Review: Kurt Masur's Complete Warner Recordings--They're Not What You Think
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ค. 2022
- Seventy CDs of a conductor with a reputation for not being terribly interesting was always going to be a hard sell, and so it proves. And yet, there's some first-rate work here, truly, and it's not where you might at first think it's most likely to be found. Check out the video as we try to uncover the real Kurt Masur.
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Thank you for this review. I really appreciate the honesty and truth you bring to your analysis. I was especially intrigued by your comments on Mazur's "Pictures at an Exhibition" disc, particularly because it was an orchestration other than Ravel's. I am not familiar with the Gortchakov orchestration, but I am familiar with some of the others, as well as some of the compilations. I was wondering: Could you do a talk on orchestrations of "Pictures" other than Ravel's? Some of the ones I have heard seem quite fine to me, so I would be eager to hear your take on Ashkenazy or Henry Wood or some of the other efforts which have appeared. That could be a very helpful talk, and I, for one, would really appreciate that.
There's stuff I love from that set that I acquired individually, like the Bruckner 7, Mahler 9, and Shostakovich 7 and 13. But there's stuff that I may wish had more power or speed, but I just love hearing the New York Philharmonic play...like that Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet. I remember that broadcast on Live From Lincoln Center, and just loving it. For whatever reason, I like their Brahms Third Symphony as a study in contrasts with the Bruno Walter Third from the early 50s. Plus, Masur lets out a weird "Whoo!" or shout or something in the last movement. I almost can't hear that last movement WITHOUT that vocal part, now.
For years he was the only readily available means to hear the Gewandhaus orchestra, which, to my ears, was really his main recommendation.
He rebuilt discipline in New York after things had slid under Mehta (and I don't dislike Mehta, as some do...and, the NYPO needed help, post-Mehta).
@@johnrichmond1946 Could you elaborate a little regarding what happpened in New York during Mehta's tenure?
Very gratified that I have the pick of the litter here separately--partly thanks to your recommendations in prior videos.
The German Requiem truly is a blight on humanity. I remember when it was telecast and being shocked and appalled even angry.
Speaking of boxes, I hope we can soon get your take on the Mitropoulos box?
A fair assessment of what was on offer here. Not a Masur hater, and I like some of his Beethoven symphonies, including the Teldec #5 w NYPO. I like it a lot more than you do. But yeah, solid is usually the word that applies.
Happily agree with the assessment of all of the Liszt, which I've had on German-pressed LP's seemingly forever. I actually like to see the box bring back the LP covers which were changed for the CD releases, although I do appreciate the economic efficiency argument for full CD's. Also eventually came to feel just as you do about the Mendelssohn symphonies, which were on Barclay-Crocker reel-to-reel tape.
Very interesting. Thank you. I have listened to almost the whole set - just 4 discs to go! I think your comments are mostly spot on. Some unexpected highs (Liszt, Prokofiev, etc) and some equally unexpected lows (Mendelssohn symphonies). However, unlike you I enjoyed the concertos with Leonskaja a lot - I found them to be thoughtful and beautifully played.
Just heard his Brahms serenades - just luminous- enough for me to explore more. The sound he got out of the orchestra was incredible…
I was blown away by his live recording of beethoven piano concertos with Emil gilels.. A terrific achievement!
I love the Manfred but never listened to Masur's rendition. I endeavour to find and listen. Thanks
Love that Mahler 1 with the Lieder! Was my first Mahler recording I ever purchased many moons ago. Hagegard is great in that too, became a huge fan of his based on that recording and bought almost every disc he did. Also agree on that Babi Yar. Listened to it recently after consuming too much Ukraine war news .
He did a Brahms Violin Concerto with Mutter and the New York Phil. Was that part of the box and I just missed it? It’s a very good account.
I attended a wonderful (pre NYP) concert with Masur/Gewandhaus U.S. tour and enjoyed the hell out of it (mainly because of that classic orchestral sound) and glad I got to see them live, but never followed Masur.
I've only got 3 discs from this box but they are all among the ones you singled out - the Babi Yar (on your recommendation in a video) and the 2 discs with Vengerov which are in the Vengerov box. I'll stop while I'm ahead. Dave, I don't think you've ever done a video on the Vengerov box, which is still available and a fantastic bargain.
I have the Vengerov box. Them Teldec recordings are great. After listening to them I couldn't see the point of buying more of the same standard violin concerto repertoire.
"Contractual album, thy name is this." Love it.
I had been curious about this box for a while now. I only own two CDs in this one, the Shostakovich Babi Yar and the Prokofiev 5, but now, I may just do like I did with Abbado's Berlin and Vienna stuff. Get the best and skip the rest.
Off topic, but do you think you’ll review the Ormandy Minneapolis box on RCA when it comes out?
Of course.
I was surprised when I searched my own not extensive collection that I already had so much Masur - the Prokofiev PCs, and all the Liszt stuff. A better conductor of the NYPO than Gilbert or Zapppp
David, Have you yet considered reviewing recordings of Britten's War Requiem? There are some interesting finds, including one from Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic.
Um, I just dismissed the Masur. Yes, I've thought about it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Forgive my neglectful omission of 'As, you know ...' Come to think of it, it might have been you who put the idea in my head in the first place :)
Mendelssohn with Masur it's for me on the top, specially the overtures
I had forgotten some of these recordings. Probably, because they are, precisely, forgettable. I imagine that having already the 7cd set of Liszt by Masur is already quite enough
I imagine so.
Well, you've saved me a load of money there - too many duds and quasi-duds -I'm still trying to get my head around how you whip through the Brahms Requiem in an hour and it is STILL boring.....
Yeah, that's an achievement, isn't it?
@@DavesClassicalGuide Is this the live German requiem that Masur/NYPO performed in the wake of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, and which was televised by PBS? It was presented as a sincere offering to help the City heal, and I was tremendously moved by it, watching and smelling the smoke from the smoldering rubble drifting in through my open window...but of course my perceptions of the performance could have been colored by my own emotions.
At any rate, I remember the performance not as boring, but rather as almost unbearably moving, expressing the numbness of an almost inexpressible grief. But who knows--maybe the numbness was mine.
(I also remember being startled, in the expectant pre-downbeat hush, when a woman in the audience rose and began to sing, a cappella, "God Bless America"! For a moment I thought it was unplanned, some random audience member expressing her grief and captured on live TV...and then I recognized the unmistakable voice of Leontyne Price.)
The “Schwein” of Tuonela…🤣😂😂🤣😂😂🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😆😆😆😆
Or, as one snooty oboist used to call it in all seriousness, "The Swan of Tularemia."
Who are you to make suggestions?
Often you are our voice, and we have the same complaints.
As for Masur, if multiple editions of a work were available when shopping, I rarely would choose Masur.