Klarinet Archive - Posting 001003.txt from 1999/09

From: KlarBoy@-----.com
Subj: [kl] re: 2025 Mozart
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 16:44:34 -0400

Leeson said:
<I have an old recording of Beethoven 5 done by Toscannini and the NBC
around 1943 or so. And not only is the sound (which sounded wonderful
to me then) awkward and fuzzy, the whole style of playing appears to
be old-fashioned and fuddy-duddy.>

I believe that certain artist are more in tune with their own times, and
hence are more "dated" by their interpretations, while other artists are
better able to transcend their times and give us something great and lasting.
While hypothetically discussing whether the Marcellus recording will remain
in the catalogue one should look at the entire archive of George Szell's
recordings. At least for me, many of his recordings of certain composers
(Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Smetana, and of course Dvorak) almost define the
term "definitive recording." The brilliance of his legendary ensemble is not
often matched by todays leading groups. The precision they achieved is and
will remain a lasting legacy. Will his recordings still be issued in 2025?
I believe so, not all of them, but several will, including I think, the
clarinet concerto recording.

While I'm rambling, here's a few others that I'm sure will be around:
Tosca 1953 Maria Callas, Guiseppe Di Stefano. La Scala Conducted by
Victor de Sabata. (This the greatest recording of Puccini's masterpiece
won't be the only Callas recording available in 2025, of this I'm certain)
Goldberg Variations 1955 Glenn Gould. (This recording of the 19 year old
Gould playing Bach ON THE PIANO, has never left the recorded catalogue)
George Szell's Beethoven symphonies, Brahms Symphonies, Beethoven piano
concerti with Leon Fleisher, Mozart Symphonies (the late ones) and piano
concerti with Robert Cassadesus. While these recordings do not often reflect
the current scholarship of period performance practice (especially the Mozart
works) they have a virtuosity that gives them such amazing clarity and
brilliance that I will never tire of listening to them. At this point I must
admit that personally, I do not hold the Marcellus recording in as high an
esteem as some of George Szell's other collaborations, but recognize that
others might.

Just my $.02
Mario Estrada

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