Franz Welser-Moest

207.200.116.133

Posted by Brian Cheney on February 1, 2007 at 19:23:42

Moest has been Principal Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra since 2002 and is now in his fifth season. I heard the 2006 Carnegie Hall opening nite concert on PBS yesterday, and it was my first exposure to his work.

The man's appeal as a purveyor of music escapes me completely. What I heard was someone obsessed with measure-by-measure tinkering with line and phrasing, almost to a maniacal degree. The orchestra sounded tentative and unsure of itself throughout, just keeping up with the constant and mostly amusical, pointless changes to note values, rhythms, balances and tempi. Moest has the annoying habit of finishing phrases and marking bar lines with diminuendi, favors soft dynamics over loud, holds back his brass frequently and severely, and puts up with a quacky oboe and slack ensemble. Orchestral tone is thin and muted. Every few bars he cuts loose with loud, straightforward playing, usually in finales,which is often completely at odds with what has gone before in terms of inflection and interpretation. Long lines and cohesion appear to be of no concern. I almost screamed in frustration just listening to him.

Perhaps inmates who have heard the man live, or more often than I have, can explain the charm which led to his appointment. Or not.

What a disaster for the once-top orchestra in our country.

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Topic - Franz Welser-Moest - Brian Cheney 19:23:42 02/01/07 (20)

I heard them twice about a year ago... - M. Lucky 10:17:46 02/02/07 (0)

Same Complaints As.... - Todd Krieger 23:42:15 02/01/07 (1)

Re: Same Complaints As.... - Brian Cheney 10:32:03 02/02/07 (0)

Here in the UK, there's a satirical magazine called Private Eye... - bigi 23:41:37 02/01/07 (2)

Frankly worse than most - andy evans 14:47:25 02/02/07 (1)

I stand corrected! (nt) - bigi 11:10:22 02/03/07 (0)

Re: Franz Welser-Moest - Thornhill 20:09:04 02/01/07 (9)

Re: I'm going to hear them tonight - Square Peg 02:52:47 02/02/07 (6)

Re: Last night at Severance Hall - Square Peg 12:45:13 02/03/07 (5)

so who is the best? - docw 22:28:05 02/03/07 (4)

Re: so who is the best? - Square Peg 04:31:58 02/04/07 (3)

Who is Tharp on harp? - Harmonia 20:47:07 02/07/07 (1)

Re: How embarasking - Square Peg 03:57:57 02/08/07 (0)

I am not a musician nor do I read music, but... - docw 14:45:12 02/05/07 (0)

I Must Have Missed It.... - Todd Krieger 23:37:28 02/01/07 (1)

Re: I Must Have Missed It.... - Thornhill 06:21:44 02/02/07 (0)

Can't comment on Franz Welser-Moest, but... - Paul_A 19:43:41 02/01/07 (3)

Alas, this sounds all too true. nt - clarkjohnsen 11:59:05 02/02/07 (0)

Barenboim was a great musician... - bigi 23:47:29 02/01/07 (1)

What were they thinking in the Windy City? - Harmonia 20:41:23 02/07/07 (0)

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