I've just been listening to a new Chandos disc of Walton's 2nd Symphony with the BBC SO and Edward Gardner. It's coupled with the Cello Concerto played by Paul Watkins, and the Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten.
Has anybody here bought this disc?
Gardner's earlier recording of the First Symphony was very highly praised by all the critics that I was able to read, but I'm afraid it was a disappointment when I heard it. I found it curiously underpowered, missing entirely that angry feeling and tension that this music should surely have. Nevertheless I decided to get the new disc, which has also received very enthusiastic reviews, and I have 'a bit of a history ' with Symphony No. 2
The only word I can use to describe these performances is flaccid, and that goes for the over reverberant recording as well, in fact the extremely wide dynamic range doesn't help either. Quieter passages disappear into the haze, while climaxes sound congested. In the concerto, balanced at some distance, Paul Watkins seems to wander along, pleasant enough but not making much mark.
For comparison, I listened to the Previn / LSO disc of the Improvisations on EMI, what a difference in orchestral execution and in beautifully transparent sound.
As it happens there is a BBC recording of the concerto , also with Paul Watkins, made in 2005 and featuring the BBC Scottish SO conducted by Tuomas Hannikainen. This is a far more convincing performance issued as a cover disc with BBC MM, nicely balanced with much more attack,and lovely playing from the orchestra. In fact, I would rate this performance very highly indeed.
I sometimes think that reviewers are too willing to praise the new without perhaps the opportunity to make any real comparisons, but even if they are unable to sample earlier performances, they should still be able to tell when a performance fails to come alive.Gardner has of course some impressive achievements, but not here I'm afraid. I sense a certain air of flavour of the month when reading the comments.
Now I'll sit back and find that others like the performance better than I do!
Has anybody here bought this disc?
Gardner's earlier recording of the First Symphony was very highly praised by all the critics that I was able to read, but I'm afraid it was a disappointment when I heard it. I found it curiously underpowered, missing entirely that angry feeling and tension that this music should surely have. Nevertheless I decided to get the new disc, which has also received very enthusiastic reviews, and I have 'a bit of a history ' with Symphony No. 2
The only word I can use to describe these performances is flaccid, and that goes for the over reverberant recording as well, in fact the extremely wide dynamic range doesn't help either. Quieter passages disappear into the haze, while climaxes sound congested. In the concerto, balanced at some distance, Paul Watkins seems to wander along, pleasant enough but not making much mark.
For comparison, I listened to the Previn / LSO disc of the Improvisations on EMI, what a difference in orchestral execution and in beautifully transparent sound.
As it happens there is a BBC recording of the concerto , also with Paul Watkins, made in 2005 and featuring the BBC Scottish SO conducted by Tuomas Hannikainen. This is a far more convincing performance issued as a cover disc with BBC MM, nicely balanced with much more attack,and lovely playing from the orchestra. In fact, I would rate this performance very highly indeed.
I sometimes think that reviewers are too willing to praise the new without perhaps the opportunity to make any real comparisons, but even if they are unable to sample earlier performances, they should still be able to tell when a performance fails to come alive.Gardner has of course some impressive achievements, but not here I'm afraid. I sense a certain air of flavour of the month when reading the comments.
Now I'll sit back and find that others like the performance better than I do!
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