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Discussion: Bernstein: West Side Story - Bernstein

Posts: 27
Page: 1 2 3 next

Post by Allan1us February 6, 2006 (1 of 27)
Today's review of the DG West Side Story by 2-channel together with his review of the Pentatone Saint-Saens illustrates vividly what peculiar freaks populate the internet generally and this site in particular.

It's why I stopped writing any reviews.

Post by Edvin February 6, 2006 (2 of 27)
The biggest freak is the one who can´t accept other views than his own.

Post by tream February 6, 2006 (3 of 27)
Allan1us said:

Today's review of the DG West Side Story by 2-channel together with his review of the Pentatone Saint-Saens illustrates vividly what peculiar freaks populate the internet generally and this site in particular.

It's why I stopped writing any reviews.

It is not clear what you like or don't like about the review of West Side Story. I've owned the LP's of this recording since release in the 80's, and find that, in general, it is in fact an overly operatic production - voices wrong for their parts, overly slow tempos, etc. - yet the composer is in charge. Maybe this means that composers really are not the best advocates for their own works. Ludicrous? In some ways.

I'm surprised about the positive comments on the sound - the LP's suffer from 80's digitalitis. (This particular disease also ruined Solti's Figaro, for example). Maybe remastering for SACD made a real difference.

The original Broadway cast recording is my own touchstone for this work, which, after all, is a musical.

OTOH - I have yet to hear a poor quality production from Pentatone - while I don't have this one, I have about 30 Pentatone's in my collection. I urge 2-channel to listen to a few more.

Post by seth February 6, 2006 (4 of 27)
Edvin said:

The biggest freak is the one who can´t accept other views than his own.

Yes. It seems like lately, that someone starts a discussion thread in responce to each new review.

Post by Windsurfer February 6, 2006 (5 of 27)
seth said:

Yes. It seems like lately, that someone starts a discussion thread in responce to each new review.

Well I think the biggest freak is the one who just has to throw verbal rocks at anyone with the temerity to voice a different opinion.

I tried a couple months ago to get between two arguing members and at least one of them thought I was personally attacking him, so I tend not to go there anymore. Tolerance is a wonderful commodity on a forum such as this and how nice it would be if some of us didn't feel the need to call others freaks!

Post by nickc February 6, 2006 (6 of 27)
tream said:

It is not clear what you like or don't like about the review of West Side Story. I've owned the LP's of this recording since release in the 80's, and find that, in general, it is in fact an overly operatic production - voices wrong for their parts, overly slow tempos, etc. - yet the composer is in charge. Maybe this means that composers really are not the best advocates for their own works. Ludicrous? In some ways.

I'm surprised about the positive comments on the sound - the LP's suffer from 80's digitalitis. (This particular disease also ruined Solti's Figaro, for example). Maybe remastering for SACD made a real difference.

The original Broadway cast recording is my own touchstone for this work, which, after all, is a musical.

OTOH - I have yet to hear a poor quality production from Pentatone - while I don't have this one, I have about 30 Pentatone's in my collection. I urge 2-channel to listen to a few more.

I agree re Pentatone. I have a few of the 70s re-releases (Beethoven/Masur and this disc)and find them just OK. As I said in my Beethoven review Pentatone can only place them in front of us, they can't "improve" them. I only bought them as I am a MC addict!
On the other hand Pentatone's new releases are absolutely fantastic; I urge 2-channel to buy the Julia Fischer Russian violin concertos disc -great stuff!
Cheers
Nick
PS Just to prove how inconsistent I am I'm looking at buying the 70s Brahms piano quartets even though I already have these performances on a Philips Duo!

Post by Claude February 6, 2006 (7 of 27)
The sound rating on the Pentatone is probably too harsh. I haven't heard that disc, but a dozen other RQR reissues, and they all sound very good to excellent.

What about Moldog's review which rates it even less?

The music rating on West Side story is of course very subjective. But he explains his point.


Would it be preferable to give every disc at least three stars, so not to offend anyone? Like most magazines do these days.

Post by tream February 6, 2006 (8 of 27)
nickc said:

I agree re Pentatone. I have a few of the 70s re-releases (Beethoven/Masur and this disc)and find them just OK. As I said in my Beethoven review Pentatone can only place them in front of us, they can't "improve" them. I only bought them as I am a MC addict!
On the other hand Pentatone's new releases are absolutely fantastic; I urge 2-channel to buy the Julia Fischer Russian violin concertos disc -great stuff!
Cheers
Nick
PS Just to prove how inconsistent I am I'm looking at buying the 70s Brahms piano quartets even though I already have these performances on a Philips Duo!

The sound of the Pentatone Masur set is variable, in my view - ranges from pretty good to not so hot. At a budget price, it is a good MC set - you will get a very good idea of how the Beethoven symphonies are played, but the Karajan set is overall, much better, (not perfect, but better), and the Vanska could be a board clearer if the quality of the first release is retained.

Ditto for Fischer's recordings of Bach and Mozart. The Storiani Trio's set of Beethove is excellent as well.I hope they continue that series.

Post by Peter February 7, 2006 (9 of 27)
Windsurfer said:

Well I think the biggest freak is the one who just has to throw verbal rocks at anyone with the temerity to voice a different opinion.

I tried a couple months ago to get between two arguing members and at least one of them thought I was personally attacking him, so I tend not to go there anymore. Tolerance is a wonderful commodity on a forum such as this and how nice it would be if some of us didn't feel the need to call others freaks!

Did you really think I thought you thought I thought you were attacking me? As you say, tolerance is a wonderful commodity; just how intolerant should one be of intolerance?

I've never liked this recording of West Side Story and I feel that this may be due to having watched the (to my sensibilities, so please excuse and forgive an opinion which may differ hugely from other forum users') frankly embarrassing and toe-curling film about its making, in addition to some voices which don't match my preconceptions of the parts.

I've not heard the SACD issue as somehow I don't think that's going to make a difference to my opinion of the music; if it did, that would indeed be freakish.

Post by Edvin February 7, 2006 (10 of 27)
Windsurfer said:

Well I think the biggest freak is the one who just has to throw verbal rocks at anyone with the temerity to voice a different opinion.

Tolerance is a wonderful commodity on a forum such as this and how nice it would be if some of us didn't feel the need to call others freaks!

And yet that is exactly what you do.
You are so strange, always telling others what to do and write.

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