How Herbert Blomstedt gets on stage
OrchestrasHe’s 95 and still conducting at least once a week, with a little help from his many friends.
Here, Herbert is being supported in Copenhagen by DR concertmaster Christina Åstrand on one side, and a walking frame on the other.
Whatever it takes.
photo: Søren Krabbe
Fantastic!! I hope a few composers around the world are composing pieces for him to conduct to celebrate his 100th birthday!
He has said the Vienna Philharmonic wanted him for his 100th.
Det outsläckliga!
What’s that in English please?
“The Inextinguishable”.
Probably referring to the 4th symphony by Carl Nielsen.
“The Inextinguishable”.
Probably referring to the 4th symphony by Carl Nielsen.
As we say in Sweden, ”När jag dör skall det vara med stövlarna på!”
English????
Google is your friend
A couple of seasons ago, he was interviewed for the BP Digital Concert Hall during a week when he was conducting Bruckner. His energy, animation and enthusiasm were simply astonishing. I played a concerto with him in San Francisco in the mid 80s- only his hair color has changed!
Bruckner monument:
Querstand VKJK-1230 (ten CDs), recorded 2005 to 2012.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094BDO9A
To quote one reviewer: “the best modern integral Bruckner cycle … in unbelievably spectacular sound. … in the aggregate, the achievement is a stunner. The price however is DEMENTED.”
Another: “I now have 13 complete box sets of Bruckner symphonies. This set is Number One of the thirteen. Or of my whole CD collection of over 30 years.”
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Herbert Blomstedt
OK, but why is it then out of print?
I also like Jochum (Dresden), Wand (Cologne), Haitink (Amsterdam) and Gergiev (Munich).
I appreciate the enthusiasm for Blomstedt overall, and even for his Bruckner. I think he’s a fabulous conductor and I have heard many wonderful concerts under his baton. I will never forget a live Brahms 1 with the SFSO I heard in the early 1990s.
But let’s be a bit more balanced about Blomstedt’s Bruckner cycle. It is a wonderful achievement overall, but it does not reach the (unattainable) heights of Karajan’s DG magnificent cycle, which many consider to be the finest Bruckner cycle ever realized by any conductor. Or even to a lesser extent Jochum’s first (DG) cycle with the BPO & Bav. RSO, and Skrowaczewski’s cycle with Saarbrucken (very well interpreted, but unfortunately performed by a lesser-tier orchestra that is not the equal of the great orchestra in these other cycles).
The highlights of Blomstedt’s Bruckner cycle are the magnificent performances of B8, B6, and B3 – all great performances. And at the other end of the spectrum are unsuccessful performances of B2 & B5. The rest fall somewhere in-between. I agree that the Leipzig performances exceed all of Blomstedt’s earlier Bruckner recordings of the same symphonies with other orchestras (or in the case of B9 the same one).
But in the case of Bruckner and Leipzig, there is another conductor that my ears tell me whose achievements exceed even Blomstedt’s. Any guesses who I’m referring to?
Nope, not Andris Nelsons.
I’m referring to Franz Konwitschny. His Bruckner recordings in Leipzig may not have the greatest sound. But what performances!
May Herbert Blomstedt live to 100 and beyond. And I hope I’m lucky enough to keep hearing his live concerts in Boston. But in my very personal opinion, he is a wonderful Bruckner conductor but does not reach the ranks of the all-time great Bruckner conductors like Karajan, Jochum, Giulini, Ferdinand Leitner, Skrowaczewski, etc.
He conducts an authentic “B2” and does so beautifully. HvK uses Nowak. No comparison.
Respectfully Anton, I disagree. Karajan’s B2, whether a hybrid edition or not, is a performance for the ages. No conductor has ever given us such an astonishing performance of that masterpiece, and to my ears Karajan comes up with the best possible solution to the “edition” issue by producing a performing edition which to these ears makes the most musical sense.
I believe that if one wants to get to the heart of the edition issues in the Bruckner symphonies where there is any sort of lack of clarity (B1-4, B8), the best solution is arrived at via one’s ears and heart, not by taking a strict “legalistic” approach–which is all musicologists have to offer.
If Carragan’s edition of B2 gives us the best “legalistic” solution, Karajan offers us the most musical one (in my opinion). Whether it’s “authentic” or not (and it’s not as if it’s not all Bruckner’s notes!), musically it is to my ears the most satisfying solution. And what a performance Karajan gives us as well!
Musicologists offer way more than editions of different versions or the racial/gender nonsense that is so dilligently covered in this blog.
For instance, look at the range of issues covered in the Cambridge Companion to Bruckner.
https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Companion-Bruckner-Companions-Music/dp/0521008786/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_w=5AJ4l&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=BG2BC1QRJSY7GSA7Z7E1&pd_rd_wg=cBL2Q&pd_rd_r=bfcb01d4-f69a-4c62-b5e8-f2b223906462&pd_rd_i=0521008786&psc=1&asin=0521008786&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1
You do realize that this is merely your opinion. And it is mine that your omission of Gunter Wand disqualifies you as a reliable arbiter of taste.
The Bruckner cycle will be reissued by Accentus Music in January ou February.
Bernard Haitink having left us, he is the reigning Brucknerian. He says he is booked through his 100th birthday, but I hope Blomstedt remains with us through the Bruckner bicentennial year of 2024.
Come on, we want him beyond his own centennial, and as spruce and sharp as ever.
I’m not a Bruckner fan but Blomstedt is one in a million. I’m betting he knows that a life without great music isn’t much of a life at all!! Well, it’s far less than it could be!!
He’s scheduled to conduct Bruckner’s 4th in Philadelphia in a few months.
Never met such a gentle and humble person in my entire life. Old school. A true Gentleman and always almost obsessed with every little detail in the score, that thrive for musical perfection. Rehearsals with him feel like being back at school!
Oh yes, yes, this is wonderful and inspiring!
Herbert is not the only ancient relic getting help, and this care is not VIP level. Muti is the primeval antique who enjoys the most special ….. VIP assistance in Chicago! Especially after afternoon rehearsals, all paid by Alexander!! :-DDD
And he’s still learning new works, a marvel and inspiration to us all.
Go, Blomstedt, go. You’re an inspiration.
I had a chat with Maestro Blomstedt right after the concert and just as on the previous occasion in March (a magisterial Bruckners 4th) he engaged himself with all devotees and fans that had gathered even if it took him a more than a while. Allegedly his temporary use of a rollator is due to the effects of some accident from which he is recuperating.
My favorite conductor. Long life and health.
Stokowski was booked till 100! He died 45 years ago,1977, born 1882
In a couple weeks, when Blomstedt (b. 11-Jul-1927) surpasses Stokowski (18-April-1882 – 13-September-1977) in longevity, he will become the oldest ever active top conductor, I think.