On Nov 24, 9:27 am, Thornhill <
seth.l...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 23, 3:27 pm, M forever <
ms1...@gmail.com> wrote:
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> > On Nov 23, 3:10 pm, Thornhill <
seth.l...@gmail.com> wrote:
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> > > On Nov 23, 10:16 am, M forever <
ms1...@gmail.com> wrote:
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> > > > On Nov 22, 3:03 pm, Dufus <
steveha...@gmail.com> wrote:
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> > > > > On Oct 15, 1:42 pm, "Gerard" <
ghendri-nospam_k...@hotmail.com> wrote:
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> > > > > Telegraph review :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/classicalcdreviews/8898747/B...
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> > > > Rattle recorded hisBeethovensymphonies in Vienna, not in Berlin (he
> > > > did record Fidelio with the BP though), but apart from this small
> > > > detail which the review got wrong but which isn't all that relevant in
> > > > this context, I pretty much agree with the review, after having
> > > > listened to the set quite extensively over the past week. There is a
> > > > nervous energy and tension in the music making, a plasticity to the
> > > > soundscapes, and a compelling inner logic to the wayChaillyshapes
> > > > and fits together all the details which is quite fascinating to listen
> > > > to. Now and then, I actually had that rare feeling as if I was
> > > > listening to the music "for the first time", but not because of random
> > > > gimmicky stuff (like Pletnev in his cycle), but because it is often so
> > > > convincing. Like the first movement of the 9th which is a really
> > > > stormy voyage here, not majestically plodding along. Now and then, I
> > > > feltChaillycouldn't always make the generally relatively quick tempi
> > many passages inBeethoven'ssymphonies which "prove" that the
> > orchestration works very well but was definitely written with the kind
> > of instruments and the size of orchestra that was typical in
> >Beethoven'sday in mind. Not a big deal, just a small detail that I
> > wish could have been realized a little better, in this case, by the
> > brass hitting the note forte but going back immediately to "let
> > through" the woodwinds. Or simply doubling the woodwinds. There is
> > nothing "wrong" with that. It was done inBeethoven'stime, too, when
> > they had a large string section.
> > But maybe I am nitpicking because there are other moments where the
> > balance works extremely well. For instance, the famous "whooping"
> > woodwind passage in the first tutti of 9/ii where, going back to
> > Wagner, many conductors assign the line in the woodwinds to the horns,
> > too, arguing thatBeethovenwould have done so had he had valve horns
> > in his day.Chaillyhere manages to stay true to the original
> > orchestration but he takes the strings down one dynamic notch, so the
> > woodwind come through very well here.
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> I only had a chance to listen to the 5th symphony on my audio system
> before I left for Thanksgiving -- I listened to the cycle twice
> through on my iPod while traveling. Some I'm hesitant to pass any
> judgement on the sonics.
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> BecauseChaillyis using a full string section, I'm not surprised to
> hear you say that the winds don't come through as well as the should
> -- that kinda goes with the territory.
He could have doubled the woodwinds though which was actually common
practice in Beethoven's time, too. I don't think it's a big "problem",
but there are moments, as in 5/i when there is some interplay between
winds and strings that the balance is just a little off.
> But from my iPod listening, I
> don't think the sonics detract from the performances.
>
> One thing that did strike me about the sound when I was listening to
> the 5th on my audio was that the timpani did come across a bit booming
> with too much reverb.
I don't think reverb is the problem. The bass region and the timpani
are a little underdefined by the recording in general, a little soft
and mushy, and when the player uses softer sticks as he apparently
does in 5/i, the result lacks definition a little. In Coriolan or 5/
iv, he uses harder sticks and the timpani come across much clearer,
with a firm core to the tone rather than the boomy sound in 5/i.
That's probably because Decca wanted to make the recordings sound
"warmer" - the Gewandhaus has a very clean and clear, "glassy"
acoustic which makes the sound very transparent - you can hear pretty
much everything in live concerts - which doesn't give the sound a warm
halo like the Concertgebouw or Musikverein, and that can be difficult
to record because it can sound too bright on recordings, similar to
the Philharmonie in Berlin. Maybe that also explains the wind balance.
It was probably better in the hall. I guess one can't fault Decca too
much here either. Better this than monkeying around with the balances
at the mixer too much, I guess.
In any case, these are only small "complaints". Just finished
listening to the 8th which is a breathtakingly spectacular performance
in every respect. The horn and clarinets in the trio are phenomenal.
Every musical detail is clearly and meaningfully shaped, and how well
the orchestra articulates and phrases even at the breakneck speed of
the finale is simply stunning. Chailly also makes the second movement
work really well. Note how he has the 2nd violins and violins with
their pizzicato "comment" on the main theme at the beginning, and when
it returns later, without gimmickingly highlighting the accompaniment.
The whole performance from start to finish is full of such fine
detail. This is probably one of the best 8ths I have ever heard.