Anyone heard Chailly/Decca recording of Schumann/Mahler 2 & 4 yet?

[barry guerrero]

Hi there,

I'm very curious about this new Chailly recording of the Mahler orchestrations of Schumann's 2nd and 4th symphonies. I plan to pick this up soon. But so far, I haven't seen any reviews of it. Anybody heard it yet?

Barry

[sperlsco]

I purchased it from HMV.Jp a few weeks ago.  I haven't typed any impressions of it because I have little basis of comparison in Schumann symphonies.  Although I have a few cycles (including another version of the Mahler orchestrations by some second/third tier orchestra), I've never made much of an effort to get into the Schumann symphonies.  That said, the Chailly performances strike me as highly enjoyable, but I am an admitted shill for the conductor.  The LGO is a phenomenal orchestra under him.  I consider their release of the Brahms Piano Concertos with Nelson Freire to be one of my best purchases of 2006.  The sound quality on both the Schumann and Brahms are nothing short of exceptional. 

[barry guerrero]

Yes, well that's precisely why it bugs me when people get all hyped up on the Berlin Phil. There are really many orchestras in Germany that are top drawer. Even the other orchestras in Berlin are quite good. The Gewandhaus is certainly one of best ones - always has been. I like the Staatskapelle Dresden in pretty much any and all of the standard Austro/German repertoire.

Barry

[sperlsco]

There are really many orchestras in Germany that are top drawer. Even the other orchestras in Berlin are quite good.
Barry

Sure.  In fact, I'd expect that you should have more good orchestras "per capita" in Germany than in the US.  Besides the obvious historical aspect of classical music in Germany, I'm guessing that that it is better supported there (both publicly and via the government).  So, just as I can list a dozen+ world class orchestras in the US, I can easily do the same thing in Germany. 

OTOH, I would expect that the US has Germany beaten hands down when it comes to country music.   

[barry guerrero]

Yeah, but they're about to get a healthy dose of Keith Urban.




Keith Urban, out of rehab for alcohol abuse, to launch world tour in April

[Wunderhorn]

Perhaps it is like this. In High School in America you have nerds, punks, jocks. But in Germany it is nerds, punks, jock, intellectuals.  This is the only way to explain it. Their tradition and large background in the arts stands firm and they teach it in their schools!

[barry guerrero]

Wellll, yes and no. I'm told that there are plenty of symphony concerts in Germany, given by orchestras that are greatly state subsidized, that are very poorly attended. Now maybe that's wrong information, but I actually suspect that there's a fair amount of truth to that. Undoubtedly, there is more exposure to "the arts" in German schools than in American schools, in general. But that doesn't mean that all of those young Germans will become consumers of high art. I suspect that Keith Urban will do just fine there. What I AM happy about, is that American jazz is generally well received in Europe and Japan. Although, audiences for jazz seem to be increasing slightly here as well.

Barry

[Wunderhorn]

'The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.' This is a popular saying. I know that I am no great brain yet I am able to understand great achievements in music just as I know everyone is capable of. The question is why the hell don't they?  It actually pains me........

[barry guerrero]

What disturbs me, is that there's something called the Institute For Promoting Popular Culture - something like that. They're out of L.A. Why would something that's already popular need promoting? I've read somewhere, that they've actually been a shadowy and important player behind the scenes during these Bush/Cheyney years. They were heavily involved in trying to kill congressinal funding for public radio and public television, for example. Scarry stuff! I think it's to get people hooked on celebrity tabloids and porn, so that they won't sit around thinking about how horrible the Bush/Cheyney agenda really is. Notice that for all of their cozy-ing up to the right wing Christians, the Bush administration has barely made any move against porn at all? It's easily the biggest industry in the San Fernando Valley. Strange. It's as though they want people to be baby sat by their computers and DVD's. Speaking of which!!!

[Wunderhorn]

It isn't Cheney/Bush, but the whole Capitalist system that is corrupt. It makes most people slave shoppers. In high-school, you are taught that classical music is for nerds. When you turn on the television after a hard day of work you see a man drinking a brand of bear surrounded by beautiful women. Now they even hook the health nuts with 'organic' foods that can actually be more harmful then regular produce. Putin said America is trying to dominate the world. We would have to try and dominate the world otherwise all our lazy obese rumps would fall far behind and become a third world country in a matter of years. It is completely contemptable! 

[barry guerrero]

I'm hoping that you're way off track here, because it's a pretty bleak scenario. But I'm not going to act terribly surprised if you're somehow right either.   

[Wunderhorn]

I'm hoping that you're way off track here, because it's a pretty bleak scenario. But I'm not going to act terribly surprised if you're somehow right either.   

I was speaking stupidly and without manners. It just seems there has been a scheme keeping things the way they are for along time now, and it is beginning to show its true colors with how problems are mounting. Immigration for people south of the border is borderline slavery in my view. But you're correct, it is of topic so I will end there. 

[sperlsco]

it is off topic so I will end there. 

I am assuming that the politically tilted aspect of this thread is indeed over.  However, since someone expressed some concern to me, I am asking that we keep the discussions centered around music. 

Also, I do not want President Bush Pere to come downstairs and put the "smack-down" on me (I work in the same building).   

[barry guerrero]

Understood Scott. But I do think that discussing the possibility of killing off funding for public radio and television is definitely a related topic. And at this point and time, I think it's fair to say that the popularity of the current administration is quite low. People who don't feel that way, are just going to have to live with the tables being turned right back on them.

Barry