Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 3 / Maag, London Symphony Orchestra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
These recordings deserve to be called legends. Maag's Scottish Symphony, recorded in 1960, is a gloriously warmhearted, energetic performance, beautifully recorded in mellow, vibrant sound. It set the recorded standard for this work for four decades, and it still does, surpassing even Maag's digital remakes. The Midsummer Overture and incidental music are just as convincing, if a tiny bit less well recorded. Too bad we had to lose the Hebrides Overture, which accompanied the Symphony on LP, but this is a very long CD with most of the contents of two classical LPs at a highly reasonable price. Maag is still active, recording for small labels with obscure European orchestras and still getting impressive results. --Leslie Gerber

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 3 / Maag, London Symphony Orchestra, Music, Felix Mendelssohn, Peter Maag, London Symphony Orchestra, Jennifer Vyvyan, Marion Lowe, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Incidental Music for Orchestra, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 3 / Maag, London Symphony Orchestra
Average customer rating:

Spirited in spite of spotty sloppiness

Still the Freshest Midsummer Night's Dream on Records

Glorious Scottish!

The Best From Before 1970

Very good except for one important drawback.

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony No. 3 / Maag, London Symphony Orchestra
Peter Maag , Jennifer Vyvyan , and Marion Lowe
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3/Debussy: La Mer/Ibert: Escales

Liszt: Sonata, Ballades and Polonaises

Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41

Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45

ASIN: B00004TEUX
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato - Assai animato - Andante come prima
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': II. Vivace non troppo
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': III. Adagio
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Overture, op. 21
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Scherzo, op.61 no.1
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: 'You Spotted Snakes', op. 61 no.3
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Intermezzo, op.61 no.5
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Nocturne, op.61 no.7
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Wedding March, op. 61 no.9
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Dance of the Clowns, op.61 no. 11
A Midsummer Night's Dream : Overture, op. 21, And Incidental Music, op.61: Finale, op.61 no.12

Amazon.com

These recordings deserve to be called legends. Maag's Scottish Symphony, recorded in 1960, is a gloriously warmhearted, energetic performance, beautifully recorded in mellow, vibrant sound. It set the recorded standard for this work for four decades, and it still does, surpassing even Maag's digital remakes. The Midsummer Overture and incidental music are just as convincing, if a tiny bit less well recorded. Too bad we had to lose the Hebrides Overture, which accompanied the Symphony on LP, but this is a very long CD with most of the contents of two classical LPs at a highly reasonable price. Maag is still active, recording for small labels with obscure European orchestras and still getting impressive results. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Spirited in spite of spotty sloppiness.......2006-10-30

Peter Maag's conducting is nothing but exciting, but sometimes he demands more of the orchestra than can humanly be possible. Yet, while there are moment when intonation or attack might make you wince a bit, there is such life in this recording that I would still recommend it as a prized archive. The Scottish Symphony is probably Mendelssohn's greatest, and Maag's interpretation of it revives its rough, rocky, rainy side - it is so full of spirit that you'd swear the faeries are still alive in that foggy northern country. The same can be said of Maag's conducting in Midsummer Night's Dream - so vivid that it takes you into Shakespeare's land, but so ambitious that the orchestra and especially the chorus can't quite make it.... Yet the enthusiasm of it all is inspiring and this is by far not a poor recording. Actually, its spirit should be an inspiration to all, music lovers and music professionals alike, in spite of its few flaws.

Still the Freshest Midsummer Night's Dream on Records.......2006-04-20

Though this recording dates back almost fifty years (1957), for this listener this is the most exciting and enchanting version of Mendelssohn's 'Incidental Music for A Midsummer Night's Dream' available! Peter Maag conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in a fleetingly airy performance that draws so much of the flavor of Shakespeare's comedy that it outshines the competition. Maag also appropriately uses the female voices in two movements as per Mendelssohn's design and the parts of fairies as sung by Jennifer Vyvyan and Marion Lowe (two fine stalwarts from the era of this recording) are incredibly additive. Maag simply understands Mendelssohn's orchestration and draws a superlative performance from his orchestra.

And that is not to say that the Symphony No. 3 in A minor ("Scottish"), Op. 56 is not worthy of attention. Again Maag conducts with finesse and flair and makes the symphony sound as fresh and atmospheric as any conductor's performance today. This is a superb recording, well re-mastered, and at this price it is even a monetary as well as a musical bargain! Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, April 06

Glorious Scottish!.......2005-10-14

Peter Maag was a superb conductor who pitifully has been forgotten for a remarkable audience. His sumptuous and noble style, the perfect articulation of the harmonic languages, color tonal, mercurial lyricism and adequate melodic balance, fit out to play Mendelssohn a colorist composer.

Herder and Goethe in literature and the composers Mendelssohn and Bruch were perhaps, the most enthusiastic artists engaged by this dreamingly land.

According Donald Tovey the second musical motive in the First Movement of the "Scottish" has been to his mind the most expressive and inspired melody ever written. The certain is that this Symphony remains not only as one of the most expansive and delirious Symphonic works ever written. Mendelssohn 's muse reached a peak hard to climb even by himself. We would have to wait for the Fifth Symphony to enjoy such enraptured inspiration and magic spell.

I have to remark that version is after the unbeatable Munch 's Boston Symphony, the most expressive and eloquent version that I have listened. The pureness and grace; the charm and lyricism literally float as a cloud around the members of the orchestra of the London Symphony.

In the Hebrides; we must employ a well known French expression: Chapeaux!. It is simply overwhelming. Elegant phrasing and aristocratic conception conform this beauty Overture.
Midnight summer 's dream finds two serious rivals: Ferenc Fricsay and Rafael Kubelik. But a deserved third place behind these two mesmerizing readings definitively confirms the status that many times we use to forget around the figure of this legendary director.

The Best From Before 1970.......2005-08-20

Peter Maag! Wow. I didnt know much about this conductor. In this 1960 recording, he conducts the formidable London Symphony Orchestra in a vibrant and spirited Mendelssohn program- The Third Symphony and Incidental Music to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. Both works seem to flow into each other, despite the fact they would otherwise not sound well in the same CD. Midsummer NIghts' Dream is the seller here though. It sounds gorgeous. The English are proud of this particular work because of its basis in Shakespeare's classic comedy/fantasy. Mendelssohn was also Queen Victorias' favorite composer and he was himself English/Jewish. The music is perfectly suited to the play. The Overture is thrilling and romantic, sounding a lot like a synopsis of the entire work even using themes played out later in the work. The Nocturne is so placid and soulful. The Wedding March is famous, of course, and the way its played here is just wonderful, full of vigorous clarity and beauty. The only other good recording of this is an EMI release I believe conducted by another Brit Andre Previn. The cover has an old painting of a scene from the play- Oberon and Titania in the forest surrounded by their entourage.

Very good except for one important drawback........2005-07-31

In my opinion this recording of Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony is very good except that the timpani part is almost inaudible. The timpani are important in this symphony; they reinforce the sound at crucial moments. I know what the symphony should sound like, and at those many moments in this recording I have to use my imagination. That is a shame. It is the only thing that keeps this performance from being marvelous.

Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream Op61; Hebrides Overture Op26

Average customer rating:

More of Peter Maag's Magnificent Legacy
Classic quality
Superb performances of Mendelssohn masterpieces.

Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream Op61; Hebrides Overture Op26

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': I Andante con moto
Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': II Scherzo assai vivace
Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': III Adagio cantabile
Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': IV Allegro vivacissimo
'Die Hebriden' Overture
A Mid Summber Night's Dream: I Overture
A Mid Summber Night's Dream: II Scherzo
A Mid Summber Night's Dream: III Nocturne
A Mid Summber Night's Dream: IV Wedding March

Customer Reviews:

More of Peter Maag's Magnificent Legacy.......2003-04-09

It can be said in a few short sentences: these performances by Peter Maag and the London Symphony, recorded by Decca during one of their finest periods, are simply definitive. Adding to the magnificent effect is the sumptuous acoustic environment provided by London's Methodist Kingsway Hall, where many of Decca's greatest recorded achievements were realised. The Swiss, Johannes Peter Maag was, indeed, one of the finest conductors of his age (his greatness and profound depth of musicianship far exceeding that of many better-known "star" conductors). At one stage Maag went into voluntary "retirement", embraced Buddhism and moved to Hong Kong to reflect on life and art. Happily for us, he resumed his career in music. I would urge listeners to acquire not only this release, but also the "Midsummer Night's Dream" release in its entirety on Decca "Legends" (there are a few items missing from this disc: however, this one has the "Hebrides" Overture, so you need both).

Oh, and by the way, those wishing to explore more of Maag's magnificent legacy should also check out the astonishing complete Beethoven Symphonies and the late Mozart Symphonies on the Arts label (digitally recorded in the 1990's with the Orchestra of Padua and Venice, of which Maag was chief conductor in his last years). Peter Maag, who died in 2001, truly lives on in all of these remarkable releases. He was one of the greatest and most sensitive conductors of the 20th century, and, to that extent, a star in his own right. Incidentally, Alfred Cortot, Ernest Ansermet and Wilhelm Furtwaengler, three of Maag's principal mentors (all of whose influences are clearly discernible here in the present release) expressed great faith in his abilities, which Maag's outstanding achievements (including this one) fully justified. Buy it!

Classic quality.......2002-12-21

Mr. Schryer basically said it all with his review, so I offer my words only to underscore his main point: Maag's interpretations of these works are among the finest ever recorded. I bought this CD for the outstanding Hebrides overture; every other recording of the Hebrides I've ever heard falls several miles short of this one. It was pleasant (but not surprising) when the rest of the CD dazzled me the same way. This is orchestral playing from one of the golden ages of symphony orchestras, with a level of quality that's hard to find anymore. The sound is balanced between all instrument families (a surprising rarity nowadays), and the polish and brilliance of the orchestra combines with Maag's true gift for interpreting Mendelssohn to produce a truly classic recording. This recording *defines* "polished performances." If you're looking for the definitive interpretation of any or all of these works, you're going to find it here, the same way I did.

Superb performances of Mendelssohn masterpieces........2000-07-31

Peter Maag, although not a "star" conductor, is a very fine conductor with a special affinity for the music of Mendelssohn and Mozart. The performance of Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony presented on this CD is so outstanding that it has stood for decades as the one against which all other performances of this work must be judged. The Hebrides Overture and excerpts from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are equally fine. This is Mendelssohn at his best conducted superbly.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Seireenia

La Maestranza - 10th Biennial Of Flamenco

In Flanders' Fields, Vol. 3

Early Outlaw

MCMXC A.D. [Limited Edition] [Import]

Music for Inner Peace

Japan: Kabuki & Jiuta-mai Music

Hooray for Boobies [Explicit Lyrics]

Rock Music rock-music-10

Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 [Import] [Live]

Infinite Love

Harmonicaotica [Import]

Kill the DJ [Explicit Lyrics]

Seven Come Eleven

At the Bimhuis 1982