Dear Basil,

Thanks. You know there are times when I wonder why I bother. I love music. I love great performances of that great music. I rarely criticise things I don't like, but pass them by without remark. I particualarly enjoy a robust debate on the merits of this or that in the course of such a thread as this, but I think sometimes there is an element out there, merely scoring points for cleverness' sake, however idiotic it actually can look. I am affraid that in real life my response would be a deal less polite.

I had the Tenstedt, with the BPO, and also I am especially fond of the Walter set. I had that on a really ancient CBS LP, but it wore out. He does the interesting thing of doubling the winds in the transistion to the trio with timps! I wonder where that came from, as it is not in the score, but it is quite effective, and not at all off-putting.

Thanks for your post from Fredrik

Fredrik,

Please continue to bother - there are a great many here who appreciate your posts and the music room would be a much less enjoyable and interesting place without them.

regards, Tam

quote:

Thanks. You know there are times when I wonder why I bother. I love music. I love great performances of that great music.

As do I.

Please don't let the small minority get to you.

P.S

I completely agree with regard to Rattle.

quote:

Originally posted by Basil:
I completely agree with regard to Rattle.

Rattle's new Schubert 9th is actually remarkably compelling (though a very romantic view of the work), but it actually works very well. I'm not saying I'd choose it over Kleiber or Boult but it certainly has a certain something.

Fredrik - Incidentally, mention of Rattle reminds me of the discussion we had (possibly not on this thread) mentioning Oramo - did you hear he's announced he's leaving the CBSO at the end of 2008:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/newsMainTemplate.asp?storyID=2533&newssectionID=1

regards, Tam

Dear Tam,

I have to say that Oramo leaving the CBSO is sad news in my view. I don't get up to the Hall as often as I used to but I think he is a lovely musician. It was not so far from Worcester, but a bit of a jaunt from Hereford.

I wonder who will come along next. He doesn't seem to have been there very long.

All the best from Fredrik

Dear Fredrik,

I agree - I've only seem them together once, but they were wonderful (particularly the Sibelius 7 they did). They don't come and visit up here as often as they should! - but I shouldn't complain, we have a couple of fine orchestras to be getting along with.

It would be nice to see Daniel Harding get it (though from everything I read he seems terribly busy all over the place). There was a moderately interesting interview with him on Front Row this evening; it would have been more so but it was far too short and I didn't think all that much of some of Lawson's questions.

regards, Tam

Do you think Lawson tends to SHOUT at his interviewees? I find him on of the more offensive presenters I know of. Bring back Roy Plomley I say! He would ask the killer question in such a civil way that the answer was out before the guest knew it, and all the better for us at home! If you are going to shout at your guest then please arrange to be Robin Day! At least he was immensely funny sometimes, even if I am not sure that was quite the intention...

I prefered the arts programme when it was at 9:30 (Kaleidoscope I think), but I miss all these things now with such terrible hours at work.

I am just listening to the Horn Concrtos of Mozart for gentle soul salve!

Harding would be a very fine choice, I am sure, though, as you say, he needs to slow down his life a bit, I suspect.

All the best from Fredrik