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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Bad orchestras shell not be trying to play well.

Post Subject: There are some honourable exceptions, for mePosted by JANDL100 on: 12/12/2008

I can tolerate 2nd rate playing in great performances. I find that a great conductor playing with a 2nd or even 3rd rate orchestra can produce excellent music - and a 2nd or 3rd rate conductor with a great orchestra can produce horrible or just plain boring music (who said Simon Rattle with the Berlin Phil? !! ;-) )

One of my favorite examples is Anton Nanut (surprise!!) - his Ljubljana S.O. was not one of the great orchestral instruments, but to my ears he produced several recordings of lasting splendour.

Another example of great music coming from a less than 1st-class 'musical technician' is Yehudi Menuhin. Once past the technical glories of his youth his technique was sometimes painful and embarassing - but the musical insight with which he illuminated the music is substantial and makes his recordings very worthwhile.

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