The nicest man in classical music lays down his baton
NewsA wave of regret is running through the musical field at the realisation that next week will see the last public performance of Roger Norrington, classical explorer, conductor and interlocutor.
In contrast to the little Ayatollahs of the early music movement, riger was always comradely, consultative, eager to learn from other musicians. I conducted two extensive conversations with him – one a Lebrecht Interview on the BBC, the other on film in Zurich.
He was always interested in other opinions.
We shall miss him greatly in the rehearsal room.
I have always had a soft spot for Roger as a conductor, a fine singer, and as a person. I was in Kent Opera for two years when he was the musical director. He was great fun, he was witty and so down to earth. His Traviata produced by Jonathan Miller was second to none, and it scraped off the musical and self-indulgent production varnish as well to be such a moving interpretation. He will be greatly missed by so any of us but his contribution has been enormous, and his recordings too are there.
I was very grateful for his Vaughan Williams cycle in my town a few years ago.
The 2nd Symphony recording on Decca with the LPO is absolutely stunning. I actually think its the best VW 2 out there.
Yes, as good as any. Roger adores English music and actually understands it, unlike so many.
English music – now there’s a contradiction in terms….
Vaughan Williams was English, not just British or UK!
Even when he asks an orchestra to play Enigma, or indeed any Elgar, with no vibrato?
His recording of the Beethoven symphonies left a positively indelible impression on me, for life. And I write this as an incurable (and unapologetic) allergic to HIP, original instruments and all that jazz.
Yes, same here. Not into the prehistoric instruments either but that doesn’t matter. His Beethoven is greater than that.
Nice he maybe, but he’s probably the worst conductor alive today. His insistence on vibrato-less string playing destroyed many wonderful works. I myself was an unfortunate victim of one of his Proms concerts, which included Elgar’s grand Symphony No.1. Without vibrato, not so grand. He drained all the power and color from the piece. A disturbingly wrong-headed interpretation. There’s no point in listening to anything from Norrington beyond Mozart and Beethoven, and he wasn’t that great in those works either. His retirement is long overdue.
Very well said – I always thought “period performance practice” was a gimmick when it became all the rage in the ‘80s and I’ve not wavered from my view since. Norrington’s slavish observation of Beethoven’s metronome marks was, at least in some cases, downright derisory.
We know that Beethoven read the metronome numbers from the wrong side of the little block.
Completely agree. Awful conducting.
“The nicest man in classical music”? He can’t have been that for very long, since it’s only a few weeks since Bernard Haitink died.
Perhaps we need a top-ten list of the nicest men and nicest women in classical music?
Dead and alive.
I think Neeme Järvi is the nicest, followed by Simon Rattle.
Oh yes, and Mariss of course, and Kirill…
At least he does not punch people backstage.
The nicest man in classical music who still makes time to speak to the editor.
And also to some poor lesser mortal as a soprano! Ha, ha!
A Counterpoint of View…….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHZUPnYsf2M&t=19s
Memorable Roger quote from a rehearsal of Bach’s St Matthew Passion in Winchester Cathedral: “Look, I know you’re on your way to crucify Jesus, but this is a gavotte, for goodness sake…!”
Another memorable quotation from a rehearsal of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis: “Here, we have a dove representing the holy spirit. ‘All right, Mary?’ ‘He’s a very naughty boy’ “
Yes, took away the sanctimonious and the self indulgence.
Una
Wonderful!
Did he win the nicest man contest? How do you measure this?
Ratio between the number of record covers containing a photo of the respective artist and the number of covers without the artist’s image.
Most have posey fake photos these day on covers than what’s on the disc!
Mr-nice-guy-Karajan was modest compared to today’s Lacombe-style cover porn.
It’s done with a small device, the phrasmograph. The extension, which consists of a circulating little wheel with little iron plates, is put into the mouth for 10 minutes, which causes extreme irritation. The duration of tolerance is then measured against a chart with graphics, and numbers from 1 to 10. Mr Norrington sat still and smiling for the full 10 minutes and even asked for another session. No other performer in classical music had gone so far.
Also known as keeping a stiff upper lip.
Yes, by some of us who worked with him. And his Schutz Choir of London as well as Kent Opera. He being such a fine singer made a huge difference.
By height and weight divided by pi.
I will miss him greatly. Will never forget his Schubert 9 with Orch of St Lukes in Carnegie Hall.
Don’t rule out Ed Spanjaard in the contest for the nicest baton in the world
A wave of regret? What utter nonsense!
I will miss him greatly. Will never forget his Haydn The Seasons in Berlin. His Haydn is unique.