Interview with Friedrich Edelmann about Michelangeli and Barenboim, pianists

Friedrich Edelmann was the Munich Philharmonic's principal bassoonist for 27 years. For 17 of those years, Sergiu Celibidache was conductor. In this interview Edelmann shares colorful anecdotes about pianists, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, and Daniel Barenboim who were engaged by Celibidache as piano soloists. See my blog for more information: arioso7.wordpr...

[@arturocano6870]

Wow... I'm so impressed! Such wonderful artists!

[@johnschlesinger2009]

I heard stories about Michelangeli from time to time, but this one beats them all!

[@christinehorand-haberecht5843]

Very interesting video. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@dasglasperlenspiel10]

This is very, very nice. Thank you!

[@Widiar0]

Could have listened to much more, always interesting to hear some backgrounds and people who see and live through the hard work that is needed for high quality music experiences like this. Thanks for sharing.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Thank you. I will pass on to Friedrich.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

arioso7.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/poignant-recollections-about-pianists-michelangeli-and-barenboim-from-the-munich-philharmonics-principal-bassoonist/

[@ShirleyKirsten]

arioso7.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/poignant-recollections-about-pianists-michelangeli-and-barenboim-from-the-munich-philharmonics-principal-bassoonist/

[@friedrichedelmann2650]

In the meantime my book about my 17 years as principal bassoonist of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra is SOLD OUT. It was published in Japan in 2009 (only in Japanese) and 2000 copies were sold. On request I can offer to send my original English manuscript from which the Japanese translation was made. All the best, Friedrich Edelmann

[@zhu8294]

Hello Mr. Edelmann! I'm very much interested in reading your English version of the your book (Sadly I cannot read Japanese). Is there a way for me to contact you, so we can further discuss this matter? Looking forward to your reply, Zachary Zhu

[@UgandaDN]

Hello! I am very interested in your book. If there's a way to get the English version. Regards, Axel Joly

[@TheRealGnolti]

High maintenance is a neutral quality. It can make brilliance possible, or it can simply accommodate celebrity. The point is knowing that the odds are in your favor that you are working with a first class artist who more than likely can be counted on to hold up his or her end of the performance. Personally, I don't like high stakes gambles, but Celibidache obviously had the nerve for it.

[@stevehaufe489]

Which concerto did ABM play in Munich ?TIA.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1 in B-flat minor.

[@stevehaufe489]

Barenboim played the Tchaikovsky per the video. ABM played that concerto , too ? TIA.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

My error.. re-looking at my blog, it was Barenboim playing Tchaikovsky No. 1. I don't recall Edelmann specifying the concerto ABM performed.

[@xistr]

ABM played the Ravel G major concerto on numerous occasions with Celibidache and the Munich Philharmonic, including a series of concerts in June 1992 celebrating Celi's 80th birthday (I was present for two of those perfomances). The following season (1992-1993) ABM played the Schumann A-minor concerto with Celi and the Munich Phil, both at home in Munich and on tour in Japan. As far as I am aware, ABM never played the Tchaikovski B-flat-minor concerto in Munich or anywhere else but Barenboim played it many times. (Over the years, I probably heard DB play it 7 or 8 times with Celibidache in Munich alone.)

[@xistr]

Besides the Schumann and Ravel G major, the only other concerti that ABM played with Celi on a regular basis in later years (1970s and later) were the Beethoven 5th (the so-called "Emperor") and the Franck Variations Symphoniques.

[@pelegrino791]

It was a nightmare to work with Michelangeli !

[@station2station544]

...said nobody ever. Genius @ work never bothers people.

[@friedrichedelmann2650]

I have played as principal bassoonist of the Munich Philharmonic all performances of Michelangeli and Celibidache except the Ravel G Major. It was ALWAYS a great pleasure to rehearse and to perform although high tension and concentration but excellent results. In my 27 years with the Munich Philharmonic I have also experienced "nightmares" but only with conductors who either massacred the composition or were unable to "conduct" and had no conception how to bring across their opinions.