André Previn still going strong

[Ferretfancy]

There are so many possibilities, but I would particularly recommend his Shostakovich 8th, and I think his VW Pastoral is the best available. Then there are the Prokofiev ballets, both the Walton symphonies and Turangalila Then there are Berlioz overtures, Debussy's La Mer, and one very special one for me,his RCA recording with the LSO of Rachmaninov's 3rd.
When he went to Pittsburgh things seemed to falter, it was probably not a good match.

[Parry1912]

There are so many possibilities, but I would particularly recommend his Shostakovich 8th ... When he went to Pittsburgh things seemed to falter, it was probably not a good match.

His Shostakovich 10th is also one on the best. Even at Pittsburgh he made some good recordings with Itzhak Perlman and then an excellent coupling of 'The Carnival of the Animals' and 'Ma Mere L'Oye'.
More recently, there were some splendid Korngold recordings (with the LSO again).
Thinking of Debussy, his recording of the 'Images' and 'Prelude a l'apres midi ...' was EMI's first digital recording? (http://www.overgrownpath.com/2009/01...f-spheres.html about halfway down the page!) It still sounds wonderful!

[Ferretfancy]

Parry1912

Thanks for that link. It's interesting that EMI were beaten to the post by Decca in the digital stakes, because they produced the first stereo recording to be commercially released, made in 1954, although the first stereo discs did not appear on the market for another four years. This was Prokofiev's 7th symphony with the Philharmonia and Malko, and may still be available on Classics for Pleasure. It still sounds excellent.
I suspect that Decca were quite crafty when they issued the Boskovsky VPO, as their early digital recorder was a bit like an Ampex VT machine, and the tapes were very difficult to edit. One waltz or polka at a time would not have been too much of a challenge.
I have a CD from Denon of Mozart's string quartets K 458 and K 421 with the Smetana Quartet which claims to be even an even earlier digital, the first recording to use pulse code modulation, but I can't verify this.

[Panjandrum]

Very engaging and on the ball he was too.

Still compos mentis at 82? Well, would you adam and eve it.

How offensive to octogenarians everywhere.

[Nick Armstrong]

Still compos mentis at 82? Well, would you adam and eve it.

How offensive to octogenarians everywhere.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that was meant with sledgehammer irony.

If you read my first post, you'll see that I saw him the best part of a decade ago and he looked to be at death's door. I'm just delighted he's still so full of beans!

[Stunsworth]

Heard the interview on the way home from work and was wishing it wouldn't end. Wonderful stuff, especially when he started to give his opinion about a certain famous Belgian violinist.

I still laugh at the sketch with Morecambe and Wise - as did the orchestra at the time.

[amateur51]

Still compos mentis at 82? Well, would you adam and eve it.

How offensive to octogenarians everywhere.

I do believe that you're jealous, Panyan!

[BBMmk2]

I think EMi should make a box set of AP's recordings!

[PaulT]

I think EMi should make a box set of AP's recordings!

They have.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andre-Previn-Great-Recordings-1971-1980/dp/B001TP7UDA/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1329581300&sr=1-4

[cloughie]

They have.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andre-Previn...9581300&sr=1-4

I think looking at the track-listing I've got most if not all - and what crass compiling - who on earth would want to follow the sublime Rach sym 2 with the Ravel B piece!

[Stunsworth]

Andre Preview and his band...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7GeKLE0x3s&feature=related

[BBMmk2]

Indeed Cloughie! A crass coupling that is in that B piece! Pity I have most of the recordings as well!!

[Petrushka]

...who on earth would want to follow the sublime Rach sym 2 with the Ravel B piece!

Using the programme facility on your CD player, you don't have to!

[amateur51]

I'm glad to see that Previn is still conducting and composing ....
I went to a concert years ago (not far off 10 years, not sure when exactly) which he conducted, and was shocked how old and frail he looked. I confess I thought - poor chap's not long for this world, the next 'solemn announcement' on Radio 3 is likely to be about him.

I'm delighted that I was wrong. He's accompanied me throughout my musical journey, from his Rach 2, Walton 1 and complete Prokofiev 'Romeo and Juliet' recordings while I was still at school.

I wish him many returns to the podium

I've had the same experience with AP, Caliban. His TV programme and Rattle's Leaving Home were evidence to me that serious people liked the same stuff that I did and they were happy to help with my musical education, as was Radio 3 of old

When I came to London in the early 1970s, the first orchestral concert that I went to was an LSO/Previn one and I sat in the choir because the seats were cheap and you got the same view that you had on telly

He's still one of my musical heroes because not only is he a good conductor and a very good pianist & chamber music player, he's also a very good raconteur - I could listen to him yarning away for hours.

All power to you for the premiere, Mr Previn!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP8KRJFj_R4

[Maclintick]

When I came to London in the early 1970s, the first orchestral concert that I went to was an LSO/Previn one and I sat in the choir because the seats were cheap and you got the same view that you had on telly

He's still one of my musical heroes because not only is he a good conductor and a very good pianist & chamber music player, he's also a very good raconteur - I could listen to him yarning away for hours.

All power to you for the premiere, Mr Previn!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP8KRJFj_R4[/QUOTE]

Ditto. One of my first and most memorable Prom experiences was of Mr. Preview conducting Walton's Belshazzar's Feast in '72. The composer appeared on stage amid tumultuous applause at the end and informed the audience that he was writing a Third Symphony - alas an unfulfilled ambition. We in Britain are enormously indebted to Andre Previn for his championship of British music, and for developing a wider following for classical music through his TV broadcasts.