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Posted by anne on September 27, 2006, 3:55 pm, in reply to "http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Sept06/Zemlinsky_Lyric_71081.htm" Soderstrom which was also the first one I learned from and is forever imprinted for me, too. She is wonderful, though Klee and Duesing are less impressive. This new recording has remarkably good performance all round, and what's more important it is a strikingly new approach to the symphony "as music". So it's not really a comparison, they are just so different. Eschenbach brings out the shining modernism better than even Gielen, and Schafer's approach suits this modernist clarity well. Heard as a "whole" the Eschenbach breaks new ground - some of the things Zemlinsky is doing in this music actually pre date Berg, such as his use of interludes as "scene changes" which Berg was to develop in Wozzeck. I like Chailly and Conlon too, both being Zemlinsky specialists, but this is so much more challenging. Moreover in Goerne we have an astoundingly good baritone. Fischer-Dieskau was approaching 60 when he recorded his two versions, and like Grundheber (for Beaumont) past his prime - not at all a "young" prince as the text states at all. Even Nimsgern for Ferro though good isn't as fresh. You raise a very good issue with comparisons because there is no such thing as straight comparison. Performances go by their "total" realisation, and this arises from the interpretation, which in turn arises from understanding the music and composer. That's why I don't like quasi operatic versions apart from the Dorow which is so over the top it's delicious like a disgracefully sweet pudding. Why would Zemlinsky write like Wagner if Wagner had been dead 40 years ? He knew Schoenberg was looking over his shoulder (literally) The translation in the booklet is the "original" from 1925 which was then translated into the German version Zemlinsky used. It gives "I am listless" for "Ich bin ruhlos". Many thanks ! Anne
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Hello Martin ! I'm so glad you've written because you know your Zemlinsky well and you know what you're talking about. It's a pleasure to discuss the classic interpetations with you!
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