Comments

Hey Buri.
I agree about too much beauty not being the best effect with some music. A raw music-making joyous occaision is somehow a bit lost.

Just curious. Who do you think plays the best Schubert Quartets, with the concepts you wrote about in the blog in mind?

Sals,
JW

Oooh, I can tell you about a good new Schubert recording... Saw the Berlin Phil Quartet about a year ago in San Jose, Ca and they were stunning. From what I remember it was a more Beethoven focussed program, although I think there was also Hayden and Mozart as well. Then again, I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday. :)

Neil

Greetings,
don`t know about the best. Maura`s choice is on the money. The Guarneri play that tsuff beautifuuly.
A great quartet which I kind of grew up wit is not so well known in the US I think- the Lindsay. They have now disbanded. That wa sone of the most maddening groups in history. At their best, they could go into a space `no-one@ could follow. The first violinst, Peter Cropper, played iether like a demon or an angel and the cellits was just tough and earthy enough to keep him in the rela world. At their worst no porfesisonal \group on earth has produced such horrible sounds without being laughed out the cocnert hall. They have produced some of the most ruggedly individual recoridng of Haydn et al around.
Cheers,
Buri I'll have to see if I can find a recording of them, though it sounds as if a recording wouldn't be as thrilling as seeing them live.

What do you think about the Emerson Quartet's box set of Schubert quartets?
I checked it out from the library years ago and put it on my computer (for study...). I haven't heard many other versions, except on the radio. I hate that I can't re-listen to pieces and make observations. The first time I listen to something, not much observing or analysis or useful thoughts occur. Just listening...then it is over and I can't recall enough aurally to be very academic :).

Sals,
JW

Greetings,
really liked their Haydn. Suspetc their Schubert would be great,
Cheers,
Buri Hey, I was at the concert too! On Sunday. I adore the Bruch, but let me ask you, Karin (and Addy), didn't you feel like she overreached one of the early high notes (don't know which note it is as I've never seen sheet music, but it was in the first few measures) and then did it again when playing with the orchestra? Or I was trying to decide if it was just a particularly wide vibrato she was using, and the fact that the recording I like so much (Gil Shaham) doesn't use very much vibrato at all in those early passages. Probably a matter of interpretation, but it would be interesting to hear someone else's comments.

But it sure was beautiful. And Karin, oh yes, on those comments you made on the "moment" with Kurt Masur. It brought tears to my eyes. And Mr. Masur's shaking hands - wow, that was indeed significant. And yet, only when it was hanging idle by his side, yes? (I had a seat much farther away than you - in the first tier.)

Anyway, great fun to read your comments - they reflect mine as well. Only I'm not scheduled to see Joshua next - I'll be going on Sat the 4th to see Christian Tetzlaff (sp?) Can't wait - I've heard such good things about him.

Now tell me how THAT happened - that my reply to Karin ended up here?

Er... never mind, then.