Who is the oldest conductor to have recorded a major symphonic work? Probably Leopold Stokowski, who was recording at 95 and optimistically signed a new contract that would have run up to his 100th birthday (unfortunately, he didn't make it), but Herbert Blomstedt must be approaching the top of the list with this release issued in 2021, when he was 93 (it was made live in 2019, not 2020 as the Chandos label states online). It would be impressive enough if this were merely a solid performance of the Brahms Symphony No. 2 in ...
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Who is the oldest conductor to have recorded a major symphonic work? Probably Leopold Stokowski, who was recording at 95 and optimistically signed a new contract that would have run up to his 100th birthday (unfortunately, he didn't make it), but Herbert Blomstedt must be approaching the top of the list with this release issued in 2021, when he was 93 (it was made live in 2019, not 2020 as the Chandos label states online). It would be impressive enough if this were merely a solid performance of the Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73. However, Blomstedt actually offers a fresh conception of the work. He slows down the opening movement, which comes in at 21:02, several minutes longer than average, and is relatively brisk in the others. The effect is to deemphasize the big second-subject tune in the first movement and instead to reveal many small orchestral details, all of which are exquisitely balanced by Blomstedt. The symphony is sometimes likened to Beethoven's "Pastoral," and here, the mood is...
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