Favorite 20th Century Conductor

[Mahlon]

Clarification- Conductors from the 20th century, not necessarily ones known for conducting 20th century music

Here's my pick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mZ4_aWfH7s

and a list of some of the greats to aid in your decision

[Regulator Edit: Poll created with Mahlon's permission. You may select multiple names in this poll. ]

Arturo Toscanini
Sir Thomas Beecham
Wilhelm Furtwangler
Herbert von Karajan
Otto Klemperer
Serge Koussevitzsky
Leopold Stokowsi
Euguene Ormandy,
Fritz Reiner
Bruno Walter

[Corno Dolce]

For me its a toss-up. I find the conducting artistry of Valery Gergiev and Sir Simon Rattle to be beyond compare. However, my choice of conductors can be someone else's poison pill.

[Mahlon]

20th century please! i tried to make a poll but it took longer than 5 minutes! ehhh

[Mahlon]

o maybe i was unclear, i meant conductors from the 20th century not contemporary conductors that conduct 20th century music

[Contratrombone64]

You mean, who is your favourite old fashioned style conductor from the last 100 years?

mine: Hans Knappertsbusch (spelling wayward)

[some guy]

Mahlon, what happened to "necessarily"? Leaving that out changes everything.

Anyway, Michael Gielen would be on my short list.

He conducts dead composers and living composers and is a composer himself.

His Mahler 4th and 8th are the only ones I can tolerate. Indeed, his recording of the 4th makes me even like the 4th. But that's just me.

[Sybarite]

Herbert von Karajan for me.

With no home influences in terms of listening to classical music, I picked things up myself. I can't remember how I became aware of von K, sometime in the 1970s, but he's been a mesmeric figure for me ever since. For me, his conducting of Richard Strauss in particular is magnificent.

I'll have a better idea of Valery Gergiev after 22 February, when I will see him conducting the Vienna Philharmonic at the Barbican in London.

[Ouled Nails]

Not to split hair but it really does depend on a conductor's most regular repertoire, no? For instance, Toscanini was not that great with much twentieth-century music. And because 20th-century composers are far more widespread geographically, my choices would tend to be region-based as well.

Among North American conductors, I choose Leonard Bernstein and Eugene Ormandy (with Pierre Monteux as an important "pioneer"). Among eastern European conductors, I pick Kondrashin and Mravinsky. For capturing much of the "essential" features of UK works, I'll go for Sir Adrian Boult and Andre Previn. Karajan and many other central European conductors don't stand out, IMHO, with respect to French and Iberian music where the likes of Jean Martinon do much better. Finally, for the Austro-German musical "paradigms" I am inclined to favor Bruno Walter and, because of his multiple recordings of the same works, Karajan.

[Corno Dolce]

I second Sybarite's affectation for von Karajan

[Corno Dolce]

Hi Ouled Nails,

Are you not a Professor of English Language usage? By golly, then you have a right to split hairs - Its what you were paid for.

Cheers,

Corno Dolce

[NEB]

Well interesting question. I've worked under a fair few during my career. I did like Simon Rattle Up at CBSO and Previn was interesting at LSO. Karajan - liked him.

I think my favourite has to be Lorin Maazel. A musician who understood the orchestra from within and knew how to get the best with minimal effort and one who really respected the fine musicians working under him. I went on several tours with him in charge of the orchestra and it was always a pleasure....

[janny108]

I second Sybarite's affectation for von Karajan

Why do you like his style so much?
Jan

[janny108]

Well interesting question. I've worked under a fair few during my career. I did like Simon Rattle Up at CBSO and Previn was interesting at LSO. Karajan - liked him.

I think my favourite has to be Lorin Maazel. A musician who understood the orchestra from within and knew how to get the best with minimal effort and one who really respected the fine musicians working under him. I went on several tours with him in charge of the orchestra and it was always a pleasure....

I've seen him on the Arts channel here.
Jan

[Corno Dolce]

Hi janny108,

You ask a very valid question dear colleague. My only answer is that I sensed that von Karajan knew how to bring out textures, colours, and timbres in a way unlike any other conductor. I must again state that my preference for this or that conductor or solist can very well be another person's poison pill.

Please don't think that I am being snooty in my reply - nothing could be further from the truth. I have spent countless hours of listening and orchestral score reading and have come to a conclusion which I'm comfortable with. There are other conductors whose styles I find intriguing, so don't think that I limit myself from a fuller panoply of interpretations.

Humbly and Respectfully,

Corno Dolce

[Mahlon]

Hey everyone, Bravo Corno, the purpose of this thread (for me anyhow) is to just have a freindly discussion about which conductors from the 20th century really tickle the ear bone =), and maybe learn something new in the process