Classical Court From Perotin to Prokofiev (and beyond), performed by Caruso to Khatia, it's all here.

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Dead Conductors School

205.188.197.57

Posted by Brian Cheney on May 1, 2000 at 12:09:04

Now that we've been at it a year, time for review and, later on, a spot quiz.

Those of you who paid attention (and plan to graduate) now realize we only listen to DEAD CONDUCTORS. The reason is that dead ones consistently outswing the current live crop. Of course, not all Dead Conductors are equal. Some are much more equal than others, and the most equal are the BIG FIVE (also known as the General Music Directors of Europe, see famous photo of the quintet together at the Salzburg Festival 1933). The BIG FIVE are reliable first choices for their individual special repetoire, and they don't overlap much. So remember:

WILHELM FURTWAENGLER: best years 1937, 1943/44, 1951. Furtie is the Sultan of Swat in the German repertoire--Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mozart, with surprising depth in Tchaikowsky and bonbons.
About 90% great performances, tied with

ARTURO TOSCANINI: best years 1929-36 (NYPO), 1938-39 (NBC), 1940/41 (Philadelphia), 1951-53 (NBC in Carnegie Hall). The Italian Stallion sometimes pushes too hard, but unbeatable in Brahms,Puccini, Verdi, much Beethoven, and moderns (Debussy, Respighi). 90% great performances, putting him and Furtie safely ahead of

BRUNO WALTER: best years 1936 (Vienna), 1940-52 (NYPO), 1958-62 (Columbia SO). 80% great performances marred only by a tendency towards sentimentality and slower tempi with age. Definitive Mahler, Strauss, Dvorak, Smetana, great Bruckner, Beethoven, Brahms. Tied with

ERICH KLEIBER: best years 1920's, 1948-54 (Vienna, Amsterdam). 80% great, only the last year of career less than stellar. Left us the best Mozart Figaro (1954), many immortal performances of German music. A big step ahead of

OTTO KLEMPERER: with 60% great performances, least of the BIG FIVE primarily because most work recorded in his old age, when tempi slowed ridiculously in some music. Best years 1920's/30's, 1952 (Amsterdam), 1959, 1964. A firebrand and modern music enthusiast in his youth, concentrated exclusively on standard repertoire after taking over London's Philharmonia Orchestra.

Next time: the second rank!! (Warning: densely populated!). Homework assignment: buy everything you can find by the BIG FIVE (note best year recommendations), test on Friday.

Big B

Edits: 80/61/01

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