Frogman, thanks for the response. Precise and Concise as always.
I have been doing a lot of listening to Beethoven lately and have concluded that these conductors take a lot of liberties with the score.
On the 4th movement by Norrington that I posted, everything seems pretty much normal, given the instruments and the smaller orchestra and choir,
until, around 8:12 to 10:21 there is something magical there. Like hearing Beethoven for the first time. How it’s supposed to sound. Maybe it’s the bass drum.
Also, at 11:23, the violins don’t create the same degree of tension as they do on other recordings.
Anyway, as a real reviewer might say, the whole thing is glorious! I was in Germany when this was released and the reviewers went gaga. So all these years later, I have it. I owe much to Stereo Review.
Tempo: I thought Gardiner was out there by himself, then I heard Gewandhausorchester-Chailly. Maybe these guys use tempo to satisfy their urge to improvise, or to put their personal stamp on a performance. Surely the score is marked.
Period Instrument limitations: Was that more pronounced in the Brass family of instruments?
Thanks again.
Cheers
Btw, I am on a roll. In addition to Norrington and Chailly, I received The Complete String Quartets - Alban Berg Quartet. Wow!
I have been doing a lot of listening to Beethoven lately and have concluded that these conductors take a lot of liberties with the score.
On the 4th movement by Norrington that I posted, everything seems pretty much normal, given the instruments and the smaller orchestra and choir,
until, around 8:12 to 10:21 there is something magical there. Like hearing Beethoven for the first time. How it’s supposed to sound. Maybe it’s the bass drum.
Also, at 11:23, the violins don’t create the same degree of tension as they do on other recordings.
Anyway, as a real reviewer might say, the whole thing is glorious! I was in Germany when this was released and the reviewers went gaga. So all these years later, I have it. I owe much to Stereo Review.
Tempo: I thought Gardiner was out there by himself, then I heard Gewandhausorchester-Chailly. Maybe these guys use tempo to satisfy their urge to improvise, or to put their personal stamp on a performance. Surely the score is marked.
Period Instrument limitations: Was that more pronounced in the Brass family of instruments?
Thanks again.
Cheers
Btw, I am on a roll. In addition to Norrington and Chailly, I received The Complete String Quartets - Alban Berg Quartet. Wow!