Re: Best Recordings of Beethoven Missa Solemnis op. 123
I'm not sure if I am comfortable in having Gundula Janowitz's contribution to Karajan's 1966 Missa Solemnis as ‘OTT’ either - 'operatic' may be a more apt description, I would contend, which would have been necessary with the comparatively larger forces involved. It is an interesting topic – whenever I listen to the Missa Solemnis performed by old masters such as Karajan, Wand and Klemperer, I feel as if I am swept up in the composer’s vision with all the exultation in the glory of God and fear of the drums of war very real. With more modern, slimmed down, “historically informed” performances, it is as if the music is instead being relayed to me via a treatise from a dry old academic, the blazing revolutionary fires of Beethoven replaced by a mere message on Twitter. As Ralph points out, we all have different tastes and expectations, as do the modern day reviewers of Gramophone Magazine, and I am sure there are just as many, if not more, who consider Janowitz's contribution to Karajan's Missa Solemnis sublime, than otherwise - but that's the magic of this music we all venerate and its recorded history, that continues to dazzle and frustrate us. Previous Message Well, I have already expressed my incredulity at hearing the sublime Gundula Janowitz's soprano described as "jarring" - and now it's "OTT" and "weird". As for "even Gramophone" disliking Karajan's recording...hmmm. I would suggest that no-one is "right"; I merely express my own taste, reactions and reasons for those responses. Previous Message Janowitz does sound OTT in the Karajan Ralph, Gulliver is right, even a Gramophone reviewer disliked Karajan's as too slow. I would play Wand's and maybe the later Haronocourt's. Wand's is the best one so far.
|