My listening post today is my home office, a bottle of Smart Water to my right and a half-eaten bag of Ghost Pepper Potato Chips from Trader Joe’s to my left.
In the background, turned down low as if I’m in a restaurant for breakfast, is R.E.O. Speedwagon’s first album, simply titled R.E.O. Fantastic guitar-driven music. Catchy tunes. I even liked their first vocalist Terry Luttrell, an underrated singer who later joined the Prog Rock band Starcastle, which was also very good (if you like Yes).
In my buds is American-Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt (1927- ), Staatskapelle Dresden, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major.
Even though it’s mostly sunny outside, the temperature is only 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The date is October 21st, 2018, and Fall is definitely in full swing.
October is my favorite month. In Michigan, it’s the most colorful, while also still being hospitable.
But, in the words of Marty Di Bergi, “Enough of my yakkin’. Whattaya say? Let’s boogie!”
I’ve encountered Maestro Blomstedt five times previously, on…
Day 4. Rating: Not “Meh!” but not “Huzzah!”
Day 22. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 40. Rating: Not “Meh!” but not “Huzzah!”
Day 58. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 76. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Though the results have been mixed, the overall rating is very high – especially when one takes into consideration that this low-priced CD box set from Brilliant Classics (one of my favorite music labels) is a steal to begin with. I paid $13.22 for the CD box set. It’s now up to $18.32, which is getting to be a bit much for a CD box set with no liner notes. But, given the quality of the music, it’s still a great deal.
The only unfortunate aspect is Amazon. If you can deal with Amazon’s bullshit (sloppy, iffy delivery, unhelpful customer service reps, etc.), go for it. If you can find the box set elsewhere, you’d be better off.
So, what am I dealing with today from Maestro Blomstedt?
Tell you in a moment.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 6 in F major), from this particular conductor (Blomstedt, at age 50) and this particular orchestra (Staatskapelle Dresden), at this particular time in history (1977) on this particular record label (Brilliant Classics) is as follows:
I. Allegro ma non troppo………………………………………..9:31
“Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country”
II. Andante molto mosso………………………………………..12:40
“Scene by the brook”
III. Allegro…………………………………………………………………5:44
“Merry gathering of country folk”
IV. Allegro…………………………………………………………………..3:42
“Thunderstorm”
V. Allegretto………………………………………………………………9:51
“Shepherd’s song: Happy and thankful feelings after the storm”
Total running time: 40:08
My Rating:
Recording quality: 3 (slight tape hiss, seems to lack a bit of top end; otherwise, Brilliant Classics does exceptional work finding the best recordings)
Overall musicianship: 4 (seems to lack passion and magic, feels lethargic or by the numbers)
CD liner notes: 0 (no liner notes in this budget-priced box set – boo! hiss! – but an extensive set of notes can be downloaded from the Brilliant Classics site covering their complete Beethoven box set; however, although extensive, the notes are not exhaustive; no information at all is provided about the conductors, the players, the orchestras, etc.)
How does this make me feel: 3 (“Meh!”)
Okay. I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel bored with Beethoven’s Sixth.
But this performance achieved that ignoble goal.
It just seemed to lie there, professional and competent galore. But I wasn’t moved by it.
The Finale (which I’m listening to now for the third time) isn’t exciting. It isn’t rousing.
And even my favorite movements (the middle two Allegros) weren’t electrifying.
As I’ve mentioned many times, I’m not a musicologist. I couldn’t tell a meter from a meat ball.
But I do know what things sound like, how they’re recording, and how a performance moves me.
This one doesn’t.
“Meh!”
Your mileage may vary.