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Post by julesd68 on Mar 3, 2015 19:45:50 GMT
Big orchestral news today that Sir Simon Rattle is to take up the reins at the LSO... www.lso.co.uk/sir-simon-rattle-appointed-music-directorTo be honest I didn't fall in love with the Berlin Phil under Rattle like some did, so I'll keep an open mind on how this is going to pan out. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 3, 2015 21:58:52 GMT
That's a really big catch, and gratifying that he didn't go to one of the big US orchestras. The LSO are at the top of their game at the moment, and that's saying something. There could be magic!
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 4, 2015 8:14:19 GMT
Oh dear.
I've never been a Rattle fan.
Did anything really great come out of his Berlin years? 
I recall hearing an excerpt from his then newly released Brahms symphony cycle on the radio - Wowzer!  - I bought the set straight away. Sadly, that 2 minute bit was by far the best of the whole lot! 
He seems to be "on" for brief periods in some music, then either mauls it around to make it 'impressive' or goes into bland chugalong mode. Mostly the latter these days, I think.
Still, fillyerboots if he does more for you than he does for me! |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2015 9:28:16 GMT
Have you heard him perform the Mahler 2 live, Jerry? It's one of his signature pieces, admittedly, but I was left overwhelmed and a bit choked when I saw it some years ago at the Festival Hall. It was utterly magnificent.
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 4, 2015 10:10:03 GMT
No, I've never seen/heard the laddie live, Martin.
Now that you mention it, I seem to recall reading in the Gramophone mag years ago that the record company deliberately chose takes that didn't have the excitable/live feel for Rattle's Beethoven Berlin cycle. They wanted more straight forward middle of the road interpretations.
Now where's the sense in that?
Could well be that my downer on the Rattling One is due to recording company dubious decisions rather than Rattle's conducting per se.
I would rate his recorded Mahler 2 as 'B-, could do better', despite all the plaudits rained on it by an overexcitable Brit press. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2015 17:24:53 GMT
When I heard him perform it I'm fairly sure it was with the CBSO. Certainly wasn't the BPO.
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Post by Tim on Mar 4, 2015 19:40:11 GMT
Did anything really great come out of his Berlin years? Mahler, with bells on IMHO. Saw him with the BPO at the Barbican a few years back and with an orchestra bursting full of individual talent, it must have often been like trying to control a wild stallion, Rattle held them and controlled them with consummate ease. I was very impressed indeed and he has always impressed me to be honest. So I'm chuffed to bits to see him coming to the LSO and I for one will be making a beeline for a seat. I like him as a person and I like what he does musically. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2015 19:56:02 GMT
I also love his being outspoken about the existing London concert halls. London deserves much better, so I hope the seed he has placed will result in a hall that I might actually see one day, fully deserved by some of the best orchestras in the world and with an acoustic to die for.
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- I bought the set straight away. Sadly, that 2 minute bit was by far the best of the whole lot! 
