Eötvös - H&N Sat 14 May

[hackneyvi]

Have you listened to any of the music, Mr Grew?

[MrGongGong]

OF course he hasn't
unless , of course, uses the famous "Bois de noix" Stockhausen listening technique ! (télékinésie)

[Sydney Grew]

Well I have just now been watching a recording I made from the tele-vision of his opera the "Three Sisters," which features a number of adult male sopranos dressed up in Oriental clothing and making horrid noises. Did any Members see it? My conclusion is that works like that are written by "deeply insecure" personalities, determined by hook or by crook to make an impression. Its creator is not a man who is sure of himself; he holds - or attempts to hold - his audience merely by way of one uncomfortable outlandishness after another.

Between 1968 and 1976 he was a member of jolly old Stockhausen's "ensemble" - which is no recommendation at all is it! - and there is a good deal of "jazz" (I can hardly bring myself to write the word!) in his background, invariably a bad sign.

This sort of thing was not written for cultured, self-confident, superior people.

[amateur51]

works like that are written by "deeply insecure" personalities, determined by hook or by crook to make an impression. Its creator is not a man who is sure of himself; he holds - or attempts to hold - his audience merely by way of one uncomfortable outlandishness after another.

C'mon now Siddley, read the above extract out loud while looking at your reflection in a mirror ...

[MrGongGong]

Nurse the screens !!!

[french frank]

This sort of thing was not written for cultured, self-confident, superior people.

Aye, right ... goes down a treat here though

[hackneyvi]

Well I have just now been watching a recording I made from the tele-vision of his opera the "Three Sisters,"

I think this was performed on Saturday afternoon at the Barbican. Is that where you recording comes from? I didn't see any sign of a broadcast.

I'm sorry now that I didn't attend the whole day. The orchestral music were impressive where the vocal music at the evening concert seemed a little undifferentiated. None of the solo parts - clarinet, voice or cimbalom - altogether explained themselves to me. But I'll listen to the choral music more carefully on the iPlayer and see what I can make of it.

I'm looking forward very much to hearing more of his music. He describes seeing himself as a descendent of his musical countrymen. I know very little of Liszt's music but I did feel his music shares something with the wonderful glittering/rumbling extremes that something like Mephisto Waltz has.

He impressed me by his manner as a rather gentle and gracious man and the other stage performers seemed very clearly to be taken with him.

[amateur51]

Just had a chance to listen to H&N, hackneyvi and I was similarly taken with Eotvos's music. It's certainly attractive enough on first hearing to warrant a repeat listening or five and I shall certainly be scruting Spotify et al for more.

Many thanks for your original enthusiastic write-up

EDIT: On checking Spotify I discover that not only is Eotvos' Three Sisters available, there is also a 'listening guide' in English, French & German.

[MrGongGong]

he is a really interesting man as well
and a great all round musician

[hackneyvi]

Just had a chance to listen to H&N, hackneyvi and I was similarly taken with Eotvos's music. It's certainly attractive enough on first hearing to warrant a repeat listening or five and I shall certainly be scruting Spotify et al for more.

Many thanks for your original enthusiastic write-up

EDIT: On checking Spotify I discover that not only is Eotvos' Three Sisters available, there is also a 'listening guide' in English, French & German.

I'm so glad it pleased you. I don't know why it's happened now but contemporary music doesn't intimidate me as it used to and it's wonderful to go to a concert and just sit with open ears, eyes and mind and find something new in the world to like. I know that sounds a bit corny but I've never been much of a concert goer in the past, being raised rather on records. But I'm finding now that the unpredictability, utter unexpectedness of new music can be, at least, interesting and at best rather thrilling.

I didn't know about Spotify but am signing up right now. Thanks for the tip in return!

he is a really interesting man as well
and a great all round musician

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOlCgMlQsw8

I watched this little piece from YouTube this afternoon (I find the interviewer a bit horrifying in the first part of this interview; it puts me in mind of how Schoenberg might be 'covered' on Blue Peter). I love the totality of Schoenberg's significance for him - that he feels working with the music actually leaves him feeling in better health.

[hackneyvi]

I didn't know about Spotify but am signing up right now. Thanks for the tip in return!

Well, I've signed up and am currently listening - FREE! - to a rather extraordinary performance of a lovely trumpet concerto by H K Gruber, Aerial which Peter Eotvos conducts. (Oh!, suddenly having Marcel Desailly recommending 'BetClick' at the end of the first movement came as a surprise. Maybe I need to invest in the paid account!). The wonderful performance absolutely confirms MrGongGong's comment on Peter Eotvos' musicianship. What an enjoyable piece.

I'm very glad I found for3.

[amateur51]

Well, I've signed up and am currently listening - FREE! - to a rather extraordinary performance of a lovely trumpet concerto by H K Gruber, Aerial. (Oh!, suddenly having Marcel Desailly recommending 'BetClick' at the end of the first movement came as a surprise. Maybe I need to invest in the paid account!)

I'm very glad I found for3.

I know what you mean about those sudden ads, hackneyvi

I've invested £4.95 for my first month ad-free and I'm pleased to have so much variety and range at my disposal!

A rather lofty friend admonished me - 'I'm sure that you don't need more music, you've got all those CDs' - totally missing the point.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm finding now that the unpredictability, utter unexpectedness of new music can be, at least, interesting and at best rather thrilling.

[...]

I love the totality of Schoenberg's significance for him - that he feels working with the music actually leaves him feeling in better health.

Tremendous! Another convert to the cause - you'll find your life becoming ever more enriched by the discoveries you are going to make. You've really made my day!!!

Best wishes

S-A

[Roehre]

This sort of thing was not written for cultured, self-confident, superior people.

As a complete savage, inferior guy totally lacking any confidence I'm afraid I've to confess that I listened to the complete H&N dedicated to Eötvös' music and that I enjoyed it fully (thanks Bryn )

[Quarky]

This thread did serve a useful purpose in that it alerted me to this programme, which I enjoyed greatly.

I was however disappointed to note that we seem to have gone back to the bad old days of R3 messageboards, where most of the posts were totally spurious and bad tempered.