What are you listening to right now?
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 8:39PM
#2
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Parla
I would offer the Berg concerto as one to join your list of finest - it just is such a beautiful, marvellous work - only Wozzeck and maybe the Three Orchestral Pieces strie me as being of similar quality in Berg's output (whihc generally I find overall to be incredibly rich).
Thu, Oct 11 2012, 11:05PM
#3
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Oistrakh.
Fri, Oct 12 2012, 1:43AM
#4
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Brahms' Violin Concerto is the one of the three peaks of the repertory (the other are Beethoven's and Tchaikovsky's).
None of the above is as good as Mendelssohn's. Quite a few 20th-century works equal or surpass them too. Beethoven's is particularly overrated; for me one of the least convincing of his major works.
Fri, Oct 12 2012, 3:44PM
#5
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Naupilus, Berg's Concerto is a peak of the 20th century, but I cannot possibly find how it can be considered alongside the greatest Classical ones. The form, the concept, the scope, the writing are so different.
I'm glad, Guillaume, if you consider Mendelssohn's as the only one "peak" of the Violin Concertos. Depending on how you may defend your position, it may be true. I wonder, though, which are the "quite a few" 20th century works "equal" or 'surpassing' (!) the three Classic greats.
The reason I mentioned these three Concertos (Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky) as the "peaks" of the Violin Concerto are based on the following facts:
-All three are following a similar form of the Grand Concerto: a huge, grandiose, almost epic First movement, with very impressive and exciting orchestral passages. The violin soloist has an enormous task to handle in this First movement, ending with some very demanding musically and technically cadenzas. The slow movements are lyrical but of utmost beauty and clarity as well as musicality. The Finales are fast, technically dazzling and rhythmically very exhilarating.
-All three are in D major, a bright key and "friendly" to violin, based on its normal tuning of its open strings, adding enough richness and splendour in the sound of the instrument. The orchestration is identical to all three, with the exception of one additional flute and two horns in the case of Brahms and Tchaikovsky. The treatment of the orchestration presents quite a few similarities, leading to the maximum splendour of the orchestral sound.
-In these concertos, the soloist has to "shine" in a very challenging orchestral environment, where he may feel almost as a sort of primus inter pares.
-Most of the greatest violinists deal with these works at the height of their maturity and artistry or with a view to proving that.
Mendelssohn's Concerto is close to the above characteristics, but it is somehow a much shorter work, albeit very demanding, innovative and exciting work. The scope and the whole form as well as the structure are, however, a bit smaller.
Parla
Sat, Nov 24 2012, 8:14PM
#6
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Brahms' Violin Concerto is the one of the three peaks of the repertory (the other are Beethoven's and Tchaikovsky's).
Agree with Parla on Brahms and to some extent with Guillaume on Beethoven. Apart from the slow movement it does not for me approach his piano concerti. I would cite Elgar as one of peaks.
Wed, Nov 28 2012, 7:05PM
#7
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Alexander Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto No. 4 on Spotify:
http://open.spotify.com/album/3GnWKkfvBGo1uqqJLRY7a6
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 4:05AM
#8
RE: What are you listening to right now?
The wonderful Szymanowski String Quartet N° 2 op. 56
Beautiful piece of modern music!
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 12:06PM
#9
RE: What are you listening to right now?
I can't see how anyone can find the Beethoven violin concerto "overrated" or even inferior to his piano concertos.
To me, it's the absolute pinnacle of the concertos - and not only Beethoven's.
Just take that opening, with the four timpani beats preparing you for one of Beethoven's most gorgeous melodies - and for 40 minutes more of Beethoven in his most inspired and generous mood.
If there's one concerto in parla's "top three" that's overrated, it's the Tchaikowski. Hanslick for once was right about this one.
@Tom, wonderful indeed. Szymanowski is still underrated, he should by now be regarded as one of the greatest early 20th century modernists. And talking about violin concertos, his two concertos are among the best of the 20th century. I once analyzed the 4th symphony (a fascinating symphony/piano concerto hybrid) for theory class, and the deeper you dig into a piece like this, the more you're amazed by the richness and quality of it.
Too bad his music will always be too complex and difficult for the masses to understand.
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 1:26PM
#10
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Beethoven is a composer I admire rather then love,but the violin concerto is the exception to my rule.It is the greatest violin concerto in the repertoire,and a work,no matter how many times I listen, never tire of it.
I wholeheartedly agree with Naupilus in his praise for the Berg concerto - not the easiest piece to get to know,but with a little perseverance,magic awaits.I used to think the Prokofiev second was the greatest violin concerto of the 20th century.Not any more,it's Berg for me.
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 3:58PM
#11
RE: What are you listening to right now?
If there's one concerto...that's overrated, it's the Tchaikovsky.
Indeed. As I think most reasonable listeners would agree.
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 6:02PM
#12
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Most "reasonable" listeners? On which grounds "reasonable"?
In any case, most violinists, scholars, experts or professionals would disagree that Tchaikovsky' Violin Concerto is overrated. It is fully idiomatic, brilliantly orchestrated (a common feature of this composer) and on a very large scale (only the first movement is a concerto on its own).
Eventually, Beethoven's Violin Concerto is properly defended. Thanks for your valuable contribution, 50m.
Parla
Wed, Dec 5 2012, 7:45PM
#13
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Too bad his music will always be too complex and difficult for the masses to understand.
Oh dear. We have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Thu, Dec 6 2012, 11:32AM
#14
RE: What are you listening to right now?
Too bad his music will always be too complex and difficult for the masses to understand.
Oh dear. We have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
Tagalie, it goes without saying that everyone who posts at this, the Mount Olympus of classical music fora, will pass with flying colors ;)
Granted, my statement sounded a bit too elitist - but Szymanowski's music often DOES require repeated listening to find the hidden depths beneath the hermetic surface.
It's the kind of music that keeps surprising you, no matter how often you listen to it. To me, that alone is a benchmark of quality. Too bad our modern society's fast-paced consumerism doesn't have patience anymore with this musical equivalent of "slow food".
Thu, Dec 6 2012, 4:47PM
#15
RE: What are you listening to right now?
No problem 50m, but you did set yourself up for a bit of a poke with that one.
I have to confess Szymanowski's music continues to leave me cold, and that perplexes me. He's the only early/mid 20th century Eastern European composer I don't thoroughly enjoy and my attempts to get into his music go back to an ancient Heliodor lp I bought as a student, coupling his first VC with Wieniawski's second. I keep trying. Lately I've been walking around with his string quartets on my portable.
Hope springs eternal. I'm sure we've all got stories of composers who've suddenly clicked after years of failing to register with us.
Brahms' Violin Concerto is the one of the three peaks of the repertory (the other are Beethoven's and Tchaikovsky's). So, practically every violinist has recorded it; the great ones even more than once. So, you can choose at will.
I could give you only indicative suggestions, to go a bit further from the only one recording you have.
From the big old and very great names, I strongly believe Oistrach is the one to go after. There are quite a few recordings with him, but the one with G. Szell and the Cleveland Orch. (on EMI), in a quite impressive transfer on SACD, is the one to have. There is, in this double set, the Double Concerto by Brahms with Rostropovich as well as Beethoven's Violin Concerto and the Triple one (with Richter, Rostropovich and BPO under Karajan). For a cheaper solution, there is a very good recording again with Oistrach under Kondrashin, from his years in Russia, in a new pressing from Regis (it contains also Dvorak's Concerto).
If you wish to go further in the past, Milstein under Steinberg and the Pittsburgh S.O., on EMI, is a great one. No much praise for the old recording.
From these great masters, Szeryng had a superb reading of the work under Haitink and the RCO (from early 70s), now on Newton.
Going a bit forward, I trust Mutter has this Concerto in her blood. I have seen her live and she was superb, in every way. I guess you may try her first recording of the work with Karajan and the BPO.
From the very recent ones, I enjoy pretty much the one on Pentatone, in brilliant SACD, with Julia Fischer under the late Kreizberg. Very impressive and utterly detailed reading and recording. Gil Shaham under Abbado and the BPO, on DG, is a very solid performance, in a very good and analytical recording.
Finally, for a more lean but brilliant performance, you may try either Christian Teztlaff (a great violinist of our time) under Dausgaard, on Virgin, or Thomas Zehetmair (another excellent soloist) with Northern Sinfonia, on Avie.
I hope you have something to explore, if you're that interested.
Parla