Requiem
Posted by: Wolf2 on 25 January 2008
Heard Maazel conduct Britten's War Requiem last night at Disney Hall. Fabulous work and now know why my friend called it the greatest choral work of the 20th C. One local DJ puts it on just about every Memorial Day here in LA. I'd heard bits of it but passed on the whole thing. I'll be glued to the radio next time around.
It starts slow and formal and builds to a frightening level then calms down to a hush at the end. The poetry of Wilfred Owen is really touching and the latin text just as bleak. They lowered the house lights as it closed and kept them off for 30 seconds after for silence. Just an amazing work. Tho my friend said he didn't like Maazel, says he's perfect in timing, but boring. He said Salonen would have kept the same tempo but made the orchestra cracking with tension. I agreed.
I want to hear the original recording that my friend bought.
It starts slow and formal and builds to a frightening level then calms down to a hush at the end. The poetry of Wilfred Owen is really touching and the latin text just as bleak. They lowered the house lights as it closed and kept them off for 30 seconds after for silence. Just an amazing work. Tho my friend said he didn't like Maazel, says he's perfect in timing, but boring. He said Salonen would have kept the same tempo but made the orchestra cracking with tension. I agreed.
I want to hear the original recording that my friend bought.
Posted on: 25 January 2008 by Tam
Glenn (if indeed that is you - why the name change?),
I'm a big fan of the War Requiem too. Greatest choral work of the 20th C? Well, I don't really like to call anything the greatest anything and there are some other very fine ones too, Janacek's Glagolitic Mass, for example.
There are two recordings of the work the War Requiem that are particularly impressive in my view. The first is the composers own. On the plus side, the three soloists (Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Galina Vishnevskaya) are the ones for whom the parts were specifically written. The recording quality and the playing of the LSO are both very fine indeed, and it would be hard to be disappointed by it.
But.... it isn't my favourite. I made a bit of a faux pas a while back when someone mentioned the "definitive recording" of the War Requiem over on the BBC Radio 3 forum. I asked if they meant the Giulini, this promptly got me flamed as they meant Britten's. The Giulini recording was made some years later, in 1969 a concert performance captured by the BBC. Britten is still on hand to direct the chamber ensemble but only Pears survived out of the original soloists (the others having been replaced by Hans Wilbrink and Stefania Woytowicz, for whom no apology need be made). It has the advantage that it fits onto a single disc, but it also has flaws, the sound is not nearly so good (and there are some dropouts). However, the Philharmonia, who had a fine relationship with Giulini, play superbly. The real shame is that nobody had the sense to record the Edinburgh festival performance of 1968 led by Giulini and Britten with all 3 original soloists. Those I know who were there make me wish I'd been able to be (unfortunately that wouldn't have been possible since I wasn't born). There is a level of intensity to the reading which for me, eclipses Britten's own.
A year or two back I met someone who'd been at that 1968 festival but had to leave the day before the concert. But she had managed to get let into the rehearsal and apparently watching Giulini and Britten working together was fascinating.
regards, Tam
I'm a big fan of the War Requiem too. Greatest choral work of the 20th C? Well, I don't really like to call anything the greatest anything and there are some other very fine ones too, Janacek's Glagolitic Mass, for example.
There are two recordings of the work the War Requiem that are particularly impressive in my view. The first is the composers own. On the plus side, the three soloists (Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Galina Vishnevskaya) are the ones for whom the parts were specifically written. The recording quality and the playing of the LSO are both very fine indeed, and it would be hard to be disappointed by it.
But.... it isn't my favourite. I made a bit of a faux pas a while back when someone mentioned the "definitive recording" of the War Requiem over on the BBC Radio 3 forum. I asked if they meant the Giulini, this promptly got me flamed as they meant Britten's. The Giulini recording was made some years later, in 1969 a concert performance captured by the BBC. Britten is still on hand to direct the chamber ensemble but only Pears survived out of the original soloists (the others having been replaced by Hans Wilbrink and Stefania Woytowicz, for whom no apology need be made). It has the advantage that it fits onto a single disc, but it also has flaws, the sound is not nearly so good (and there are some dropouts). However, the Philharmonia, who had a fine relationship with Giulini, play superbly. The real shame is that nobody had the sense to record the Edinburgh festival performance of 1968 led by Giulini and Britten with all 3 original soloists. Those I know who were there make me wish I'd been able to be (unfortunately that wouldn't have been possible since I wasn't born). There is a level of intensity to the reading which for me, eclipses Britten's own.
A year or two back I met someone who'd been at that 1968 festival but had to leave the day before the concert. But she had managed to get let into the rehearsal and apparently watching Giulini and Britten working together was fascinating.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 27 January 2008 by Wolf2
Yeah, John thinks Giulini is a true master of whatever he put his attention to. He was conductor here for a few years and John said he was always amazing.
They were selling a more recent recording with white cover on teh CD. It might have been the LSO. John bought the original since he had it and played it to death before college. He said much to his mother's dismay, along with a few others. Teenage compulsiveness we all go thru.
I sent him an email and said when I'm over my cold I'd invite him over for a lunch and glass of wine to hear it on my system. He thought that would be great. He's never really heard my system and I want to hear Britten's conducting and Pears.
They were selling a more recent recording with white cover on teh CD. It might have been the LSO. John bought the original since he had it and played it to death before college. He said much to his mother's dismay, along with a few others. Teenage compulsiveness we all go thru.
I sent him an email and said when I'm over my cold I'd invite him over for a lunch and glass of wine to hear it on my system. He thought that would be great. He's never really heard my system and I want to hear Britten's conducting and Pears.
Posted on: 27 January 2008 by Wolf2
Yes, Tam it's still me Glenn in Lost Angels land. I had a clean out of my cookies and the site wouldn't let me back so I re-registered as #2.
we've had a wonderful big rainstorm here. In 1 day we had more rain than last year. 06-07 was almost rainless. I was busy for first 2 weeks of Jan. ripping out part of my parent's house landscape and putting in new shrubs. It was a challenge and of course became more expensive than expected. but it looks really great. I got it done just days before the downpour started so all the organic mulch is fertilizing everything. I also came home with a cold and exhausted.
Even tho I had a great Mexican crew who were fast, I had a tough time keeping ahead. I haven't done serious landscaping in 30 years. Now to meet the renter Monday, she's an artist with local gallery and wanted a gated community and a north light in bedroom to work in. Bingo my parent's place is perfect. And they get more rent. Wohoo!
we've had a wonderful big rainstorm here. In 1 day we had more rain than last year. 06-07 was almost rainless. I was busy for first 2 weeks of Jan. ripping out part of my parent's house landscape and putting in new shrubs. It was a challenge and of course became more expensive than expected. but it looks really great. I got it done just days before the downpour started so all the organic mulch is fertilizing everything. I also came home with a cold and exhausted.
Even tho I had a great Mexican crew who were fast, I had a tough time keeping ahead. I haven't done serious landscaping in 30 years. Now to meet the renter Monday, she's an artist with local gallery and wanted a gated community and a north light in bedroom to work in. Bingo my parent's place is perfect. And they get more rent. Wohoo!
Posted on: 27 January 2008 by Tam
That's right, I had forgotten Giulini was in LA for a while. I believe there are some rather fine recordings (I think he did a number of the Beethoven symphonies), but I don't think I've actually got or heard any of them.
However, I agree completely with John. Giulini was slightly odd in that he had a rather narrow repertoire, but what he did he brought something very special to.
Britten's recording was with the LSO (though out here it has a black cover).
Sounds like you've been busy - I know the feeling. In November I took on the chairmanship of the committee that runs the festival venue I'm involved in here, which has turned out to be rather more work than I expected...
As a general note for anyone who likes Britten, Decca have issued a number of boxes of him (for the most part) conducting his own works. The first two contain the operas, the third has shorter dramatic works and the Requiem and the most recent has orchestral stuff. You get no texts but they are excellent value for money.
regards, Tam
However, I agree completely with John. Giulini was slightly odd in that he had a rather narrow repertoire, but what he did he brought something very special to.
Britten's recording was with the LSO (though out here it has a black cover).
Sounds like you've been busy - I know the feeling. In November I took on the chairmanship of the committee that runs the festival venue I'm involved in here, which has turned out to be rather more work than I expected...
As a general note for anyone who likes Britten, Decca have issued a number of boxes of him (for the most part) conducting his own works. The first two contain the operas, the third has shorter dramatic works and the Requiem and the most recent has orchestral stuff. You get no texts but they are excellent value for money.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 05 February 2008 by Wolf2
John is coming over in 2 days with the CD still sealed. He's never heard my system, this should be interesting. I made a lunch date with him and then my place about 2. That's because my neighbors will be gone at that time and we can turn it up. Wohoo!
Posted on: 05 February 2008 by Wolf2
John has told me stories about Giulini coming onstage as if in a trance, getting on the podium and from the first note you knew this was something special. It was before my time in LA, I've been here 12 years.
He said the Phil was a good average orchestra before but Giulini really taught them a lot and now with Salonen they've really got it down. tho one friend who's a cellist in the opera pit says he thinks Salonen has taken the lushness away. Well, whatever, I enjoy his presentation.
He said the Phil was a good average orchestra before but Giulini really taught them a lot and now with Salonen they've really got it down. tho one friend who's a cellist in the opera pit says he thinks Salonen has taken the lushness away. Well, whatever, I enjoy his presentation.
Posted on: 05 February 2008 by Tam
If you want to get an idea of what Giulini was like, I suggest you look for the EMI/BBC DVD of him conducting the Verdi Requiem. Yes it's black and the camera is such that fast movements blur occasionally but it captures a rather special sense of the passion he must have brought.
I heard Salonen when he brought the LA Phil to London recently, and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed (although they were in the midst of a pretty hectic touring schedule so it may have been an off night).
regards, Tam
I heard Salonen when he brought the LA Phil to London recently, and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed (although they were in the midst of a pretty hectic touring schedule so it may have been an off night).
regards, Tam
Posted on: 12 February 2008 by Wolf2
It might have been off nite or not your conductor, I'm not as knowledgable as you on music. One friend who's a cellist in the opera pit said he went to the same Tristan Project and didn't like his take on Wagner, thought it too cold. ah well.
John finally came over today, he's had back problems. Lunch and a listen to his Britten version of Requiem. It's the latest release which is remastered. It was great, Britten really made the LSO and chorus crack with suspense. Mazell was pretty languid at Disney.
He'd not really heard my system and in the afternoon I could turn it up as my apartment was uninhabited with others at work. Wow! He really nailed the Naim system. Said it was just right. and thought the mid and bass was great, no boom or muddled flabby bits. He also doesn't know what it all cost but said some people drive expensive cars, so what, I use it every day. He had been a producer at Delos for a while back in the 80s. I really enjoy his insights into music.
We used to go to a group on Wednesdays and listen to the classical station and either talk about the piece being played or I'd pick his brain about music. The group disbanded 3 years ago and I miss those talks on the boring freeway drives. He's played and sang in chorus of Requiem many times and cued me in on little details.
We're going to a Met HD performance at a theater this Saturday of Manon Leascault in AM. Hope I have that right, can't look it up. then that night we go to Verdi's Othello. I've never done an opera double header.
John finally came over today, he's had back problems. Lunch and a listen to his Britten version of Requiem. It's the latest release which is remastered. It was great, Britten really made the LSO and chorus crack with suspense. Mazell was pretty languid at Disney.
He'd not really heard my system and in the afternoon I could turn it up as my apartment was uninhabited with others at work. Wow! He really nailed the Naim system. Said it was just right. and thought the mid and bass was great, no boom or muddled flabby bits. He also doesn't know what it all cost but said some people drive expensive cars, so what, I use it every day. He had been a producer at Delos for a while back in the 80s. I really enjoy his insights into music.
We used to go to a group on Wednesdays and listen to the classical station and either talk about the piece being played or I'd pick his brain about music. The group disbanded 3 years ago and I miss those talks on the boring freeway drives. He's played and sang in chorus of Requiem many times and cued me in on little details.
We're going to a Met HD performance at a theater this Saturday of Manon Leascault in AM. Hope I have that right, can't look it up. then that night we go to Verdi's Othello. I've never done an opera double header.
Posted on: 13 February 2008 by fidelio
glenn and tam, i have an old friend who sang in the orange co. version of britten's war requiem, maybe six-seven years ago? that would be william hall. to be honest, i don't even recall what my opinion was, but i think they did some kind of video projections, and the boys choir was up in the balcony - but why be critical, tix were free ... i heard this woman do her senior recital for her music degree thirty years ago. sang debussy. very moving. sorry i missed it this time around, but i was away. would like to get a record of it, these days i get vinyl when i can. cheers, arite.
Posted on: 13 February 2008 by Wolf2
Well LA has really come on strong in the arts. Not only is Disney considered the best hall now, but the Phil gets great cudos for orchestras at least in the US.
I just came back from a preview of the new LACMA art "campus". It's fabulous. Some of Broad's personal collection is crap but many good rooms of one artist. like Johns, Raushenberg, Twombly.
The new installation of their permanent collection of 20th C American and European is jaw dropping. And a really nice small installation of California artists get their due in another area. Light and space that is mind blowing.
I can't say I'd want to live anywhere else in the world considering location, weather, music, arts. Just get that idiot out of the white house. He's ruined our economy as well as public services, welfare, security.
Ah well, this is a music forum...... sorry for the rant.
I just came back from a preview of the new LACMA art "campus". It's fabulous. Some of Broad's personal collection is crap but many good rooms of one artist. like Johns, Raushenberg, Twombly.
The new installation of their permanent collection of 20th C American and European is jaw dropping. And a really nice small installation of California artists get their due in another area. Light and space that is mind blowing.
I can't say I'd want to live anywhere else in the world considering location, weather, music, arts. Just get that idiot out of the white house. He's ruined our economy as well as public services, welfare, security.
Ah well, this is a music forum...... sorry for the rant.