A Matter of Preference

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  • Ventilhorn
    • Jan 2025

    A Matter of Preference

    In the comparative pre-Christmas drought of live orchestral concerts, I’ve been following the televised concerts ob Sky Arts2 by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and it occurs to me that there has always been discussion about the comparison between that band and the equally famous and long-established Vienna Philharmonic, so I thought a little survey might be interesting.
    “Horses for Courses” is a well-known maxim, so I’m going to suggest an imaginery dilemma for you to make your choice:

    You are offered tickets to attend an identical programme on the same night, played by both orchestras in neutral locations.

    Which one would you choose to attend if the programme was as follows? …

    Beethoven Overture Egmont
    Brahms Piano Concert Nº 2**
    Bruckner Symphony Nº 4 “The Romantic” (Programme A)

    Or, alternatively, if the programme was as follows:

    Dvorak Overture “Amid Nature”
    Beethoven Piano Concerto Nº 4**
    Mahler Symphony Nº 4 (Programme B)

    ** Assuming a top quality soloist in either case
    Let us also assume that the conductor would be the same – and not either orchestra’s chief conductor

    So you may state two preferences; one for programme “A” and one for programme “B”

    Just a bit of fun, really. So why not have a go?

    VH
  • salymap
    Late member
    • Nov 2010
    • 5969

    #2
    If I could be taken by magic carpet I would choose B with Vienna Philharmonic. I have only heard both orchestras on radio/TV and never live but the slightly more relaxed playing of the Vienna orchestra and the programme with Dvorak, Mahler and Beethoven appeals to me more that A, where I would ask to be excused and have tickets for something else at a later date, preferably with something else instead of the Bruckner.

    Comment

    • Petrushka
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 12329

      #3
      I'd happily attend either programme by either orchestra, though prigramme A looks a bit stamina-sapping. Replace the Brahms with a late Mozart Piano Concerto and you're on. For me, the VPO win hands down every time in this repertoire and if Bernard Haitink was on the podium I'd be first in the queue. Better than either, though, would be the Concertgebouw. Last night I played a CD of Bruckner 4 in a live 1975 performance by the Concertgebouw under Eugen Jochum and I doubt if any orccestra in the world could match the sheer beauty of tone produced here, not even the VPO. Quite magnificent! If anyone wants to catch as perfect a Bruckner 4 as you will get this side of the pearly gates it's on the Tahra label (TAH4029).
      "The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink

      Comment

      • Auferstehen2

        #4
        A truly fantastic question HS - well done!

        For me, I would choose the BPO for “A”, because the horns are better for that colossal ending to the first movement of the Bruckner (although you would know more about that than me), and the VPO for “B” because the Viennese strings are warmer and more passionate for Mahler than the Berliners - but I’m probably talking a load of tosh as usual!

        Mario

        Comment

        • Roehre

          #5
          Originally posted by Petrushka View Post
          I'd happily attend either programme by either orchestra, though prigramme A looks a bit stamina-sapping. Replace the Brahms with a late Mozart Piano Concerto and you're on. For me, the VPO win hands down every time in this repertoire and if Bernard Haitink was on the podium I'd be first in the queue. Better than either, though, would be the Concertgebouw.
          I'd join you, Petrushka

          Comment

          • johnb
            Full Member
            • Mar 2007
            • 2903

            #6
            Petrushka mentioning Haitink reminded me of something he said in an interview, comparing the VPO and BPO. It was something like "The VPO is the more feminine of the two, even though it is male dominated - you never have to ask the BPO twice to play loud, often you have to rein them in."

            For me the choice would be the VPO playing B.

            Comment

            • Ventilhorn

              #7
              Originally posted by Petrushka View Post
              I'd happily attend either programme by either orchestra, though prigramme A looks a bit stamina-sapping. Replace the Brahms with a late Mozart Piano Concerto and you're on. For me, the VPO win hands down every time in this repertoire and if Bernard Haitink was on the podium I'd be first in the queue. Better than either, though, would be the Concertgebouw.
              Sorry, Petrushka and Rhoere that I did not make myself clear in the OP. You have to choose between the BPO and the VPO for either of the two programmes. So you could choose either of the two orchestras for both or one of the programmes for each.

              Sorry, but you can't change any item and as they are both playing the stated programmes A and B on the same day, you must decide which programme you would like to attend by which orchestra.

              That doesn't really make it any clearer, does it. Let's say that programme A takes place on 5th December and programme B takes place a week later. You have tickets for both.

              VH

              PS: Sorry, but the Concertgebouw is not available on those dates and neither are any other of your favourite orchestras.

              Comment

              • Petrushka
                Full Member
                • Nov 2010
                • 12329

                #8
                Sorry, VH. To return to your original scenario I did express a preference for the VPO and my preferred programme would be B. Mario is right about the VPO strings in the Mahler 4 and that tips the balance for me.
                Last edited by Petrushka; 25-09-11, 18:53.
                "The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink

                Comment

                • Barbirollians
                  Full Member
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 11759

                  #9
                  Brahms 2 and Bruckner 4 - a bit indigestible for me unless I can have the late Emil Gilels and Jochum with the BPO!

                  For the latter concert the VPO and Barenboim at the piano with Barbirolli on the podium

                  If they have to be alive !- latter concert VPO/Abbado with Pires - the former Kovacevich with Sir Colin Davis or Haitink

                  Comment

                  • Roehre

                    #10
                    Though neither programme would be my first choice, I'd go for Beethoven-Brahms-Bruckner by the VPO

                    Comment

                    • bluestateprommer
                      Full Member
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 3022

                      #11
                      My choice is purely on musical grounds and not the orchestras in question, namely I go for Program B, for no other reason than I can't stand Bruckner symphonies and will take Mahler over Bruckner any day. (I'll try Bruckner symphonies live, and have done so with 7 of them, but that doesn't mean that I like the music.)

                      BTW, do we get to choose the soprano for Mahler 4? If so, I nominate Miah Persson .

                      Comment

                      • EnemyoftheStoat
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 1136

                        #12
                        Do I have to go?

                        Comment

                        • Dave2002
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2010
                          • 18045

                          #13
                          I'd choose the VPO in both A and B, though the choice of conductor might sway me slightly.

                          Comment

                          • Osborn

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Barbirollians View Post
                            If they have to be alive !- latter concert VPO/Abbado with Pires...
                            For exquisite touch & breathtaking cantabile, MJP is unrivalled but neither of the BPO or VPO would match her. She needs the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (or Zurich Tonhalle, as at the proms) & I'd be the first to buy a ticket. Someone else can hear the Grand Prix Lorries instead of me.

                            Comment

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