Thielemann Beethoven Cycle on Sky

[Mr Pee]

Nice try Mr Pee but I wasn't comparing Thieklemann to Kaplan. I was showing that if you are rich enough (and presumably with the right array of external genitalia!) you can get access to the VPO. Talent and hard work do not necessarily come into it.

Well, I think you are extrapolating that conclusion based on somewhat flimsy evidence. As for the "external genitalia" comment, have you never heard of a casting couch??

P.S. Who is Thieklemann?

[Mahlerei]

Excellent news, Mr Pee.

I wonder how long we'll have to wait for Ms Young to get a repeat gig?

Not long, I hope. She has been doing great things in Hamburg. Her recent Mahler 2 (Oehms) is the real deal.

[amateur51]

Well, I think you are extrapolating that conclusion based on somewhat flimsy evidence. As for the "external genitalia" comment, have you never heard of a casting couch??

P.S. Who is Thieklemann?

'flimey evidence? Are you suggesting that Mr Kaplan's access to the VPO was achieved through talent and hard work, Mr Pee He's an extremely wealthy one trick pony as far as I know.

And by 'external genitalia' I was referring to the obvious advantage that having male genitalia bestows on a would-be conductor of the VPO, there having been only one woman who has conducted the VPO. What sort of additional evidence do you require, oh Mighty One ?

[amateur51]

Not long, I hope. She has been doing great things in Hamburg. Her recent Mahler 2 (Oehms) is the real deal.

Many thanks for this recommendation, Mahlerei!

[cloughie]

A word of warning; these are very idiosyncratic performances.

In what way? Quick and slick or more measured?

[Petrushka]

I saw Thielemann conduct a performance of the Bruckner 4 last Sunday on the BPO Digital Concert Hall. It was a very fine performance with CT hardly moving a muscle on the podium but clearly in total control thoughout. He is conducting them again this coming Sunday in Debussy Nocturnes, Messiaen Poemes pour Mi and Tchaikovsky Pathetique.

Anyone who is averse to watching Sky might like to sign up to the BPO DCH and assess Thielemann for themselves.

[Mahlerei]

Many thanks for this recommendation, Mahlerei!

I know she had a spectacular falling out with the Vienna opera and I was a tad sceptical about her until I heard this Mahler 2. Her Wagner is getting good reviews as well.

[Mahlerei]

In what way? Quick and slick or more measured?

In all sorts of ways; tempi, phrasing mainly. His conducting style is very odd, akin to someone shooing geese into a barn at times. Of the nine, 3, 5 and 6 were probably the least successful, 9 not bad. Odd that Petrushka should mention Bruckner, for Thielemann finds some Brucknerian sonorities in the early Beethovens.

So, I don't need Sky or the DCH to make up my mind, thanks :)

[Petrushka]

In all sorts of ways; tempi, phrasing mainly. His conducting style is very odd, akin to someone shooing geese into a barn at times. Of the nine, 3, 5 and 6 were probably the least successful, 9 not bad. Odd that Petrushka should mention Bruckner, for Thielemann finds some Brucknerian sonorities in the early Beethovens.

So, I don't need Sky or the DCH to make up my mind, thanks :)

There was certainly no shooing of geese in last Sunday's Bruckner. There were times when he made the aged Klemperer look acrobatic. It will be interesting to see how he fares with the very different demands of the Tchaik 6.

[Mahlerei]

Petrushka

Thanks for the heads-up. I have a free 48hr pass to the DCH - which I haven't visited in a while - so I look forward to the Bruckner. Strange that he should have such contrasting podium styles.

Any other goodies to watch out for on the DCH?

[Petrushka]

Petrushka

Thanks for the heads-up. I have a free 48hr pass to the DCH - which I haven't visited in a while - so I look forward to the Bruckner. Strange that he should have such contrasting podium styles.

Any other goodies to watch out for on the DCH?

There hss been some good stuff placed in the archive since I last visited before the other day. I am currently off work and made full use of my free 48 hour pass.

http://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concerts

[PaulT]

I was completely bowled over by VPO/Thielemann performances of Beethoven 5 and 7 I heard in Paris a couple of years ago. Flexible tempi in the Furtwangler mould.

[rodney_h_d]

I was completely bowled over by VPO/Thielemann performances of Beethoven 5 and 7 I heard in Paris a couple of years ago. Flexible tempi in the Furtwangler mould.

I've just played the Thielemann clip of the finale of the 7th. Beethoven doesn't appear to have asked for flexible tempi. I thought getting faster just because it gets louder was something children are taught not to do. It certainly doesn't work for me. :(

[VodkaDilc]

I thought getting faster just because it gets louder was something children are taught not to do:(

As a very young conductor of an amateur choir, I was told off for doing this by Sir Thomas Armstrong. (I think it was Stanford's Blue Bird.)

[Mr Pee]

http://skyarts.sky.com/discovering-beethoven-video