Michael Gielen has died, aged 91

[mahlerei]

A very fine Mahlerian. Some good things in SWR's Michael Gielen Edition, too.

[Bryn]

Sad news, his age notwithstanding. The whole of that SWR Michael Gielen Edition is well worth getting, as are his many other performances on record. A grossly undersung hero of contemporary music thoughout his career, too.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A very fine Mahlerian. Some good things in SWR's Michael Gielen Edition, too.

Sad news, his age notwithstanding. The whole of that SWR Michael Gielen Edition is well worth getting, as are his many other performances on record. A grossly undersung hero contemporary music thoughout his career, too.

- Terribly sad news - a great conductor.

[Richard Barrett]

Not only great, but greatly underrated. I can think of few if any conductors I prefer to hear in Bartók, Stravinsky, the Second Viennese School and Mahler, let alone more recent repertoire. I hope he had a chance to enjoy his retirement before leaving us. I'm glad to have had a chance to see him conduct a few times, in London and Donaueschingen.

[jayne lee wilson]

Wonderful artist who has given me hours of listening pleasures on Radio 3, CD and stream...

Thinking no more than once - a Bruckner 3rd and 8th, a Mahler 3rd and 10th, the Schubert Rosamunde interspersed with the Webern Op.6, much Bartok and Stravinsky....
The SWR Connection is, or was, a richly rewarding one. I hope it continues long, however the orchestras may change....

[edashtav]

A real enthusiast for contemporary music and a conductor who helped me to comprehend countless scores. Irreplaceable.

[Bryn]

Wonderful artist who has given me hours of listening pleasures on Radio 3, CD and stream...

Thinking no more than once - a Bruckner 3rd and 8th, a Mahler 3rd and 10th, the Schubert Rosamunde interspersed with the Webern Op.6, much Bartok and Stravinsky....
The SWR Connection is, or was, a richly rewarding one. I hope it continues long, however the orchestras may change....

And a conductor not afraid to adjust his viewpoint. Having for many years stuck to only conducting the Adagio of Mahler's 10th, he eventually came round to recognising the validity of performing a Cooke realisation and went on to perfrom and record it.

[silvestrione]

For some reason I still have in my drawer the ticket to 'Music of 8 Decades', BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted Michael Gielen, RFH, 28th October 1983. Heinrich Schiff in the Zimmermann Cello Concerto, and the rest of the programme, forgotten! Must have been a special occasion. Something choral in the second half, I think.

[BBMmk2]

Sad news, his age notwithstanding. The whole of that SWR Michael Gielen Edition is well worth getting, as are his many other performances on record. A grossly undersung hero of contemporary music thoughout his career, too.

I saw those on Spotify today. They do look rather enticing! RIP

[Pulcinella]

Not only great, but greatly underrated. I can think of few if any conductors I prefer to hear in Bartók, Stravinsky, the Second Viennese School and Mahler, let alone more recent repertoire. I hope he had a chance to enjoy his retirement before leaving us. I'm glad to have had a chance to see him conduct a few times, in London and Donaueschingen.

To my shame, I didn't know of him till you mentioned the Bartok and Stravinsky box set.
Another reason to blame you for an adverse effect on my bank balance, but to be grateful for the introduction to some great music making.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

For some reason I still have in my drawer the ticket to 'Music of 8 Decades', BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted Michael Gielen, RFH, 28th October 1983. Heinrich Schiff in the Zimmermann Cello Concerto, and the rest of the programme, forgotten! Must have been a special occasion. Something choral in the second half, I think.

Ligeti's Requiem, silv - the Zimmermann was preceded by Verkarte Nacht

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio3/1983-10-28#at-19.30

[silvestrione]

Ligeti's Requiem, silv - the Zimmermann was preceded by Verkarte Nacht

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedule...10-28#at-19.30

Ah yes! I remember enjoying the concerto, but nothing about the Ligeti, I'm afraid.

Thanks for digging that up.

[Bryn]

Ah yes! I remember enjoying the concerto, but nothing about the Ligeti, I'm afraid.

Thanks for digging that up.

Not a 2001* junkie, then.

* as in Kubrick.

[gurnemanz]

I didn't know his work nearly well enough and made sone amends this afternoon listening to the Mahler song cycles on Spoty following the prompt above, finishing appropriately with Der Abschied from Das Lied von der Erde. Beautifully done. RIP

[Bryn]

I didn't know his work nearly well enough and made sone amends this afternoon listening to the Mahler song cycles on Spoty following the prompt above, finishing appropriately with Der Abschied from Das Lied von der Erde. Beautifully done. RIP

Did you note that the male and female songs in that issue of Das Lied von der Erde were recorded a decade apart? Not that immediately obvious to the ear, is it?