Charles Gounod in Vienna - 1842

from Letters of composers : an anthology, 1603-1945 / compiled and edited by Gertrude Norman and Miriam Lubell Shrifte., page 209:

It is true that the vocal part of the Ninth [Ninth Symphony] is difficult to perform and that the way in which the voices are treated calls for an aptitude and knowledge of music well above that of the average singer and chorus. However, I might say that, contrary to the assertions advanced by the critic, with whom I disagree, in 1842, at Vienna in Austria, I heard Otto Nicolai conduct the Choral Symphony with 1,200 musicians (450 instrumentalists and 750 voices) and it was admirable from every point of view: ensemble, solidity, precision of attack, rhythm, perfect intonation, and …   more >>

cite as

Gertrude Norman and Miriam Lubell Shrifte (ed.), Letters of composers : an anthology, 1603-1945 / compiled and edited by Gertrude Norman and Miriam Lubell Shrifte. (New York, 1979), p. 209. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1424694262428 accessed: 30 October, 2024

location of experience: Vienna

Listeners

Charles Gounod
Composer
1818-1893

Listening to

hide composers
9th Symphony
written by Beethoven, Beethoven

Experience Information

Date/Time 1842
Medium live

Notes

Letter from Charles Gounod to Oscar Comettant, London, May 6, 1874.


Originally submitted by verafonte on Mon, 23 Feb 2015 12:24:22 +0000
Approved on Thu, 12 Nov 2015 14:11:48 +0000