I suppose you might be forgiven if the opening passage of “Mars” brings to mind images of the Nazi march into Poland, considering who is conducting here. It certainly crossed my mind, whether fairly or unfairly, and also reminded me of how well Karajan always did this sort of menacing, overpowering music. This is not a Planets for the faint of heart, and Karajan paints with large, brittle brush strokes, ignoring the niceties of detail and clarity for an overwhelming, forcefully imbued palate of blurred color boundaries and fear-of-God prophetic utterance.
And that’s just the first movement. The rest of this now second-nature suite as presented in this classic recording is similar in concept, though the music tones down somewhat. “Venus” is peaceful only as a respite, always considered in the context of what just went by, and what is to come. “Mercury” is fleet of foot in a cautious way, like a high-wire act a little unsure of itself. “Jupiter” brings not jollity, but triumphalism, and reminded me more than any other movement how German a reading this is. The British renderings of this work are more controlled, keeping the underlying Norman barbarity at bay with the veneer of civilized behavior. Even the big tune shows not nobility but conquest, though the Vienna strings shine with an unbelievable power.
And that’s just the first movement. The rest of this now second-nature suite as presented in this classic recording is similar in concept, though the music tones down somewhat. “Venus” is peaceful only as a respite, always considered in the context of what just went by, and what is to come. “Mercury” is fleet of foot in a cautious way, like a high-wire act a little unsure of itself. “Jupiter” brings not jollity, but triumphalism, and reminded me more than any other movement how German a reading this is. The British renderings of this work are more controlled, keeping the underlying Norman barbarity at bay with the veneer of civilized behavior. Even the big tune shows not nobility but conquest, though the Vienna strings shine with an unbelievable power.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario