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Discussion: Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream - Kristjan Järvi

Posts: 9

Post by hiredfox November 5, 2010 (1 of 9)
What an astonishing and refreshing treat this disc has turned out to be. I bought it on spec as there was no decent recording of Shakespeare's masterpiece in my SACD collection (plenty on RBCD) so to some extent I was buying for completeness.

Wow! This disc is an artistic tour-de-force; it is with great reluctance that further explanation is offered as much of the surprise will be lost - rather like exposing the ending of Agatha Christy's "Mousetrap", which I am not about to do even 'though it has been running for over 50 years in the West End and newcomers still delight in the intrigue of 'not knowing the ending'.

This disc is a bold fusion of music and literature - rather akin to "Peter and The Wolf" - the music accompanied throughout by a reading of a modern text (2007) that is a synopsis of the Baird's most enjoyable and famous comedy, written by the Austrian poet and satarist Franzobel.

Of course, his writing is left field and even more risque than The Baird's but highly illustrative and immensely funny in its own right... how dare he! It is spoken in German but with such clarity and emphasis that even allowing my faltering German could follow the plot lines with ease - it helps if you know the play backwards of course and there is a very fine translation in the form of a libretto in the booklet.


Musically, maybe not the best of recordings from the point of view of capturing the acoustic of the Musikverein [7/10] but that turns out not to be the point. Narration is the point and is in perfect synchronisation with the music through out. Here the recording is spot-on with Nicholas Ofczarek disconcertingly standing in front of me eyeball-to-eyeball daring me not to let my attention lapse... where did that 78 mins go to?

But why would one's attention wander, this disc has provided some of the most enjoyable entertainment heard in my music room for a very long time.

I really do recommend that you treat yourself to this ravishing treat but only if you are serious about your arts.

Post by Windsurfer November 5, 2010 (2 of 9)
hiredfox said:

What an astonishing and refreshing treat this disc has turned out to be.

I really do recommend that you treat yourself to this ravishing treat but only if you are serious about your arts.

Thanks John!

I had about written it off as a failure due to the posted review. Now it's high on my wish list!

Bruce

Post by Jonalogic November 6, 2010 (3 of 9)
hiredfox said:

What an astonishing and refreshing treat this disc has turned out to be. I bought it on spec as there was no decent recording of Shakespeare's masterpiece in my SACD collection (plenty on RBCD) so to some extent I was buying for completeness.

Wow! This disc is an artistic tour-de-force;

hiredfox hi

Many thanks for posting such a divergent opinion!

As I know, this is not always easy, and some folks in the Forum regretfully have a habit of jumping on comments which stray too far from (their) holy writ.

Without divergent opinion, however, we would still be living in the trees...

And I always find that art which generates such controversy is usually GOOD art.

I shall certainly give this a spin, even if my German is a bit rough.

Cheers

Jon

Post by Polly Nomial November 6, 2010 (4 of 9)
Go for it - but I wouldn't encourage people to buy this even if members of the RSC were supplying the speech sections or they could be omitted entirely...

Post by flyingdutchman November 6, 2010 (5 of 9)
Jonalogic said:

hiredfox hi

Many thanks for posting such a divergent opinion!

As I know, this is not always easy, and some folks in the Forum regretfully have a habit of jumping on comments which stray too far from (their) holy writ.

Without divergent opinion, however, we would still be living in the trees...

And I always find that art which generates such controversy is usually GOOD art.

I shall certainly give this a spin, even if my German is a bit rough.

Cheers

Jon

Yes, which is why I usually buy what you abhor and stay away from what you absolutely love. You are an example of someone who likes to see his own writing in print or online. You must also like to hear yourself talk.

Post by Jonalogic November 6, 2010 (6 of 9)
flyingdutchman said:

Yes, which is why I usually buy what you abhor and stay away from what you absolutely love. You are an example of someone who likes to see his own writing in print or online. You must also like to hear yourself talk.

Oh dear, here you go again.

If you cannot stay civil, include any facts, intelligence or wit in your discourse - or even bother to stay on thread - you should not be posting.

I intend to report to Zeus your incessant and childish name-calling of anyone with whom you disagree.

I have, quite independently, received a number of similar complaints about your postings. And seen many similar. This appears, regretfully, to demonstrate a continuing and serial pattern of behaviour on your part

I have no qualms whatsoever, therefore, in citing you as a genuine fun-killing TROLL.

And please don't think your childish attempts at insults affect me in any way. You are just increasingly making yourself look foolish to all and sundry on this Forum, and would be wise to desist.

Post by Vaan November 6, 2010 (7 of 9)
I couldn´t agree more!

Post by flyingdutchman November 6, 2010 (8 of 9)
Vaan said:

I couldn´t agree more!

Care to comment on this infamous thread posting of yours back in January where you clearly showed your true colors?

Post by Edvin January 16, 2010 (22 of 109)

"Are you threatening me? If so, with what? Exclusion from this tiny site of yours? Who the hell do you think you are you pompous idiot."





I will leave when the three of you leave, i.e., Jonalogic with his self-important comments, Troll-Buster, and Vaan (aka Edvin, aka Viktor, aka whoever else). You really want to bring up civility in a thread? Really? I will gladly write back and forth with people who are clearly civil, but that is not you three.

Post by Vaan November 6, 2010 (9 of 9)
You are so childish I cannot believe it.

Closed