Prom 31: Brahms / Schubert, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Mutter / Barenboim

[Ein Heldenleben]

First thoughts : This is slow ..I’m not going to like it .

Second thoughts - I like it . Why not give Brahms a bit of space ?

third thoughts after A-SM’s big boned passionate entry ..I REALLY like it.

Her double and treble and stopping is out of this world…I love the heart of sleeve way she plays.And that fat tone she gets out of the Strad (?’) ..and her vibrato …and she’s also in tune unlike a few recent performers.

That rhapsodic coda …wonderful….

[pastoralguy]

Mrs PG and I were lucky enough to be in Cremona when there was a collection of Stradivarius Instruments on display. There were, iirc, 25 instruments in one room, The one I would have loved to take home with me was Joachim’s Stradivarius. Incredible to imagine he and Brahms working at the concerto and this instrument being present. I was able to get within 8” of it, albeit in a glass case and got a lovely photo which acted as my mobile’phones screensaver for years. Truly a historic instrument.

( I did ask the lady curator if they were counted but either my Italian was ineffective or she had no sense of humour!)

[pastoralguy]

First thoughts : This is slow ..I’m not going to like it .

Second thoughts - I like it . Why not give Brahms a bit of space ?

third thoughts after A-SM’s big boned passionate entry ..I REALLY like it.

Her double and treble and stopping is out of this world…I love the heart of sleeve way she plays.And that fat tone she gets out of the Strad (?’) ..and her vibrato …and she’s also in tune unlike a few recent performers.

That rhapsodic coda …wonderful….

It’s very ‘red wine’ Brahms,isn't it? Ms. Mutter’s interpretation of this work has always been outstanding right from her classic recording with Karajan und Die Berliner Philharmoniker. Lovely oboe playing too.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Mrs PG and I were lucky enough to be in Cremona when there was a collection of Stradivarius Instruments on display. There were, iirc, 25 instruments in one room, The one I would have loved to take home with me was Joachim’s Stradivarius. Incredible to imagine he and Brahms working at the concerto and this instrument being present. I was able to get within 8” of it, albeit in a glass case and got a lovely photo which acted as my mobile’phones screensaver for years. Truly a historic instrument.

( I did ask the lady curator if they were counted but either my Italian was ineffective or she had no sense of humour!)

Is she playing that ? If so she is worthy of the honour ..

[Ein Heldenleben]

It’s very ‘red wine’ Brahms,isn't it? Ms. Mutter’s interpretation of this work has always been outstanding right from her classic recording with Karajan und Die Berliner Philharmoniker.

Yes well PG - Ive had two glasses myself so maybe it’s coloured my judgment!

[pastoralguy]

Is she playing that ? If so she is worthy of the honour ..

No, I don’t think so. She owns the Lord Dunraven Strad so I suspect that’s what she’ll be playing on tonite.

The Joachim Strad is in the possession of the New England Conservatory.

[Prommer]

Quite the Otto Klemperer show now?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Quite the Otto Klemperer show now?

If you mean DB is to be ranked in that league ..yes.
Old age comes to all of us . Maybe genius can conquer it .

[edashtav]

I have two or three recordings of the Brahms: Johannesburg Martzy with the Philharmonia under Paul Kletzi and David Oistrakh spolighted with an orchestra so recessed that it has faded from my memory.
I love the breadth and wistful elegance of the late, lamented Martzy. Small of tone but so much expressive resource is packed into her bowing arm. DB gave A-S the room both to ruminate and in contrast attack those attacca chords. The WED fully supported the compact and the tender clarinet entry after JJ's cadenza was 'a thing of booty'.
The slow movement was expansive and heart easing.
I wanted more JJ/Hungarian vim and vigour in the finale but impeccable intonation from the soloist told me that this was an authorative German interpretation of the most symphonic of the 4 classic German Violin Concerti.

(Final thought: JJ insisted on programming Beethoven's long violin concerto before one the Brahms in one of the first two German performance of Brahms's violin concerto conducted by the composer. Two Concerti each spread over 40minutes, both in D and including important material for timps.Over the top,eh, Mr Joachim?
Encore: JSB Sarabande in D minor BSV 1004.

A grand first half, indeed!

[Darkbloom]

Mutter came on leading DB by the hand. She still looks like a rhinemaiden but he's this rather bewildered little old man now. It's quite uncomfortable. He can barely walk and it was a struggle getting him back on stage. I've never felt sorry for him before but this is desperately sad.

[Prommer]

Mutter came on leading DB by the hand. She still looks like a rhinemaiden but he's this rather bewildered little old man now. It's quite uncomfortable. He can barely walk and it was a struggle getting him back on stage. I've never felt sorry for him before but this is desperately sad.

Yes, what I meant about the OK show... but he still achieved great things in his dotage!

And as for feeling sorry for him: well, possibly so, but something urges him on, it could be just ego or it could be the divine fire...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Mutter came on leading DB by the hand. She still looks like a rhinemaiden but he's this rather bewildered little old man now. It's quite uncomfortable. He can barely walk and it was a struggle getting him back on stage. I've never felt sorry for him before but this is desperately sad.

Indeed but it is also a heroic display of defiance. I’ve been l listening to him since that first LP of the Waldstein I bought in the 70’s and I am enjoying his musicianship as much now as I did then. His work with the West - Eastern Divan is a rare ray of hope in a terrible world. He is , in my view , one of humanities most significant figures and thus ageless.

[Darkbloom]

Klemperer famously fell asleep during one of his recording sessions, I think it was Schumann 2. Goodall went on way too long. Maybe it's heroic defiance, or maybe it's Titurel wanting the grail uncovered one last time, and then another etc. You wonder where the line comes where it feels like elder abuse. It's quite uncomfortable to watch. I don't know how he's going to manage the Schubert, which is a test for any conductor.

[Prommer]

Do we know what he has suffered from, in terms of illness? Whatever it is, it is quite something to want to continue and not just retire. I admire it.

[Prommer]

Klemperer famously fell asleep during one of his recording sessions, I think it was Schumann 2. Goodall went on way too long. Maybe it's heroic defiance, or maybe it's Titurel wanting the grail uncovered one last time, and then another etc. You wonder where the line comes where it feels like elder abuse. It's quite uncomfortable to watch. I don't know how he's going to manage the Schubert, which is a test for any conductor.

Ahem, Goodall went on way too long... Proms 1987! Parsifal Act 3. Sublime...