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tapiola
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« on: 22:38:08, 15-02-2007 » |
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Evening all
It may be that I've picked the wrong place to post this (please let me know if this kind of post should be somewhere else???)....
Has anyone heard Sir Colin Davis' Philips Duo set of Dvorak's 7th, 8th and 9th symphonies with the Concertgebouw? What about the Dohnanyi/Cleveland set of the same 3 symphonies?
I've been having a bit of a Dvorak fest recently and was thinking of boosting my collection a little further with some more alternative versions of these marvellous pieces.
Again, if stuff like this is supposed to be posted elsewhere, I am quite happy to be told....!
Best wishes
Nick
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"...and woodsprites in the gloom weave magic secrets..."
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #1 on: 22:44:18, 15-02-2007 » |
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Haven't heard either of them, but gut feeling is go with Davis!
Do you know Kertesz? Also classic Czech recordings - Neumann, Talich etc?
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tapiola
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« Reply #2 on: 22:49:45, 15-02-2007 » |
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Haven't heard either of them, but gut feeling is go with Davis!
Do you know Kertesz? Also classic Czech recordings - Neumann, Talich etc?
Hey there. Thanks for the that. Davis always seems to do it for me, so I can't imagine that his Dvorak will disappoint a great deal! The set has been given some excellent reviews by some, but others seem to be a little lukewarm about it. The Kertesz? Yes indeed. I have the full set and cherish it from start to finish. I've also just hold of the complete Jarvi set (listening to the last symphony now) and have been VERY impressed by it. I also love the Kubelik set, but no I haven't heard Talich etc. Maybe it's time for me to raid the Supraphon archives once more.... Thanks again Nick |
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"...and woodsprites in the gloom weave magic secrets..."
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roslynmuse
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« Reply #3 on: 22:51:43, 15-02-2007 » |
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I guess I don't need to ask if you know Davis's Sibelius!
I got to know the Symphonies through his Philips recordings and am collecting the new LSO set too - wonderful stuff!
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tapiola
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« Reply #4 on: 23:17:31, 15-02-2007 » |
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I guess I don't need to ask if you know Davis's Sibelius!
I got to know the Symphonies through his Philips recordings and am collecting the new LSO set too - wonderful stuff!
I'm very much a fan of Davis' Sibelius (and in fact of Sibelius in general), especially the LSO live releases (what a WONDERFUL Kullervo!!). I must admit that I am not completely convinced by the Philips set of symphonies, though I hold the Australian Decca Eloquence set of tone poems (wthe Boston SO) in high regard (Marvellous Pohjola's Daughter!). Tomorrow I'll be out in Oxford for a wander, and I dare say that Davis' recent Profil recording of the second will find its way into my collection along with the previously mentioned Dvorak. Nick |
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"...and woodsprites in the gloom weave magic secrets..."
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John W
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« Reply #5 on: 23:28:19, 15-02-2007 » |
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I've been having a bit of a Dvorak fest recently .......... if stuff like this is supposed to be posted elsewhere, I am quite happy to be told....!
Nick, while this forum is finding it's feet I think it is difficult for the 'Topics' to cater for every subject but anyone wanting to talk about any composer, or any recordings they have, post on this topic which is subtited "Discuss classical music and the classical music played on BBC Radio 3 here"Dvorak. Very neglected - by me. I know I have several recordings of Symphonies 7,8,9 including Kertesz but I'm only familiar with 9. Something else to do soon  John W |
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #6 on: 23:30:11, 15-02-2007 » |
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I have his LSO Live set, which is pretty fine. However, I much prefer (surprise, surprise) the Mackerras set with the LPO, at budget price on EMI's Classics for Pleasure series. I gather he has redone 8 and 9 on Supraphon with the Czech Phil but I haven't got round to picking those up yet (though I did come across the 6th in a sale recently paired with one of the tone poems).
As far as Davis's Sibelius goes, the LSO disc of 3 and 7 is extraordinary. However, I must confess to having found the recent Kullervo a bit of a disappointment and was somewhat surprised to see it nominated for an award in BBC Music magazine. I find it a little rushed and lacking in the drama that Vanska brings to his reading. (I also think, perhaps due to its choral nature, it suffers more than others in the series from the Barbican's acoustic. The LSO chorus, though fine, are not in the same league, for this repertoire as Vanska's Helsinki University Choir - but in fairness it is difficult to say how much of the fault is their and how much lies with the recording).
regards, Tam
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tapiola
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« Reply #7 on: 23:43:57, 15-02-2007 » |
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Hey Tam
Yes, the Mackerras set is marvellous, and I agree also about Davis LSO Live Sibelius 3rd and 7th. Perhaps I shoudl invest in the LSO live Dvorak. How does the Barbican acoustic sound in them?
Vanska's Kullervo is actually also my recording of choice, but I wouldn't want to be without either Davis version.
There are only two recording of Kullervo that I don't have in my collection (if various data bases are to be believed!). One of them is the Naxos version under Panula and the other is the CPO disc under Rasilainen. Have you heard either of these? Are they worth adding to the others to make a complete set? So far I haven't found a version of Kullervo that truly disappoints me (though Paavo Jarvi's finale is a bit of a shock the first time you hear it!).
What a wonderful work!
Bests
Nick
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #8 on: 00:03:17, 16-02-2007 » |
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Nick,
I'm spinning the Davis Dvorak 8th now and can't really complain about the sound. To be honest, I don't really have a complaint against most LSO Live releases. It is a little closed (but no worse that Sibelius 3&7). My complaint against the Kullervo it hurts the choir rather more than the orchestra (I think the micing may be a little close - there is too much sibilance for my liking). The only LSO Live release where the sonics have been so bad I've got rid of it was Rostropovich's Shostakovich 5 (a shame, as I loved the 11th).
As to Kullervo - the only other recording I have is Davis's earlier LSO reading (but that still awaits a listen - I'm curious though as given it's slower I suspect it might be more up my street). May I conclude that you have the Salonen. If so, how do you find it?
regards, Tam
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tapiola
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« Reply #9 on: 11:39:20, 16-02-2007 » |
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Hey Tam
The older Davis recording is a lot slower, and this really helps matters of detail and atmosphere (I know that many disagree with this, so be warned!). I must admit that occasionally the strings sound a little acidic in the first movemement (the balance is quite close) but the orchestra seem pretty much inside the score to my ears. In short, Davis' RCA version brings out the epic nature of the work.
Yes indeed I do have the Salonen. My very first hearing of the work was on Radio 3 back in about 1996 (I think) and that was a live broadcast of Salonen with the LAPO. A few weeks later I bought his recording and got to know the work through that.
Salonen captures the atmosphere well and is helped in this matter by the slightly distanced recording. It really sounds magical throughout. Be warned, though, that it's a fairly swift performance in places (Kullervo goes to War is very quick) so from what you have said I wonder if you woud like it......
Paavo Jarvi's version has a VERY SLOW finale, but I think he pulls it off. Maybe that would be a good one to try. You can get it as part of a two disc set coupled with his excellent version of the Lemminkainen Suite.
I'm usually happy with Barbican recordings from the LSO live label as it happens. In fact I thought that the sound they gave to the Sibelius 3rd/7th release ws ideal for the music. The recent release of Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony on Chandos (recorded live at the Barbican last June - I was there!!!) is very good too, so I expect that I might pick the Davis/Dvorak up today.
Best wishes
Nick
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"...and woodsprites in the gloom weave magic secrets..."
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #10 on: 17:56:34, 16-02-2007 » |
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Thanks for that Nick. I still may try the Salonen at some point (I'm interested to know how much it is the speed of the Davis/LSO Live or other factors that don't really do it for me). I think it was the Gramophone review of the LSO Live that bemoaned the fact that Davis's Boston version is not currently in the catalogue.
I would agree that the LSO Live sound is generally fine (and not nearly as poor as some of their critics would have it), and it is only in one or two cases that I have been really disappointed. I'll be interested to hear your views if you do pick up the Dvorak.
I was in my local CD shop today and I spotted the Sea Symphony you mention (while picking up the recent Davis/Fidelio, mainly for Brewer, and Giulini doing the B minor mass), but decided against. Perhaps next time.
regards, Tam
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tapiola
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« Reply #11 on: 18:54:42, 16-02-2007 » |
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Hey Tam
In the end I didn't go for any Dvorak (for today at least). Instead I picked up Davis' Profil recording of Sibelius Second with the Dresden Staatskapelle. I'll let you know what I think of it when I've finished listening.
The Dvorak will most likely creep into my collection over the next week or so though......
You mention the new Hickox Sea Symphony. The concert was utterly magical, not least because of the wonderfully heroic contribution of Gerald Finley and the glorious sound of Susan Gritton. In my opinion (and I know many will disagree) the performance has transferred rather well to CD, though I realise that my memory of the performance may well have destroyed any critical composure that I may have had. The sound is very full and unusually spacious for a live Barbican taping. Chandos have added just a little extra bloom where it really matters but it sounds natural.
In your last message you mention a Boston version of Kullervo. Having trawled through many reviews of various versions and looking at back catalogues I see no sign of a BOSTON Kullervo from Davis (or anyone for that matter). What IS mentioned is a live performance at the Barbican from 1992. This was televised, so hopefully it will turn up on DVD at some point. Apparently that was a pretty fast performance too......
Nick
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"...and woodsprites in the gloom weave magic secrets..."
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Tam Pollard
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« Reply #12 on: 12:24:27, 17-02-2007 » |
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Nick, it does indeed seem that my memory is playing tricks on me. I looked up the review of the LSO Live version and there was no mention of a Boston reading (a quick google didn't show anything up either). Pitty....
regards, Tam
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