Problem Works By Composers You Love

[kea]

Dvorak 1 and 2

I love Dvorak 1 and 2. (I've never found 1 excessively long as some people seem to...) It's 9 I struggle with simply because I've heard it soooo many times I no longer want to hear it ever again.

The same applies to Beethoven's 5th, 7th, 9th and Für Elise, Mozart's K545 and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Kinderszenen, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Peter and the Wolf, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Appalachian Spring, Prokofiev's 1st... An exceptional performance can still salvage Stravinsky's three early ballets for me, but I suspect they'll go that way soon as well.

Also: They're not "problem works" per se, but I'm surprised when people praise Schumann's symphonies, orchestral and chamber music, while ignoring his piano works (particularly Opp.1-20) and lieder. I have nothing against his orchestral and chamber music, even the works often considered "weak" (eg the violin concerto or the last piano trio)—I find I love Schumann's weaknesses as much as his strengths—but it can be difficult for me to reconcile them with the revolutionary, fantasy-prone composer of Davidsbündlertänze, Kreisleriana and the Fantasie (not to mention Dichterliebe and Frauenliebe und Leben) which are among the greatest masterpieces of the Romantic era.

[Tevot]

Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Brahms' Double Concerto - Is it just me or are these works difficult to pull off?

[MrGongGong]

What you need is a dose of John White's Jew's Harp Machine.

A classic album indeed
thanks

[Don Petter]

Pictures from an Exhibition, please.

I used to fight that battle, but eventually gave up. 'At' still grates, though.

[visualnickmos]

The blasted "Nutcracker" - drives me bananas. (Did you see what I did there?!)

[Bryn]

[BBMmk2]

Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Brahms' Double Concerto - Is it just me or are these works difficult to pull off?

Tevot, I think, it's because they are difficult to pull off. Wether it's because of the instrumentation involved, I am not sure. I amvery happy with the versions I have!

[Petrushka]

I'd nominate Shostakovich's 13th...

This surprises me. It is, by some way, I think, Shostakovich's most Russian symphony. Is it the Yevtushenko texts that are difficult? Following Russian text even in transliteration isn't easy but once you do then the sheer daring of what both YT and DSCH managed to do in 1962 Soviet Russia immediately becomes apparent. They tested the Kruschchev thaw to its very limits. An important and vital work in Shostakovich's output.

I recommend the live 1962 recording of the second ever performance with Kondrashin on Russian Disc. The electric tension here is palpable, as if everyone expected the performance to be stopped at any moment and DSCH and YT arrested.

[Nick Armstrong]

are these works difficult to pull off?

Tevot, I think, it's because they are difficult to pull off.

Now we're getting somewhere!



Actually, Tevot, it's always mystified me - I can't get to like either piece and have always vaguely wondered why.

[Ferretfancy]

I used to fight that battle, but eventually gave up. 'At' still grates, though.

I'm sure you're right, as Alan Bennett once wrote to me on a postcard ( You have to hear the voice) Nevertheless I've just checked the labels on half a dozen CDs, and they all use 'AT' so I'm afraid it's hands up and march away.

[EdgeleyRob]

Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Brahms' Double Concerto - Is it just me or are these works difficult to pull off?

Difficult but not impossible Tev.

[Petrushka]

Difficult but not impossible Tev.

The Beethoven Triple isn't his best work but the Brahms Double is fine though I have to say that I don't listen to either very much and have never heard them live.

[Don Petter]

The Beethoven Triple isn't his best work but the Brahms Double is fine though I have to say that I don't listen to either very much and have never heard them live.

The opening of the slow movement of the Brahms Double, as played by Oistrakh, Rostropovich and Szell, is one of my all-time great moments in recorded music. One man's meat ...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Edgeley's nomination is one of my favourite recordings - performances that just reveal how convincing the Musical material of these works is. And I think that the Brahms is my favourite of his Concertos/oes/i.

It's the first Movements of the Violin Concertos of both Bs that I find difficult: the performers have really to know how to pace the course of these Movements to avoid longueurs - much more so, I've felt, than other Concerto first movements. But when it works - ooooooh, yes!

[Beef Oven!]

Now we're getting somewhere!

You're just a sucker for a double-entendre