Comments on: Silvery Moon

cosmodimontevergine commented

cosmodimontevergine — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:32:33 +0000

It’s a great sound, no doubt, but I didn’t feel that Sir Simon had anything to say about Brahms, the performances of the 3rd and 4th were oddly perfunctory. This was no Furtwangler, Bruno Walter or Toscanini Brahms. I wonder if rumours about growing dissatisfaction with Rattle are true.

Regina delle fate commented

Regina delle fate — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:59:27 +0000

It’s Lehnhoff’s production, He was Wieland’s last assistant at Bayreuth, so it is almost certainly a self-conscious homage. The production can be seen in toto from Baden-Baden and it’s very distinguished (with Waltraud M as the angry lady).

Regina delle fate commented

Regina delle fate — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:57:24 +0000

Well, Herlitzius is a singing-actress, which, by any stretch of the imagination, la Brewer is not. I also saw this FroSch in Amsterdam after the Wilson zzzzzzzzz-fest in Paris, and of course it was a more theatrical occasion than in Paris. I’ve also seen Herlitzius in Henze’s Bassirids, Reimann’s Lear, and as Brünnhilde in Bayreuth. When I first saw her I thought she had a “Gwyneth-lite” quality about her. She’s a really exciting Theatertier. I’ve never been disappointed by her performances, even if the voice is a bit squally à la Jones. I’d love to see her Salome, Elektra, Isolde and on the strength of the clip, Ortrud.

Camille commented

Camille — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:52:36 +0000

Very sorry to have missed this as I’ve been curious for some time about her.

Perhaps Mr. Squirrel will be our reviewer for the Polaski Erwartung coming up?? That would indeed be swell. Very interesting, once more.

richard commented

richard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:09:31 +0000

This is fabulous. Jones sounds much more effective in this than I recall on the much earlier studio recording. But I’m going from memory…

La Cieca commented

La Cieca — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:00:31 +0000

richard commented

richard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:33:16 +0000

Actually, Herlitzius sort of seemed to me like what Jones
would sound like as Ortrud. Dramatically, the scene was pretty hot and Herlitzius has that slightly squally
quality that Gwyneth could also do oh so well.

I had Jones Ortrud on LP, I never replaced it with the CD version. Actually I remember that as I pretty interesting Lohengrin but then I’m a Lohengrin junkie.

Jay commented

Jay — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:15:12 +0000

This performance dramatically approximates some of the hair-raising interpretations Leonie and Gwyneth used to deliver, even if vocally Herlitzius isn’t in their league.

Re: FROSCH, Brewer was amazing in Chicago and Herlitzius was impressive in the Netherlands audio stream. Wish we had a video of at least some of Ludwig’s Faberin. That was a, or rather THE, performance for the ages.

squirrel commented

squirrel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:59:11 +0000

Thursday she seemed quite dead-set on greatness. Pretty sound or no, it’s wonderful to encounter an artist so focused on wringing every drop out of a performance. Erwartung is a hysterical piece, of course, but there was an extraordinarily flammable, self-consumed quality to her stage presence that is very compelling.

It made me wonder – is she like this all the time?

squirrel commented

squirrel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:52:20 +0000

yes, uncanny isn’t it?

messa di voce commented

messa di voce — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:09:14 +0000

Homage a Wieland? Or unacknowledged rip-off?

soxfan3030 commented

soxfan3030 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:48:16 +0000

I agree with your assesment of the BP as a triumphant orchestra-I went to the concert wednesday, and the same could be said. In the end it did not matter terribly that Rattle’s tempos were rather berserk in the 4th movement; the sheer thrill of hearing the united forces of the orchestra was what really shone through. I regret the fact I had neither the funds nor time to hear the other concerts.

CruzSF commented

CruzSF — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:28:33 +0000

No surprise there!

squirrel commented

squirrel — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:27:20 +0000

(squirrel kind thinks she’s hot!)

La Cieca commented

La Cieca — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:21:30 +0000

La Cieca likes this Herlitzius!

squirrel commented

squirrel — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:56:13 +0000

yes, it is Fabelhaft, isn’t it?
credit: REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo (SPAIN SOCIETY)

Freniac commented

Freniac — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:08:52 +0000

Herlitzius is a wonderful singer. Although the actual sound and timbre may not be to everyone’s liking, her musicianship and control of the voice are exceptional.

I heard her sing an amazing Färberin in FroSch in Amsterdam, which was secure and she certainly had no trouble whatsoever with the high-lying, loud passages and hysterical outbursts, while still retaining a core of vulnerability to the sound at certain crucial moments.

I thought her assumption of the role was superior to Brewer’s, having heard the latter in the same role only months before in Paris.

kashania commented

kashania — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:06:18 +0000

Nice review, squirrel. (And a great pic).