"Violin Concerto No. 2 and Selected Film Themes" Williams / Mutter album & Blu Ray

[BB-8 3,461]

The Adventures of Hänschen Klein

[A24 4,326]

On 04/06/2022 at 5:36 PM, Bespin said:

I have the feeling his 2nd violin concerto, dedicated to Anne, is about the loss of her [EDIT]ex-[EDIT]husband, Andre Previn in 2019, and the healing that occurred since.

 

 

So you think, as he was writing it, Williams was thinking about the divorce of Mutter and Previn? That's odd.

[Bespin 8,480]

2 hours ago, AC1 said:

 

 

So you think, as he was writing it, Williams was thinking about the divorce of Mutter and Previn? That's odd.

 

I read the booklet, and If I remember well they talked about the ending of the piece as a "relief", a "healing". Which is pretty usual for a classical work.

 

Then I know Previn died in 2019 and I'm sure it was a sad moment for Mutter.

 

There's no good or bad explanations, there's only speculations.

[Marian Schedenig 8,174]

1 hour ago, Bespin said:

I read the booklet, and If I remember well they talked about the ending of the piece as a "relief", a "healing". Which is pretty usual for a classical work.

 

He also said the same thing about the cello Elegy in Berlin. I suppose it's something he's used in his concert music at least sometimes, and a sentiment that's been on his mind during the pandemic.

[BB-8 3,461]

 

On 03/06/2022 at 4:03 PM, BB-8 said:

 

 

[Tom 4,639]

Finally listened to The Long Goodbye.  I really like the piece.  As I have said elsewhere, some of these arrangements are not only superb, but they have a chance to bring some themes into regular programming.  This is one of those pieces. 

 

I think a similar approach to Sugerland Express could do the same for it.  

[BB-8 3,461]

Not sure whether this has already been posted. It's in German but contains some interesting detail on the relationship between JW and ASM.

 

https://www.hr2.de/programm/john-williams-hat-pro-lebkuchen-einen-takt-musik-fuer-mich-geschrieben-anne-sophie-mutter-in-hr2-kultur,audio-67596.html

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

Give us the juicy parts.

[GerateWohl 4,338]

7 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Give us the juicy parts.

The most interesting part for me was, when ASM was asked how it is to play on stage besides John Williams and what she appreciates , then ASM said "He has an ear that is focussed on the harmonic structure of the score, the ear of the composer, much less the ear of the performer, who hasn't gone that deep into the matter, who can only learn. Beside the focus on the balance within the orchestra and the harmonic structures, so to say, the common thread of the piece it is great to see the joy, that he expresses for the music, which is very touching. To stand beside him. That is the case in the violin concerto (where he might be a little bit more tense than at conducting his film music, which he conducts a little longer already, to see his joy watching you at a Hedwig cadence or the orchestra musicians on the edge of their seats, when you see this joy of a man who makes and writes music since such a long time and who still struggles for the perfect musical expression. There has hardly passed a concert where he didn't leave the stage saying something like 'I have to talk to the harp' or 'there with the horns, I can reorchestrate that'. He is a driven person, driven by his aim for perfection.

 

And the reporter asked her if she collaborated with Willams on the creation of the concerto. And she answered that did a lot of collaboration with performers about the capabilities of their instruments, what can be done, what cannot be done, but on writing for violin he has so much experience, so this is rather like with Richard Strauss and his beloved horns, who said: 'I write, you play.'

 

If I translated something incorrectly, don't anyone hesitate to correct me.

[BB-8 3,461]

ASM also states that JW thinks of her as his muse.

 

"muse - a person, or an imaginary being or force that gives someone ideas and helps them to write, paint, or make music"

 

She also mentions the jazz roots she sees in concerto no. 2, an impression that JW doesn't really share in the Gramophone podcast interview.

[Disco Stu 15,495]

JW to ASM when she talks about the jazz influence on the concerto

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

muse - a person, or an imaginary being or force 

 

Is she an angel?

[crocodile 7,984]

Well, I think this disc benefits greatly from being recorded at Boston Symphony Hall. I really enjoy the recording.

 

I am listening to it for the first time right now. The new concerto isn't quite as accessible as his other violin work but there's enough stuff in it to keep me engaged. It's quite a long one as well. 

 

Karol

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Listening to the concerto now. I generally just don't respond to this kind of music at all. Very nice bits here and there, but overall not my thing at all.

[Bespin 8,480]

"Violin is bawling," said my grandfather Leo!

[Holko 9,499]

This is just amazing. The violin concerto has lots of really strong bits and will surely reward multiple listens. Long Goodbye takes the lead from the movie's noir/neo-noir roots and throws it back to Golden Age settings completely successfully - the parts when the strings take the theme! Han Solo and the Princess... gosh, as somebody who recently fell in love with Empire the movie again and got emotional at the finale, this unashamedly drove em to tears. Just fantastic. Too bad it's followed up by Marion which was always just a weaker HSATP anyway and the less inspired and interesting arrangement doesn't help it here either, doesn't make for a strong ending to an otherwise incredible album.

[bollemanneke 3,337]

Finishing the album. I don't know The Long Goodbye and maybe therefore didn't really like the piece. Han Solo and the Princess is... interesting, but the amount of vibrato Mutter brings to these pieces is just ridiculous. Marion's theme sounds quite promising (opening is magical), but I think I'd like these pieces a lot more if they had toned down the vibrato. Marion especially begs for normal playing.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

She's of the old Karajan school...

[Disco Stu 15,495]

2 hours ago, bollemanneke said:

I think I'd like these pieces a lot more if they had toned down the vibrato

 

Yeah, I have to admit it's a little much for me a lot of the time

[bollemanneke 3,337]

37 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

She's of the old Karajan school...

Nothing I've heard him do with her so far comes close to this insane amount of vibrato, though. I want Roger Norrington to hi-jack JW's violin material.

[BB-8 3,461]

[TJH132 48]

Just received my vinyl copy of the album.  Can't wait to give it a thorough listen at an appropriate volume (when the wife is not home!).

 

Edit:  The vinyl edition sounds fantastic!  Everything is well-balanced and the dynamic range is nice and wide.  I made a hi-res digital recording of the LP and it, too, sounds really good!

[Demondm810 399]

lol, man I see "Marion's Theme" and I don't get too excited because he's been putting on albums often, then he just cracks out this new version.  Unbelievable.  Like hearing it for the first time.  What an emotional, soaring, masterpiece. 

[Andy 4,085]

Listened through, and loved it.  This is only the second time I've heard the concerto after a live performance, and it already is becoming familiar.  The three film selections are absolutely perfect, and I felt the balance of ASM and the orchestra was spot on.  This is a stellar interpretation of the Long Goodbye, and Marion's Theme was quite a lovely way to end the experience.  This is a real winner of a release.  Highly recommended.

[artguy360 1,843]

Listening to the concerto more, I'm learning a lot about JW's approach to concert music. I've already listened to most of his concert works and enjoy half of what I've heard. Now I find myself noticing his particular gestures, moves, and go-tos. Just like how in JW's film scores you can pick up on his major tendencies, the same is true of his concert work but it's a different set of tendencies.

[Amer 2,080]

Is there a jewel case editon release of this from Europe in particular or all issues of this is in Digipack? Im sure the Japan pressing is the jewel case.

 

 

[Juanki 23]

3 hours ago, Amer said:

Is there a jewel case editon release of this from Europe in particular or all issues of this is in Digipack? Im sure the Japan pressing is the jewel case.

 

 

I can confirm you that in Spain it is a digibook.

 

I come back to this forum because I have question regarding this release. It looks like there will be a blu ray edition in August. Is it confirmed if that release will also feature the cd itself? I want to own the cd and the blu ray too but I don't want to pay twice for the same thing.

 

Thanks in advance, everybody!

[Amer 2,080]

1 hour ago, Juanki said:

I can confirm you that in Spain it is a digibook.

 

I come back to this forum because I have question regarding this release. It looks like there will be a blu ray edition in August. Is it confirmed if that release will also feature the cd itself? I want to own the cd and the blu ray too but I don't want to pay twice for the same thing.

 

Thanks in advance, everybody!

I would get the blu ray also despite the fact that it will feature the cd as well. But I will instead get the Japan version ie if it comes with MQA-UHQCD version +Blu ray. Also if they do the SACD editon too! 

 

Also to your own question I think they will most likely pair it with a cd as well. 

[BB-8 3,461]

 

John Williams Anne- Sophie Mutter Williams: Violin Concerto No 2 MQA UHQCD, Hobbies & Toys, Music & Media, CDs & DVDs on Carousell

 

[Lord Montague 42]

15 hours ago, BB-8 said:

 

John Williams Anne- Sophie Mutter Williams: Violin Concerto No 2 MQA UHQCD, Hobbies & Toys, Music & Media, CDs & DVDs on Carousell

 

Interesting. The MQA part makes it incompatible with standard CD players I guess? MQA is bad. A copy protection mechanism, handshake sender receiver encryption type, sold as "better sound" aka as the tale of the Emperor's new clothes. Among the biggest horse shit the industry has ever seen. Can't damage a beautiful recording like this though.

[BB-8 3,461]

11 minutes ago, Lord Montague said:

Interesting. The MQA part makes it incompatible with standard CD players I guess? MQA is bad. A copy protection mechanism, handshake sender receiver encryption type, sold as "better sound" aka as the tale of the Emperor's new clothes. Among the biggest horse shit the industry has ever seen. Can't damage a beautiful recording like this though.

 

It probably does play on normal CD-players.

 

The point is it's in a jewel case...

 

[Amer 2,080]

You need an MQA encoded player or amp to get that studio like sound. Otherwise the cd will only output as a normal sound.

 

I have a few of these including the Berlin Concert but alas no DAC Codec to support this.

[Jurassic Shark 12,030]

Just now, Amer said:

You need an MQA encoded player or amp to get that studio like sound. Otherwise the cd will only output as a normal sound.

 

Actually it will be of lesser quality than normal CD quality.

[Lord Montague 42]

53 minutes ago, Amer said:

You need an MQA encoded player or amp to get that studio like sound. Otherwise the cd will only output as a normal sound.

 

I ahve a few of these inlduing the Berlin Concert but alas no DAC Codec to support this.

You don't get "studio like sound". MQA is by definition a lossy codec. And it changes the sound. With filters/delays. Yes, in order to "improve" you must change. You can't have it both ways. They claim it improves it. Of course they claim that, because they want to push the technology into the market. But it's not the studio sound, it's not what the engineers in the studio ever wanted and created. Nobody needs this nonsense, except those whose business model is highwayman robbery. (quite a few bad apples like this in the music/recording business. the fruit name is coincidence here, isn't it? ;-))

[Marian Schedenig 8,174]

5 hours ago, Lord Montague said:

Interesting. The MQA part makes it incompatible with standard CD players I guess? MQA is bad. A copy protection mechanism, handshake sender receiver encryption type, sold as "better sound" aka as the tale of the Emperor's new clothes. Among the biggest horse shit the industry has ever seen. Can't damage a beautiful recording like this though.

 

It's not a copy protection mechanism, because it plays and rips fine on standard CD devices. It's like a newer kind of HDCD.

 

4 hours ago, Lord Montague said:

You don't get "studio like sound". MQA is by definition a lossy codec. And it changes the sound. With filters/delays. Yes, in order to "improve" you must change. You can't have it both ways. They claim it improves it. Of course they claim that, because they want to push the technology into the market. But it's not the studio sound, it's not what the engineers in the studio ever wanted and created. Nobody needs this nonsense, except those whose business model is highwayman robbery. (quite a few bad apples like this in the music/recording business. the fruit name is coincidence here, isn't it? ;-))

 

I don't know what exactly it does, but from what I know, it's only "lossy" to a small extent - it compromises a few bits (the LSBs I assume) of the standard CDDA data to make room for additional compressed data. So it's lossy insofar as it slightly reduces the standard CD resolution (which in that definition is also lossy, because it is a digital representation of an analogue source, and even if the master is digital, CDDA's 16 bit is probably "lossy" compared to the master's full resolution). The additional data may also be lossy insofar as it is probably compressed (that could be lossy or lossless compression, but because we're talking about a very limited number of space here, i guess it's lossy compression), but it's still additional information. If that information is used to encode some of the master's additional data compared to the CD reduction (wasn't it supposed to be something like 20 bit?), it would still be "gainy" compared to the plain CD data, even if it's lossy compared to the original master.

[Lord Montague 42]

not trying to get into a semantics fight, but it's not only lossy based on the data, but also because it intentionally changes the audio to make it sound "better", (introducing group delay distortions through upsampling with certain minimum-phase filters AFAIK). Again, nobody wanted this or needs this, the business idea behind is to have an encryption handshake between sender and receiver, a copy protection mechanism, the buzzword is DRM, digital rights management. You are not supposed to own anything anymore, they will happily sell it to you every time you want to use it...

[Marian Schedenig 8,174]

Fair enough, and I strongly dislike anything related to DRM, and proprietary codecs and formats for (at least) "everyday content" like audio and video streams, images, text documents etc. But the DRM part only applies to the additional MQA encoded data, everyone else gets a 13 bit CD with some noise.

 

That said, we have lots of established physical and digital formats (and at least the latter are open and free) that can do what MQA does and much more, so yes, it's at least a minor inconvenience and utterly pointless.

[A24 4,326]

Listened to it for the first time (Amazon Music). Theme From The Long Goodbye is a nice (Barber-esque?) arrangement and kinda stood out for me. Was it the same for you? Of course, it's hard to evaluate the violin concerto on only just the first listen but somehow it felt reminiscent of the first violin concerto. 

[Madmartigan JC 85]

Regarding MQA, little does it matter in this case.
Sadly, the mastering will still sound as awfully compressed as the regular CD and UHD versions. 

[Marian Schedenig 8,174]

12 minutes ago, Madmartigan JC said:

Regarding MQA, little does it matter in this case.
Sadly, the mastering will still sound as awfully compressed as the regular CD and UHD versions. 

 

Are you confusing it with the Yo-Yo Ma album? The Mutter album sounds fine to my ears. A couple of very loud moments sound slightly clipped, but it's only slightly distracting.

[Madmartigan JC 85]

You are right in that it's not as terrible as in Gathering of Friends, but still I find it inexcusable how they could screw up like this.

I find the compression creates such an 'unnatural' sound all throughout the album. But let's agree that can be a subjective appreciation. But to me those louder clippings are unbelievable. Like designing a beautiful state-of-the-art car and screwing the paint job. Who QCs these albums? 
Listen to Rounds from 8:05 on. Is it absolutely terrible? Maybe not. But if I did as bad a job at my work (not sound related BTW) I wouldn't last long.
 

 

 

I'm sorry If I tire you all with my ongoing rants on this subject, but the quality of the sound is integral to the quality of an album, and its houldn't be something to worry about for new, high-profile recordings in 2022. I just find it ironic how the labels (Sony Classical, DG) are pushing Super Ultra High Resolution, vinyls and whatnot, yet it all sounds like s**t to me.

This is not something I have experienced so markedly in other releases of the same labels. I have been thinking wether they migh asume the average consumer for these albums is not the traditional classical music consumer, and therefore the mastering should be made to sound more aking to pop, or something.

But well, the work itself is glorious, I adore the new arrangements and love the performance. It's just sad I'm already dreaming of the remastered edition for the 20th anniversary.
  

[Lord Montague 42]

Odd comment. I hear nothing like anyone "screwing up" on this album. It sounds great to my ears. 8:05 in Rounds there might be a slight compression or limiting going on due to the loud Bass drum, but isn't that always the case in such recordings? The alternative of having the bass drum uncompressed in its full dynamic range means the whole album must be 10 dB or so quieter in level AFAIK. Probably not acceptable? Then everybody would complain why that album is so low in level. And all over I hear no compression on this album, except for these very few loud bass drum places. Where do you hear compression? I love the sound of that album. It has depth, it has dynamic range, it has a great balance between blend and detail.
'Gathering of friends' or the 'Berlin Concert' might have overdone the compression in some places, but here it seems fine to me.

Or did you hear the Dolby Atmos stream over headphones? That always sounds bad, blame Dolby or Apple with their "binaural" down mixes.
Always listen to the original stereo mix if you don't have a 3D loudspeaker setup.

[Jay 37,287]

Today I took the shrinkwrap off and listened to my physical copy of the album, also my first time hearing any of the album at all.

 

I have now seen Violin Concerto #2 performed live twice, once at it's Tanglewood debut and then again in New York City earlier this year.  Both times I found it hard to appreciate the music too much, since there was so much else going on all around me and the exciting of attending another live film music concert override any analytical thoughts in my head.

This time with only the audio to listen to and no other baggage, I found myself appreciating the concerto on another level.  The fact that it is broken up into 4 tracks and I could see when each movement began and ended was nice too.  This is a nice work that I am sure I will continue to appreciate more and more in the coming years

 

The Theme from The Long Goodbye was super fun!  Having recently finally seen the movie, I've kind of had the main theme stuck in my head ever since, so it was nice to hear a new and fresh adaptation of that beyond all the ones in the movie / Quartet CD.

 

Han Solo and the Princess is always nice, and I really like this new re-arrangement of the re-arrangement.  Good stuff.

 

Marion's Theme is really nice too!

 

I love that the booklet contains a fairly lengthy essay by Williams himself, and the additional essay by Richard Kirzinger was appreciated as well.
 

Overall, a very nice album!

[BB-8 3,461]

10 inch vinyl with selected film themes coming up:

 

https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0028948627912/john-williams-anne-sophie-mutter-boston-symphony-orchestra/selected-film-themes/index.html

[Miguel Andrade 1,260]

Blu-Ray also available for pre-order

https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0028948620128/john-williams-anne-sophie-mutter-boston-symphony-orchestra/violin-concerto-no-2-selected-film-themes/index.html

[JohnnyD 1,220]

20 minutes ago, Miguel Andrade said:

Blu-Ray also available for pre-order

https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0028948620128/john-williams-anne-sophie-mutter-boston-symphony-orchestra/violin-concerto-no-2-selected-film-themes/index.html

Sweet! I think I’ll wait until it is available to order on an American retailer. I still have not gotten the copy of the CD signed by Anne-Sophie Mutter.

[Andy 4,085]

Interesting.  The previous Blu-Rays of Vienna and Berlin both included CDs,  but this doesn't seem too.  I will definitely be getting this.  

 

Why, oh why haven't DVDs and Blu-Rays like this been released all along throughout the decades?

[pro-arte 22]

Is the broacasted Philadelphia orchestra version sounding better than the deutsch grammophone ?

[lairdo 726]

On 25/6/2022 at 5:10 AM, Miguel Andrade said:

Blu-Ray also available for pre-order

https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0028948620128/john-williams-anne-sophie-mutter-boston-symphony-orchestra/violin-concerto-no-2-selected-film-themes/index.html

 

Presto has it too which might be faster and cheaper for some folks. (Thought, they don't have the 10" vinyl.)

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9329243--williams-violin-concerto-no-2-selected-film-themes

 

7 hours ago, pro-arte said:

Is the broacasted Philadelphia orchestra version sounding better than the deutsch grammophone ?

 

Well, I think that ASM continues to understand the work better and better. I just listened to the Philly version again this weekend, and it is very tight. Carnegie Hall sounds great (as do Symphony Hall in Boston). Probably a toss up between the two in terms of performance. I would say the Philadelphia Orchestra is probably considered stronger now than the BSO, but the BSO does love to play for JW. 

 

There is one big caveat though on preference which is why I think the released version is better. At the end of the piece, there is a very loud clunk on the radio broadcast. It's quite audible and gets in the way of the ending. This is not a criticism of the recording of course - just an unfortunate accident.

 

[Amer 2,080]

@lairdo My copy arrived within 10 days which is pretty fast from Presto but they shipped via their UK outlet which is why. They have a far better price than other online options. WIll  definetly order again from them for the Bluray.