Mahler - Symphony No. 9 at BBC Proms 2011 (Sir Roger Norrington; Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra)

All credit goes to Sir Roger and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, the BBC, and of course Gustav Mahler.

Enjoy!

I. Andante comodo (0:05:37)
II. Im Tempo eines gemächlichen Ländlers. Etwas täppisch und sehr derb (0:32:34)
III. Rondo. Burleske. Allegro assai. Sehr trotzig (0:46:52)
IV. Adagio. Sehr langsam und noch zurückhaltend (1:00:20)

+

Elgar's Elegy for strings (Op. 58) (1:23:04)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roger
• Norrington
• Stuttgart
• Radio
• Symphony
• Orchestra
• BBC
• Proms
• 2011
• July
• 25th
• Mahler
• Ninth
• Rondo
• Burleske
• Adagio
• Andante
• combo
• Im
• tempo
• eines
• gemächlichen
• Ländlers

[danielregan1]

The real problem here lies not in the lack or none-usage of vibrato, but the really weird speeds. Still love the third movement though.

[danielregan1]

Love the viola soloist. I went to the talk beforehand, and it consisted of only a presenter, the concertmaster (first violinist), principal violist and the principal flautist.

Being a viola player, I couldn't believe my luck! They played lots of bits and pieces from the symphony. My favourite viola solo part though wasn't played until the proper performance - 56:38. Always a melancholy ray of sunlight in an otherwise devilish movement.

[Haeronthegreat]

I wouldn't mind the lack of vibrato if only Rog would PHRASE.

[danielregan1]

@Haeronthegreat Now that I do agree with. Especially the first movement - he just rushes through it without giving the various themes (in their various guises) any time or space.

[lordgoodwinson]

@joaoriquito I was also there and I absolutely agree- this was the closest I've ever come to walking out of a concert. An absolute travesty that left me cold, unmoved and angry for the rest of the evening :-(. Guys, if you want a real Mahler, check out Abaddo's with the Lucerne Festival Orch.

[danielregan1]

@lordgoodwinson Steady on, it wasn't that bad! I thought the non-vibrato playing was quite refreshing, and some of the sections were very interesting under Sir Roger's direction.

However...I will admit, my favourite movement, the second, was very disappointing. Various speeds in the first movement were questionable. And the fourth movement? Too hasty.

I still enjoyed the concert very much. Not a patch on the one I saw earlier on in the year though with Andris Nelsons and the CBSO.

[coldstream07]

Thank you for posting.

[peterviola528]

If people have watched this through (properly) and can honestly say they haven't been moved - they really should take a moment to ask themselves why they're interested in music at all.

[violakeenan12]

@joaoriquito Total rubbish.

[violakeenan12]

@penguinlybra I can very much assure you that that is not true! Britten is not on a par with Brahms. Personally I dislike his music. You still are not informing me what is it with Norringtons Mahler you hate so much? Norrington conducts one of the biggest orchestra's in Germany? Norrington now conducts the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Previously principal conductor of the Camerata Salzburg. Utterly unknown? I think not!

[penguinlybra]

@violakeenan12 In England he is a legend. In the rest of the world he is utterly unknown. And if you listen to his Mahler one can favor that last opinion. In England they think that Benjamin Britten is equal to Brahms. Yeah right! The best conductor for Mahler is Haitink of course.

[violakeenan12]

@penguinlybra I do not believe it to be worthless mahler! On the contrary. I am not arguing that these problems influence the recording at all. I just think that a conductor sitting or standing should have any difference. You are not keen on this recording due to what? The speeds? Are you a listener who is used to the "Classics" Bernstein and karajan who take everything too slow and do not take one notice of any historical interpretation? SIR Roger Norrington is a legend!

[penguinlybra]

@violakeenan12 Sickness or any other handicap is no excuse for a worthless Mahler. I do not care about the sitting conductor. I only said I think it's not inspiring. If Norrington has been ill, Im very sorry for him, but it's not an an argument for such a poor performance. In his defence: you made the argument. Not mister Norrington. And again in his defence: I blame the boss of the Stuttgart Orchestra to let him perform.

[violakeenan12]

@penguinlybra Oh yeah... the sitting 77 year old conductor who has suffered cancer and brain tumours... I think its inspiring that the guy is there at all. Do you disagree with the tempi of the final movement or the lack of vibration?

[violakeenan12]

@lordgoodwinson im afraid I love this recording! Oh well. Agree to disagree I think? :)

[penguinlybra]

The sitting conductor is not an inspiring sight and this mediocre Mahler doesn't help as well. The final Adagio is almost awful. If I had anyting to say about it, after this performance I took the 'Sir' title away.