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Date: | Sat, 23 Jan 1999 14:16:52 +0100 |
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Mark Seeley <[log in to unmask]> rates Barenboim more as a pianist than as a
conductor.
I think the jury is still out on this one but it is patently absurd to
imply that his, and Ashkenazy's, conducting is *dreadful*.
Where the jury is *not* out, in so far as Barenboim is concerned, is on his
abilities as a Wagner conductor. His Bayreuth Tristans are unquestionably
(or should I say "very widely regarded"?) as great as any since Bohm.
Nothing, indeed, that he has done at Bayreuth is anything less than good,
rising to excellent ... and he is occasionally magnificent..
I was at the Bohm "Tristan" on 4 Aug.'66 and, thirty years later (to the
day), attended the Barenboim one. Two of my greatest opera nights. The
only point upon which I would take issue with him is in the weakness of his
double-bass line in the Act 3 prelude. Bohm is marvellous here, as was
Stokowski.
Barenboim as a pianist does not excite me - the personality gets in the way
(as it does with certain other artists who will remain nameless!). If you
write to him, you'll never receive a reply!
John G. Deacon
Home page: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/j.deacon
PIPEDOWN - Campaign Against Piped Music http://www.btinternet.com/~pipedown
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