Classical Quiz (cont.)

Come on, we're talking about one of the top pre-eminent pianists of the 1960 &c era. None better. At this very moment - not a good time in the industry - Deutsche Grammophone is shipping big boxes of a special edition of this artist (recently profiled in the New Yorker - and I'm putting this in Italics)

He's that big.

So, how hard can it be?

Herm

Yes, of course it's Maurizio Pollini. Some think he's a soulless performer; to others he's a romantic demon.

In the late sixties he got into a crisis, and played lunch hour concerts for auto workers at the Fiat plant - and he wasn't playing Chopin polonaises. No sir, these guys were getting the real thing, like Schoenberg pieces and Webern miniatures. I love this. And it makes me guess he truly has the romantic demon.

I love his Mozart collaborations with Boehm too. (You, apparantly have a Beethoven cto, and, yes, each and every one of these 1970 -73 Boehm VPO things is to die for.)

So, at last, it's your turn, Todd.

Herm

Anyway, which conductor has recorded Smetana's Ma Vlast more times than any other? His interpretations are the finest available, IMO, and his last recording one of the finest of any work by any composer directed by any conductor.

May I come back one sec, Todd? I agree: that remastered two-disc with Beethoven sonatas is truly magical. I don't know what he does, or what the engineer does, but it's like he doesn't play a keyboard. He's playing on sheer sunlight. Especially in the 111 and, more interestingly, the 109 variation mvt.

And of course the Prokofiev 7th sonata is a milestone, too.

I love this man.

Back to Smetana

------------------

Todd Arola's Quiz Question was:

which conductor has recorded Smetana's Ma Vlast more times than any other? His interpretations are the finest available, IMO, and his last recording one of the finest of any work by any composer directed by any conductor.

[This message was edited by herm on FRIDAY 25 January 2002 at 08:35.]

Cheese

Or are you still glued to the new CDX?

Herm

He recorded it five times. I own four of them. The late 50s Decca set (now on Belart) is not a great version with less than inspired playing (from the Vienna Philharmonic!) and terrible Decca spotlighting. The early 50s mono Mercury set with the Chicago Symphony is one of the most intense versions of the cycle I have heard and is definitely worth owning. The 1970 Boston SO set on DG is sort of the opposite, kinda laid back but with sumptuous playing. I do not yet own the version with the BRSO (on Orfeo), of all orchestras, but have heard it and it, too, is superb. The finest version Kubelik, or anyone, ever recorded was his final live set from 1990 with the Czech Philharmonic on Supraphon. It is nearly as intense as the Chicago set, but in a more endearing way. The playing is top notch, the orchestra apparently encouraged to greatness, and there is a sense of occasion and joyousness. A truly inspired performance.

Your turn Phil.

Anyway, I heard Kubelick do Ma Vlast with the Chicago about 18 years ago. Alas, the thing I most remember about the concert was that there was a couple in the audience dressed in identical aquamarine-colored suits. Looked sort of like drawings of leprechauns, except the suits were bluer than would be expected (at least as leprechauns are depicted in the US). The music wasn't all that great.

Phil

two WWII compositions - one took the world by storm; the second spoofed the first. Name 'em.

Phil
back on the air after working for hours to get his modem registered with ATTBI - but at least ATT is now answering their phones quickly and with competence. But who would design a system that authenticates on the basis of MAC addresses????

I think it's Schostokovich Symphony 7
[The Leningrad] which represents the
Nazis marching on Leningrad.

Bartok did not think much of it and
quoted the main theme [but distorted] in
his Concerto for Orchestra.

Personally I like both works but No. 7 is
NOT the best thing Schostokovich ever wrote
[his best symphony IMHO is No. 10].

James H

You got it, James.

The first time I heard the 7th was Bernstien's version with the Chicago, and I started to play it a lot. I hadn't heard Cto for Orchestra in a long time, so I didn't get the reference. Then someone mentioned that Bartok had something to say - the 7th hasn't sounded the sme to me since.

Absolutely, S has composed better works. The Cto for Orchestra is great. (IMHO, of course)

Regards.

Phil

The Bernstein / Chicago SO captures the Mahlerian shades of this symphony rather well. You really need those "starry starry night" moments.

However, in a little while Philips is going to release the live recording by Valery Gergiev and the combined Kirov and Rotterdam Orchestras, and that could very well be a recording that definitively redeems this symphony. I heard the live concert.

Herm

(curious about the new quiz question)

James H

I have a question but I don't know
the answer :

I have the quote [from memory] : "All
selections of notes are acceptable but
at this point in time some sound
conventional and should be avoided". I
know it's Bartok and I wanted to give this
as my question i.e 'Name that quote ...'

So the question is ...
Can you give me a reference to this or
am I mistaken.

Alternativly [an easy one ...]
There are lots of symphonies with choirs
[e.g. Beethoven / Mahler / Schostokovich etc.].
Name a piano concerto with one and name the
composer [so piano concerto no. 1 does not
count].

James H.

quote:

---

There are lots of symphonies with choirs
[e.g. Beethoven / Mahler / Schostokovich etc.].
Name a piano concerto with one and name the
composer

---

Cheese

I don't think Beethoven thought
of it as a concerto.

The work I have in mind was by
[someone] who wrote a piano
concerto and included a chorus
[in the last movemont -- of
course]. And he definitly wanted
it to be a piano concerto.

James H.

The father of a famous conductor is reported to have referred to Joseph Szigeti and said to his conductor son (something like), 'If you had practiced, that could be you up there!'

Who was the conductor?

Phil

Phil

mostly just real busy.

However, a helpful hint would be, er, helpful. Like when are we talking about?

Herm