Word: conductors
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies (Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan conductor, Deutsche Grammophon; 8 LPs). His third recording of the Beethoven symphonies reaffirms the impression that Karajan, 69, is a man surcharged with new energy, and ever more confident of his powers. As one would expect from this conductor, there is no arbitrary tampering with tempos, or other excesses marching under the banner of personal insight. Karajan accepts the boundary lines and then plays the game for all he is worth. His Eroica, for example, is a shade faster than before, his Fourth broader, darker, more ruminative. But what really sets...
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Bass Martti Talvela, Tenor Nicolai Gedda, Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Semkow conductor, Angel; 4 LPs). At long last, here is the Boris Godunov that Mussorgsky actually wrote. For too many years the work was heard in the brilliant, often gaudy revision of Rimsky-Korsakov, who in the guise of correcting a friend's mistakes dispelled much of Mussorgsky's haunting, earthy musical originality. This new recording measures up to both the music and the debt owed Mussorgsky. Martti Talvela is rich of voice (less a black bass than a walnut) and unforgettable...
Verdi: II Trovatore (Soprano Joan Sutherland, Mezzo Marilyn Home, Tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Baritone Ingvar Wixell, National Philharmonic Orchestra, London Opera Chorus, Richard Bonynge conductor, London; 3 LPs). Having come only recently to the roles of Leonora and Manrico, Sutherland and Pavarotti will undoubtedly have additional things to say about them in the future. For now, it can be said that this is a bella voce album of the first order. Devotees of the Leontyne Price-Placido Domingo set, or Price-Richard Tucker, or especially the old Zinka Milanov-Jussi Björling classic-all much more dramatically vivid-may safely...
Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ (Mezzo Janet Baker, Tenor Eric Tappy, Baritone Thomas Allen, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis conductor, Philips; 2 LPs). Just as he could roar thunderously in the Te Deum, so Berlioz could write with reverent calm in this exquisite tapestry on the early events in Jesus' life. The music is kept deliberately simple by a chamberistic use of the orchestra and frequent resort to medieval modes and other archaic devices. Yet how fresh, urgent and devoted the result, notably in the central section-The Flight into Egypt. Continuing his pioneering Berlioz cycle, Colin Davis...
Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C Minor is the feature work this Friday in a performance by the Boston University Symphony Orchestra. The conductor is Joseph Silverstein. 855 Comm...