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It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

RE: If It Makes You Feel Better........

"Yes, the 'easing in' to attacks is noticeable. This started with Dohnanyi."

Quite possible.... I think the Orchestra had its biggest virtuosic decline during Dohnanyi's tenure.

But this wasn't immediate. It was gradual. I don't know how much of it was actually Dohnanyi, and how much of it was a dropoff in talent. There was a huge changeover in personnel during that time. But I don't like what I've been seeing/hearing from the individual players. (I still would like to know what actually happened to violinist Stephen Majeske. The son of late concertmaster Daniel Majeske. This guy was a fine player, and he just disappeared.... )

"It's not to avoid playing wrong notes. It's an intentional change to the overall sound of the orchestra."

I cannot speak for others, but if this was an intended change, I hate it. Absolutely hate it. It basically took the signature strength of the Cleveland Orchestra prior to 1985, and transformed it into a weakness. I don't see anything endearing in the changed style, aside from guaranteeing "safe" performances.

I've noticed this effect to a lesser degree with other major orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic. It's a trend that really makes me want to say, "What are the heads of these institutions thinking?" .....

For how much some here loathe Sir George Solti, he would never stand for playing like this. (I don't think Toscanini, Szell, Reiner, Karajan, or even Charles Dutoit would have stood for it as well.) I'd rather see performances that are too daring than boringly safe. Especially if the musicians have the capability to deliver the fireworks.

This happens to be why Vladimir Horowitz was my all-time favorite classical musician.... If he decided to water down his playing, I would have hated that too.... For the exact same reason.

I recently linked a performance of Janine Jansen performing the Bruch Violin Concerto with the NHK Symphony. This is how the Cleveland Orchestra used to play. (Skip to 6:00 in the clip.) And I long for its return.



Edits: 09/14/14

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