Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners classical concert

Alright, I need some help from you classical guys out there. I'm been checking what the Philadelphia Orchestra has playing every once in a while. From my limited experience, I like Wagner and other classical of the loud and thunderous variety. I did a search today and came across this:

September 21, 2004


The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Renée Fleming, soprano


Kimmel Center - Verizon Hall


Opening Night 2004

WAGNER Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
STRAUSS Four Last Songs
DVORAK Symphony No. 8

I know the Wagner piece and really like it. Anyone familiar with the others? What are they like? Are they along the same vein? I'm thinking of getting tickets, but want some more info from you classical guys on those other pieces. I'll probably end up trying to listen to them somewhere first so I'm familiar....I may be able to download them from somewhere to get a taste.

And apparently opening night is more expensive then other days, so there is also this option in January.

January 14-18, 2005


The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
John Keyes, parsifal
Andreas Schmidt, gurnemanz
Matthias Hölle, amfortas
The Philadelphia Singers Chorale


Kimmel Center - Verizon Hall


Late Works Festival II: Beyond the World


BERIO Stanze
WAGNER Act III from Parsifal

Different Wagner piece that I'm not familar with though, and don't know the Berio one either.

Zarak,

If you've never heard Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs, you are in for a treat, and Renee Fleming sings them fantastically well. There are thrilling changes of key, harmony and melody.

Strauss wrote them when he was 80, and they are the culmination of his career. I've requested they be played at my funeral and I think it should be the Renee Fleming version. I've picked her recording likely because her rendition is among the most recent (I have them by three others, all of which are very fine--Kiri TaKanawa, Elizabeth Schwartzkopf and Lucia Popp).

I don't know the Dvorak, but that composer is always melodic and of course the Wagner will be grand and impressive.

The other program is modern (the Berio would likely drive me out of the hall) which usually means no melody, jarring atonal and discordant noise. Avoid it.

Regards,

Jason, as Alan inferred, if you go to the second concert you listed you may never want to go to another one. Eschenbach apparently feels obligated to program a considerable amount of "modern" classical music, but it's garbage that would have Ormandy spinning in his grave. Your first selection would be fine; the Four Last Songs have beautiful moments and the 8th is probably my favorite Dvorak symphony.

I've checked the 2004-2005 schedule, and you should consider the following: Oct.13-16(Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso, Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto); Nov.26-30(Rachmaninoff 2d Symphony);Jan.29(Ravel Daphnis et Chloe); March 10-15(Smetana Dances from the Bartered Bride, Dvorak 7th Symphony); March 17-19(Ravel Mother Goose, Daphnis et Chloe); March 31-April 5(Vaughn Williams 2d Symphony); April 27-May 3(Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade).

Are either of you familar with this version of 4 last songs?
CBS Masterworks, MK 42019.

It's available at my local library.

I found a couple copies of Symphony #8, but none at the local one. I'll have to track a version down. If there's a recomended version of this I'll try to get it, otherwise I'll just pick one and hope it's well recorded and the Axiom's like it

Ravel Daphnis et Chloe

Great stuff, but I am partial to Ravel.

Jason, that performance is by Eva Marton with Andrew Davis and the Toronto Symphony. I've never heard it(my favorite is by Jessye Norman)but it'll show you these four pretty little songs(I like the second, September).

As to the Dvorak symphonies, my favorite which I have is a coupling of 7 and 8 by Sir Colin Davis. This is now available on a 2 disc set(about $16)with the 9th(New World Symphony)and Symphonic Variations on Philips PHI 438 437.

Call me uncultured (and mildly off-topic), but "Another One Bites the Dust" will be playing at my funeral...

They played that at my wedding ...

In reply to:

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Call me uncultured (and mildly off-topic), but "Another One Bites the Dust" will be playing at my funeral...

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Put me down for the Pogues' If I Should Fall From Grace With God... for my wake.

Bren R.