New releases

[Thropplenoggin]

Cloughie - thanks - the voice of common sense. I'd always thought that people bought (classical) CDs on the basis of the work and the performance, rather than the cover. Clearly I'm wrong. One benefit of buying downloads is that you don't really need to look at the cover, although it's there if you really want to sit and gaze at it, rather than listen to the music. Nor is there anything particularly new about "the cult of the individual" in relation to classical LP covers - my collection of early 1950s LPs has examples of photographs of, variously, Erich Kleiber, Otto Klemperer and - perhaps unsurprisingly - HvK plastered over the front of a fair number of them.

Et tu, Brute?

My comment was written with a view to titillate, although I think there is a debate to be had about conductors/performers (conduits) hogging the limelight on recordings of composers' works.

[Bryn]

I'm currently listening to the symphony via the HDS iPlayer offering. Sorry, compared to the LSO/Previn , it's just that bit 'safe' an approach for my taste. I will not be hurrying to purchase the SACD.

[HighlandDougie]

Gardner's timings are very similar to the Previn/LSO. Slightly faster in the first and third movements, almost identical in the second and marginally slower in the fourth. I like it because it's well-recorded (I've been listening to the 24/96 download) and well-played. If the first movement doesn't quite match Previn in what I might describe as, "nervous excitement" (but no-one does, as the recentish BaL made clear), the rest more than passes muster IMUO.

[Bryn]

Sorry, for me there is neither the malice of the Previn in the scherzo, nor the melancholy in the slow movement. The finale lacks 'edge' too. It's good, but it's not Previn.

[HighlandDougie]

It's good, but it's not Previn.

I think that I might push it into being a bit better than merely "good" but I agree that it's, "not Previn". That performance has a special quality about it which I doubt anyone will match in my lifetime. Still, the Previn recording is almost 50 years old (although admittedly hardly sounding it) so I think that there is still a place for a recording which takes advantage of advances in recording technology made since 1967

[Don Petter]

Cloughie - thanks - the voice of common sense. I'd always thought that people bought (classical) CDs on the basis of the work and the performance, rather than the cover. Clearly I'm wrong. One benefit of buying downloads is that you don't really need to look at the cover, although it's there if you really want to sit and gaze at it, rather than listen to the music. Nor is there anything particularly new about "the cult of the individual" in relation to classical LP covers - my collection of early 1950s LPs has examples of photographs of, variously, Erich Kleiber, Otto Klemperer and - perhaps unsurprisingly - HvK plastered over the front of a fair number of them.

You don't play the cover, but the idea of it is usually to tempt the browsing purchaser to delve further into the contents, and this one certainly wouldn't do that for me. I would have been more likely to subconsciously assume it was somewhere in the crossover camp and pass on.

The 'K's were often well plastered (photographically), but at least you didn't see Klemperer in bermuda shorts and a baseball cap.

[HighlandDougie]

at least you didn't see Klemperer in bermuda shorts and a baseball cap.

I rather like the idea of the good Dr Klemperer in bermuda shorts (or maybe that should be surfing shorts) and a baseball cap, worn back to front. Seriously, though, quite correct in your comments about covers. Ed Gardner in "moody, bad-boy" pose being a rather egregious example of 2010s cover art - or lack of it. In fact, now that I remember, the cover of his recent Bartok disc from Chandos has him in what looks like a black T-shirt bought from Primark. I also remember thinking at the time that that was a particularly crap cover. Ah well, o tempora, o mores! the world continues to go to hell in a handcart.

[Thropplenoggin]

I rather like the idea of the good Dr Klemperer in bermuda shorts (or maybe that should be surfing shorts) and a baseball cap, worn back to front. Seriously, though, quite correct in your comments about covers. Ed Gardner in "moody, bad-boy" pose being a rather egregious example of 2010s cover art - or lack of it. In fact, now that I remember, the cover of his recent Bartok disc from Chandos has him in what looks like a black T-shirt bought from Primark. I also remember thinking at the time that that was a particularly crap cover. Ah well, o tempora, o mores! the world continues to go to hell in a handcart.

So why did you take umbrage earlier?

[Barbirollians]

I think that I might push it into being a bit better than merely "good" but I agree that it's, "not Previn". That performance has a special quality about it which I doubt anyone will match in my lifetime. Still, the Previn recording is almost 50 years old (although admittedly hardly sounding it) so I think that there is still a place for a recording which takes advantage of advances in recording technology made since 1967

The Brabbins was raved about in IRR - have you heard that HD ?

[HighlandDougie]

Haven't heard the Brabbins but will try to do so. I found his Elgar a bit underwhelming so it's rather put me off him in 'big' English symphonies. And, as to 'taking umbrage', today was one of those days when I simply got out of bed on the wrong side - it might had had something to do with having to replace the rear brake discs/pads on the car (about 50 CDs worth of work) and the flight I was on yesterday afternoon from Edinburgh to Nice making an unscheduled diversion back to Gatwick from Northern France because someone was taken ill. And the weather here in the supposedly sunny South of France is a bit crap.

[Thropplenoggin]

Haven't heard the Brabbins but will try to do so. I found his Elgar a bit underwhelming so it's rather put me off him in 'big' English symphonies. And, as to 'taking umbrage', today was one of those days when I simply got out of bed on the wrong side - it might had had something to do with having to replace the rear brake discs/pads on the car (about 50 CDs worth of work) and the flight I was on yesterday afternoon from Edinburgh to Nice making an unscheduled diversion back to Gatwick from Northern France because someone was taken ill. And the weather here in the supposedly sunny South of France is a bit crap.

I thought it might be something as simple as no café-clope this morning.

You have my sympathies on all three counts, HD.

[MickyD]

Haven't heard the Brabbins but will try to do so. I found his Elgar a bit underwhelming so it's rather put me off him in 'big' English symphonies. And, as to 'taking umbrage', today was one of those days when I simply got out of bed on the wrong side - it might had had something to do with having to replace the rear brake discs/pads on the car (about 50 CDs worth of work) and the flight I was on yesterday afternoon from Edinburgh to Nice making an unscheduled diversion back to Gatwick from Northern France because someone was taken ill. And the weather here in the supposedly sunny South of France is a bit crap.

Poor Dougie..I can't understand it, over here in Arles we have had the most gloriously sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. I'll send some good weather over to you.

[Don Petter]

Some Holst rarities which might be of interest:

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred-exd.asp?id=4593

[Dave2002]

I wonder if this about to be released collection of symphonies is of any interest - DG - http://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Great-Sy...eat+symphonies

The MP3 version will probably be rather cheaper - at a suggested price of £22.09 - see http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...t%20symphonies

[Dave2002]

Rafael Kubelik symphony set - Mahler, Beethoven, Schumann and Dvorak - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Symphony...XJ8Q8P187MKFDX Due out in May.

I'm not sure how attractive this one is at the price - though I really like some of Kubelik's Mahler performances.