Favourite Conductors

[Bonn1827]

Who are YOURS, and why? What are his/her best recordings and/or concert performances?

[Hollywood]

My all time favorite conductor is Herbert von Karajan. I have always loved his interpretations of Beethoven's music especially the 1970 Time-Life Beethoven Bicentennial Collection he conducted with the Berlin Philharmonic. I must admit that I also had back then quite a crush on von Karajan--such a handsome blue eyed man from Salzburg.

[Bonn1827]

He looks very inch the artiste, doesn't he? Some of his recordings didn't get such good reviews in the later years, though. But that orchestra!! Wow.

[Michael]

Leonard Bernstein, Karl Bohm, Klemperer, Gunter Wand ..... I could go on but they're all dead, and w'ere all going to die some day, so what's the point?
(Sorry ... I've been listening to Tchaikovsky's Sixth .....)

[Bonn1827]

Bernstein made a controversial recording of the Tchaikovsky 6th with the NYPO in his last years - the tempi were generally way too fast. Very disappointing. But he's one of my heroes all the same. I would have to put him in the top 10 category. (There's his excellent biography by Humphrey Burton too.)

What about current (or recently retired) conductors?

Barenboim, Haitink, Harnoncourt, Muti, Gardiner, Rattle, Abbado, Maazel

[Gyan]

George Szell.

[Hollywood]

I'll add Zubin Mehta to the list as well.

[Peter]

Bernstein made a controversial recording of the Tchaikovsky 6th with the NYPO in his last years - the tempi were generally way too fast. Very disappointing. But he's one of my heroes all the same. I would have to put him in the top 10 category. (There's his excellent biography by Humphrey Burton too.)

What about current (or recently retired) conductors?

Barenboim, Haitink, Harnoncourt, Muti, Gardiner, Rattle, Abbado, Maazel

I'm really impressed with Haitink's latest Beethoven symphony cycle.

[Peter]

Leonard Bernstein, Karl Bohm, Klemperer, Gunter Wand ..... I could go on but they're all dead, and w'ere all going to die some day, so what's the point?
(Sorry ... I've been listening to Tchaikovsky's Sixth .....)

I hope it was Mravinsky conducting the Tchaikovsky? I have a superb boxed LP set of his Tchaikovsky symphonies that remains the benchmark as far as I'm concerned. Incidentally Michael whilst we're on Tchaikovsky don't forget BBC 4 this friday!

[Peter]

Who are YOURS, and why? What are his/her best recordings and/or concert performances?

It varies enormously and for different composers - I don't think any interpreter can be 'the best' in all genres. For Delius it has to be Beecham, no one else comes close. For Tchaikovsky as I mentioned in my post to Michael, Mravinsky. Wilhelm Furtwangler remains high on my Beethoven list, though I do have a superb 9th with Ferenc Fricsay. I like a lot of Solti especially Richard Strauss. Karl Bohm's Beethoven 6th remains a classic as does Carlos Kleiber's 5th. I also have a great recording of the Eroica with George Szell. I can't think of the Elgar 'cello concerto without Barbirolli and Du Pre. I love the Karajan Brahms cycle of symphonies but don't rate him with French music!

[Bonn1827]

I love Adrian Boult conducting Elgar, particularly "Enigma" Variations and "Introduction and Allegro". These were never played better, IMO. Also, Beecham cond. "Scheherazade" by R-K. Agree about the Elgar Cello Concerto and Barbirolli/DuPre. Also same conductor with Janet Baker and "Sea Pictures".
Carlos Kleiber's Brahms 4th Symphony is absolutely wonderful, though the (early) digital sound on my CD is harsh and "primitive" compared to today. I have Haitink's Beethoven 3 and 5 symphonies from the 1980's and these are superb - Amsterdam Concertgebouw. I adore JEG's Bach and Purcell recordings but my absolute fave is Dr. William Christie conducting , with Les Arts Florissants, performances of Rameau, Purcell, Gluck and music from the court of Roy Soleil. I would kill to see these in a live performance.

[Sorrano]

I'm really impressed with Haitink's latest Beethoven symphony cycle.

I've wondered if Haitink had such a cycle. He's among my favorites, including Sir Colin Davis, and Toscanini. (Oh, I can't forget Solti, either!)

[susanwen]

I love the Osmo Vanska cycle of Beethoven's symphonies.

[Bonn1827]

I'm pretty sure Boulez was in Vienna to conduct with their Philharmonic in Musikverein last year, but I was unable to get tickets to any of their concerts!! The program was mostly modernist composers, as I recall. I remember thinking this was much more adventurous that the type of concerts we are used to in Sydney!! This weekend Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand"! I just can't get past the idea that this work is over-inflated and pompous in the extreme - sorry Mahler fans!! I think Mahler got his ideas and inspiration from Berlioz (a "showman" and musical exhibitionist, IMO) and not from LvB. Oh dear, is there ANYONE in the world who agrees with me??!!

[Phil Leeds]

Charles Mackarras I think does a good job of the Beethoven symphonies