link to blog review of Berlin Mahler-zyklus (Barenboim/Boulez)

[barry guerrero]

The following link has a pretty well written review of each performance at this year's Mahler cycle with the Staatskapelle Berlin (Barenboim and Boulez). Obviously, the reviewer very much liked what he heard. FYI.
http://boulezian.blogspot.com/search/label/Mahler

[Damfino]

The reviewer quoted one of those statements that makes no sense, yet sounds profound:

At the same time, both would probably agree with Theodor Adorno, who, in his essay Tradition, writes: ‘The difference between what is past and what is present … is not absolute. One can only understand Schoenberg if one understands Bach; one can only understand Bach if one understands Schoenberg.’

The part about understanding Bach only if you understand Schoenberg is the part that makes no sense to me.  I guess that means Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, et al did not understand Bach?  Maybe even Bach himself did not understand Bach?   

[Jot N. Tittle]

Go get 'em, Damfino!

It is not widely known that Adorno wrote in his sleep, using the wrong end of the pencil. 

     . & '

[barry guerrero]

I find it best to stear a wide path around Adorno's writings.