I realize that our topic is composers, but I just had to note the passing of the great conductor Paavo Berglund, announced on ABC Classic FM this morning. The announcer said they were having difficulty finding a recording featuring his conducting, to play by way of tribute!! :o :o
I mean - Finland's greatest conductor!
Poor show, ABC! >:(
That's very sad :(
He was indeed a very, very fine conductor :) I remember buying his boxed set of Sibelius's marvellous Kullervo Symphony on LP many, many years ago. He was Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for a time.
Another great passes into history. It was Bergland's recordings of Nielsen that finally opened that composer up to me. And the Kullervo, too.
Quote from: Dundonnell on Thursday 26 January 2012, 23:52
That's very sad :(
He was indeed a very, very fine conductor :) I remember buying his boxed set of Sibelius's marvellous Kullervo Symphony on LP many, many years ago. He was Principal Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for a time.
Yes,I always enjoyed his conducting. I bought that box too - marvellous performances - and his other Sibelius on LPs/CDs too. :)
I remember a tape I borrowed in college (Finlandia label?) in which he conducted Sibelius' 4th symphony which may have been my introduction to that work (have since heard him in a wide range of repertoire). Excellent contributions to music - sad news.
I saw him do Sibelius (4 - I think) in Bournemouth in the seventies. When there wasn't silence as he was about to conduct, I remember him turning round and giving the offenders a very stern look indeed. But he was a very fine conductor, I agree...
Quote from: Alan Howe on Friday 27 January 2012, 08:00
I saw him do Sibelius (4 - I think) in Bournemouth in the seventies. When there wasn't silence as he was about to conduct, I remember him turning round and giving the offenders a very stern look indeed. But he was a very fine conductor, I agree...
... very stern looks ... sounds like he was just the right man to conduct Sibelius, and perhaps especially Kullervo! ;D