Sir Gilbert Levine Conducts Bach Magnificat in D

Sir Gilbert Levine
Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Chorus: Duaine Wolfe, Chorus Director
Soloists: Amanda Majeski, Sara Mingardo, Antonio Poli, John Relyea
Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center, Chicago
Director: Roger Goodman
Producer: Dennis O'Brien
Audio Producer: Blanton Alspaugh
Audio Engineer: Chris Willis

[@redbrian3655]

Thank you. There is so much to really like about this kind of a performance. I am well aware that this is not "period interpretation", according to many, but there is solid and robust choral singing, well-attended phrasing from the orchestra, and effortless solo-singing. A well-earned and much appreciated kiss to all comes from Levine at the conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this. BRIAN

[@giuseppapandolfo5408]

Never heard anything worse: this blatant performance is Bach's sacrilegious, macabre torture, where every musician is an executioner.

[@FestivalChorale]

The orchestra's intonation, especially the trumpets is horrendous,...probably because the are trying so hard to make heads or tails of that horrible gesture in front of them that they cannot even listen to each other.....

[@IUFTR]

One is surprised at the lack of Bach spirit in word or music here. It would seem that the chorus has the potential to do this better were it not for the conductor. The dragged endings of every movement seem the final one for the evening. Duane is better than this. Further, it seems to me, a seasoned singer of 87 years. that the breathing is shallow. Then again, the players are not breathing deeply either. (Yes, instrumentalists, even strings, must breathe.) I just long to hear a chorus SING rather than stylize to the intentions of a conductor. Richard Lert said, "The most dangerous instrument in the orchestra is the baton." Sergiu Celibidache said, "The musically most ignorant are the conductors, after the critic." I wish I could talk to Duane.

[@mjarail]

Compare and contrast this to a performance by a baroque ensemble. This feels like a pre HIPP performance with too much vibrato by the soloists. Bach was an 18th century composer, not a 19th century composer.