Favourite Bernard Haitink recordings

[Petrushka]

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-Sym...y&sr=8-1-fkmr0

RO's 'Gramophone' reappraisal is excellent and pretty well spot on. I part company with him slightly only in respect of the 1969 Bruckner 8 which I like better than he does. Yes, it's a 'work in progress', arguably too swift, but the orchestral sound is magnificent and comes across to splendid effect in the latest re-mastering. Still worth a listen.

I'm very annoyed about the 'Portrait' box as it contains a) recent recordings of which I bought the individual issues only a few months ago and b) a recording of Mahler 4 NOT issued separately. Forgive me for being cynical about the motivation behind these two objections.

[cloughie]

RO's 'Gramophone' reappraisal is excellent and pretty well spot on. I part company with him slightly only in respect of the 1969 Bruckner 8 which I like better than he does. Yes, it's a 'work in progress', arguably too swift, but the orchestral sound is magnificent and comes across to splendid effect in the latest re-mastering. Still worth a listen.

I'm very annoyed about the 'Portrait' box as it contains a) recent recordings of which I bought the individual issues only a few months ago and b) a recording of Mahler 4 NOT issued separately. Forgive me for being cynical about the motivation behind these two objections.

Let’s face it the Haitink compilations are a car crash - we need a big box compilation of Haitink recordings from the 60s and 70s that are not in the big Symphony box - Dvorak 7/8, Schubert 5/8/9, the early Tchaik 4/6, the LPO Beethoven symphonies and more!

[Alison]

Let’s face it the Haitink compilations are a car crash - we need a big box compilation of Haitink recordings from the 60s and 70s that are not in the big Symphony box - Dvorak 7/8, Schubert 5/8/9, the early Tchaik 4/6, the LPO Beethoven symphonies and more!

The Bizet symphony is marvellous as is Rimsky’s Scheherazade.

[richardfinegold]

Amazon has a “deal of the day” offering the first Decca Mahler set, 12 CDs and tthe whole shebang on Blu Ray, for $20 instead of the usual $50, expires in 19 hours or so. Latest remastering, etc. I bought it just for the Blu Ray part, it’s a U.K. dealer so some one might be interested.

[richardfinegold]

Current Gramophone in reviewing (Richard Osborne) the above set has this interesting Haitink quote.
‘We all know there’s much better music’ he told Michael Oliver in 1994, ‘but if you want success as a Conductor you do Mahler, and the louder the better.’

I personally believe that this must have been taken out of context, or that BH must have been having a very bad day during the interview. Having sat through a few Haitink Mahler performances, where his commitment certainly appeared to be total, and were transformational for me, I am puzzled and a bit disappointed

[Alison]

Current Gramophone in reviewing (Richard Osborne) the above set has this interesting Haitink quote.
‘We all know there’s much better music’ he told Michael Oliver in 1994, ‘but if you want success as a Conductor you do Mahler, and the louder the better.’

I personally believe that this must have been taken out of context, or that BH must have been having a very bad day during the interview. Having sat through a few Haitink Mahler performances, where his commitment certainly appeared to be total, and were transformational for me, I am puzzled and a bit disappointed

I suppose around 1994 Bernie looked around and saw every booger doing Mahler, having been niche terrain in earlier years. Perhaps he didn’t like much of what he heard.

His aversion to Mahler 8 is a bit puzzling to me. He rates Stravinsky much higher I seem to recall.

[Bryn]

I suppose around 1994 Bernie looked around and saw every booger doing Mahler, having been niche terrain in earlier years. Perhaps he didn’t like much of what he heard.

His aversion to Mahler 8 is a bit puzzling to me. He rates Stravinsky much higher I seem to recall.

Ironic that the 8th was one of only two of the Mahler symphonies to have been recorded in 4.0 surround with him conducting.

[Zucchini]

I suppose around 1994 Bernie looked around and saw every booger doing Mahler, having been niche terrain in earlier years. Perhaps he didn’t like much of what he heard..

A couple of years ago The Times ran quite a large feature and interview and I recall Haitink saying that there was a time when you had to include a Mahler symphony in Menu A, B, or C, when taking an orchestra on tour - but that's no longer the case. Concert promotors (especially Festivals) aren't that keen these days.

Of course, it may be that some promotors want something fresher from Haitink's repertoire. Or ...

[Alison]

Has the Mahler boom slowed down a bit?

[cloughie]

Has the Mahler boom slowed down a bit?

Probably, now everyone has a shelf and a half of Mahler - has Bruckner become the flavour of the month, year, decade or two that Mahler was?

[Bryn]

Probably, now everyone has a shelf and a half of Mahler - has Bruckner become the flavour of the month, year, decade or two that Mahler was?

Well, Mahler's 8th is kids stuff, these days. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006n8x

[Edgy 2]

Has the Mahler boom slowed down a bit?

Hopefully

sorry chuck,couldn't resist.
Weinberg is gonna be the new Mahler,probs too late for Uncle Bernie to take on though,which is a shame

[Barbirollians]

The classic Krebbers/Haitink/RCO version of the Beethoven VC which I knew only by reputation. Found in a charity shop in its budget CD version for £1.50 . What a lovely performance immensely songful.

[Alison]

The classic Krebbers/Haitink/RCO version of the Beethoven VC which I knew only by reputation. Found in a charity shop in its budget CD version for £1.50 . What a lovely performance immensely songful.

Yes, think the disc had a Penguin rosette!

[Barbirollians]

Led me on to the Brahms - good but perhaps not as good and the terrific Ein Heldenleben .