Paradoxically, Tchaikovsky only had a lukewarm interest in the subject when Balakirev proposed it to him. Yet, let us admire the results! How Tchaikovsky incorporates the bipolar and/or manic depressive desperation that went into the verses of LORD BYRON's original poem and understands it... and communicates it to us! BRAVO MAESRO PETER ILLYITCH!!!
@Ombrenuit Come to Cleveland -- we appreciate good music! The Cleveland Orchestra is performing it in its entirety on Feb 11-13, 2011. PLUS, Mussorgsky Prelude to Khovanshchina and SIBELIUS - Violin Concerto. Time to bust out your fur jackets and flasks of vodka. Going to be a great night.
Regarding what's so far available on YouTube (as of 2009/11/02), for a performance of this work that doesn't shy away from articulating the composer's anguish and fear, it strongly seems to me that André Prévin with the LSO is the winner - that's the performance that does the fullest justice to this work!!!
Many people seem to acclaim Mariss Jansons' performances of the Chaykóvskiy symphonies, including this symphonic poem "Manfred-Symphony", for some reason or other. I must disagree with them: Jansons seems to me as a typical no-nonsense 'cold-fish' who goes for shallow excitement without really tackling the emotional depth these masterworks require. This tendency is plain in this work as well as his recording of the "Pathétique" (#6). Either way, 3 out of 5 stars for a standard effort.
Paradoxically, Tchaikovsky only had a lukewarm interest in the subject when Balakirev proposed it to him. Yet, let us admire the results! How Tchaikovsky incorporates the bipolar and/or manic depressive desperation that went into the verses of LORD BYRON's original poem and understands it... and communicates it to us! BRAVO MAESRO PETER ILLYITCH!!!
PhilippeRR1 10 months ago
@Ombrenuit sad news - tchaikovsky's manfred was removed from the program because the conductor is sick :(
benjaminchodroff 1 year ago
@benjaminchodroff Wow, that is incredibly tempting. I live in Cincinnati so Cleveland is only four hours away! Might have to consider the drive,
Ombrenuit 1 year ago
@Ombrenuit Come to Cleveland -- we appreciate good music! The Cleveland Orchestra is performing it in its entirety on Feb 11-13, 2011. PLUS, Mussorgsky Prelude to Khovanshchina and SIBELIUS - Violin Concerto. Time to bust out your fur jackets and flasks of vodka. Going to be a great night.
benjaminchodroff 1 year ago
no wonder no one goes to the symphony anymore, because they don't play the exciting stuff
Ombrenuit 1 year ago
Regarding what's so far available on YouTube (as of 2009/11/02), for a performance of this work that doesn't shy away from articulating the composer's anguish and fear, it strongly seems to me that André Prévin with the LSO is the winner - that's the performance that does the fullest justice to this work!!!
LJBSasha 2 years ago
Many people seem to acclaim Mariss Jansons' performances of the Chaykóvskiy symphonies, including this symphonic poem "Manfred-Symphony", for some reason or other. I must disagree with them: Jansons seems to me as a typical no-nonsense 'cold-fish' who goes for shallow excitement without really tackling the emotional depth these masterworks require. This tendency is plain in this work as well as his recording of the "Pathétique" (#6). Either way, 3 out of 5 stars for a standard effort.
LJBSasha 2 years ago