I've been using Qobuz to road-test a few of the available period instrument performances (no Brüggen, alas) and thought I'd share my reactions with a view to getting the feedback of other members. I skipped the pioneering period instrument brigade (Hogwood, Gardiner and Norrington) out of personal prejudice against their "clattery" or "too lean" approach. Surely 'period performance' has evolved since then, right? And I never warmed to Harnocourt's HIP-ish compromise (but perhaps that was more Harnoncourt than his compromise!*)
I'd like to settle on one cycle to buy. Anyway, here are my thoughts:
1) Jos van Immerseel. I was drawn to this by the punchy timpani, what felt like 'right' tempi, and a sense of cohesion between instruments. It feels fresh and musical, not breakneck and lightweight, and seems to be in the 'heroic'/Romantic tradition of Klemperer et al, in terms of digging out emotional climaxes. My one worry is, though, the hit and miss nature between symphonies. The first movement of the 9th has real weight, but the opening of the Eroica feels far too lightweight to have any impact. It almost feels like a smaller orchestra playing!
2) David Zinman. The other day, my wife and I watched the abomination that is the Andrew Davies 'Emma'. We had the impression of watching a show with the "fast forward" button it. Listening to the opening of Zinman's Eroica, I was struck by the same sensation. There's fast and then there's Benny Hill theme music fast.
3) Emmanuel Krivine. There seems to be too much space between instruments, if that makes sense. A sort of lack of cohesion in orchestration or effect of the recording, I'm not sure.** And that gut-string sound has never sounded less appealing.
4) Bruno Weil/Tafelmusik. A cycle in progress. But this sounds very good to me. Enough weight in the orchestra to have an impact when needed but light enough for new details to come out. Lovely balanced recording, great sound. The Eroica has recently been released and can be streamed on Qobuz.
Bearing in mind my parameters, are there any new(ish) period instrument recordings I've missed? What is your take on the one's sampled thus far? I'm after a cycle to live with, where the novelty won't quickly wear off.
Over to you.
*I'm going to add Jan Willem de Vriend and Paavo Järvi to this list once I've had a listen. It's on Qobus. He does the modern orchestra/period brass/period performance-style thing in up-to-date sound.
** In a review, someone describes this as 'compartmentalisation'.
I'd like to settle on one cycle to buy. Anyway, here are my thoughts:
1) Jos van Immerseel. I was drawn to this by the punchy timpani, what felt like 'right' tempi, and a sense of cohesion between instruments. It feels fresh and musical, not breakneck and lightweight, and seems to be in the 'heroic'/Romantic tradition of Klemperer et al, in terms of digging out emotional climaxes. My one worry is, though, the hit and miss nature between symphonies. The first movement of the 9th has real weight, but the opening of the Eroica feels far too lightweight to have any impact. It almost feels like a smaller orchestra playing!
2) David Zinman. The other day, my wife and I watched the abomination that is the Andrew Davies 'Emma'. We had the impression of watching a show with the "fast forward" button it. Listening to the opening of Zinman's Eroica, I was struck by the same sensation. There's fast and then there's Benny Hill theme music fast.
3) Emmanuel Krivine. There seems to be too much space between instruments, if that makes sense. A sort of lack of cohesion in orchestration or effect of the recording, I'm not sure.** And that gut-string sound has never sounded less appealing.
4) Bruno Weil/Tafelmusik. A cycle in progress. But this sounds very good to me. Enough weight in the orchestra to have an impact when needed but light enough for new details to come out. Lovely balanced recording, great sound. The Eroica has recently been released and can be streamed on Qobuz.
Bearing in mind my parameters, are there any new(ish) period instrument recordings I've missed? What is your take on the one's sampled thus far? I'm after a cycle to live with, where the novelty won't quickly wear off.
Over to you.
*I'm going to add Jan Willem de Vriend and Paavo Järvi to this list once I've had a listen. It's on Qobus. He does the modern orchestra/period brass/period performance-style thing in up-to-date sound.
** In a review, someone describes this as 'compartmentalisation'.
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