Rattle and LSO record Beethoven concertos for DG
mainHere’s how the world has changed.
Instead of releasing physical product, Deutsche Grammophon has redirected part of its output to live-streamed performances.
The label’s recording teams are in London filming Krystian Zimerman playing the five Beethoven piano concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle at LSO St Luke’s. The performances will be aired on DG Stage on 17, 19 and 21 December.
Also on DG Stage, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla will conduct the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen on 12 December in the Schumann Piano Concerto, soloist Kirill Gerstein. and Mycieszlaw Weinberg’s Symphony No. 7, for harpsichord and strings.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain will complete a Beethoven symphony cycle on 30 December with the Ninthfrom Montral and on New Year’s Eve there will be a concert from the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester with Andris Nelsons and the Eroica.
It pains me everytime to see “Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain” instead of with the “Metropolitan Opera Orchestra”, the rightful place for him (as in, you know, the organization that is actually paying him the big bucks, as in, the organization that is making his name for him).
Why is it that NY can’t get its act together for something as simple as getting an orchestra together to play for the Beethoven cycle?
Do union rules forbid even getting the orchestra together for a single concert, even if they convened at Carnegie Hall so that the Met stagehands don’t have to be called back if union rules demand it? Have all the musicians left New York?
Levine used to do great Met Orchestra concerts. Interesting works like Alban Berg three pieces for Orchestra
YNS’s name was already made before he became the MET’s MD. The Philly Orch. isn’t exactly minor league nor are the Berlin PO and other European orchestras where he was in demand as a guest. COVID 19 shut down his planned complete Beethoven Symphonies last season both @ Verizon Hall/Philly and Carnegie with the Philly Orch. One/third of the MET orch. has left town because they’re not being paid other than health benefits.
Oh – and all NY concert venues are closed until next season. BTW, Carnegie also has unionized stagehands.
In the spirit it would be maybe like the Karajan videos in the 70’s with a false public
Zimerman and Gerstein: great pianists, great news!
I can’t think of anything this world needs less than yet more Beethoven recordings.
Just what the world needed: more Beethoven concerto and symphony cycles. Ennui ensues.
With A&R like that, they deserve to go broke.
One more recording of the Beethoven’s concertos ! Is it really necessary ?