I think that some composer conducted recordings also probably fall into the 'definitive' category (e.g. RVW's 4th Symphony, The Rite of Spring, some of Britten's own recordings)
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Del boy: “Get in, get out, don’t look back. That’s my motto!” -
The number of "definitive " performances that keep biting the dust is nobody's business. I tend to get rather carried away with "new" definitive discoveries which then get pushed aside by other "new" discoveries. That said I doubt I'll ever hear better performances of the following works: Schumann: Fantasy op. 17 played by Claudio Arrau (1959 rec.), Schumann: Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26 by Richter (1962 rec.), and Liszt: Etudes d'execution transcendante by Jorge Bolet (Ensayo 1970 rec.). But to be honest I no longer think in terms of definitive performances. It's too subjective a term.My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)Comment
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Not sure about the concept of definitive. However there are some "game changing" recordings which will stay with you for a long time and make you see/hear the piece differently. For me examples are Richter's D960, Celi's Munich Bruckner 4 and Tchaik 6, Carlos Kleiber's Beethoven 5 (Chicago is even better than Vienna), Tennstedt's Live Mahler 2, Previn's Walton 1, Mravinsky's BBC Shostakovich 8.Comment
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The point is as Schnabel put it, the best works are better than anyone could perform them; there's always something else to say. These works defy "definitive" recordings/performances: at most, there can only be "favourite" recordings (such as Ferrier's Das Lied
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Yes, recordings by composers are frequently "better" than by others, but not always: Markevich's Le Sacre is closer to what Stravinsky wrote than any of the composer's three recordings. And what about the re-recordings of works by their composers: Brain or Tuckwell in Britten's Serenade? Stravinsky's 1950s or '60s recording of The Rake's Progress?
Boulez' Le Marteau sans Maitre: eeny-meeny-miney-mo![FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Our differences are so interesting. I'm probably wrong here, but I've never quite fathomed the adulation for Carlos Kleiber, but I would certainly put his father's Figaro on any list.Similarly, I find Richter impossibly slow in D960, but I treasure his Schumann Fantaisiestücke.
I think we're thinking of performances with a special magic for us, but not for all, which is all we can wish.
Off the top of the head :-
Beecham's Brigg Fair and Scheherezade
Barbirolli's Tallis Fantasia and the VW 5th
Monteux's Daphnis ( I was lucky enough to see him conduct it )
La Boheme with Tebaldi / Bergonzi
Mozart's K488 with Kempff
Michelangeli in Rach 4 and his wonderful Brahms Ballades
Pears in the Britten Serenade, either with Brain or Tuckwell
Karajan's first stereo recording of Ein Heldenleben
Well, where do you stop ?Comment
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Not before you've added the following:Originally posted by Ferretfancy View Post
Reiner's Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Reiner's Heldenleben
Kleibers Brahms 4
Argerichs Rach 3
Lipatti's Waltzes
Karajan's Shostakovich 10
Gillian Weir's Messiaen
Britten's Britten
Gilels' Hammerklavier
Davis' Berlioz
Kempe's (& Tortelier's) Don Quixote
Anda's Bartok PCsComment
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Regine Crespin's Ravel ScheherazadeComment
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I think some are losing sight of JLW's point about recordings that have made it very difficult to appreciate any other version. We can all produce long lists of recordings that are our favourites ('definitive') but I challenge some to state why so many recordings have had the effect mentioned in the original post."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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Fine recordings all, but I'm not sure that I would describe any as definitive. Maybe some of Davis' Berlioz but not all.Originally posted by Panjandrum View PostDel boy: “Get in, get out, don’t look back. That’s my motto!”Comment
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"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Now you're talking!!Originally posted by HighlandDougie View Post
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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No argument from me on that one. All other's have been wanting, to my ears, even the famous Haitink/Otter/Tomlinson.Originally posted by Panjandrum View Post
The Berry's Kékszakállú with LSO/KerteszComment
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I think Rob Cowen would disagree if his BAL a couple of years ago is anything to go by.Originally posted by Bryn View PostDel boy: “Get in, get out, don’t look back. That’s my motto!”Comment
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Caliban
I suspect from your reaction that you refer to Karajan's later recording which is very inferior even as sound to his fine earlier version.Comment
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