BaL 24.10.15 - Mozart: Symphony no. 36 in C K.425 "Linz"

[visualnickmos]

That's interesting. I shall have another listen to the Linz and see if I can see it as a work of supreme genius, and get back to you.

I think the BaL programme perfectly demonstrated that this work is completely dependent on who's 'doing it' as to whether it sounds like a dog's dinner or not. Or rather, more realistically, how it's being done. Also - the range of different approaches, size of orchestras, speeds, enhancements, the way it's recorded, etc - I could go on, but you get my point. The versions played were really very well-chosen to get this across, I thought. The presenter also pointed out that one's own personal taste comes into play as well. A sort of 'something for everyone' approach. I do like Klemperer's recording very much. Others will baulk at it, for example.

I always wonder why it is that with some works in the recorded classical oeuvre, it's hard to find a duff one, and with other some works it's hard to spot a winner.......

[gurnemanz]

To get into this I decided to play the four versions I have on CD - Bernstein, Walter + rehearsal disc, Karajan/BPO, Pinnock. Most enjoyable were Bernstein and Pinnock and I'm not rushing to buy another one. I dug out my Robert Simpson "The Symphony" (cost me 8/6 in 1966). Hans Keller does Mozart. For him the Linz has "brilliance matched by depth" and "amongst the most elatingly urgent melodies Mozart ever wrote".

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

183 = 173dB even

That's a bit too loud!

[Roehre]

That's a bit too loud!

like 747

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks, too, for mentioning the second half repeats - I'd missed RW if he commented on them. Maybe I might indulge, after all!

Now then; don't go spoiling it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Now then; don't go spoiling it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Listening again to the broadcast, I find heavy plodding minuets rather difficult to take. On the other hand, slow movements taken too fast means the music doesn't really have a chance to breath. Thankfully, the OCD metronome watchers have no written support, freeing up the conductors.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Listening again to the broadcast, I find heavy plodding minuets rather difficult to take. On the other hand, slow movements taken too fast means the music doesn't really have a chance to breath. Thankfully, the OCD metronome watchers have no written support, freeing up the conductors.

Well - there are the independent Metronome marks that Czerny, Hummel, and (to a lesser extent) Beethoven provided for Mozart's Piano works, which were based on their memories of the composer's playing, and which are remarkably consistent. These give the members of the Orchestra of Considerate Demonstration plenty of evidence that will probably give metrophobes nightmares.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well - there are the independent Metronome marks that Czerny, Hummel, and (to a lesser extent) Beethoven provided for Mozart's Piano works, which were based on their memories of the composer's playing, and which are remarkably consistent. These give the members of the Orchestra of Considerate Demonstration plenty of evidence that will probably give metrophobes nightmares.

Czerny must have been a remarkable baby assimilating, in the first 10 months of his life, so many Mozart works played by the composer himself.

Hummel's experience was quite a different matter, of course.

Beethoven? Maybe.

[cloughie]

You can't have 40 that low, Cloughers.

35 is a marvel too.

They are both indeed fine symphonies but I've always liked 33 and 34, the latter with or without the minuet, and the Marriner Argo LP many moons ago placed 25 and 29 into prominence, maybe I lost a little affection for 40 because of the Waldo de Los Rios abuse!

Off topic I hope you'll be rooting for the Owls tomorrow evening when they take on Arsenal.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Czerny must have been a remarkable baby assimilating, in the first 10 months of his life, so many Mozart works played by the composer himself.

- well, I did only get a Grade C in my CSE OCD.

Hummel's experience was quite a different matter, of course.
Beethoven? Maybe.

Some [ahem] memorable information on these matters in the "Performance Practice" chapter of the Neal Zaslaw book on the Mozza Symphonies - pages 489 - 501 in particular: whole Tables of metronome markings from pre-Wagnerian performers - oooh, Lovely!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Some [ahem] memorable information on these matters in the "Performance Practice" chapter of the Neal Zaslaw book on the Mozza Symphonies - pages 489 - 501 in particular: whole Tables of metronome markings from pre-Wagnerian performers - oooh, Lovely!

I've never been a fan of horror stories, though I do have this particular tome, which I shall now consult.

[verismissimo]

I've never been a fan of horror stories, though I do have this particular tome, which I shall now consult.

Alpie, you may have to be reported to the Committee for Rejection of HIPP Editions (CRIPES).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Alpie, you may have to be reported to the Committee for Rejection of HIPP Editions (CRIPES).