Post by Slinger on Aug 3, 2022 15:02:13 GMT
Just a bit of fun, as nobody seems to have stepped forward. You get to evaluate what I'm listening to right this second. Anyone fancy doing a "real" one for August before it's too late?
This is the 2007 release of Gustavo Dudamel with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela performing Mahler's 5th Symphony in C# Min, and I'm betting/hopiong that most of you won't have heard this version before, but it's a firm favourite of mine.
I love the sheer dash, elan, and enthusiasm of this young orchestra, but Dudamel (and the orchestra) also know how, and when to chill a bit. Bearing in mind the writing of the 5th was commenced while Mahler was recovering from a serious illness which necessitated two operations it's not surprising that death features quite strongly among the motifs. In fact, the first movement was designated by Mahler as a Trauermarsch (funeral march).
After the first two movements were written he met his future wife, Alma, and the old boy cheered up a bit. It's been suggested that the original was planned in four movements, and the Adagietto (which became the 4th movement) was actually "sandwiched in" as a love letter to Alma. Whatever, the Adagietto is an achingly beautiful piece of music when played properly, (or a big bowl of Saccharine when not) by musicians sensitive to its spirit.
The Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela is now all grown up and is known as The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela these days.
Dudamel is a Venezuelan conductor (and violinist) who is the musical director of the Simón Bolívar..., the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Paris Opera.
Anywho. Have a listen.
The Symphony ends on an almost hopeful note. YAY!
N.B. Voting is based upon the new Conservative leadership-choice system.
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This is the 2007 release of Gustavo Dudamel with the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela performing Mahler's 5th Symphony in C# Min, and I'm betting/hopiong that most of you won't have heard this version before, but it's a firm favourite of mine.
I love the sheer dash, elan, and enthusiasm of this young orchestra, but Dudamel (and the orchestra) also know how, and when to chill a bit. Bearing in mind the writing of the 5th was commenced while Mahler was recovering from a serious illness which necessitated two operations it's not surprising that death features quite strongly among the motifs. In fact, the first movement was designated by Mahler as a Trauermarsch (funeral march).
After the first two movements were written he met his future wife, Alma, and the old boy cheered up a bit. It's been suggested that the original was planned in four movements, and the Adagietto (which became the 4th movement) was actually "sandwiched in" as a love letter to Alma. Whatever, the Adagietto is an achingly beautiful piece of music when played properly, (or a big bowl of Saccharine when not) by musicians sensitive to its spirit.
The Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela is now all grown up and is known as The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela these days.
Dudamel is a Venezuelan conductor (and violinist) who is the musical director of the Simón Bolívar..., the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Paris Opera.
Gustavo Dudamel, "quite simply the hottest new conductor for a generation" (The Observer), presents his highly anticipated second album on Deutsche Grammophon. Again with the forces of the SBYOV, the disc features another symphonic masterpiece. With it's energetic outbursts, expressive cantilenas and constant changes of mood, Mahler's Symphony No. 5 is the ideal repertoire to showcase the forces of the SBYOV and it's conductor. Dudamel and the orchestra caused a sensation on their 2006 tour of Italy when Claudio Abbado, who was announced to conduct the symphony, handed the baton over to Dudamel at the last minute. Even in Abbado's home country, Gustavo and his orchestra pulled off a Mahler 5 that brought the euphoric audience to their feet. "Critics have called the Venezuelan phenomenon Gustavo Dudamel one of the most talented young conductors in the world - and they are absolutely right." (The New York Times).
The Symphony ends on an almost hopeful note. YAY!
N.B. Voting is based upon the new Conservative leadership-choice system.
