Barbirolli - favourite recordings

[silvestrione]

Franz Lehar Gold and Silver Walz Halle 1957 Pye...sublime
Rubbra Symphony No 5 with the Halle
The first stereo Elgar 1 with the Philharmonia
The collaboration with Barenboim on the Brahms concertos

[Barbirollians]

The BBC recorded a splendid Barbirolli Nielsen 4 at a Prom on 30th July1965, and this was issued with another Prom performance of Sibelius 5 in 1968. I have these performances on a BBC Radio Classics CD from Carlton. This was the rather poorly selected series which appeared before BBC Legends, many were routine but this coupling certasinly wasn't. I'm not sure if it has been re-issued.

The Nielsen 4 is reissued in BBC Legends but with a Proms Sibelius 3 .

[Alison]

Having enjoyed the Sibelius 2, I am looking to acquire the JB Bruckner 7. I always enjoyed the clip of Sir John rehearsing the scherzo.

[Barbirollians]

Having enjoyed the Sibelius 2, I am looking to acquire the JB Bruckner 7. I always enjoyed the clip of Sir John rehearsing the scherzo.

It is very enjoyable . If you can find a copy I would also recommend the Bruckner 8 too - one of those late live recordings on BBC legends in his last weeks .RO raved about it in Gramophone .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...The first stereo Elgar 1 with the Philharmonia

The 1957 Elgar 1 was/is in stereo too, though I'm not sure whether it was issued in this format at that time. I first bought it on Pye Golden Guinea in 1966, and it sounded incredibly fierce, despite being a sublime performance.

[Petrushka]

The 1957 Elgar 1 was/is in stereo too, though I'm not sure whether it was issued in this format at that time. I first bought it on Pye Golden Guinea in 1966, and it sounded incredibly fierce, despite being a sublime performance.

Sounds good enough to me on this set: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Sympho...720732&sr=1-10 an essential purchase for JB fans.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sounds good enough to me on this set: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Sympho...720732&sr=1-10 an essential purchase for JB fans.

Yes, it does. The Dutton release is excellent. My reservation was for the 1966 Pye LP.

[Barbirollians]

Yes, it does. The Dutton release is excellent. My reservation was for the 1966 Pye LP.

A shame EA that his Richard Strauss recordings were restricted to the splendid Ein Heldenleben and Metamorphosen at the end of his life and some Rosenkavailer waltzes - what an Alpine Symphony he might have conducted !

[BBMmk2]

Ah, I am going through JB's EMI Sibelius Edition at the moment! Very enjoyable!

[silvestrione]

Sounds good enough to me on this set: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Sympho...720732&sr=1-10 an essential purchase for JB fans.

Yes indeed, that does look like an irresistible set.
The Philharmonia has lots of what I think of as those special JB moments, such as the long lyrical passage rising in intensity in the last movement, where the main theme (of the last movement: not the motto) emerges transformed. But it was found a little self-indulgent compared to his earlier versions, on a BAL years ago, I know.

[Ferretfancy]

The Nielsen 4 is reissued in BBC Legends but with a Proms Sibelius 3 .

That's interesting Barbirollians. I sampled the Sibelius 5th on the CD that I have, and although it's a good performance it's a rather murky recording. The Nielsen sounds pretty good for a Prom of that vintage, I plan to listen to it today. Sibelius 3 ? I love it, so maybe I'll have to invest in the Legends issue!

[Dave2002]

That's interesting Barbirollians. I sampled the Sibelius 5th on the CD that I have, and although it's a good performance it's a rather murky recording. The Nielsen sounds pretty good for a Prom of that vintage, I plan to listen to it today. Sibelius 3 ? I love it, so maybe I'll have to invest in the Legends issue!

The BBC Legends version of Nielsen 4 is on Spotify - http://open.spotify.com/track/5Io4qO3LC1P1fEgyRm35kv

Not sure if the other version mentioned is available via streaming or download.

[cloughie]

That's interesting Barbirollians. I sampled the Sibelius 5th on the CD that I have, and although it's a good performance it's a rather murky recording. The Nielsen sounds pretty good for a Prom of that vintage, I plan to listen to it today. Sibelius 3 ? I love it, so maybe I'll have to invest in the Legends issue!

Is that the live 5th on Testament c/w the RPO 2nd ?

[visualnickmos]

Is that the live 5th on Testament c/w the RPO 2nd ?

Yes - and very vivid it is, too.

Just out of interest, did JB ever record 'The Planets'?

[visualnickmos]

My favourite Barbirolli recording is also Live: the Hallé Elgar #1 recorded a few days before he died.

Is there any chance you could give details of this one - I know of it, but nothing about it. Thanks