I Just Listened To It.......

Posted by Todd Krieger (A) on May 5, 2021 at 00:22:41

In Reply to: Hey, Zarlino - I finally heard Honeck's Beethoven Ninth posted by Chris from Lafayette on May 3, 2021 at 17:55:23:

I don't know if this is an HDCD recording, but it sounds like the resolution got reduced to 192 kbps MP3..... This recording simply lacked "resolution"..... Everything was "loud" or "soft".....

That said, I'd call this performance more "strange" than awful.... The tempo of the opening movement was too fast, but the articulation from the Pittsburgh Symphony was there in spades (although maybe overdone at times)..... The dynamics were rather strange, crescendos and diminuendos were inserted into spots where the music didn't call for it..... If I had to describe the opening movement, I'd call it "choppy"..... It sounded like how pianist Sergio Tiempo would have conducted it.

If the first movement was "choppy," the second movement was "sloppy"..... Once again, some strange dynamics, the ensemble just wasn't there.... (The "attacks" amongst the various orchestra sections were all over the place.) It sounded like 100 musicians doing their own thing instead of a cohesive orchestra..... (I'm starting to hear recent performances where the famous timpani calls all played "loud," instead of the last one played "soft".... It doesn't sound right to me.) I did not like the horn playing by the Pittsburgh section in this movement..... Sounded rather "hackish". The flute player missed a few notes to boot. (Surprised this made it to recording.) The primary theme after the "Presto" was played somewhat slower than prior to the "Presto". (I once heard Christoph von Dohnanyi do this at a live concert.... The musicians' "timings" get messed up with such tempo variations.)

The Third Movement was the strongest of the performance, even though I've heard better...... The tempos are somewhat fast.... The principal musicians tried so much to sound like "soloists," kind of abrading the "orchestral fabric" that makes Beethoven so unique.

The Final Movement, once again, the brass dynamics seemed rather "raw" to me..... (This is the type of sound I'd expect from a metropolitan orchestra, not a major one.) The read of the final movement wasn't bad, but the brass dynamics and sloppy ensemble were very disconcerting.... (There were some wrong notes out of the horn section.) Didn't like the baritone singer..... Like the orchestra, the four singers kind of did their own thing..... There was no "cohesiveness" or melodic line..... The chorus had major intonation and dynamics issues (it sounded like they were "shouting" instead of singing).... The "choppiness" of the opening movement returned. The very ending may have been the best part of the performance.

This isn't at all like the Franz Welser Most/Cleveland performance.... It would be sort of a complement for it..... The FWM/Cleveland performance was very lethargic, this one was too much the other way..... In fact, overall, I'd put the FWM/Cleveland over it, mainly because the playing by the Cleveland Orchestra (in spite of its recent flaws) was a lot more "refined".......

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Hey, Zarlino - I finally heard Honeck's Beethoven Ninth - Chris from Lafayette 17:55:23 05/03/21 (37)

I've put this recording to a (perhaps better) use.... - Russell 09:43:18 05/05/21 (2)

Good job (making a silk purse out of a sow's ear!) [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 10:53:27 05/05/21 (1)

+1... [nt] - Todd Krieger 23:48:50 05/05/21 (0)

As if this Ninth weren't bad enough, here's Honeck's Pastoral - Chris from Lafayette 00:49:43 05/05/21 (6)

RE: As if this Ninth weren't bad enough, here's Honeck's Pastoral - classfolkphile 12:46:46 05/08/21 (1)

Riverdance! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 01:10:46 05/09/21 (0)

RE: As if this Ninth weren't bad enough, here's Honeck's Pastoral - Todd Krieger 01:04:08 05/05/21 (3)

A couple of posters on SymphonyShare are calling Honeck's Pastoral "Riverdance"! - Chris from Lafayette 15:53:32 05/06/21 (0)

RE: As if this Ninth weren't bad enough, here's Honeck's Pastoral - pbarach 05:24:35 05/05/21 (1)

pbarach - I didn't know you were on SymphonyShare too - Chris from Lafayette 10:51:34 05/05/21 (0)

I Just Listened To It....... - Todd Krieger 00:22:41 05/05/21 (4)

That's fair - I'd say the lack of cohesion is one of the main characteristics of this performance [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 00:40:27 05/05/21 (3)

I Have a Feeling....... - Todd Krieger 00:48:19 05/05/21 (2)

Recorded in 2019. nt - oldmkvi 11:20:17 05/05/21 (1)

RE: Recorded in 2019. nt - Todd Krieger 23:45:01 05/05/21 (0)

I Had a Somewhat Different Reaction - Mel 13:09:30 05/04/21 (3)

At least we agree about SoundMirror's less than stellar contribution to the proceedings - Chris from Lafayette 16:44:22 05/04/21 (0)

Darn! Now I'm going to have to listen to it as well.... - Ivan303 13:26:21 05/04/21 (1)

That was our plan all along! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 16:45:06 05/04/21 (0)

Great line! - srl1 10:39:46 05/04/21 (1)

Dave and I both studied at the same institution of higher learning. . . - Chris from Lafayette 16:24:42 05/04/21 (0)

"Those girlie-man dynamic taperings" Seriously? - oldmkvi 08:19:42 05/04/21 (3)

I'm sorry! I meant. . . - Chris from Lafayette 17:36:33 05/05/21 (0)

"Male insecurity on aisle 7!" - tinear 10:47:57 05/04/21 (0)

I'd say more sexist than homophobic.... - Ivan303 09:48:17 05/04/21 (0)

RE: Hey, Zarlino - I finally heard Honeck's Beethoven Ninth - Todd Krieger 19:46:59 05/03/21 (0)

that's too bad - DrChaos 19:34:24 05/03/21 (10)

LOL. Yeah, after negative reviews here from a few guys his career is shot. Funny forum :-) nt - Rick W 08:41:17 05/04/21 (6)

What the hell does Coltrane think he's doing? - oldmkvi 11:16:07 05/05/21 (5)

Only a tasteless fool would enjoy recordings that don't receive the Classical Court seal of approval. nt - Rick W 11:35:33 05/05/21 (4)

Sure! Because everything is just as good as everything else! ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 13:17:26 05/05/21 (3)

Arbiters emeriti. nt - Rick W 14:03:26 05/05/21 (2)

I like it - especially since I write purely for love of the art! [nt] ;-) - Chris from Lafayette 14:48:22 05/05/21 (1)

thx :-) nt - Rick W 15:33:51 05/05/21 (0)

I'm sure the BPO shares everyone's assessment of Honeck. - oldmkvi 06:36:39 05/04/21 (1)

Point taken, but still... - Ivan303 13:24:29 05/04/21 (0)

RE: that's too bad - Todd Krieger 19:50:11 05/03/21 (0)

Follow Ups

I Just Listened To It....... - Todd Krieger 00:22:41 05/05/21 (4)

That's fair - I'd say the lack of cohesion is one of the main characteristics of this performance [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 00:40:27 05/05/21 (3)

I Have a Feeling....... - Todd Krieger 00:48:19 05/05/21 (2)

Recorded in 2019. nt - oldmkvi 11:20:17 05/05/21 (1)

RE: Recorded in 2019. nt - Todd Krieger 23:45:01 05/05/21 (0)

I Just Listened To It.......

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