mackerras and brahms

Posted by: mikeeschman on 15 November 2008

the brahms 3rd and 4th came yesterday, so last night i gave them a listen.

i really wanted to like them, but the small orchestra sounds thin to my ears. his phrasing is both unique and interesting. intonation is adequate but not at the greatest level of clarity.

i also gave doctor atomic a shot last night. just awful.
Posted on: 22 November 2008 by pe-zulu
quote:
Originally posted by GFFJ:

Sandor Vegh not only starts the odd note out of tune, but he maintains the note as if it is not a significant mistake.

I was shocked that the set was so flawed after the recommendation that I was given for them:

"The greatest Beethoven playing you will ever find ..." or words to that effect.

Sorry, but this is even worse than Gould plaing Bach in his inimtable [and rightly unimitated] style in my opinion. I can admire every aspect apart from the tuning, which is simply not quite second rank, according to even provincial orchestral standards, let alone stellar String Quartet playing.



Dear George

Having heard similar words of praise, I was not far from acquiring this Vegh set, but now I shall save my money for something better. Thanks for the warning.
Posted on: 22 November 2008 by KenM
I'm not musically educated but I am surprised at some of the criticisms of Mackerras. He is accused of having been "wafty" and to have conducted with imprecise tempi but on the recordings I have, he gets excellent results.
His recent SCO/Philharmonia set of Beethoven symphonies was spoiled for me more by the sound quality than the performances. But I think that his Beethoven cycle with the RLPO is absolutely first class.
I will listen to some of his Brahms when I can.
Ken
Posted on: 22 November 2008 by Tam
I was at the live concert the Mackerras/Philharmonia live Beethoven 9th was based on, and it was not lacking in inspiration (though as Ken has noted on this thread, and I have many times, the recording engineers did them no favours).

I have heard the Philharmonia live several times in the last couple of years and feel they are one of the most impressive orchestras in the country.

I'll be hearing them again in February for Tchaik 6 (again with Mackerras) and I can't wait.


regards, Tam