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Double Bass Favorite Orchestra?

R

Rob Sleeper

Oct 13, 2005
230
0
36
Chicago
#1
Hey everyone,

I am just curious to see what are some of your favorite orchestras? Mine will always be the Berlin Philharmonic w/ Herbert Von Karajan as music directer. Every section of the orchestra plays so well in time and togather. Best orchestral playing I have ever heard. Also I bought a recording of them playing Carmina Burana and at the end of peice I got real emotional.

Rob
 
#2
I've seen the Berlin at the Proms in London - Royal Albert Hall - truly awesome sound! Especially since Simon Rattle has taken over.

As to Von Karajan - I like his recordings with the Vienna - one of my favourites is their live recording of Bruckner's 8th! :)
 
#14
I'm not going to get into a "best orchestra" argument, but I can't tell you how much I enjoyed attending concerts by the Chicago Symphony in the early 1970s. Solti was the music director, and Carlo Maria Giulini was the principal guest conductor. Seiji Ozawa conducted many concerts at Ravinia during the summer, and was then followed by James Levine as the principal Ravinia conductor.

The orchestra had as astonishing a group of principal players as any I've ever heard of. The brass sections were particularly impressive, and the orchestra chose a lot of rep that really showed off the brass (e.g., Adolph Herseth on trumpet; Dale Clevenger on horn; Arnold Jacobs on tuba).
 
#15
My favorite American orchestra is the Boston Symphony because they have an incredibly balanced sound in Symphony Hall. The orchestra has a rich and prolific history and Boston is a great city. The bass section is a machine, too. As far as Europe goes: the Berlin Phil is, without a doubt, the best...world's finest.
 
#16
I have to go with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Georg Solti. The brass section with Herseth and Jacobs rocks every single recording I've heard. Also, the rythym and ensemble is without a doubt, perfect.

Plus I'm a little bias as a Chicagoan, and my dad was on the percussion sub-list during that time in the 70s.
 
#17
I've never heard them myself (except for recordings) but I'm surprised that nobody here has mentioned Cleveland. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people tell me that Cleveland is hands down the best orchestra in the US. I bet that Cleveland under Szell was absolutely fantastic to hear live.
 
#18
ispider6 said:
I've never heard them myself (except for recordings) but I'm surprised that nobody here has mentioned Cleveland. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people tell me that Cleveland is hands down the best orchestra in the US. I bet that Cleveland under Szell was absolutely fantastic to hear live.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you, but you must have an ear for subtleties.

In a generation that has been heavily exposed to rock and roll, the high octane performances of Chicago, NY and others, tend to be more appealing than the elegance and balance of Cleveland for example.

I have many great recordings of Chicago that I truly enjoy, but I have also heard them plough rather coarsely through what should have been delicate passages. This is something you will never hear Cleveland do.
 
#20
I'm going to have to agree that Cleveland is a great orchestra. Unfortunately, I only have 1 recording by Cleveland and it is amazing, so now that I hear that most of there stuff is good, I'll get a few more. Maybe when I move to Cincinnati, I'll take a road trip over to Cleveland and hear some good music.
 

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