Barbirolli - favourite recordings

[Petrushka]

Just been listening to the new Warner remastering of his Brahms symphonies set with the VPO .

I know many regard these recordings generally as just too slow but listening to the a First tonight in which does seem a better transfer than that made by Royal Classics some years ago I am just struck by his beautiful the playing is and how remarkably Barbirolli exposed the inner life of these works . I think I can forgive the odd slow tempo when these performances have so much to tell us .

I said something similar on the What Are You Listening To Now thread last weekend. It was the first time I'd heard this set and I was much impressed. The playing of the 1966/7 Vienna Philharmonic (horns and strings in particular) is outstanding and worth the price of the set alone. As I said last week, Barbirolli somehow manages to make these symphonies lit from within. Symphonies 2 & 3 aren't particularly slow but 1 & 4 are though, like you, this didn't particularly bother me given such fine playing.

[Barbirollians]

I said something similar on the What Are You Listening To Now thread last weekend. It was the first time I'd heard this set and I was much impressed. The playing of the 1966/7 Vienna Philharmonic (horns and strings in particular) is outstanding and worth the price of the set alone. As I said last week, Barbirolli somehow manages to make these symphonies lit from within. Symphonies 2 & 3 aren't particularly slow but 1 & 4 are though, like you, this didn't particularly bother me given such fine playing.

I compared the No 2 this afternoon with the Cgebouw/Chailly recording - a knockout win for VPO/Barbirolli - not at all too slow but great emotional impact - the Chailly just sounds well played in comparison

[Barbirollians]

On that 1962 New York set which took me ages to get round to buying is an immensely impressive and moving account of Beethoven 4 with Gina Bachauer- a name I had heard of but not her playing . Time to look out her other recordings.

[johnb]

I see the 109 disc Complete Barbirolli Warner box is now available for pre-order on Amazon for £171.99.

Barbirolli and the Halle concerts at the Free Trade Hall were such an important part of my teenage years - I still vividly remember performances of Mahler 2, Gerontious, etc.

Anyway, I've clicked the button, even though I've never before paid anything like that amount for a boxed set.

Curiously it is ranked #124 in Classical Music (CDs & Vinyl).

[cloughie]

I see the 109 disc Complete Barbirolli Warner box is now available for pre-order on Amazon for £171.99.

Barbirolli and the Halle concerts at the Free Trade Hall were such an important part of my teenage years - I still vividly remember performances of Mahler 2, Gerontious, etc.

Anyway, I've clicked the button, even though I've never before paid anything like that amount for a boxed set.

Curiously it is ranked #124 in Classical Music (CDs & Vinyl).

Yes does look a lot at first glance but at less than £2 per disc actually very good, even if there is much duplication. A big Sir John box would look good on anyone’s shelf!

[Petrushka]

Yes does look a lot at first glance but at less than £2 per disc actually very good, even if there is much duplication. A big Sir John box would look good on anyone’s shelf!

I just love these big boxed sets! I subscribe to the philosophy of get them while you can. Misses my birthday by a fortnight but I can imagine any Amazon vouchers received going towards this. Some duplication is inevitable but, in my case, it's still worth it.

[johnb]

The Europadisc price is £152.96.

[cloughie]

Had a glance at the track listing - looks like it is fairly comprehensive and contains quite a lot of pre60s stuff. Also appears to have a number of vocal recitals. Unlike some companies who put out shorter discs matching the original LP issues, Warner tend to fill discs - with some ‘interesting’ combinations, eg I like Elgar 1 and also Mastersingers Ov, but not sure whether I want the latter as an encore to the former and also Appalachia is a filler to Verdi Requiem, Purcell and Bach as a filler to Heldenleben, Metamorphosen after Vaughan Williams London (could be described as a strange Carillion), and Debussy’s Nocturnes and La Mer are strange discmates to Grieg’s Norwegian Dances!