Bendix Symphonies 1 & 3

[Maury]

Thanks for the notice. In the Amazon cart.

[Alan Howe]

Hurwitz's review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVSpFnmnAPE

[Gareth Vaughan]

This is a brilliant master class. As someone who taught English at secondary school level and has worked extensively in copy-editing I can confidently state that Hurwitz is spot-on in his criticism of the "reviews" submitted to him by would-be musical critics. He gives praise where it is due but is unsparing in his judgement on style, form and language, as well, of course, of basic accuracy. Those who wish to write well should listen to him and learn from his strictures.

[Alan Howe]

Agreed - thanks, Gareth.

My only reservation in this regard would be to wonder whether Hurwitz obeys his own strictures in assessing other unsung music.

I'd also argue that he spends far too much of his time as a critic on (a) the standard repertoire in general and (b) the every-growing pile of new recordings of Bruckner (and, to a lesser extent) of Mahler in particular.

My other reservation concerns Hurwitz's preference for quasi-improvised video presentations over more carefully considered written articles. Far too often a positive assessment will go something like this: "It's wonderful - it really is." That's a content-free word-salad as far as I'm concerned.

[Ilja]

In this particular case I rather missed Hurwitz' personal opinion of this recording; it rather gets lost amidst the deconstruction.

[Maury]

While Hurwitz is of course correct in his listener comment critique, I wonder if the commenter isn't more in tune with the internet audience? Is it going to sell more Bendix to talk about his symphonic development or to dwell on his life as a wild living pop star in Old Denmark?

[Alan Howe]

I would imagine that only those interested in the music will buy this recording. I want to know more about the music he wrote, not his personal peccadillos!

[Alan Howe]

Here's a perceptive and appreciative review:
https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/11/bendix-symphonies-1-3-dacapo/

[Ilja]

A very thoughtful piece, also because it limits itself to incorporating biography insofar as it is relevant to the music; texts about Bendix far too often obsess about his private life. Barnard is perhaps a bit too kind to the Shestakov cycle, which for me remains a textbook example of how not to unearth unsung repertoire.

[Alan Howe]

Agreed, Ilja. We don't need all the sordid details of the composer's life constantly regurgitated. We need to know about the music and the performances - which is what we get in this latest review. And what's more, I think the reviewer gets the music about right.

Looking forward to Symphonies 2 and 4 from the same performers/label...