Harding/VPO M10 (Cooke) on the way from DG?

[barry guerrero]

According to Vincent Mouret's site, there's going to be a Daniel Harding/Vienna Phil. M10 coming from DG in '08. Maybe it'll just be a digital download, which ain't a bad thing.

Barry

[Leo K]

Although I desire other versions than Cooke, I'm all for more M10's...thats for certain!


Thanks for this news.  I did enjoy a broadcast of Hardings' M9 a ways back.

--Leo

[John Kim]

Good! I liked Harding's M10 with FRSO broadcast several years ago. Cogent, well structured, warm but appropriately dynamic.

But I thought DG was going to release Harding's M9th with Stattskapell Dresden Orch.??

John,

[barry guerrero]

I have a pirated burn-job of Harding's Vienna M10, and it's really very good. However, since it's the standard Cooke edition, it really doesn't sound much different than Rattle's two efforts - especially since they both favor quicker tempi in the faster bits. Funny thing, but the VPO actually sound better on the somewhat thinned-out Cooke version of M10, than they usually do in the thickly scored 9th symphony. They always seem to get somewhat bogged down in lots of thickness of sound - and thus, thick textures - in the 9th symphony.

[John Kim]

Since VPO had never recorded M10th before this recording and I am very curious how they will sound in this music, I'd definitely try it when it comes out.

John,

[cilea]

It's now on the DG website:

http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/result?COMP_ID=&sort=newest&ALBUM_TYPE=&SearchString=&IN_SERIES=&ART_ID=&IN_XXAWARDS=&PRODUCT_NR=4777347&start=0&IN_XXSERIES=&IN_XXPQ=&MOZART_22=0&GENRE=&per_page=10

[barry guerrero]

I'm quite impressed with the pirate that I have of this. The two scherzos are terrific, and the VPO play their collective butts off. But like Rattle and Gielen, Harding strikes me as being a bit too slow with all of the string dominated, Merchant-Ivory soundtrack music that happens in the back half of the fifth movement. That music really needs to move, and sound more impassioned. But beyond that, this performance is really good.

[John Kim]

I'm quite impressed with the pirate that I have of this. The two scherzos are terrific, and the VPO play their collective butts off. But like Rattle and Gielen, Harding strikes me as being a bit too slow with all of the string dominated, Merchant-Ivory soundtrack music that happens in the back half of the fifth movement. That music really needs to move, and sound more impassioned. But beyond that, this performance is really good.

Barry,

I cannot agree with more on the fifth movt. I really want the second half of the movt. move rather swiftly. This is why I adore Litton/DSO/Delos so much, albeit it's Carpenter's edition. OTOH, Levine's Philadelphia recording nearly killed the music with his sloooooooow tempo.

John,

[barry guerrero]

I think it's big mistake to think that all of that string dominated music - the last 15 minutes of the symphony - is suddenly a redux of Mahler 9. If anything, I believe that Mahler is expressing almost the exact opposite. The symphony isn't about Alma, or even a portrait of Alma (bleeeechhh!). Instead, it's about Mahler! - Mahler's impassioned feelings for Alma, and Mahler's desire to live on. It's pretty much the exact same point that folks have made for years about the Adagietto to M5.

[Leo K]

I think it's big mistake to think that all of that string dominated music - the last 15 minutes of the symphony - is suddenly a redux of Mahler 9. If anything, I believe that Mahler is expressing almost the exact opposite. The symphony isn't about Alma, or even a portrait of Alma (bleeeechhh!). Instead, it's about Mahler! - Mahler's impassioned feelings for Alma, and Mahler's desire to live on. It's pretty much the exact same point that folks have made for years about the Adagietto to M5.

I couldn't agree more on this.


--Todd

[sperlsco]

I'm quite impressed with the pirate that I have of this. The two scherzos are terrific, and the VPO play their collective butts off. But like Rattle and Gielen, Harding strikes me as being a bit too slow with all of the string dominated, Merchant-Ivory soundtrack music that happens in the back half of the fifth movement. That music really needs to move, and sound more impassioned. But beyond that, this performance is really good.

Barry,

I cannot agree with more on the fifth movt. I really want the second half of the movt. move rather swiftly. This is why I adore Litton/DSO/Delos so much, albeit it's Carpenter's edition. OTOH, Levine's Philadelphia recording nearly killed the music with his sloooooooow tempo.

John,

I agree entirely regarding Litton and Levine.  However, I don't remember feeling that Gielen is that slow in the final movement.  IIRC, he's a good three minutes faster than Rattle/Berlin.  Regardless, I absolutely love the finale in Litton/Carpenter's hands.