Tippett symphonies by The BBCSSO...

[pastoralguy]

I listened to the performance of Tippett's Fourth Symphony from the City Halls in Glasgow last night given by the BBCSSO conducted by Martin Brabbins. I couldn't help think that the broadcast quality was so much better than Hyperion's recent recording from the same forces which, to my ears, sounded constricted and distant. Not a patch on Sir Colin Davis' recording on DECCA with the LSO.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

[BBMmk2]

I listened to the performance of Tippett's Fourth Symphony from the City Halls in Glasgow last night given by the BBCSSO conducted by Martin Brabbins. I couldn't help think that the broadcast quality was so much better than Hyperion's recent recording from the same forces which, to my ears, sounded constricted and distant. Not a patch on Sir Colin Davis' recording on DECCA with the LSO.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

Richard Hickox?

[pastoralguy]

Richard Hickox?

I must try to hear those recordings. Many thanks.

[BBMmk2]

I must try to hear those recordings. Many thanks.

I have the set. Very worthwhile, imo. The usual recorded top sound you would expect from Chandos.

[jayne lee wilson]

I listened to the performance of Tippett's Fourth Symphony from the City Halls in Glasgow last night given by the BBCSSO conducted by Martin Brabbins. I couldn't help think that the broadcast quality was so much better than Hyperion's recent recording from the same forces which, to my ears, sounded constricted and distant. Not a patch on Sir Colin Davis' recording on DECCA with the LSO.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

Damn it, I forgot about the relay & will seek out time allowing..., busy evenings looking after Mum upstairs....

I disagree about the new recording of 1 & 2 though, as I found it immediate and vivid off CD, if lacking a little space and air...good depth at lower levels though.... I did comment somewhere, I'll try to paste it in here soon (waiting for a power company to call back and dealing with tax & accounts, on hold....).... take a listen here...

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68203

my brief comments from the LISTENING thread...

"In the first movement of No.2 Brabbins goes for weight and truculence rather than out-and-out energy; but this is marvellously contrasted with delicately drawn coloristic and contrapuntal subtlety (strings especially touching). I felt I was hearing things I’d not heard in this piece before, or not as clearly, or as enjoyably.
In any case, what would be the point of repeating the interpretative shaping and shadings of his predecessors?
The more the movement progresses the more you are irresistibly pulled into the momentum, the schwung, a moderato rather than Vigoroso, which yet comes to seem just right - tempo giusto in the here and now of this recording. So infectious - I found it impossible to keep still!

***
In the first movement of No.1, Brabbins has a more immediate, closer-set sound than Davis or Hickox; it lacks some spaciousness and sweetness and feels a little shut-in at higher levels, but the upside is a very appealing warmth and colour, engaging you quickly with the individual players and sections. I also find his phrasing shapelier and more persuasive, the emotional ebb and flow caught more vividly."

(Sorry for the brevity... suffice to say my sonic impressions and musically positive feelings remained consistent over the other movements of the two symphonies.... I'm still keen to hear the hi-res version though...or hear from anyone who has...)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There was a curious sound quality on the i-Player this afternoon - although it allowed great detail (the Wood Block, Triangle, Claves "pings" were ideally clear and balanced), it was at a rather low level, so that the overwhelming sound waves ... didn't overwhelm.

A performance I'll need to return to. The opening sounded rather too "careful", for all the precision of the playing - on first hearing, I wanted a greater sense of "abandon". But scrupulous attention to the score from Brabbins and his orchestra, and marvellous playing (the Horns were challenged by Tippett's revelling in the opportunities afforded by the Chicago wizards - but pushed to their limits, they excelled). At the very least, the performance confirmed what a tremendous work this is - and how brilliant Tippett's orchestration is.


But ... did Colin Davis ever record the work?

[kernelbogey]

I was very excited to hear this symphony for the first time!

Andrew said that BBCSSO and Brabbins are recording the whole series including the suppressed symphony (in B flat?) to be be broadcast shortly.

I thought I heard many echoes of Strauss and Messiaen and different times in the work...?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Andrew said that BBCSSO and Brabbins are recording the whole series including the suppressed symphony (in B flat?) to be be broadcast shortly.

- to be broadcast on 1st Feb.

[jayne lee wilson]

Following on from my #5 above, there are a few online reviews appearing now, such as this from Colin Anderson, who is usually pretty accurate in his reports.....

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=15081

[HighlandDougie]

There was a curious sound quality on the i-Player this afternoon - although it allowed great detail (the Wood Block, Triangle, Claves "pings" were ideally clear and balanced), it was at a rather low level, so that the overwhelming sound waves ... didn't overwhelm.

A performance I'll need to return to. The opening sounded rather too "careful", for all the precision of the playing - on first hearing, I wanted a greater sense of "abandon". But scrupulous attention to the score from Brabbins and his orchestra, and marvellous playing (the Horns were challenged by Tippett's revelling in the opportunities afforded by the Chicago wizards - but pushed to their limits, they excelled). At the very least, the performance confirmed what a tremendous work this is - and how brilliant Tippett's orchestration is.


But ... did Colin Davis ever record the work?

I think that BBM's somewhat aleatoric syntax might be to blame here - I did a double-take and thought for a moment that maybe I had missed a CD of Colin Davis's LSO performance (Proms? 2005?) being issued. But I think that the answer is, alas, "no". I would love to be proved wrong. I have an off-air recording of a very good performance by Andrew Davies and the BBC SO, which I think that I slightly prefer to Solti, fine tho' that might be.

I have a wholly uncritical adoration of Tippett's music, towards which I feel a very strong emotional pull which I have never felt towards, say Britten. Although almost impossible to decide, if forced at gunpoint to choose one work of his to take to the proverbial desert island, it would be the Fourth Symphony.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have a wholly uncritical adoration of Tippett's music, towards which I feel a very strong emotional pull which I have never felt towards, say Britten. Although almost impossible to decide, if forced at gunpoint to choose one work of his to take to the proverbial desert island, it would be the Fourth Symphony.

In the afterglow of listening to this performance, I'd agree, HiDoug - and with the same requirement for the loaded weapon!

But, I was referring to Pasto's comment in the OP, not to anything Bbm had said.

[HighlandDougie]

In the afterglow of listening to this performance, I'd agree, HiDoug - and with the same requirement for the loaded weapon!

But, I was referring to Pasto's comment in the OP, not to anything Bbm had said.

Aieh! To quote a phrase I saw on the MB recently, "my bad!". It was indeed PG so apologies to BBM for traducing his syntax.

[silvestrione]

I have a wholly uncritical adoration of Tippett's music, towards which I feel a very strong emotional pull which I have never felt towards, say Britten. Although almost impossible to decide, if forced at gunpoint to choose one work of his to take to the proverbial desert island, it would be the Fourth Symphony.

Yes, I think I agree, though a close thing between the 4th and 2nd. I certainly wouldn't be taking any Hickox Tippett with me , though.

I have a splendid off-air of Rattle and the CBSO in the 4th...would be great if he could revisit with the LSO.

[Petrushka]

Alas, I was unable to catch this concert live but will listen via the I-player when time allows.

Sir Colin Davis conducted the LSO in the 4th at the 2005 Proms https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/en3fxj and I was there. Surely, the recording could be used to provide a complete Colin Davis cycle?

[Petrushka]

Yes, I think I agree, though a close thing between the 4th and 2nd. I certainly wouldn't be taking any Hickox Tippett with me , though.

I have a splendid off-air of Rattle and the CBSO in the 4th...would be great if he could revisit with the LSO.

I was present at that one too! Bruckner 7 in the second half. Superb concert!