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George Szell may not be the greatest interpreter to step up on a podium, but he may be the very best at bringing the most out of any orchestra..... The Vienna Philharmonic takes on the quality of his Cleveland Orchestra..... The wind tone, intonation, razor precision, normally "weak" points with the VPO, suddenly become strengths. This live performance of the Walton "Hindemith Variations" (which follows Mozart's EKN) is almost on par with Szell's studio performance with Cleveland.
Sir William Walton was present at the concert, and was introduced to the audience after the performance.
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With Cleveland Orchestra on Columbia/Epic.
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We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Gandhi
"George Szell may not be the greatest interpreter to step up on a podium..."
Out of curiosity, Todd, whatever prompted this comment?
"'George Szell may not be the greatest interpreter to step up on a podium...'
Out of curiosity, Todd, whatever prompted this comment?"
Most of the criticisms of Szell performances (including me personally) have been more in regard to his readings of the great works..... Szell on the other hand almost never drew criticism from the playing or the nuances from the orchestra itself. (Aside from maybe being *too* precise.)
To give you an example, take Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra..... Szell's performance is rarely talked about in "must have" discussions, primarily because he doctored the ending, and removed the drama leading up to the final climax, totally ruining what I thought would have otherwise been the one of the greatest performances of this work to make recording.
Another example is Szell's Brahms One..... One of the best-executed from an orchestral playing perspective (worth getting for appreciating that alone), but his read of this particular work otherwise ordinary. (Another former Cleveland Orchestra director, Christoph von Dohnanyi, read this work as well as anyone.)
I also never cared for Szell's Beethoven in most part, the music to me came off as "stiff".
I have most of Szell's recorded legacy on vinyl and frankly hadn't noticed. This week I am enjoying the Beethoven Piano concertos with Serkin. It's a funny thing. They sound like great performances to me.
Szell did OK with the Beethoven concertos..... It's the Symphonies he had problems with. (Except for the 7th.)
nt
Very very nice! Thanks for this. Great combo of conductor and orchestra they play o eachothers strengths.
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