RIP Roger Norrington

[Quijote]

Roger Norrington: a maverick, an irresistible firebrand and a musical visionary

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...ry-tom-service

This too:

Pioneering period instrument performances: Five key Roger Norrington recordings

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...ton-recordings

[Chris]

He certainly gave us some great and unique performances. RIP

[Peter]

A good age at 91 - I have to say though, I'm not keen on his Beethoven symphony cycle which I bought many years ago when HIP movement was taking off.

[Quijote]

A good age at 91 - I have to say though, I'm not keen on his Beethoven symphony cycle which I bought many years ago when HIP movement was taking off.

Have to say I agree. But I do think he was, on the whole, on the right track.
His recording of the Pastoral is quite lively, I do like the pace compared to more "leisurely" and overly-lush readings by, say, the Chicago SO.

[Quijote]

And his rendition of the 7th is a "solid" and competent read-through, but nothing more, to my ears.

[Enrique]

Have to say I agree. But I do think he was, on the whole, on the right track.
His recording of the Pastoral is quite lively, I do like the pace compared to more "leisurely" and overly-lush readings by, say, the Chicago SO.

The first movemnt is too fast for my taste. Faster than Beethoven's metronomic indications, which are considered fast.

[Peter]

I revisited John Eliot Gardiner's version of the 8th which I used to admire, but the last movement now seemed absurdly fast as though he couldn't wait to get the thing over and done with. Funny how our own opinions change with time. I still liked the first movement though!

[Chris]

I don't think I had heard Gardiner's 8th before, so I checked it out. I quite liked it overall, but that last movement is insanely fast!