Search - Mariss Jansons - In Rehearsal (Bartok - Miraculous Mandarin Suite) on DVD

Compelling playing, Jansons is wonderfully direct straight

scarecrow | Chicago, Illinois United States | 03/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The rehearsal process especially with contemporary music has become an important component to the experience of listening. I wish there was even more of these rehearsals available on DVD. But alas! Jansons as other have said is most honest and straightforward, no nonsense approach.He recounts his formative years with vintage photos. His work with Mravinsky,von Karajan and his father. And the musicians respond wonderfully to him with passion and intellect.
Bartok's ballet score here is now a classic hiding in the shadows of Le Sacre du printemps of Stravinsky.Jansons highlights the storyline so the musicians know where they are going. Yet Bartok had his own voice with here wonderful reedy moments in the bassoon plainchant folky laments, and misterioso harmonies. Bartok had interesting concepts of orchestration frequently using the piano and harp and plucked strings to colour the timbre and musical shape.Also allowing specific colours as the clarinet (the erotic sensual parts) to emerge. Jansons complaints are perhaps always the same. The music is not mysterious enough or opaque enough. He sings a noise to the strings ". . . the sul ponticello(playing at the bridge) must be like sheeeeeeeeee", I must not hear the bow and the rhythm. And the tromboni "it is too strong and the phrase should be much more legato. . . " this with a snarl for the muted trombones.". . . this is virtuoso music, very difficult. . . " he keeps exclaiming. The orchestral players at Oslo are allowed to speak about Jansons, and again they respect him. We see them during a break pouring black coffee, or lighting up a small cigar or cigarette.Oslo plays wonderful, the music actually sounds already rehearsed and finsihed. It is a magnificent sound throughout."

Excellent Mandarin Finale

M. Sexty | Los Angeles | 10/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I thought this rehearsal was insightful and really loved the performance. Watching this I realized how much the middle movement relies on the clarinet soloist, the whole orchestra pivots off this instrument."