Spinning Today (Classical version)

[jandl100]

Haitink for the 12th, Rozhdestvensky for the 1st and 15th. Previn's 13th on EMI (or was your DG reference for the 8th only?)

Yep, just the Previn 8th on DG. The 5th and 13th on EMI.
I'm not a great fan of aged-Previn, he seemed to lose the getup&go that so characterised his fiery younger days.
But the DG 8th is a happy exception, he really captures the atmosphere, for me - superb sq, too.

[jandl100]

Of late ...

The Vaughan Williams resurgence continues apace at Jerry Towers -

RVW 9th Symphony. A very difficult piece for me. A lot of orchestral note-spinning, at first listen. And 3rd and 5th listen, come to that! What was the great man up to, or had he lost it a bit in his old age? He was well into his 80's when he wrote this.
Haitink, then Slatkin, then Previn.

3 very different takes on the music. Haitink is as magisterial as ever. Slatkin is somehow more solid, but seems a bit less convinced of the music. The Previn recording surprised me - wow, excellent transparent sound quality, very realistic strings and real bite on the brass. Lovely. A very enthusiastic interpretation, too. Hmm, this is the best of the three.

I have only listened to Previn's Sea Symphony recently, and was disappointed by the sq - the 9th is in a different league - I'll be having a go at all the rest of Previn's RCA cycle. It's the one I've had longest, and has been ignored a bit for that very reason!
I still have Handley's 9th to listen to, then I'll go back to Previn.
I am determined to get into this symphony!!

[jandl100]

..... I love Karajan's version {of Shostakovich's 10th} with BPO where there's a richness, not only of sound, but at the start of the 1st movement the Berlin strings are peerless. I've still not heard the horns sound better in the 3rd movement, where, when the movement really takes off it's absolutely breathtaking.

I find that I have deep feelings of insecurity when I disagree so strongly with a professional musician.
The same happened when I invested in Richard's strong reccie for Leister's recording of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet. I hated it! And Richard is a professional clarinettist, ffs. My lack of formal musical training becomes all too evident, I fear.

Anyhoo .... these are my opinions, and I guess I just have to live with them!

So, is that the 1966 Karajan recording of the Shosty 10, Richard, or his later one? Or both?
I have the '66 version and tried it again last night.

For me, he rushes the fast bits and dawdles on the slow bits. For me it's a characterless central European interpretation rather than a soulful Russian one.
The recording is tonally anaemic in the mids, with accentuated treble on the violins and not much in the way of bass at all.

I should also point out that the Gramophone guide gives both Karajan recordings top reccie.

I think I'll give up!

___

EDIT: for the princely sum of £2.67 (inc delivery!) I have just ordered HvK's 1980's digital recording of the 10th from Amazon. Perhaps I will see the light with this one?

[MartinT]

For all you Shostakovich lovers...

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showp...2&postcount=80

[JJack]

Alas, the Previn 13th is out of print and only available as an MP3.

Going to scour the used records shops for this one after all the recommendations.

[MartinT]

There's a sealed LP here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANDRE-PREV...item4ab20e1bfe

[jandl100]

RVW 9th Symphony. A very difficult piece for me. ..... I am determined to get into this symphony!!

Yes! Whodathunkit? ... Handley's the boy for me on an EMI CD. He lays it open and presents it in a very articulate and dynamic way.

For the first time I hear the ending of the last movement as a true apotheosis of the whole symphony cycle!

Bravissimo!

[morris_minor]

Yes! Whodathunkit? ... Handley's the boy for me on an EMI CD. He lays it open and presents it in a very articulate and dynamic way.

For the first time I hear the ending of the last movement as a true apotheosis of the whole symphony cycle!

Bravissimo!

Have you heard Handley's Bax cycle on Chandos, Jerry? That's awesome, too.

[MartinT]

In preparation for Martha...

Ravel - Piano Concerto, Paray, Haas, Orchestre National Paris, DG [vinyl]



Ravel - Piano Concerto, Michelangeli, Gracis, Philharmonia, EMI [cd]

[jandl100]

Have you heard Handley's Bax cycle on Chandos, Jerry? That's awesome, too.

No, I've got the Naxos set with David Lloyd-Jones. I've had it ages, and I investigate it now and then, and I am gradually finding my way into Bax's sound world. I can't say it's an easy journey, though!

Maybe I should sample Handley?