Favourite Bernard Haitink recordings

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'd second your Debussy, Ravel, RVW (the whole lot), and DSCH (ditto) - but remove the Schubert and replace it with his Tchaikovsky. I much prefer his readings of the Franco-Russian repertoire to those of the German "core" works, which I really do not like at all. But there we go.

[Barbirollians]

I'd second your Debussy, Ravel, RVW (the whole lot), and DSCH (ditto) - but remove the Schubert and replace it with his Tchaikovsky. I much prefer his readings of the Franco-Russian repertoire to those of the German "core" works, which I really do not like at all. But there we go.

What not even his 1970 Mahler 9 which I admit seems head and shoulders above the other Mahler of his I have heard or some very fine Bruckner the LSO Live 4 and 9 I like a great deal. He is excellent in the Liszt tone poems too

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No, No, and No. And it not even Karajan can make the Liszt Symphonic Poems worth listening to.

[Barbirollians]

No, No, and No. And it not even Karajan can make the Liszt Symphonic Poems worth listening to.

I thought that until I heard Haitink .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I should have included his recordings of Richard Strauss in my list: an excellent Heldenleben, and very good Alpensinfonies and Rosenkavalier.

[visualnickmos]

But I should have included his recordings of Richard Strauss in my list: an excellent Heldenleben, and very good Alpensinfonies and Rosenkavalier.

Agree that BH's Richard Strauss is sublime. I may be repeating myself from a post years ago(!) in which I said that there isn't a BH recording of mine that I don't find anything less than pure pleasure; to my ear, he is the most 'natural' conductor - combination of allowing the music itself to 'speak' while simultaneously infusing his own genius touch of magic.

[richardfinegold]

I don't think that I do "overrate" either of Karajan's recordings of the Mahler #9 - and if Haitink's were the only recording of the work available to me, I'd stick with the score.

But that is not the Thread title - I've given my "list" (which doesn't include Liszt) and appreciate that many, many people do not share my low opinion of Haitink's Mahler, and I do not begrudge them their inexplicable pleasures.

But I should have included his recordings of Richard Strauss in my list: an excellent Heldenleben, and very good Alpensinfonies and Rosenkavalier.

One of my fascinations about Mahler is the way that different conductors find different ways to illuminate the score. Having cut my teeth largely on Bernstein and Walter, it took me a while to appreciate different approaches such as Boulez, Karajan and Haitink, to name a few. As I stated earlier, hearing Haitink conduct Mahler1 was a revelation. There is a lot to be said for paying attention to to terracing Of dynamics, building a movement to one definitive moment without getting waylaid by lesser peaks, and by not trying to outdo Mahler at his own game. The composer supplied enough pathos and irony and sheer beauty that if it is unfolded without additional commentary makes its points eloquently enough. I feel his Third similarly benefits, although better from Bavaria than from Chicago. I find his restraint a bit lacking in the Sixth, but again find his understatement scoring big points in #9.
Not meant to pile on, Ferney, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but for me it was watching BH in concert that seemed to make me understand his music making. I regret that I didn’t make more of an effort to avail myself of those opportunities when I had them

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There is a lot to be said for paying attention to to terracing Of dynamics, building a movement to one definitive moment without getting waylaid by lesser peaks, and by not trying to outdo Mahler at his own game. The composer supplied enough pathos and irony and sheer beauty that if it is unfolded without additional commentary makes its points eloquently enough.

- and I'm as delighted as I am baffled that you (and many others) find that Haitink gives so much in this astonishing Music.

[BBMmk2]

Oh favourites? My goodness m that’s really difficult! My recent purchase of Haitink Portrait on BR Klassics is up there, plus the box set I have Haitink The Phillips Years too.

[richardfinegold]

- and I'm as delighted as I am baffled that you (and many others) find that Haitink gives so much in this astonishing Music.

I listened to the Schubert 9 yesterday. You may have a point, the superlative playing of the Concertgebouw and the recording may be the Chief attractions on display, but still a highly enjoyable account

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Various posts on Karajan and others' recordings of Mahler #9 now moved to the Mahler#9 Thread, with apologies for what might turn out to be some "magical" references to the vanished posts appeaing in quotations in other non-edited Posts.

[jayne lee wilson]

There's a fascinating two-page reappraisal of Haitink's recently remastered Amsterdam Bruckner & Mahler Cycles in the present Gramophone (7/2019) by Richard Osborne.
Interesting detail that producer Jaap van Ginneken monitored the recordings on Quad amps and Electrostatics, an important influence on their unflashy, natural excellence.

I've nearly always preferred the first Amsterdam Bruckner recordings to almost any of his later VPO or other efforts, at least those I've heard. There's that sense of freshness and discovery, and he keeps things moving. I wish he'd taken up other versions of 2 and 3 though.

This recent release reviews well in the current Gramophone (RC), apologies if Petrushka or anyone else mentioned it already....useful collection of previous 1997-2017 BRSO releases...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haitink-Symphonieorchester-Bayerischen-Rundfunks-Elisabeth/dp/B07L5VN3T5/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=haitink+BR+edition&qid=1561141257&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr0

[BBMmk2]

JLW, I have that Haitink Portrait set.i found it to be a most enjoyable, even inspiring listen. Never bored at all. Strongly recommended.

[Barbirollians]

Mahler 9 1970! Wonderfully played and whilst restrained compared to Barbirolli , Walter and Bernstein immensely heartfelt .

[Alison]

Mahler 9 1970! Wonderfully played and whilst restrained compared to Barbirolli , Walter and Bernstein immensely heartfelt .

A performance which is focused from first note to last and often spellbinding, easy to understand Cooke’s rave review and the (later withdrawn) Penguin rosette.