Comments on: Levine Exudes Warmth in All-Beethoven Program Redux http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/19/levine-exudes-warmth-in-all-beethoven-program-redux/ a virtual journal and blog of the classical music scene in Boston Wed, 23 May 2012 03:34:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Romy The Cat http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/19/levine-exudes-warmth-in-all-beethoven-program-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-1691 Romy The Cat Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:37:11 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2766#comment-1691 Even more evidences of the Mr. Voci’s “duplicated performances”: the Friday’s performance reportedly gave goosebumps but the Saturday performance reportedly was “boring”. I would <b>insist<b> that it is irrelevant if I were at Symphony Hall or listened the broadcast live over FM. I am talking about BSO/Levine interpretation of the work not about the way in which I spent evening. Even more evidences of the Mr. Voci’s “duplicated performances”: the Friday’s performance reportedly gave goosebumps but the Saturday performance reportedly was “boring”. I would insist that it is irrelevant if I were at Symphony Hall or listened the broadcast live over FM. I am talking about BSO/Levine interpretation of the work not about the way in which I spent evening.

]]> By: Laurence Glavin http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/19/levine-exudes-warmth-in-all-beethoven-program-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-1688 Laurence Glavin Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:03:18 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2766#comment-1688 OK, I must first ask were you AT Symphony Hall for the Saturday broadcast, or listening at home. I attended the Friday night performance because I'm a Beethoven devotee of the highest order (Friday there will be TWO all-Beethoven-string-quartet performances at the same time; think I'll go to the FREE one)and I can't remember a more visceral and compelling performance of the 'Eroica'. I still get goosebumps thinking of it. I took exception to the accelerated tempo of the third movement of the Fourth Symphony, but that's a minor quibble. OK, I must first ask were you AT Symphony Hall for the Saturday broadcast, or listening at home. I attended the Friday night performance because I’m a Beethoven devotee of the highest order (Friday there will be TWO all-Beethoven-string-quartet performances at the same time; think I’ll go to the FREE one)and I can’t remember a more visceral and compelling performance of the ‘Eroica’. I still get goosebumps thinking of it. I took exception to the accelerated tempo of the third movement of the Fourth Symphony, but that’s a minor quibble.

]]> By: Romy The CaT http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/19/levine-exudes-warmth-in-all-beethoven-program-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-1686 Romy The CaT Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:05:07 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2766#comment-1686 I was not there for 6th and 7th and the damn WCRB did not broadcast it, what a shame!!!! However, I did listen the 4th and 3rd and we were not so lucky. The best I can describe BSO’s Saturday play was “boring”. So, I wonder how come that your “standing O” on Thursday related to the “boring” play of BSO on Saturday? The “big time musical enthusiast” John Voci from WCRB insisted that they are “duplicated performances”… I think that WCRB’s management judgment is in level of sincerity is duplicated with a judgment of an adolescent pterodactyl… I was not there for 6th and 7th and the damn WCRB did not broadcast it, what a shame!!!! However, I did listen the 4th and 3rd and we were not so lucky. The best I can describe BSO’s Saturday play was “boring”. So, I wonder how come that your “standing O” on Thursday related to the “boring” play of BSO on Saturday? The “big time musical enthusiast” John Voci from WCRB insisted that they are “duplicated performances”… I think that WCRB’s management judgment is in level of sincerity is duplicated with a judgment of an adolescent pterodactyl…

]]> By: Joe Whipple http://classical-scene.com/2010/02/19/levine-exudes-warmth-in-all-beethoven-program-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-1673 Joe Whipple Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:05:48 +0000 http://classical-scene.com/?p=2766#comment-1673 I also thought Thursday evening's concert was magnificent. The 7th Symphony got the standing O because it has the vigorous finale, and it was well-played indeed. But in my opinion the 6th was even better. A calm (except for the dance and thunderstorm) and limpid presentation of some of Beethoven's most beautiful music that let every detail emerge. The tempi and volume levels seemed perfect for the situations Beethoven mentions for each movement — no artificial accelerations or increases in volume to try to add interest or the conductor's "signature" to the beauty the composer wrote. The audience was clearly enthralled, because there was none of the usual coughing that accompanies slow and quiet music in Symphony Hall! All such audience noise was held for the pauses between movements. The winds played flawlessly in the 6th — not even a single false note from the brass. They all deserved bows, but Maestro Levine chose not to single out any players or sections after the 6th. In the 7th, the winds were spectacular once more, including some nifty work in the lowest horn register by Jason Snider. This time the winds got the bows they deserved for the whole evening. Bravo, Maestro Levine! Bravi, BSO! I also thought Thursday evening’s concert was magnificent.

The 7th Symphony got the standing O because it has the vigorous finale, and it was well-played indeed. But in my opinion the 6th was even better. A calm (except for the dance and thunderstorm) and limpid presentation of some of Beethoven’s most beautiful music that let every detail emerge. The tempi and volume levels seemed perfect for the situations Beethoven mentions for each movement — no artificial accelerations or increases in volume to try to add interest or the conductor’s “signature” to the beauty the composer wrote. The audience was clearly enthralled, because there was none of the usual coughing that accompanies slow and quiet music in Symphony Hall! All such audience noise was held for the pauses between movements.

The winds played flawlessly in the 6th — not even a single false note from the brass. They all deserved bows, but Maestro Levine chose not to single out any players or sections after the 6th. In the 7th, the winds were spectacular once more, including some nifty work in the lowest horn register by Jason Snider. This time the winds got the bows they deserved for the whole evening.

Bravo, Maestro Levine! Bravi, BSO!

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