Eduard Tubin
Fri, Nov 11 2011, 1:03AM
#2
RE: Eduard Tubin
According to the Danes (and not only), Gade was their greatest composer of 19th century. He was respected by his fellow composers in and out of the country (Mendelssohn, Schumann, to mention at least two) and he was the teacher and mentor of Grieg and Nielsen.
He was an extremely prolific composer with consistent and very straightforward kind of works. His chamber music was very interesting and still fascinates the players and can please the audience, whenever performed. The piano music and songs too. The Symphonies may lack a sort of originality, but they are fun, anyway.
For the record, only (and possibly for those who wish to give a shot).
Parla
Yeah, right. That is why it is so difficult to choose between the many recording of his music, particularly the symphonies, so great is his continuing popularity.
Tell me, what is your favourite cycle? For myself, I veer towards the Hogwood set.
Incidentally, Sterndale Bennett was respected by the very same composers but that doesn't make his music anything more than the tosh it is.
Fri, Nov 11 2011, 1:10AM
#3
RE: Eduard Tubin
Not so much Mozart, easy-peasy, but Rachmaninov. I think I have bought and sold more discs of this composer than any other.
Did you ever try the old Svetlanov or Kondrashin recordings? Rach has to be played all out, heart on the sleeve, brass going nuts. At the same time it's easy to lose the shape of the music as Previn did in his series (and with just about every other composer). Outside of the Russians, the only conductor I consistently like in Rachmaninov is Litton.
Yes I did. Both of these Russians are among my favourite conductors.
Kondrashin died young and Svetlanov's discography is phenomenal. I have his complete Miaskovsky and Rach's 1st symphony and Isle of the Dead, still.
I return to the Previn 2nd on occasion.
The only other works I have are Michelangeli's famous 4th piano concerto and a cheap, Russian, 3rd symphony.
He quit in 1980 in a huff. I'd have thought you and he would have had a rare old time yakking eachother's ears off about what a shambolic outfit that is and how etc. etc. etc. etc..
Without a doubt, Simpson has his overly-academic moments and even works. A little more cutting loose and soul-baring wouldn't have come amiss. But you can't tar the whole canon with that brush.