TheDecameron
Unicorns fart glitter.
Herbert Blomstedt conducting in Salzburg, 1950:
He’s been working for at least 73 years.
He’s been working for at least 73 years.
I guess Bernstein is the conductor I trust most, hardly ever lets you down if you like gusto but he can do finesse. Dutoit I almost always like. Perhaps Sir Simon is near the other end. I’m generally a fan but he’s hardly trustworthy.
Mackerras is absolutely brilliant at Czech music. Sublime in Dvorak and Smetana.
No he's not. He's nowhere near as good as the authentic Czech conductors. All his Janacek operas are available in more idiomatic Czech versions by Jilek, Gregor and Neumann. I know - I have them all and listen to them often. Then add Ancerl, Talich, Sejna and a few others.
Mackerras was a great champion of Czech music, but there'a a lot of mythology around his actual recordings - all those rosettes while better Czech conductors were sidelined. I can't think of a single Czech work where I wouldn't prefer another conductor.
Aren’t opinions wonderful! Mackerras is in my opinion fabulous at Czech music. I was lucky enough to play under him a few times, once doing Dvorak. I’d say he definitely had an affinity for it. However, YMMV!