Search - R. Strauss, Seifert, Mehta :: Alpine Symphony / Horn Concerto 1

Mehta's Lyrical, Burnished Alpensinfonie

Jeffrey A. Van Detta | East Coast USA | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I loved Karanjan's and Kempe's Alpensifonie (especially the musicmaking in Karanjan's laserdisc version), I think, contrary to Mr. Richman, that Mehta's leads the crowd. Never before has the BPO been recorded so majestically, to reveal a radiance, precision, and burnished sound rarely heard since the great DG LPs of 1973-1977 (roughly, Karanjan's analog strauss through his 3d Beethoven cycle). (Why couldn't Gunter Hermanns ever duplicate this in the Philharmonie?) One might forget that Mehta's "spiritual home" (at least musically) is in the sound-world of Austrio-Germany, and one hears a lyricism, feeling, and poetry in communion with nature that in Mehta's hands elevates the work beyond the pedestrian reputation it suffered from for years to the realm of pure rapture. Mehta reminds us forcefully here of his Vienna musical roots. It also reminds us what he might have accomplished with the BPO, which, to me, has drifted aimlessly and rather facelessly from Abbado's blandness to Simon Rattle's miscasting. Recommended without hestitation--relish the sonic feast! -- Professor Jeffey A. Van Detta"

Mehta's Lyrical, Burnished Alpensinfonie

Jeffrey A. Van Detta | East Coast USA | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I loved Karajan's and Kempe's Alpensifonie (especially the musicmaking in Karajan's laserdisc version), and admire Previn's for Telarc, I think, contrary to Mr. Richman, that Mehta's leads the crowd. Never before has the BPO been recorded so majestically, to reveal a radiance, precision, and burnished sound rarely heard since the great DG LPs of 1973-1977 (roughly, Karanjan's analog strauss through his 3d Beethoven cycle). (Why couldn't Gunter Hermanns ever duplicate this using digital recording equipment in the Philharmonie?) One might forget that Mehta's "spiritual home" (at least musically) is in the sound-world of Austro-Germany, and one hears a lyricism, feeling, and poetry in communion with nature that in Mehta's hands elevates the work beyond the pedestrian reputation it suffered from for years, rising up to the realm of pure rapture. Mehta reminds us forcefully here of his Vienna musical roots. It also reminds us what he might have accomplished with the BPO, which, to me, has drifted aimlessly and rather facelessly from Abbado's blandness to Simon Rattle's miscasting. Recommended without hestitation--relish the sonic feast! -- Professor Jeffey A. Van Detta"

Just to hear this orchestra is a thrill

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's a major event for Strauss fans when a truly great orchestra shows off its supreme virtuosity, and that's the case here. Karajan made the classic Alpine Symphony early in the digital era--too early, in fact, given the wiry sound and edgy strings that resulted. The later remastering of that performance on DG's "Karajan Gold" series helped quite a bit. But here we get to hear the Berlin Phil. without excuses, and their playing is astounding.



I would rank this performance in the same league as Previn's on Telarc with the Vienna Phil. In both cases the stars are the orchestra and the recording engineers. Neither Previn nor Mehta has a great deal to say from the podium, but they conduct traffic extremely well. Overall, both recordings are orgiastic, sumptuous experiences for the ear."