Maestro, 91, makes it back to La Scala
mainThere were triple standing ovations last night for Georges Pretre, the French conductor who has cancelled most engagements in the past year but was determined not to miss his Scala gala.
Elegant as ever, gorgeous George may have received the highest classical ratio of applause to instrumental music: 17 minutes of ovation for 41 minutes of music.
Corriere report here.
Maestro Pretre is my favorite conductor of all times! My dream is to play with him or for him. Just to meet such great legende is a greatest privilege in our times!
My fondest regards to you Mr. Lebrecht
And to you, Maxim.
Always one of my favorites. Glad to see him still at work 🙂
What was his program?
– Beethoven; Egmont Ouverture & Piano Concert Nr. 3 (Rudolf Buchbinder, pf)
– Verdi; “Sinfonia” of La Forza del Destino
– Liszt; Paraphrase on Verdi’s Rigoletto (Rudolf Buchbinder, pf)
– Offenbach; Barcarolle
РRavel; Bol̩ro
(From La Scala’s webpage)
This program does seem to last more than 41 minutes, even leaving out the Liszt piece.
I think the writer is only referring to a portion of the program regarding the 41 minutes of music and 17 minutes of applause bit. According to the article, Georges Prêtre conducted the entire program listed, plus an encore (the can-can music out of Orphée aux Enfers).
I never saw George Pr̻tre conduct, but one my all time favourite LPs was his recording of three French ballets with the Paris Conservatoire РLes biches, Le loup and La cr̩ation du monde. Was there ever a better conductor of Poulenc?
Incidentally, I live near Amsterdam and on Saturday afternoon we get Bernard Haitink, a mere stripling at 86, conducting Bruckner Te Deum and Ninth Symphony with the marvellous Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. It can be downloaded via the website of Dutch radio 4.
“….Was there ever a better conductor of Poulenc….”
Probably not!
bravo maître! On vous aime.
Fantastic! I love him!
Incredibly inspiring! I love the films with Maestro Prêtre and Francis Poulenc, especially. Such a fabulous link to the opulent and elegant French past!
What is the difference between “a favourite” and “an all-time favourite”?
A “favourite” could be temporary while an “all-time favourite” might be considered permanent?
It must be said that until the last few years Prêtre was very much taken for granted as merely a decent conductor.
“taken for granted as a merely decent conductor” by whom?
Good for him, and for us! He’s one of the greatest conductors of all times, living the music and showing it in all his gestures.
This video says it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlyXh87b1g
It’s pure perfection!
http://www.gianmariagriglio.it
Good for him, and for us!
He’s one of the greatest conductors of all times, living the music in all his gestures. This video says it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlyXh87b1g
It’s pure perfection!
http://www.gianmariagriglio.it