Post by bpnjensenPost by Michael SchafferPost by GerardPost by Michael SchafferAnyway, the performance itself is very good, but rather prosaic and
not very inspired. There is no fairy tale "magic" here. The playing of
the orchestra is predictably highly cultivated, polished and sonorous.
I have relistened to Tjeknavorian's ASV (Brilliant Classics) recording, and in
many ways that one is the opposite of your description here. But no 'magic'
either.
Post by Michael SchafferBut Previn just waves the orchestra through the piece in somewhat slow
and unspringy tempi without really making any interesting musical
points. I have heard many more "exciting" and musically more
interesting recordings.
I'ld like to know which recordings these are.
I am not exactly an expert when it comes to this piece which I like
but am not really that much into, so I don't know if my
recommendations would be really valuable. I never did any comparative
listening of this piece. A few recordings which come to mind and which
I would recommend though are Temirkanov's with the NYP which is rather
weighty, too, but musically more interesting and extremely well played
- I think the bassoon solos in the second movement are the best
bassoon playing I have ever heard! -, then I also like the recording
with Spano and the ASO, it is very meticulously prepared and has a lot
of drive, and I also liked Immerseel'recording on "period
instruments". I am not sure how "authentic" that all is, but the
orchestra sounds good and it is a very musical performance. No big HIP
"revelations" here, but a very well done performance. I think I also
liked Karajan's BP recording, but it has been ages since I last
listened to it. Maazel's with the BP is very good, too, but totally
spoilt by DG's eaxtremely bright and dry "early digital" recording -
exactly the kind of recording I talked about earlier -, so it can not
really be recommended. Good sound is very important for this kind of
piece.
I would actually like to hear Gergiev's recording. I watched a
documentary about him the other day which contained rehearsal clips
with him and his former orchestra in Rotterdam. Yes, I know, it is
hard to picture Gergiev actually rehearse, but he did, and he had some
interesting musical points to make.
I have the other recording with the WP, with Ozawa, and wouldn't mind
relistening to it but it is packed up and out of reach right now.
Post by GerardI think my favorite remains Kondrashin with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (his
only 'studio' recording with this orchestra). But I have never really compared
things (and never heard Markevitch - my "imprinting" in this piece - and Monteux
since the LP era).
Recently I've heard two movements on radio of Gergiev's recording. That is one I
really would like to have, once. And maybe Mackerras (on Telarc), based on
reviews - I've never heard it.- Hide quoted text -
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We heard Gergiev play it live with his orchestra about 2 years ago (?)
here in Berkeley, CA. We enjoyed the concert (mostly - for me, the
first two movements went so slowly and they made me so sleepy that I
did not notice the first end and the second begin), and he included
his two usual add-ons, Islamey and Steppes plus Sleeping Beauty Waltz
as the encore. If the recording is like the concert, it is certainly
colorful (even if the first two movements tempi are slow), with but I
cannot say it like it better than Kondrashin or Mackerras on Telarc.
For me, Kondrashin's Concertgebouw recording *is* magic, and Mackerras
is excitement being born. Based on that concert, I decided not to get
the CD.
I also really like Dutoit/Montreal, a wonderful romantic performance,
but the recording is somewhat mellow and not as detailed as Kondrashin
or especially Mackerras, which is spine-tingling in its clarity.
Still, I would not be without it. I also have Ormandy's Sony, and it
is pleasant, but not in the same league.
~ Bruce- Hide quoted text -
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I might be tempted to try the Mackerras recording, too. What he does