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Best classical recordings...ever!
Mar 20, 2015 at 8:17 AM Post #3,121 of 9,368
bigshot said:
   
I think he's always been overrated. But he has great hair. A lot of classical music reviewers are British, so they tend to champion the conductors they see on a regular basis. I guess it's only natural.
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My main issue with Rattle is that he's been sucking Kožená away from other albums she might have recorded.
 
Mar 20, 2015 at 8:23 AM Post #3,122 of 9,368
rrod said:
   
My main issue with Rattle is that he's been sucking Kožená away from other albums she might have recorded.
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She was an emerging star when I left retail CD for good - now I know why her albums did not grow in number as expected
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...
 
Mar 20, 2015 at 8:57 AM Post #3,124 of 9,368
sh4dowd4ncer said:
  Maybe that is my main reason why I enjoy's his Mahler 2nd: Kožená presence? 
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I haven't heard it, but she is a great singer and has a lovely vocal color for a mezzo. I can imagine her pulling Urlicht off well, given how I like her Wunderhorn recording with Boulez and Gerhaher.
 
Mar 20, 2015 at 3:09 PM Post #3,125 of 9,368
perhapss said:
Incidentally I love Mahler among other "Romantics".

Simon Rattle used to be good too but since he tried turning (due mostly to image problems he was having in Berlin) German, I`ve been constantly disappointed with his work.

In addition I have  theory! It`s an "all too human " theory but I`ll throw it out there:
Being half German and having experienced Germans and their culture ( especially musically but communicatively generally I`ve noticed facial expressions play a HUGE part in the way the German folks convey emotions. I`ve especially noticed this in pub sing-alongs and conducting: German conductors I've seen in concert don`t use facial expression lightly.

Take one look at Rattle`s face in MANY pictures and imprint that upon a good many recordings he`s done in Berlin and let me know what you think!
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Also 1/2 German, Heine/Schwartz, your observation on the importance of facial expression conveying an exclamation point on the verbal or musical message to be conveyed is spot on! The other half has been in the States since 1642, so God only knows what's in the mix!

@Claritas, enjoying Tennstedt's Mahler 2nd at the moment, Rattle is in the box! Loving this orgy of Mahler's 2nd, Tidal is a wonderful window!

Up next, Sibelius's 5th, again all recomendations are welcomed!
 
Mar 20, 2015 at 4:29 PM Post #3,127 of 9,368
sh4dowd4ncer said:
Sibelius 5th tip: Karajan. Both with the Philharmonia and the Berliners.

Karajan's with Philharmonia got a recent brand new remaster.
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Thank you!

@Claritas, Tennstedt's 2nd rocks!
 
Mar 20, 2015 at 8:55 PM Post #3,128 of 9,368
My favorite Sibelius 5th is Kajanus. I've never heard any conductor capture the Finnish nature of the music better than Kajanus. It isn't modern sound though. But I was lucky enough to find some pristine first pressing records to transcribe...
 
Sibelius Symphony No 5 in E flat major
Robert Kajanus / London Philharmonic June 1932
http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/soundingsilence04.mp3
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 12:13 AM Post #3,129 of 9,368
bigshot said:
My favorite Sibelius 5th is Kajanus. I've never heard any conductor capture the Finnish nature of the music better than Kajanus. It isn't modern sound though. But I was lucky enough to find some pristine first pressing records to transcribe...

Sibelius Symphony No 5 in E flat major
Robert Kajanus / London Philharmonic June 1932
http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/soundingsilence04.mp3
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Big Shot, just listened to Kajanus, beautiful, thank you for the recommendation and link!
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 1:18 AM Post #3,130 of 9,368
sh4dowd4ncer said:
  Maybe that is my main reason why I enjoy's his Mahler 2nd: Kožená presence? 
L3000.gif
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Just because our little Headif criticism is maybe a bit negative you should not be discouraged regarding your tastes.
 
Keep in mind:Mr. Rattle didn`t get the job with one of the most coveted orchestras in the world for his hair or eyebrows alone.
He`s clearly doing something right musically.
 
A lot of folks (including some of the world`s  top musicians) hold him in high regard as well.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 1:21 AM Post #3,131 of 9,368
bigshot said:
  My favorite Sibelius 5th is Kajanus. I've never heard any conductor capture the Finnish nature of the music better than Kajanus. It isn't modern sound though. But I was lucky enough to find some pristine first pressing records to transcribe...
 
Sibelius Symphony No 5 in E flat major
Robert Kajanus / London Philharmonic June 1932
http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/soundingsilence04.mp3
Click to expand...


The Kajanus is wonderful indeed.
I`ve heard some cd reissue(not sure who re-issued off the top of my head).
 
I always enjoy your transfers so I`ll take a listen. 
Thanks!
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 1:45 AM Post #3,132 of 9,368
I just listen to the music and try to preserve that. I need to set up my transfer station again.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 7:04 AM Post #3,133 of 9,368
perhapss said:
 
Just because our little Headif criticism is maybe a bit negative you should not be discouraged regarding your tastes.
 
Keep in mind:Mr. Rattle didn`t get the job with one of the most coveted orchestras in the world for his hair or eyebrows alone.
He`s clearly doing something right musically.
 
A lot of folks (including some of the world`s  top musicians) hold him in high regard as well.
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Yep. Sure.  My comment about her was more on the ironic side...
 
I do think indeed that Rattle has some very fine readings.
I had the opportunity to watch him live while I lived in Germany a few years ago: Beethoven`s Pastoral, Carmina Burana (this one became a Live CD) and a few others..
Anyway, I really don`t think he is a Mahlerian as Walter, Kemplerer, Bernstein and so on.
But if you listen to his Planets or The Rite, I do think that are really nice interpretations.
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 7:10 AM Post #3,134 of 9,368
bigshot said:
  My favorite Sibelius 5th is Kajanus. I've never heard any conductor capture the Finnish nature of the music better than Kajanus. It isn't modern sound though. But I was lucky enough to find some pristine first pressing records to transcribe...
 
Sibelius Symphony No 5 in E flat major
Robert Kajanus / London Philharmonic June 1932
http://www.vintageip.com/xfers/soundingsilence04.mp3
Click to expand...


Thanks for posting it!
 
Mar 21, 2015 at 9:58 AM Post #3,135 of 9,368
bigshot said:
   
I think he's always been overrated. But he has great hair. A lot of classical music reviewers are British, so they tend to champion the conductors they see on a regular basis. I guess it's only natural.
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I think this statement says more about you than British reviewers... :wink:
 
The "British" reviewers slate Rattle as much as anyone else if he conducts not to their liking.
 
Rattle has never been a favourite conductor of mine apart from with a few composers that seem to be perfect for his dynamic style. I'm not Mahlers biggest fan but Rattle can make him more interesting than most. I've even got through a whole symphony! Szymanowski and the French impressionists work well too. 
 
I think he did a good job with the Berlin Phil as a whole however, but they are the last orchestra I would have paired with Rattle's overly refined style. Some good recordings and some bad. Can't blame him for taking the job on though... Any conductor would be proud to.  
 
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