Hurwitz on modern-day performance idiocies

[semloh]

That so eloquently characterizes my own view of Hurwitz, Alan, and of the personal preferences that prejudice his assessments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though, and I think it's only a problem if people regard him as the supreme authority and uncritically adopt those preferences.

[Double-A]

I think two characteristics of Hurwitz that make him attractive are his joyous approach and his genuine enthusiasm.  A good example of both of those is his video on Röntgen that was praised on this forum not long ago.

[Alan Howe]

It would be good if, say, a prominent British critic were to do video reviews along the same lines. We need more voices 'out there'.

[semloh]

You just volunteered, Alan!! 

[Alan Howe]

Unfortunately I don't have the academic 'chops' for the task. Someone like Martin Anderson would do a good job - or David Owen Norris.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Yes, indeed. Either would be magnificent.

[Alan Howe]

Depends on the size of their house/apartment and overflow room!

[FBerwald]

As much of a troll that he is, he often makes a lot of sense. Did anyone watch the latest? Beethoven in Cristofori's Bathroom. Hilarious and relevant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiTmAM_81Nw 

[Alan Howe]

Yes - agreed. A muzzled Eroica. A mighty symphony with its teeth removed.

[Gareth Vaughan]

I listened to some of the soundbites on Presto Classical. They were unbelievably horrible - the funeral march of the Eroica, in particular, was a risible travesty. I am 100% behind Hurwitz.

[Alan Howe]

So am I. As regards the extreme idiocies of HIP there aren't many prepared to say that the emperor has no clothes.

[matesic]

But it's OK to orchestrate chamber music? When you think about it, piano reductions of symphonies are even sillier.

[Alan Howe]

I can see the point of piano reductions of symphonies done in the past when, maybe, it was the only way to hear the music; and, of course, some reductions are tours de force pianistically. However, they're not for me either.

[Alan Howe]

As for orchestrations of chamber music, it all depends. I love what Szell did in orchestrating Smetana's 1st String Quartet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatv_Fuo6Ks

[matesic]

The Smetana orchestration is new on me and most enjoyable - thanks for that!  But Hurwitz's lengthy diatribes bore me. I could go on at considerable length about why I don't like such-and-such but in a way it's disrespectful to those who think differently. Unlikely I know, but it risks persuading them they're "wrong" and spoiling their enjoyment.