Lorin Maazel responds to my query about LvB

[GregMitch]

In an unusual moment, Lorin Maazel, famed former chief at the NY Phil, asked his Twitter followers today if they wanted to pop him a question. I responded by asking which single movement of Beethoven he considered his personal favorite. A few minutes later he tweeted a reply. A very fine choice, but a surprise, for me, coming from an orchestra conductor. Here it is:

@ MaestroMaazel @GregMitch The slow movement of the Spring Sonata for Violin and Piano. #askaconductor

BTW, my own favorite version of that by Milstein.

[Peter]

That is indeed two surprises - a quick response and a strange one, lovely though that movement is. I'd find it impossible to answer the question!

[Sorrano]

Often I've told people that the 2nd movement of the 5th Piano Concerto is my favorite, but like Peter, it is a difficult question and often it happens to be whichever movement I might be listening to at the moment.

[Chris]

Interesting. It's nice to be able to ask the pros questions.

I'd have said the first movement of the fourth symphony, myself.