Nielsen symphonies 3 & 6 BBCPO/Storgards/Bridgewater live 18/06/15

[BBMmk2]

I've ordered the Storgards cycle!

[jayne lee wilson]

When is a footnote not a footnote?
When it's a multifaceted masterpiece called Nielsen's 6th...
"Love and Death" perhaps, or "Facing Death, Having Fun"...

The best word for Storgards' 24/96 Chandos recording with the BBCPO would be "exploratory"...

As distinct from Oramo's intense, scarifying brilliance, what marks Storgards out is his deep and dark analysis of the work, opening out every texture and detail, calmly facing every disturbing mood. He begins very crisply, but almost freezes the music in that sinister-naive fairytale interlude, where tiptoeing strings and celesta tell a story in which reassurance threatens to turn into its opposite - and then does! How the orchestra shrinks into the depth and distance here, then looming close in its shrieks and thunder at the climax. What stunning sound this is, technically beyond praise.

Those who have loved this work for a long time will marvel at hearing its layering of colour and texture laid so bare as this - yet in a MediaCity recording most striking for its sheer beauty of sound. This beauty and truthfulness is on another level from any previous recording - yes, even Oramo. It's remarkable, and the BBCPhil have surely never sounded better. The "Rolls-Royce" as Nali Gruber called them again recently, live up to their name. But wait a moment: the finale still has terror and grotesquerie where it should, but darker and more considered as a reading than the shattering Oramo. (The bassoon solo Tema has more colour and character where Oramo's is fairly literal - though in his recent live BBCSO performance this was more than mildly tipsy!).
Both are great achievements, both redefine the standards of performance for the 6th, and Nielsonians really do need both.
I've yet to hear 4 and 5, but Ed Seckerson called them the "star turns" of the set. So if there are any still sticking-in-the-mud with Blomstedt and the SFSO, it's way over time to move on. So buy the Storgards - it's the best-recorded cycle ever, and musically, one of the most consistently fascinating and rewarding. A no-brainer - get it in 24/96 if you can, it's a great advert for the wonders and beauties of high-resolution classical recording.

***

The live HDs relay of the 6th, sonorities freshened, thinned-out and sharpened by the wide-open spaces of a half-empty Bridgewater, was closely similar interpretatively to the Chandos recording, just a shade more intense here and there, most obviously in the proposta seria. Maybe it couldn't compete with 24-bit, but it still sounded excellent, again with very strong bass (and basses) and pianissimos retaining clarity even at the vanishing point. R3 HDs is worth making an effort for. So if you haven't already, beef up your broadband, get a USB-Asynchronous DAC and enjoy!

[Dave2002]

I knew there was a reason - trills!

Having downloaded the score of Symphony 3 - http://imslp.nl/imglnks/usimg/e/e9/I...enWM300006.pdf I wondered why I'd particularly felt the urge to do so today.

Turning to pages 157 and 158 however I remembered that I'd been somewhat surprised by the trills on what I assumed were horns at the end of the work, and as performed by the BBC Philharmonic under Storgårds, and indeed, they are, though most of the wind joins in too. Spectacular sound - and I wonder how difficult that is to do.

There are other details I'd like to check, now that I've done the download.

[jayne lee wilson]

Having downloaded the score of Symphony 3 - http://imslp.nl/imglnks/usimg/e/e9/I...enWM300006.pdf I wondered why I'd particularly felt the urge to do so today.

Turning to pages 157 and 158 however I remembered that I'd been somewhat surprised by the trills on what I assumed were horns at the end of the work, and as performed by the BBC Philharmonic under Storgårds, and indeed, they are, though most of the wind joins in too. Spectacular sound - and I wonder how difficult that is to do.

There are other details I'd like to check, now that I've done the download.

That's a really great moment on the new Chandos 3rd isn't it! Every strand clear, yet warm, blended & gorgeous... Just fabulous, yes...

[Dave2002]

That's a really great moment on the new Chandos 3rd isn't it! Every strand clear, yet warm, blended & gorgeous... Just fabulous, yes...

Jayne - sorry I don't know. I was listening to the R3 performance from a few days back. I would guess that the Chandos is similar, but I have no way to be sure right now.

I can see what you mean about the download - my download was of the pdf of the score from IMSLP.

[BBMmk2]

Thanks for that most encouraging critique there, JLW! :)

[Black Swan]

[QUOTE=jayne lee wilson;492955]When is a footnote not a footnote?
When it's a multifaceted masterpiece called Nielsen's 6th...
"Love and Death" [I]perhaps, or "Facing Death, Having Fun"...

The best word for Storgards' 24/96 Chandos recording with the BBCPO would be "exploratory"...


Those who have loved this work for a long time will marvel at hearing its layering of colour and texture laid so bare as this - yet in a MediaCity recording most striking for its sheer beauty of sound. This beauty and truthfulness is on another level from any previous recording - yes, even Oramo. It's remarkable, and the BBCPhil have surely never sounded better. The "Rolls-Royce" as Nali Gruber called them again recently, live up to their name. But wait a moment: the finale still has terror and grotesquerie where it should, but darker and more considered as a reading than the shattering Oramo. (The bassoon solo Tema has more colour and character where Oramo's is fairly literal - though in his recent live BBCSO performance this was more than mildly tipsy!).
Both are great achievements, both redefine the standards of performance for the 6th, and Nielsonians really do need both.
I've yet to hear 4 and 5, but Ed Seckerson called them the "star turns" of the set. So if there are any still sticking-in-the-mud with Blomstedt and the SFSO, it's way over time to move on. So buy the Storgards - it's the best-recorded cycle ever, and musically, one of the most consistently fascinating and rewarding. A no-brainer - get it in 24/96 if you can, it's a great advert for the wonders and beauties of high-resolution classical recording.

So, I assume JLW, I should add the Storgards along the Oramo..... I am not great at downloading. Where do you download your 24/96 recordings?

Thanks for you incisive reviews of what are becoming one of my favourite symphony cycles.

J

[johnb]

So, I assume JLW, I should add the Storgards along the Oramo..... I am not great at downloading. Where do you download your 24/96 recordings?

Please forgive me for replying when your question was directed to JLW but the Storgards Nielsen Cycle can be downloaded from The Classical Shop (i.e. the Chandos download site) for £24.97, which is pretty good value for 24/96, especially when Amazon quotes £26.99 for the CD set: http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Deta...=CHAN%2010859M

The individual Oramo 'discs' can be downloaded in 24/96 from eclassical (owned by BIS) for $17.38, $14.64, $15.48 (all US dollars) adding up to roughly £30 in total, once again lower than what Amazon quotes for the CDs: http://www.eclassical.com/en/search....+oramo&x=0&y=0

There are no doubt other download sources.

Although I respect Jayne's views and enthusiasm for the Storgards I need to further compare his readings with Oramo's before coming down in favour of one or the other (or neither).

[Sir Velo]

Please forgive me for replying when your question was directed to JLW but the Storgards Nielsen Cycle can be downloaded from The Classical Shop (i.e. the Chandos download site) for £24.97, which is pretty good value for 24/96, especially when Amazon quotes £26.99 for the CD set: http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Deta...=CHAN%2010859M

The individual Oramo 'discs' can be downloaded in 24/96 from eclassical (owned by BIS) for $17.38, $14.64, $15.48 (all US dollars) adding up to roughly £30 in total, once again lower than what Amazon quotes for the CDs: http://www.eclassical.com/en/search....+oramo&x=0&y=0

You can be even more tentative by downloading an individual symphony for approx a fiver, or if even more wary or dubious of the encomiums lavished on the Storgards, buy just one movement for a quid or so. Pace some of the well meaning advice, I remain a strong devotee of Blomstedt and see no reason to augment the still vintage 80s Decca recordings, but might just be tempted to audition the Third.

[jayne lee wilson]

Black Swan - I buy almost all of the hi-res files from Qobuz, eClassical and (less often, awkward download manager, zip file goes best) TCS...

I've only played them once each, which isn't really enough (I do find it hard to face 4 and 5 more than once in a week, or even longer!), but Oramo's BIS 4&5 are on a lower level of intensity compared to his brilliant 1/3 and 2/6... so yes, it does pay to selectively download - glad someone else knows about trying a single movement, it does help! 4/5 are very-well-played-and-recorded, but it's not enough with these, is it? They seem to need a live performance - or a recording with a live "feel" to come off. Oramo's recent live Barbican BBCSO 4-6 were marvellous via R3 HDs, they should put those out!
(Here's Dan/Mahlerei on it http://www.musicweb-international.co...ISSACD2028.htm)

With Gilbert/NYPO, my favourites were 2-4 and 6. System dependent, took me some time to appreciate them. Even the NYPO live 5th seems to lack some drama & intensity....(great playing from the NYPO in part two though, the orchestra is the main attraction in the da capo set)...

Sir V - If you love the SFSO/Blomstedt, you should try the DRSO one too, it might surprise you - I find it warmer, more orchestrally characterful and richly textured. Just more expressive and idiomatic really - and good in all 6, on its own terms. Full and brilliant recording, vintage 70s EMI... I'm always drawn back to it. Various EMI issues, mine are the Japanese Fortes.
I'll try and come back on Storgards 4/5, hope ES is right and I'm not disappointed! Pace the Gilbert, these twin peaks do seem to go better live...