Karel Ancerl & Hermann Scherchen: Great Conductors in Rehearsal & Performance

Two long rehearsal sequences, both very rewarding, Ancerl urbane and immensely detailed in Smetana's Vltava, Scherchen severe and penetrating, directing his own version of Bach's last work. — BBC Music Magazine, September 2005, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Catalogue No: DVDVAI4322
Label: VAI

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Karel Ancerl & Hermann Scherchen: Great Conductors in Rehearsal & Performance

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Karl Ancerl leads the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a rehearsal and performance of Smetana's The Moldau.

Hermann Scherchen rehearses his own orchestration of Bach's The Art of the Fugue with the CBC Toronto Chamber Orchestra.

Reviews

September 2005

Two long rehearsal sequences, both very rewarding, Ancerl urbane and immensely detailed in Smetana's Vltava, Scherchen severe and penetrating, directing his own version of Bach's last work.

Awards Issue 2005

Ančerl puts the Toronto players through their paces in Vltava. Even (or, perhaps, especially) when one thinks one is thoroughly familiar with an old warhorse, to experience it being prepared so patiently and gracefully by a man who has the score in his veins is revelatory. Bohemian-born Ančerl was assistant to Hermann Scherchen in Germany from 1929 to 1931. Filmed in the last year of the latter's life, the second section of the DVD offers a rare glimpse of the grumpy, tight-lipped maestro rehearsing his own orchestration of The Art of Fugue. Looking like a cross between Toscanini and the late Pope, the constantly exasperated Scherchen inspired an atmosphere of such awkwardness and tension you wonder how anyone can play their instruments, let alone make music. ...he manages to elicit some memorable playing...

Karel Ancerl & Hermann Scherchen: Great Conductors in Rehearsal & Performance

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