Inspiring. Too all those shouting "too fast", here is Wagner himself, writing in 1869: "I have been informed that the overture to "Tannhauser," which, when I conducted it at Dresden, used to last twelve minutes, now lasts twenty. No doubt I am here alluding to thoroughly incompetent persons who are particularly shy of Alla breve time, and who stick to their correct and normal crotchet beats, four in a bar, merely to shew they are present and conscious of doing something. Heaven knows how such "quadrupeds" find their way from the village church to our opera theatres." So Abbado would be just a little too slow for Wagner, thirteen minutes instead of twelve! But I don't think Wagner would have objected to this stirring performance.
I remember, far too many years ago, hearing an orchestra member comment how wonderful it was to hear a recording of a concert he had played in because he didn't have to pay attention to the part he was playing and could just sit back and enjoy the music. How very lucky these young people are now that they can not only hear how wonderfully they performed, but now they can watch themselves perform it! Bravo to technology, and bravo to one of the most beautiful pieces of classical music! 🎉
C’est mou. Manque de flamme et de théâtre , comme c’est la norme de nos jours . Le percussionniste aurait dû prendre des cymbales encore plus grandes. Ridicule. Regardez donc la version filmée en 1932/33 de Fritz Busch à Dresde et vous comprendrez la différence......!!!!
First few measures showcase just how well Horns blend with winds. This instrument is a segue between both Brass and Winds. That motive in the Violins, (9/8 time signature), has been seemingly borrowed by John Williams in the Harry Potter score..."Harry's Wonderous World". Had to pull my car over upon first hearing Tannhauser in the 1980's, (simply to play air-violin).
To think some one first had to think and imagine,feel,all of this beautiful and tragic music in their mind and then writ it all down for all instruments and libretto staggers the mind.Wagner is the ultimate composer, inmho.
