Fabulous
Celibidache did not conduct the Berlin Philharmonic for 38 years, after the death of Furtwängler with whom he shared it during the post-war years. Then, Karajan was finally chosen as the lifetime conductor. What would have been the musical story of this orchestra, undoubtedly very different !
The concert given here is a miracle. Far beyond the questions of tempi, the music is always moving forward, in the time and in the space (yes, maybe it is slow, but this is not what you hear eventually). Such an experience is in accordance with the will of the master, recorded live and without any technical trick. Listening to Celibidache is already a unique experience, but watching a concert is another journey, a kind of mass. For Bruckner, another testimony is now available on DVD with "his own orchestra", the Munich Philharmonic : Sergiu Celibidache Conducts Bruckner. May be the osmosis is still more...
Transcendental
It is interesting to read the one review before mine in that how a hatred toward a certain musician would crook the opinion in that way. Karajan was not all for everything like some of his worshipers would like to believe, but at the same time he was sublime in some. Also he was a supreme orchestra builder. Even though this concert took place a few years after Karajan's parting with the Berlin Philharmonic and ultimately his death, the sound it carries here is still distinctively his orchestra. None of the Celibidache's recordings of the 7th I heard before this one achieved the greatness and I find it ironic that he would attain the truly amazing performance of the symphony using the orchestra trained by his arch-nemesis. It is also apparent here that however wonderful the Munich Philharmonic sounded under Celi with the right resonance, they were no match to the Berlin orchestra during this time. There are other great 7th like Karajan/EMI, Giulini/DG, Asahina/Fontec (in fact, 2 of...
Superb Bruckner from Celi
This is a superb Bruckner 7th, under the baton of a master Brucknerian. Celibidache was returning to the orchestra he directed right after the conclusion of World War II, and this performance summarises and epitomises his approach to "making music." Certainly, there may be various ways to conduct Bruckner, but here Celi' emphasizes the sinuous, breathing architecture of the work. Every detail is allowed to develop organically, forming a sweeping whole. Despite his longer timing, nothing drags, everything work together. This is a beautiful, moving performance, superbly filmed. Highly recommended.
Click to Editorial Reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment