Favorite Orchestras/performers/conductors in classical music?

***Det_Nosnip*** · 10-14-2005, 10:52 AM

Ok, people can list off their favorite composers with general ease, but how about the actual people who perform those pieces today? I've heard some pieces performed by two different ensembles before, and the difference was rather pronounced...I LOVED the first version, and hated the second! It occured to me that, if the same piece can be performed so differently by two different groups, perhaps we should take care when exploring different composers, as a bad performance may unfairly reflect poorly upon the composer.

So...especially you buffs, do you have any orchestras, conductors, or in the case of solo pieces, performers that you feel consistently represent the music effectively? What are some of the characteristics of some of the major orchestras (e.g. London Symphony, Chicago, San Francisco, etc)? I've noticed that some orchestras tend to be heavier and more dramatic than others, which tends to cater to my tastes a bit better.

***morrissey*** · 10-14-2005, 06:49 PM

Tbqh I'm not well-versed in any of the major orchestras, I haven't really paid attention to their individualities. I will read over this thread though as it gets more replies to see which ones appeal to me the most.

***Zappa*** · 10-14-2005, 07:06 PM

I trust Bernstein.

even if they were canadian · 10-14-2005, 09:05 PM

I don't know of any specific orchestras that appeal to me, but I have definitely heard major variations between various orchestras. I have three versions of a mozart concerto, and they are all completely different. One of them is played quite a bit slower than the other two, and the difference in tone of the soloist is really a lot more than I would have though. I also tend to like a more dramatic feel.

Ned · 10-15-2005, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappa

I trust Bernstein.

Never trust the affected, narcissistic Bernstein, especially late Bernstein (to say nothing of the late Bernstein). My favorite conductor is Andre Previn.

***Det_Nosnip*** · 10-16-2005, 10:25 PM

Hmm...any examples of pieces that he conducted particularly well?

what · 10-20-2005, 08:36 PM

I think Bernstein conducted Pictures at an Exhibition pretty good.

I like how Boulez conducted and London Philarmonic played Rite of Spring.

Haitnik was also good in Rite of Spring.

I like a lot of Russian conductors and orchestras, they seem to put a lot more into music.

PDWAB · 10-20-2005, 08:53 PM

I'm pretty partial to Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony seeing as that's the only major symphony I am somewhat familiar with. Although I have a few George Czell recordings with the... uh.. Chicago? Symphony and I dig those a lot too.

Mazeppa · 10-21-2005, 11:55 AM

My favourite pianist is [URL="http://www.princeton.edu/~gpmenos/biography.html"]Claudio Arrau[/url]. I have the Beethoven sonatas played by him and they are wonderfull, definitely better then other recording I have heard.

Ned · 10-22-2005, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Det Nosnip

Hmm...any examples of pieces that he conducted particularly well?

Previn (along with Adrian Boult and former Saint Louis Symphony leader Leonard Slatkin) is one of the foremost interpreters of Ralph Vaughan Williams. His Shostokovich Fifth Symphony and his Beethoven Seventh Symphony are revelatory.

bassaholica2004 · 11-09-2005, 12:11 AM

I heard Bernstein's version of Beethoven's 7th Symphony and I thought it was amazing. While we're on the subject, does anyone know any more symphonies or conductors that are very powerful or dramtic as the 7th Symphony? What I've been looking for in Classical music is sadder, downbeat mournful stuff, but I'm having a trouble finding some. Can anyone help me?

***joshmay*** · 11-09-2005, 06:15 PM

bernstein is rad

kzrysztof penderecki is a 20th century composer whose work i find AMAZING (a polish requiem, threnody for the victims of hiroshima)

what · 11-10-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassaholica2004

I heard Bernstein's version of Beethoven's 7th Symphony and I thought it was amazing. While we're on the subject, does anyone know any more symphonies or conductors that are very powerful or dramtic as the 7th Symphony? What I've been looking for in Classical music is sadder, downbeat mournful stuff, but I'm having a trouble finding some. Can anyone help me?

Look into Russian conductors, espescially Evgeny Mravisnky, there's also a checzh (sp?) conductor Karel Ancerl

Shostakovich wrote a lot of very dark music, his 5th Symphony is very heavy piece.

Editl: yeh, Penderecki is crazy, I've heard of a pice he wrote for a choir which is all sung in quarter tones... but I haven't heard it yet.

hatebreeder · 11-11-2005, 03:22 PM

as far as preformers Norbert Kraft and Xuefie Yang are incredible guitarists to see or hear live or on cd, Composers : Charles Ives, Igor Stravinsky, Pagannini, Mendelssohn.

Lady Lex · 11-13-2005, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappa

I trust Bernstein.

Whilst I find Leonard a bit OTT (*over the top - sorry) I have to laugh: if he hasnt orgasmed at some point, it hasnt been worth it

Favourite Conductors: Toscannini and Simone Young.

My favourite classical moment: Horowizt performing Tachikovsky Bb concerto with Toscannini: EXPLOSIVE!

Lady Lex · 11-13-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by what

I like a lot of Russian conductors and orchestras, they seem to put a lot more into music.

They do hey - and I suspect that has to do with their backgrounds. Music was so important during the communist regime. Tho Shostokovich *sigh.. such beauty

Russians are extremely passionate too - and I have to wonder if thats from the Vodka or the cold

bassaholica2004 · 11-19-2005, 12:21 AM

Does anyone know of any sites where I can download Classical music for free? This would let me know which conductors and stuff I like, and what CD's to get. Sites with samples (preferably long samples) would be really cool too. Thanks.

Ned · 11-19-2005, 01:42 AM

Once upon a time I compared a recording of Bernstein conducting and playing piano on Rhapsody in Blue to a recording of Andre Previn conducting and playing piano on the same piece. The Previn recording was in every respect better, but two things struck me in particular. At one point Bernstein's piano goes into swing eighths, on the ostensible ground that Gershwin is jazz. In fact, Gershwin's conception of jazz rhythm was much closer to ragtime, which Previn, an accomplished jazz pianist himself, knew very well. At another point the Bernstein recording has a glaring wrong note which Bernstein decided to leave, presumably because he thought punching-in over it would destroy the spontaneity or expressive continuity of the performance, which to my mind is greatly to over-prize it. McCoy Tyner plays a wrong note in his solo on the John Coltrane recording of "My Favorite Things", and it's left, as well it needs to be, but that's jazz--where spontaneity and expressive continuity are all.

Milan Kundera (author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being but trained as a composer and son of an internationally famous Czech pianist and musicologist) devotes a conspicuous section of his Testaments Betrayed to what he views, convincingly, as Bernstein's unforgivable distortion of The Rite of Spring.

~~Relmar~~ · 11-19-2005, 01:02 PM

Bernsteid here.

Ned · 11-20-2005, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relmar

Bernsteid here.

I hope you sprayed.

10-14-2005, 10:52 AM	#1
*Det_Nosnip* Coltrane minus Coltrane Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 16,531	Favorite Orchestras/performers/conductors in classical music? Ok, people can list off their favorite composers with general ease, but how about the actual people who perform those pieces today? I've heard some pieces performed by two different ensembles before, and the difference was rather pronounced...I LOVED the first version, and hated the second! It occured to me that, if the same piece can be performed so differently by two different groups, perhaps we should take care when exploring different composers, as a bad performance may unfairly reflect poorly upon the composer. So...especially you buffs, do you have any orchestras, conductors, or in the case of solo pieces, performers that you feel consistently represent the music effectively? What are some of the characteristics of some of the major orchestras (e.g. London Symphony, Chicago, San Francisco, etc)? I've noticed that some orchestras tend to be heavier and more dramatic than others, which tends to cater to my tastes a bit better.

10-14-2005, 06:49 PM	#2
*morrissey* Pictoral Pontification Supermod Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: I don't need luck Posts: 10,999	Tbqh I'm not well-versed in any of the major orchestras, I haven't really paid attention to their individualities. I will read over this thread though as it gets more replies to see which ones appeal to me the most.
	Digging: Taylor Swift - Fearless

10-14-2005, 07:06 PM	#3
*Zappa* Tatiana Ali! Supermod Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Alongside Posts: 9,992	I trust Bernstein. __________________ "The present-day composer refuses to die"— Edgar Varèse "I don't want to sell my music. I'd like give it away because where I got it, you didn't have to pay for it"—Captain Beefheart Golden rule for music: "if it sounds good to you, it's bitchen. If it sounds bad to you, it's sh[i][/i]itty."—Frank Zappa

10-14-2005, 09:05 PM	#4
even if they were canadian lolcat Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Watertown, NY Posts: 2,195	I don't know of any specific orchestras that appeal to me, but I have definitely heard major variations between various orchestras. I have three versions of a mozart concerto, and they are all completely different. One of them is played quite a bit slower than the other two, and the difference in tone of the soloist is really a lot more than I would have though. I also tend to like a more dramatic feel. Last edited by even if they were canadian; 10-14-2005 at 09:09 PM.

11-09-2005, 06:15 PM	#12
*joshmay* ob la di, ob la da! Supermod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: falcon, kentucky. Posts: 12,665	bernstein is rad kzrysztof penderecki is a 20th century composer whose work i find AMAZING (a polish requiem, threnody for the victims of hiroshima) __________________ i'm so miserable without you, it's almost like having you here.
	Digging: Zoroaster - The Voice of Saturn

10-16-2005, 10:25 PM	#6
*Det_Nosnip* Coltrane minus Coltrane Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 16,531	Hmm...any examples of pieces that he conducted particularly well?

10-20-2005, 08:36 PM	#7
what fcuking rashan Join Date: May 2004 Location: Russia, St. Petersburg Posts: 5,440	I think Bernstein conducted Pictures at an Exhibition pretty good. I like how Boulez conducted and London Philarmonic played Rite of Spring. Haitnik was also good in Rite of Spring. I like a lot of Russian conductors and orchestras, they seem to put a lot more into music.

10-20-2005, 08:53 PM	#8
PDWAB Rock It Out Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: University of Washington Posts: 18,060	I'm pretty partial to Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony seeing as that's the only major symphony I am somewhat familiar with. Although I have a few George Czell recordings with the... uh.. Chicago? Symphony and I dig those a lot too.

10-21-2005, 11:55 AM	#9
Mazeppa Molto Appassionato Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Avec la Fée Posts: 7,238	My favourite pianist is [URL="http://www.princeton.edu/~gpmenos/biography.html"]Claudio Arrau[/url]. I have the Beethoven sonatas played by him and they are wonderfull, definitely better then other recording I have heard.

11-09-2005, 12:11 AM	#11
bassaholica2004 Mardraum Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,670	I heard Bernstein's version of Beethoven's 7th Symphony and I thought it was amazing. While we're on the subject, does anyone know any more symphonies or conductors that are very powerful or dramtic as the 7th Symphony? What I've been looking for in Classical music is sadder, downbeat mournful stuff, but I'm having a trouble finding some. Can anyone help me?

11-11-2005, 03:22 PM	#14
hatebreeder El Torpedo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 242	as far as preformers Norbert Kraft and Xuefie Yang are incredible guitarists to see or hear live or on cd, Composers : Charles Ives, Igor Stravinsky, Pagannini, Mendelssohn.

11-19-2005, 12:21 AM	#17
bassaholica2004 Mardraum Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,670	Does anyone know of any sites where I can download Classical music for free? This would let me know which conductors and stuff I like, and what CD's to get. Sites with samples (preferably long samples) would be really cool too. Thanks.

11-19-2005, 01:42 AM	#18
Ned Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,572	Once upon a time I compared a recording of Bernstein conducting and playing piano on Rhapsody in Blue to a recording of Andre Previn conducting and playing piano on the same piece. The Previn recording was in every respect better, but two things struck me in particular. At one point Bernstein's piano goes into swing eighths, on the ostensible ground that Gershwin is jazz. In fact, Gershwin's conception of jazz rhythm was much closer to ragtime, which Previn, an accomplished jazz pianist himself, knew very well. At another point the Bernstein recording has a glaring wrong note which Bernstein decided to leave, presumably because he thought punching-in over it would destroy the spontaneity or expressive continuity of the performance, which to my mind is greatly to over-prize it. McCoy Tyner plays a wrong note in his solo on the John Coltrane recording of "My Favorite Things", and it's left, as well it needs to be, but that's jazz--where spontaneity and expressive continuity are all. Milan Kundera (author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being but trained as a composer and son of an internationally famous Czech pianist and musicologist) devotes a conspicuous section of his Testaments Betrayed to what he views, convincingly, as Bernstein's unforgivable distortion of The Rite of Spring.

11-19-2005, 01:02 PM	#19
~~Relmar~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 5,666	Bernsteid here.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread: