Sir Georg Solti

[Petrushka]

He conducted the same programme with the BBCPhilharmonic, too - a concert that was broadcast and which I thought showed Solti's strengths at their finest.

The final time I saw Solti was in April 1997, less than 6 months before his death, when he conducted the LSO in the Shostakovich 15 in Symphony Hall in Birmingham, his only visit there. I think he used the BBC Philharmonic as a laboratory to refine his interpretations before presenting them on the world stage as it were.

Incidentally, I attended Solti's memorial service in Westminster Abbey in March 1998 and was interested to see both Bernard Haitink and Sir Charles Mackerras together in conversation after the service.

[pastoralguy]

I heard a story that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's manager approached Gunther Wand and invited him to conduct Bruckner's 7th symphony.

'I'll need ten rehearsals', replied Wand. The manager gulped and replied that, normally, a guest conductor would usually be offered 2 or even 3 rehearsals and therefore he would need the consent of the board before taking the offer forward.

'Fine', replied Wand.

The board gave their consent albeit with the caveat that this was only being granted due to Wand's tremendous reputation as a Bruckner conductor.

The manager contacted Wand and told him the good news.

'Excellent', replied Wand. 'Tell me, who was the last person to conduct the Orchestra in Bruckner?'

'That was Sir Georg Solti about 4 years ago', replied the manager.

'Hmm', mused Wand. ' In that case I'll require TWENTY rehearsals!'

[pastoralguy]

The other story I heard was about a horn player who had worked under Solti at the Royal Opera House and LOATHED him.

Upon hearing the news of Solti's death, he 'phoned Solti's agent where the following conversation took place.

Horn Player. 'Good morning. I wondered if it would be possible for me to make an appointment to speak to Sir Georg Solti'.

The Secretary replied, 'I'm very sorry to have to tell you but, alas, Sir Georg died last night'.

The horn player replied 'Thank you, my dear' and hung up the 'phone.

An hour later, He 'phoned again. 'It is very important that I speak to Sir Georg Solti. How can I make contact with him?' Once again, the secretary replied that Sir Georg had passed away the previous day. 'Thank you very much for informing me', replied the horn player.

Another hour elapsed before he 'phoned for a third time. Upon hearing the same voice the secretary said 'Look, I'm really sorry but there's no point in you continuing to 'phone. SIR GEORG DIED YESTERDAY!'

'I know my dear', replied the horn player. ' But the truth is, I NEVER TIRE OF HEARING YOU SAY IT!'

[Richard Tarleton]

I heard a story that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's manager approached Gunther Wand and invited him to conduct Bruckner's 7th symphony.

I saw Solti conduct Bruckner 7 (LPO, RFH) in 1973. Some years later I bought his Chicago SO Bruckner 7 on LP, only to discover it had a side break during the Adagio - a case of Decca cramming it onto one disc.

[pastoralguy]

When the cd was a new and wondrous thing, I managed to buy some CDs from our local wine/cd shop, (Leon's Locker in Comiston Road, Edinburgh), that consisted of only the discs since the boxes had been stolen. One was Sir Georg and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing Brahms first symphony. Having only 9 CDs, I played it over and over.

Many years later, I was at the legendary St. Andrew's and St. George's book sale in George Street in my fair city and came across the box set of the complete Solti/CSO with a sticker on it saying it was very cheap since the disc with the first symphony was missing!

One of my favourite recordings of his is the Brahms violin sonatas with Kulenkampf where his piano playing is superb.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Pastoralguy - all I can say, is that in respect of your CD purchases you must have led a charmed life, from the early days.....

[pastoralguy]

Pastoralguy - all I can say, is that in respect of your CD purchases you must have led a charmed life, from the early days.....

It's a funny thing, CS, but I've been fascinated by the cd since I saw and handled my first one shortly after they came out. I played in a production of 'Don Giovanni' and the conductor gave a small party after the last show. Obviously, I'd heard of this new fangled thing but I was really taking with the player and the boxes. The fascination has never left me.

[Richard Tarleton]

Solti's Le Nozze di Figaro is one of the first complete opera sets on CD that I bought - sheer perfection. I've never felt the need to look further for a Figaro set, Hipp or no Hipp. I did see Kiri as the Countess at ROH, but with Raymond Leppard, not Solti.

[Petrushka]

Among the first batch of CDs I bought (1985) were Solti's Planets with the LPO and Mahler 2 with the Chicago SO. I still have both and very well they sound too.

If I could choose only one Solti orchestral recording it would be the Elgar 1.

Interesting to see a recent clutch of early Solti recordings out on the Eloquence label. I shall investigate while bearing in mind that these could be a harbinger of a bumper box from Decca.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've always felt Solti has been given a bad press by the critics who envy his success. Ditto Karajan.

Very few of his recordings are particularly "hard driven", though there are moments when this is true; Elgar 2 and Elgar Violin Concerto spring to mind (as does his Alpine Symphony). But his Wagner is so beautifully paced and his Decca Verdi Requiem is positively relaxed compared with many others.

I felt he was often at his best with the Vienna Philharmonic, though the orchestra didn't like him to begin with. His time at the Royal Opera House was special too, and his Eugene Onegin is the one I prefer to all others, including Russian ones.

He was lucky enough to record for Decca, who could always be relied upon to bring out the best in performers, so perhaps that gave him a slight advantage in the recording studio. Sadly, I never heard him live.

[Dave2002]

Sadly, I never heard him live.

I had mixed feelings about Solti, perhaps from the time he recorded the Ring. I did see an early film with him conducting Mozart, which he seemed to enjoy a lot, and so did I. Later I saw him live, and I felt that was a very different experience. He dared to go closer to pianissimo than most other conductors - some Berlioz springs to mind, and in performance he did at the very least sound very spontaneous. He may have calculated everything down to the last decibel and micro second - I will never know - but it sounded very natural, and his speeds seemed more thrilling than on recordings.

I think I also managed to hear a concert performance of a Mozart opera (Cosi?) at the RFH shortly before he died. My final recollection is of a very good conductor and dedicated musician.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think I also managed to hear a concert performance of a Mozart opera (Cosi?) at the RFH shortly before he died.

Cosi it was, Dave: the very performance now available in the Big Box that I think helped spark off this Thread. I greatly enjoyed hearing it last week - and I suppose that means that, amongst the chuckles and applause from the audience, I now have a CD in my collection on which you "appear"!

[BBMmk2]

One recording that really stands out for me, and I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, and that is the monumental Mahler 8th! Quite historic and everyone on this recording is really on top form.

[Dave2002]

One recording that really stands out for me, and I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, and that is the monumental Mahler 8th! Quite historic and everyone on this recording is really on top form.

Absolutely agree - though I'm fond of Kubelik's too. If you want to shake the house I think Solti's recording can do it in the last 10 minutes.

[BBMmk2]

Absolutely agree - though I'm fond of Kubelik's too. If you want to shake the house I think Solti's recording can do it in the last 10 minutes.

Especially the moment the trumpets come in!!