tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post8718439020463180109..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: Bells and farewellsDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-4953139967264940872011-03-06T22:41:19.337+00:002011-03-06T22:41:19.337+00:00On bells, Wagner had large gong- like bells made f...On bells, Wagner had large gong- like bells made for Parsifal - one can hear them on pre-war recordings. But in WWII they were melted down to make weapons of war ( which were not lingering)- I have often wondered if the Fuhrer was informed. So the post war recordings have other percussion effects to compensate until a brilliant billionairess gave a large sum for a production of Parsifal to include a remaking of the gongs. Such is just one justification for inherited wealthDavid Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-66098968525962691032011-02-27T17:31:09.221+00:002011-02-27T17:31:09.221+00:00I guess that comment's for Will, Jim, as none ...I guess that comment's for Will, Jim, as none of us here in Europe wants to lose Nezet-Seguin entirely to the States and we try not to care too much about the Met (much as its adherents think we should). I certainly don't want Our Tony Pappano going there either, as he won't be able to replicate what he's been doing at the Royal Opera.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-74359741045202050652011-02-27T17:04:52.385+00:002011-02-27T17:04:52.385+00:00I would prefer Nezet-Seguin were NOT chosen as the...I would prefer Nezet-Seguin were NOT chosen as the new music director of the Met. Why should his talent be tied to the enormous administrative duties of running a major opera house. Being music director of Philly isn't enough. We've seen what being two music directors of major institutions has done to Levine. Furthermore don't you think Peter Gelb, gen. manager of the Met might be feeling burned by the history of the past years with Levine being seemingly in two places at once, if not the third being the hospital?<br /><br />Let Yannick conduct to his heart's content without the burden of paperwork.Jim Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15365146914115121223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53277486325981812452011-02-25T19:51:42.746+00:002011-02-25T19:51:42.746+00:00Yes, the music centre stays, fortunately, although...Yes, the music centre stays, fortunately, although there will be savage cuts. I have not been back to your blog as often since that wonderful Roberta Alexander write up you did!<br /><br />Schwanewilms should be great - the only opera I heard her in thus far was Genoveva, but her Strauss songs are fabulous.<br /><br />Succes with the liner notes, and I will keep on reading you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-10083103084623916662011-02-25T19:46:51.827+00:002011-02-25T19:46:51.827+00:00I'd come for Schwanewilms - but can Kozena cut...I'd come for Schwanewilms - but can Kozena cut the mustard, I wonder? Anyway, it's good that the Rotterdam orchestra still seems to get the funding it deserves to attract conductors like YNS and Rattle. I'm still in the dark about the outcome over the music centre, though I supported it with the petition etc.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-34740312654696197342011-02-25T19:43:21.787+00:002011-02-25T19:43:21.787+00:00Me too! They did a fabulous La mer with YNS earli...Me too! They did a fabulous La mer with YNS earlier this month, followed by a rousing Prokofiev 5th. At the Netherlands Opera they will do Rosenkavalier this summer, not with Edo de Waart, unfortunately – love that recording – but with Rattle and Kozena. Luckily also with Anne Schwanewilms and Sally Mathhews.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-20557271030795632532011-02-25T19:22:58.197+00:002011-02-25T19:22:58.197+00:00I adore the Rotterdam Phil! Last heard them live i...I adore the Rotterdam Phil! Last heard them live in the Gergiev Prokofiev festival, but two of my favourite discs are of their Strauss - orchestral opera rarities conducted by, yes, Jeffrey Tate, and the Rosenkavalier with Edo de Waart. <br /><br />I don't know if the Netherlands Winds Ensemble featured any of the same players, but it's also good news that their Strauss wind works double is being issued on CD - I know this because I have to write the notes in a week's time.<br /><br />Good news about Miah Persson - you'll probably get Jon, who sometimes posts here, travelling to Rotterdam for that if he can - and not so good about the Arch Lady, though a Yannick L'enfant would be otherwise bewitching. Hope he records it with someone else.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-28986798029469021972011-02-25T19:17:50.327+00:002011-02-25T19:17:50.327+00:00Nezet-Seguin will do an Enfant et les sortileges w...Nezet-Seguin will do an Enfant et les sortileges with Lady R next season, in Rotterdam. He will also play the piano there for the first time, the Brahms - Liesbeslieder- Walzer with Miah Persson. Great to have him around the corner, for as long as it lasts. Loved reading this, thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-61805566850002471072011-02-24T22:45:32.879+00:002011-02-24T22:45:32.879+00:00The playing of the Berlioz bells (with added gongs...The playing of the Berlioz bells (with added gongs) is a wonderful little vignette.Mordecainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-7515225844957628752011-02-24T22:24:21.893+00:002011-02-24T22:24:21.893+00:00I'd have said the shortcomings were more appar...I'd have said the shortcomings were more apparent in the Festival Hall concert, Roger. I'm always willing to be wooed - and I was won over on Monday at the Barbican - but the lack of line and rubato worries me. Strengths, though, should be obvious, and you've put your finger on several of them.<br /><br />As for Lady R, maybe her characterisation of Melisande may have captured some of the wide-eyed, twitchy craziness she so bizarrely brought to the Ruckert Lieder in Lucerne (just watched the DVD). But I have to say that her Ravel Sheherazade with hubby at the Philharmonie - a concert I was so achingly looking forward to - had to be one of the worst song performances of anything I've ever heard. Sans line, sans diction, sans tone colour...you name it.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-15834712271960944862011-02-24T17:11:37.585+00:002011-02-24T17:11:37.585+00:00I've never understood why some musical friends...I've never understood why some musical friends have to be so rude about S Rattle's conducting. Certainly he's better at some things than others, but he has a tremendously wide repertoire, which he's never afraid to expand. And sometimes, having started out rather unpromisingly (eg with Brahms), he turns out to be good in due course. Is it because he's a genuine showman/communicator?Roger Neillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16716925882482994792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53602143842583375662011-02-24T12:07:56.163+00:002011-02-24T12:07:56.163+00:00As you may well be aware, Yannick Nezet-Seguin is ...As you may well be aware, Yannick Nezet-Seguin is widely believed in NYC to be on the very short list, or to be the actual choice, to succeed James Levine at the MET when the time comes. Everything he's given us so far has been on an extremely high level indeed, with this season's Con Carlo being particularly admired.<br /><br />Lady R. had quite a good outing as Melisande here earlier in the season. Not Mahler, of course, but a very strong accomplishment.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279473113628377106noreply@blogger.com