Prom 35 (1.09.21) - Sir John Eliot Gardiner

[jayne lee wilson]

Me too - I’ve never warmed to any of his arid and soulless work. Local Oxfam has a set of his complete Bach Cantatas, remaindered on the shelf for at least the last 6 weeks.

There are two series of JEG Cantatas - the earlier selections on Archiv/Virgin, and the remarkable Pilgrimage set, in which he and his performers recorded the Church Cantatas in various locations, all on their name day in the course of a single year. And a very remarkable achievement it is.


As you seem to know Gardiner's work well enough to record a very negative generalised critical dismissal, then in the interests of a more detailed approach to such appraisal, perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about your preferences in the two JEG recordings of:

Brahms German Requiem
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
Bach B Minor Mass

The revisits to the award-winning earlier repertoire are very distinct, both musically and in their recorded sound - I look forward to your observations.

[Cockney Sparrow]

knowing Oxfam's pricing policy that is almost certainly because they are expecting near original selling price - most of their 2nd hand CDs are significantly overpriced.

I've seen their pricing policy in action - volunteer with the price printer, looking up the Amazon marketplace price and putting the CD up for sale at the price without delivery charge.......

Pre pandemic, I looked at CDs in case they had something of exceptional appeal - hardly ever bought a CD there. Mostly bought books.... All in all, I don't have a warm feeling about Oxfam bookshops.

[Tony Halstead]

There are two series of JEG Cantatas - the earlier selections on Archiv/Virgin, and the remarkable Pilgrimage set, in which he and his performers recorded the Church Cantatas in various locations, all on their name day in the course of a single year. And a very remarkable achievement it is.


As you seem to know Gardiner's work well enough to record a very negative generalised critical dismissal, then in the interests of a more detailed approach to such appraisal, perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about your preferences of the two JEG recordings of:

Brahms German Requiem
Beethoven Missa Solemnis
Bach B Minor Mass

The revisits to the award-winning earlier repertoire are very distinct - I look forward to your observations.

Apart from Sir John Barbirolli, Jascha Horenstein and Leonard Bernstein, Sir John Eliot Gardiner is the most inspiring conductor I've played for in over 55 years of being a professional musician; closely followed by Sir Roger Norrington and Sir Alexander Gibson. I played on JEG's first recordings of the Brahms German Requiem and the Beethoven Missa Solemnis, and they are forever 'etched on my memory'.

[jayne lee wilson]

Apart from Sir John Barbirolli, Jascha Horenstein and Leonard Bernstein, Sir John Eliot Gardiner is the most inspiring conductor I've played for in over 55 years of being a professional musician; closely followed by Sir Roger Norrington. I played on JEG's first recordings of the Brahms German Requiem and the Beethoven Missa Solemnis, and they are forever 'etched on my memory'.

Absolutely - that Archiv Missa was the recording that drew my attention to the heights Gardiner, his wonderful chorus (still virtually unmatched for cohesive and emotional power) and orchestra were capable of - and the beginning of a lifelong passion for the work itself. A true musical icon for me.