Tír Na HiFi

mcq wrote:That's a fantastic recording, Fergus, but I prefer Gardiner's re-recording of it for a DVD recorded in 1999 to inaugurate his cantata pilgrimage. His choir and orchestra are on outstanding form and his soloists - Claron McFadden, Bernarda Fink, Christoph Genz and Dietrich Henschel - are superior to his earlier recording. The really great thing about Gardiner is the sheer human warmth he communicates to his musicians. I remember watching a documentary (I think it was called The Art of Conducting) in which Gardiner spoke about a formative experience he had early in life when he attended a concert that Karajan gave with the BPO. Despite the quality of the orchestral playing, the overall experience left Gardiner cold and he put this down to Karajan's autocratic manner on the podium and especially the conclusion of the concert - when the BPO was receiving a standing ovation, Karajan dismissed the orchestra and returned to the stage by himself to receive the applause. I believe that Gardiner was just beginning his time as a fledgeling conductor and he made a mental note that he would never treat his musicians in such a manner. And the respect he shows for his choir and orchestra is fully reciprocated in the loyalty that is displayed by the long years of service that many of these people have given him. Just look at the DVD of Gardiner's performance of Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers (recorded in 1989) and count the number of familiar faces that re-appear in the 1999 performance of the Christmas Oratorio.