Christian Thielemann's internal metronome must be very different from mine...

[Nick Armstrong]

I was going to head this 'I don't trust Christian Thielemann' which is sort of how I feel but that's a bit broad - of course I'm sure he is as diligent as they come and as honest as the day is long.

It's just that I don't 'get' (and have never 'got') what he does with tempi.

I was reminded of this today because (a) his name keeps coming up re: the BPO post-Rattle; and (b) I caught much of his performance of Schumann's 2nd with the Philharmonia this morning just after 11am on R3.

The latter struck me as being exactly how I don't like Schumann to go - interruptions of pulse for the insertion of pauses and tempo contrasts that seem to my ears to defy what the music is urging performers to do.

Perhaps he is more concerned with the sounds music makes, than with its progress - more 'Klang' than 'Schwung'

I'm afraid I don't like it.

Any views?

[Petrushka]

I've never heard his Schumann but his Strauss Heldenleben and Alpensinfonie with the VPO are superb.

[Flosshilde]

Perhaps he is more concerned with the sounds music makes, than with its progress - more 'Klang' than 'Schwung'

Should be a hit with MrGG then

[Nick Armstrong]

I've never heard his Schumann but his Strauss Heldenleben and Alpensinfonie with the VPO are superb.

Interesting, Petrushka... I have the Alpensinfonie CD, I've dug it out and will give it a listen this weekend...

[DublinJimbo]

I've never heard his Schumann but his Strauss Heldenleben and Alpensinfonie with the VPO are superb.

Totally agree about the Heldenleben.

[Mr Pee]

Totally agree about the Heldenleben.

Ditto!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I've never heard his Schumann but his Strauss Heldenleben and Alpensinfonie with the VPO are superb.

[Richard Tarleton]

I've never heard his Schumann but his Strauss Heldenleben and Alpensinfonie with the VPO are superb.

His Alpensinfonie was one of the CDs I took along when choosing new speakers - magnificent. Congrats by the way Caliban!

[pastoralguy]

I got his recent set of the Beethoven symphonys in a church sale for a fiver (!) For me, it was like listening to Beethoven preserved in aspic. All the notes were there but they never really caught fire and INVOLVED me.

And I'm not that impressed with his conducting on Lisa Batiashvili's new Brahms recording. Lots of inner detail, for me, failed to happen.
Hmmm.

[Andrew Preview]

And I'm not that impressed with his conducting on Lisa Batiashvili's new Brahms recording.

I mentioned this under the new releases thread last month. I said then that I was wary of Thielemann and his interventionist instincts. The extract Andrew McG just played on CD Review seemed to bear out Caliban's concerns about Thielemann's internal metronome. Pity, because I really enjoy Batiashvili's playing.

[cloughie]

I mentioned this under the new releases thread last month. I said then that I was wary of Thielemann and his interventionist instincts. The extract Andrew McG just played on CD Review seemed to bear out Caliban's concerns about Thielemann's internal metronome. Pity, because I really enjoy Batiashvili's playing.

Your pseudonym suggests you are too short for minim-alism!

[Andrew Preview]

Your pseudonym suggests you are too short for minim-alism!

[pastoralguy]

Pity, because I really enjoy Batiashvili's playing.

Yes, I agree. She deserves a better collaborator.

[Nick Armstrong]

His Alpensinfonie was one of the CDs I took along when choosing new speakers - magnificent. Congrats by the way Caliban!

Richard, thanks! and as I type, inspired by Petrushka and Eine A and you I have on that CD at full volume (everyone's out and the neighbours are away ): it is blooming fantastic, I agree. Fabulous recording but a very well blended and paced interpretation - and stunningly-well played.... WOW... the bass trombone growl approaching the summit... and: cue horns!!!.........


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So - the feller can do Strauss, that's for sure

(In fact the only time I've seen him live was in Strauss: 'Rosenkavalier' at the ROH... we were bang in the centre of the front stalls, so he was, what, a yard in front of me... I have to say my main recollection is of developing a slight headache due to the pungent and rather too floral eaux-de-toilette, deodorisers and other unguents he was sporting, which gusted back into my face at each gesture... )

[Prommer]

He also gave a very lengthy pause before launching the trio, which divided opinion mightily at the time... I presume not to re-apply any of Caliban's aforementioneds...