Comments on: grosse fugue op.133

By: r@d@r

r@d@r — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 03:38:01 +0000

monteverdi.

By: Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 17:10:30 +0000

Even better, the BBC Philharmonic are playing every one of his symphonies live at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, UK this month. In fact, the performance of the 9th you hear on Radio 3 might actually be a live performance from the Bridgewater, we shall wait and see.
Last Friday and Saturday were the 1st/3rd and 2nd/4th/5th respectively. I initially booked tickets for just the Friday, but after Eroica (one of my all time favourites) decided it would be churlish not to get stuck into the rest.
The remaining performances are on in mid-June. However, I for one feel that with the exception of the 3rd movement of the 7th, the best has probably passed. Nothing can top Eroica. Especially as the conductor of the beeb phil decided to rush the first movement of the 5th on Saturday and it sounded a touch muddled.
Plus, as much as I love Ludwig, my musical heart still lies loyal to the more lyrical music of Tallis or Saint-Saens. I am weak, I know.
Anyway, here’s to a week solid of BBC3 goodness.

By: hugh macleod

hugh macleod — Sun, 29 May 2005 10:09:05 +0000

Gabe, I like the Arditti interpretation because it’s just so utterly hard-edged “modern”. You can tell how ahead of his time Beethoven was, when you listen to it.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sun, 29 May 2005 09:16:59 +0000

Yep Hugh, #133, that’s the one that causes blindness while driving, for me anyway. That’s why I keep my Beethoven Late String Quartets CD in the house. (Incidentally performed by a 60s edition Guarneri Quartet…hope I’m getting a good “interpretation”.)

By: Tom Guarriello

Tom Guarriello — Sun, 29 May 2005 06:23:33 +0000

I've never heard this recording of the Grosse Fugue, Hugh, so I'll reserve judgment. However, my wife and I were fortunate enough to hear the Guarneri String Quartet play the complete Beethoven quartet cycle at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art several years ago. These four musicians played together for over 30 years before David Soyer, their magnificent cellist, retired a couple of years ago. Their performances were absolutely sublime. Here's their recording of Op. 133. http://tinyurl.com/bffey Enjoy!