My listening post this morning is my happy place: the second floor of our local library.
Tiny snow flakes are gently falling.
A bottle of Evamor water sits to my left, a notepad with a fresh sheet of paper to my right.
As is well with my soul.
Or, it would be if I were not listening to English conductor Sir Simon Rattle (1955- ), the Wiener Philharmoniker, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major.
I have had the displeasure of encountering Maestro Rattle six times previous to today, on…
Day 15. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 33. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 51. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 69. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 87. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 105. Rating: “Meh!”
Six performances. Six “Meh!” ratings.
Gee, I wonder what today will bring?
I’ll know in about 40 interminable minutes.
First, though, I am reminded of my favorite chapter of the Bible: 1 Corinthians 13, first verse:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (ESV)
The phrase “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” will no doubt spring to mind as I listen to today’s performance.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 7 in A major), from this particular conductor (Rattle, at 47) and this particular orchestra (Weiner Philharmonker), at this particular time in history (April 29-May 17, 2002) on this particular record label (Warner Classics) is as follows:
I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace……………………………..14:10
II. Allegretto………………………………………………………8:25
III. Presto – Assai meno presto (trio)……………….8:28
IV. Allegro con brio…………………………………………..8:55
Total running time: 39:18
My Rating:
Recording quality: 3 (just okay, not remarkable; seems a little muffled like its missing a bit of top end)
Overall musicianship: 3 (uninspired in some spots, reckless in others)
CD liner notes: 3 (one essay about Beethoven in English, German, and French; nothing about Rattle)
How does this make me feel: 3 (“Meh!”)
I find it difficult to put into words what it is about Maestro Rattle’s performances that rub me the wrong way.
On one hand, they’re as sleepy as Rip Van Winkle.
Yet, on the other hand, they sound reckless and frantic.
Movement I, for example. It just doesn’t sound inspired to me. There’s no magic there.
Movement II (the all-important movement for me). It’s as lethargic as a hibernating bear. Totally misses the power and poignancy of Beethoven’s intentions.
Movement III sounds reckless to me, like the orchestra is an 18-wheeler barreling down the highway with its wheels falling off.
Movement IV is that same 18-wheeler in spades. The performance doesn’t sound controlled. It sounds like the musicians were tossed into a centrifuge and spun wildly out of control, like that 18-wheeler is going 110 miles an hour with one wheel after another flying off.
I am not soothed by Maestro Rattle, nor am I energized. I am perplexed, bored, horrified, and uneasy. My molecules are all jangly.
I don’t know what else to say.
“Meh!”