HOW CAN YOU RESIST?
MOVIE MAVEN | New York, NY USA | 01/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"OK, if the name Arnold Schoenberg sets your teeth on edge just THINKING about his music, you can relax. The "Gurrelieder" is a large choral work in the style of Wagner or Mahler: that is, Romanticism to the Nth degree. There is not a hint of the atonal/serial/12-tone music which Schoenberg pioneered and was famous for. The music is full and rich and totally melodic. Many passages are as reflective as Wagner's "A Siegfried Idyll" and others as heart-stopping as Mahler's "Resurrection Symphony." This is positively THE performance to buy for several reasons---firstly, the soloists are perfect for their roles and all in their prime: James McCracken, a terrific heroic tenor at the Metropolitan Opera is not as well known as he should have been because he, for some reason, did not record alot. (His first rate 'Don Jose' is featured on the Leonard Bernstein DGG recording of "Carmen" starring Marilyn Horne.) Tatiana Troyanos, an American mezzo, had a huge career at the Met thanks to being championed by music director James Levine, but she recorded little and now after her premature death, we are left with few recordings to treasure. (She played 'Octavian' opposite Kiri Te Kanawa's 'Marschallin' in a legendary video of "Der Rosenkavalier" which, unfortunately, was never released as CD's.) And what is there left to say about Jessye Norman at her best??? Her voice here is simple and yet overwhelmingly emotional. The Boston Symphony Orchestra under Ozawa is tops, the all-important choral parts are taken by the formidable Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the sound on this Philips set might have been recorded yesterday. Add to all this that Schoenberg's two "Chamber" Symphonies are given as bonuses and the fact that Philips is selling the CD's at bargain prices, Well, how can you resist? Very Highly Recommended."
This is an excellent recording
Can Okan | Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey | 06/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Schoenberg's Gurrelieder is a hard work written for a grand ensemble. But this recording is really excellent. Especially the voice of Jesse Norman, Tatiana Troyanos's marvellous performance on Lied der Waldtaube, three men's choir in the third section and the eight voice choir's performance in the final section is really worth to listen again and again. And also we can't pass by Eliahu Inbal's Chamber Symphonies recording, it is also great."
Almost ideal
bob turnley | birmingham,al,usa | 07/30/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one lush, romantic score. Its like 'Tannhauser meets Salome.' Having both Troyanos and Norman in fabulous voice would seal the deal regardless of the rest of the cast. But with James McCracken you have the perfect tenor for this music. The equally underappreciated Jess Thomas made a good recording of this role as well. But McCracken was special. No one sounded like him. And his recording opportunities were shamefully rare.
This music demands a tenor with power and conviction. McCracken had those qualities like no one before or since. The only problem with this recording is that the voices are too far forward. Given more reverb this Gurrelieder would have been perfect."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1
