Coming Up Live This Week

[Thropplenoggin]

How strange. JLW, you have edited your post and yet no "edited by" message appears. I hope it doesn't appear as if I made the bold type part of your quotation in post #28 up!

Back to the thread, Trio Zimmerman in a Beethoven String Trio tomorrow's Lunchtime Concert. I commend this to the multitudes based on sampling their recent disc of said works.

[BBMmk2]

I love the Symphpony no.3(song of the Night). This is another programme to catch up on iplayer!

[Flosshilde]

...but somehow I can't be bothered. Too many people seem to take a different view as a personal affront, too few engage with me on PRECISE, DETAILED points of musical interpretation. Too much reacting, not enough listening going on.

It seemed to me more like you taking umbrage when people disagreed with you, & you claimed that their comments weren't valid because you were getting superior sound to them on your equipment - even though two of the nay-sayers had made it clear that they were at the Barbican listening in the flesh!

Of course, your description of the Brahms 3 as “very fine, richly mature, mitteleuropean” (which brings to mind strudel with lots of whipped cream) & the description by Simon B as “dark brown oak panelling, big beards, fluffy slippers, a pint of port etc.” could both be right.

[LHC]

If anyone can locate the French TV channel, it might be possible to pick up [effectively] the LSO Live version of the Szymanowski tonight. Unfortunately I don't know which TV channel it was being recorded for.

I believe the complete series of Brahms/Szymanowski concerts are being shown on the Mezzo channel which is available in most European countries, but typically not in the UK. As far as I can tell, these broadcasts are not even available on line in the UK.

[salymap]

It seemed to me more like you taking umbrage when people disagreed with you, & you claimed that their comments weren't valid because you were getting superior sound to them on your equipment - even though two of the nay-sayers had made it clear that they were at the Barbican listening in the flesh!

Of course, your description of the Brahms 3 as “very fine, richly mature, mitteleuropean” (which brings to mind strudel with lots of whipped cream) & the description by Simon B as “dark brown oak panelling, big beards, fluffy slippers, a pint of port etc.” could both be right.

I agree with you Flossie. And Jayne, heat and kitchen come to mind. I've had to contend with a lot both on and off these MBs but everyone is entitled to speak their mind and although your posts are interesting they
do seem to be a mite over-egged at times. Perhaps less is more but don't give us up.

[jayne lee wilson]

I agree with you Flossie. And Jayne, heat and kitchen come to mind. I've had to contend with a lot both on and off these MBs but everyone is entitled to speak their mind and although your posts are interesting they
do seem to be a mite over-egged at times. Perhaps less is more but don't give us up.

Oh, I already have. Mr.Hornspieler can now give you his authoritative comments on Performance unchallenged. Assuming he can find anyone else to keep it going...

As Liberace used to say, observing, with a certain sceptical hauteur, his immediate environment, "Too good for this place..."

[Flosshilde]

Honestly Jayne, I do think that you're going a bit over the top - there should be room for different opinions, & if you get upset when someone disagrees with you then you won't last long anywhere. Saly is right - your analyses of concerts can come across as a bit Stendhallian at times; entertaining and sometimes illuminating, but sometimes rather luxuriant in language. But then, that's you & that's what we expect.

[Thropplenoggin]

Honestly Jayne, I do think that you're going a bit over the top - there should be room for different opinions, & if you get upset when someone disagrees with you then you won't last long anywhere. Saly is right - your analyses of concerts can come across as a bit Stendhallian at times; entertaining and sometimes illuminating, but sometimes rather luxuriant in language. But then, that's you & that's what we expect.

Reminds me of a withering put-down used by Wittgenstein of someone (I forget who): "He reads Somerset-Maugham".

[Flosshilde]

I was thinking of Stendhal Syndrome - rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful - rather than any comparison between Jayne's style & Stendhal's (which I couldn't make, as I haven't read any of the latter's writings).

[Dave2002]

I've been listening to the Brahms 3 again via iPlayer. I don't dislike it as much as I did in the hall, and arguably Gergiev's approach is valid. I have also been comparing other versions, including Walter, Bernstein, Klemperer, Jochum and Toscanini, particularly in the first movement. None are perfect, but Walter and Bernstein had me gripped - even in spite of myself at times. Jochum, from what I heard, is a bit of a disappointment. He conducted one of the most amazing performances of Brahms 1 way back in the 1970s, and I'd hoped his Brahms 3 would be similar. I'm also slightly surprised at the sound from many of the recordings - the strings in particular seem to find playing together to produce a well blended sound hard - it's not only the LSO which has problems. I didn't think the 3rd was such a hard nut to crack - unlike the scherzo of the 4th Symphony, where many performances (including Walter's) are just a scramble for the notes. Toscanini (here with the NBC SO- http://www.napster.co.uk/artist/nbc-...-f-major-op-90) provides some quite surprising and rapid changes in dynamics - reducing the sound level rapidly even in the first minute or so - and he does it in several places throughout the first movement.

I am now finding myself more confused by this, as there have been several gripping performances recorded over the last 100 years - I'm adding Toscanini to the list - and in fairness Gergiev wasn't a complete wash out. There was some good playing from the winds, but the string playing wasn't precise enough - particularly on upward scales - just not all together. Perhaps using a cocktail stick doesn't help the string section to keep together. Toscanini gets much closer to a consistent sound.

I have a hunch that Abbado's recording of the 3rd may be one of the best, but I've not heard enough of it to be sure.

[Thropplenoggin]

I have a hunch that Abbado's recording of the 3rd may be one of the best, but I've not heard enough of it to be sure.

I don't know Brahms, so can't comment on much of your interesting post. However, have you considered using Spotify or Qobuz? A great way to sample recordings you don't own (assuming that it's on there! )

Brahms 3/Abbado, BPO is on Qobuz.

[Flosshilde]

The Guardian review of the concerts (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...gergiev-review) suggests that Brahms isn't quite Gergiev's bag, & that he's happier with the Szymanowski element of the programmes. Of the Brahm's 3rd the reviewer (no by-line, just a photograph - are we supposed to be able to recognise Guardian reviewers?) says "wayward balance and uncertain momentum marred an account that veered towards the undistinguished." (he thought the 4th was better).

[Dave2002]

I don't know Brahms, so can't comment on much of your interesting post. However, have you considered using Spotify or Qobuz? A great way to sample recordings you don't own (assuming that it's on there! )

Brahms 3/Abbado, BPO is on Qobuz.

I have indeed tried Spotify and Napster, but not Qobuz. Most of these sites only have the 2nd or 3rd movement of the 3rd by Abbado, not the whole symphony - unless they've hidden the links somewhere where I can't find them. Does Qobuz have the whole thing?

[Thropplenoggin]

I have indeed tried Spotify and Napster, but not Qobuz. Most of these sites only have the 2nd or 3rd movement of the 3rd by Abbado, not the whole symphony - unless they've hidden the links somewhere where I can't find them. Does Qobuz have the whole thing?

Assuming it is the one pictured below on DG, then yes, all four movements are available.

[teamsaint]

I don't know Brahms, so can't comment on much of your interesting post. However, have you considered using Spotify or Qobuz? A great way to sample recordings you don't own (assuming that it's on there! )

Brahms 3/Abbado, BPO is on Qobuz.

Well there is a world of wonderful music waiting for you, throppers !!
get stuck in. I can't go too long without listening to some Brahms. You never know, there might be some good advice on where to start from MB members !!