jrsnfld]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 1:41:43 AM UTC-7, Oscar wrote:

> And the new Philharmonia Mahler set over VPO?

I don't think that Philharmonia Mahler is a "set" quite yet--no sign of 7-9. Perhaps that's to be released soon?

When that happens, Maazel will have recorded three complete cycles. What's most impressive is that some people feel a need to own all three.

--Jeff

[ljk...@aol.com]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 2:43:50 AM UTC-5, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-key-recordings

His Symphony of Psalms is the best IMO:

http://www.amazon.com/Stravinsky-Symphony-Movements-Soldiers-Psalms/dp/B00000DHJ8

[ljk...@aol.com]

His Le Mer, Jeux, Nocturnes disc is also quite something:

http://www.amazon.com/Claude-Debussy-Mer-Jeux-Nocturnes/dp/B0013AWXJ2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405523132&sr=8-3&keywords=maazel+debussy

[Willem Orange]

He conducted a very good Ring at Bayreuth in 1968 - available privately

[boombox]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 10:38:23 AM UTC-4, jrsnfld wrote:

> On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 1:41:43 AM UTC-7, Oscar wrote:
>
> > A list of Maazel's 'five key recordings' and no mention of his Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet with Cleveland Orchestra or early Mendelssohn Italian and Reformation Symphonies? And the new Philharmonia Mahler set over VPO? Wagner Ring Without Words?? Enough already.>
>
>
>
> This is not "Maazel's greatest" but instead, "5 Key Recordings to Raise Questions About Maazel's Legacy":
>
>
>
> > 1. Sibelius: Complete Symphonies (Vienna Philharmonic)
>
> Was Maazel all about sound and virtuosic thrill, or did he have something to say about the music?

an enigma we'll never unwrap now.

>
>
> > 2. Mahler: Symphonies (Philharmonia Orchestra)
>
> Was Maazel getting more perverse with age?

no, I think he was pretty consistent, maybe mellowing a little.

>
> >
>
> > 3. Mozart: Don Giovanni
>
> Was Maazel a great opera conductor? And why record so little repertoire pre-1800?

not based on the slim sample file we have.
as to the latter, i can only imagine because it doesn't mesh with the image of the heroic conductor he saw in himself. kind of glad i never heard him do that kind of rep, though.

>
>
>
> > 4. Maazel: 1984
>
> Was Maazel a significant composer?

right up there with koussevitzky, kubelik and skrowaczewski

>
>
>
> > 5. Wagner: The Ring Without Words
>
> Is the lack of complete Wagner operas (the Bayreuth Lohengrin doesn't count!) the biggest hole in his commercial recorded legacy?

maybe. over all the years of cringing in cleveland and nodding off in new york, i'd say the walkure i saw him do at the met a few years ago is one of my fonder memories of maazel.
>
>
>
> --Jeff

[wkasimer]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 10:42:18 AM UTC-4, jrsnfld wrote:

> When that happens, Maazel will have recorded three complete cycles. <

Has the SOdBR cycle ever been issued commercially? I know that it was broadcast.

Bill

[wkasimer]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 11:27:27 AM UTC-4, wkasimer wrote:

> Has the SOdBR cycle ever been issued commercially? <

Never mind - now I realize that you were talking about the NYPO cycle.

Bill

[jrsnfld]

> He conducted a very good Ring at Bayreuth in 1968 - available privately

In other words your answer is...?

--Jeff

[Herman]

not available

[Willem Orange]

Poor Herman - still battling windmills. That is when he's not replying to postings that never actually occurred - probably a result of severe loneliness. Or whatever - I'll leave it to Kraft-Ebbing to sort it out.

[Herman]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 7:22:47 PM UTC+2, Willem Orange wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 1:16:13 PM UTC-4, Herman wrote:

> Poor Herman - still battling windmills. <snip> Or whatever - I'll leave it to Kraft-Ebbing to sort it out.

Speaking of windmills, Krafft-Ebbing died over a hundred years ago - 1902, you may not have noticed - so he ain't sorting out anymore.

[jrsnfld]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 10:16:13 AM UTC-7, Herman wrote:

> > > > Is the lack of complete Wagner operas (the Bayreuth Lohengrin doesn't count!) the biggest hole in his commercial recorded legacy?

> > > He conducted a very good Ring at Bayreuth in 1968 - available privately

> > In other words your answer is...?

> not available

Or perhaps it is available privately. Either way, the non-answer tells the story: No, it's not the biggest hole in his discography, though it's significant. Rather, I think the paucity of contemporary music recordings looms larger. I have a few recordings by Maazel in this area--Schuman, Balada, etc. But there could have been much more.

--Jeff

[jrsnfld]

I don't think it's been released. I was just listening to part of it the other day off a broadcast.

--Jeff

[jrsnfld]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 8:24:09 AM UTC-7, boombox wrote:

> > > 3. Mozart: Don Giovanni

> > Was Maazel a great opera conductor? And why record so little repertoire pre-1800?

> ...i can only imagine because it doesn't mesh with the image of the heroic conductor he saw in himself. kind of glad i never heard him do that kind of rep, though.

I vaguely remember liking his Bach (such as the B minor Mass on Philips). But memory is unreliable.

--Jeff

[Willem Orange]

Yes the entire 1968 cycle conducted by him at Bayreuth was broadcast and, as with many of the Bayreuth broadcasts, was preserved and has been traded and shared. And very good it is.

[jrsnfld]

We know it's shared and preserved; his Bayreuth Lohengrin has actually been in stores. Video of a Tristan has been circulated too.

But the question was instead, whether or not the lack of full Wagner operas is the biggest hole in his commercial discography. So...what do you think?

--Jeff

[Willem Orange]

Whether its the "biggest hole" (as a Wagnerian I would say the absence is significant but of course others may not care that much) - all I can say is that the conducting is so good I wish it was available as a commercial issue but since Bayreuth is so tight regarding its official issues I'm not sure I see one coming even as a memorial issue.

[Oscar]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 7:38:23 AM, jrsnfld wrote:
>
> This is not "Maazel's greatest" but instead, "5 Key Recordings to Raise Questions About Maazel's Legacy":

Okay, fair enough, and I appreciate your incisive commentary, which as usual is edifying. All I saw, however, was 'Tom Service selects his five essential recordings made by the US conductor.'

[Precious Roy]

Key: meaning I haven't sold these off:

Romeo & Juliet (Cleveland)
Porgy & Bess
Sibelius symphonies (Vienna)

Someone said his Rimsky Easter Overture was the best, that disc is arriving today. Haven't heard.

Everyone likes his Ravel operas disc but I recuse myself, don't like the music much.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

Concerning Ravel, didn't he record an outstanding DAPHNIS... Suites 1 & 2?

[wanwan]

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:43:50 PM UTC-10, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-key-recordings

Ravel: operas ORTF DG
Respighi: pines Berlin DG
Prokofiev: Romeo Cleveland Decca
Tchaikovsky: 4th symphony VPO Decca
Rimsky: Capriccio Berlin DG

Ravel: orchestral works VPO RCA (not so much for interpretation as for the brilliant sounds he gets out of the VPO)

I think his strong point is bringing out the best in orchestral playing out of his orchestras.

I don't care for his Ring without Words. Rather dull in concept & reading.

Never could get into his performance of Berio's Un re in Ascolto.
----------
Eric

[Terry]

In article <e6e3e864-6d55-4916...@googlegroups.com>,
<gggg...@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-
> key-recordings

Some of these choices seem bizarre to me, so it's time to weigh in with
my list:

Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes, Iberia - Cleveland Orchestra

Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe; Debussy: Jeux - Cleveland Orchestra
Ravel: L'enfant et les sortileges

Respighi: Pines Of Rome, Etc / Maazel, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Sibelius: The Symphonies - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet - Cleveland Orchestra

Beethoven: Fidelio - Nilsson, McCracken etc.

Berlioz: Harold In Italy, Roman Carnival - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Rachmaninov: Symphonies No 1-3 - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

DGG Concerts 2006/2007 - Ravel, Stravinsky - NYPO

Stravinsky: Soldier�s Tale; Symphony in 3 Movements; Symphony of Psalms
- Bavarian Radio Orchestra

It's also easy to overlook Maazel's qualities as an accompanist. One
could easily come up with a very fine list of concertos with him at the
helm.

[Francis Leonard]

I'd add -

Bruckner: Symphony no 8 - BPO (EMI)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no 4 - Cleveland (Telarc)

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique - Cleveland (CBS)

Sibelius: Symphony no 6 - Pittsburgh (Sony)

Strauss: Alpine Symphony - BRSO (BMG)

Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony - Pittsburgh (Sony)

Mahler: Symphony 3 - Philharmonia (Signum)

[richard...@gmail.com]

Absolutely. Start with the Brahms PC2 with Richter. Unparalleled!

[gggg gggg]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 12:43:50 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> http://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/jul/14/lorin-maazel-five-key-recordings

(2022 Y. upload):

"Preview: The Mysterious Maestro Maazel"