Your Favourite Sir Colin Davis Recording

[secondfiddle]

I found I had a recording of the Haffner serenade conducted by him - it's with the BRSO. It came as part of the Brilliant Complete Mozart box. Listened to it this morning.

What amazes me is that his recordings (and live performances) were never dull - they always seemed to have such a fresh, live quality about them. As I type I am transferring a 1965 tape of Colin Davis conducting the LSO in Tippett's marvellous Concerto for Double String Orchestra (RFH Commonwealth Arts Festival) - tremendous drive and energy! Did he never record it commercially?

[Mahler's3rd]

If I only had to pick one it would be Les Troyens

[BBMmk2]

Berlioz: kes Troyens, just has to be. I have the LSO Live version.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah, yes; I hadn't noticed that cruel and unnatural singular!

Very well, for personal reasons only (I studied the work as a set text with this recording when I was in my waldorf salad days) - Sibelius, Symphony No 3; BSO.

[Rolmill]

For me, the Marriage of Figaro recording with Mirella Freni, Jessye Norman et al is number one - it was the first opera recording I ever owned and, indeed, my introduction to the world of opera; still love it, a wonderful ensemble performance.

Like others, Les Troyens (LSO Live version in my case) is high up the list, as are Sibelius symphonies (I have the RCA set, particularly like the Kullervo), Haydn London symphonies and the LSO Live set of Elgar symphonies (slightly dry recordings though). I have the Falstaff and think it is very good - great sense of fun and (like the M of F) the impression of a cast working together and enjoying themselves (terrific playing from the LSO too).

The first LP I ever bought was of Sir Colin conducting the Sinfonia of London in overtures (Fidelio, Hebrides) and orchestral works (Siegfried Idyll and Haydn Variations) on CfP - I'm looking at the cover now, a very pensive looking Sir CD circa 1961.

[BeethovensQuill]

I really enjoy his recording of Mendelssohn's 3rd and 5th Symphonies on Profil, i havent heard the 3rd done better, in the way that he moulds the score.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

There's an "LSOLive" recording of Falstaff which I haven't heard, but which got very high praise when it came out: perhaps IGI can comment?

I see LHC has done it for me with reference to Sir Colin's LSO Live Otello, a performance which I also attended:

There is an interesting review of the LSO Otello performances at Opera Britannia:

http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172:otello-the-barbican-3rd-december-2009&catid=8:opera-reviews&Itemid=16

As is acknowledged in the review, the casting is not at all Italianate, and Simon O'Neill had to sight-read some of the ensemble parts, never having sung Otello before, but the performance as a whole was overwhelming. The recording will never be a BaL choice, but its certainly worth hearing. The review also mentions Sir Colin's superb performance of the Requiem and of Falstaff with the LSO and also confirms that he never seemed entirely comfortable with Verdi while at the Opera House.

In addition to the LSO recordings, Sir Colin also recorded Un Ballo in Maschera and Il Trovatore with Jose Carrerras for Philips.

No, Verdi was never Sir Colin's 'bag' in the studio - that Philips Ballo is particularly undramatic (ironically, I reviewed the reissue for May's IRR) - but that Otello was thrilling. As my colleague wrote:

'Over it all presided Sir Colin, now, at 82, more evidently in absolute control of such a gigantic, protean score as this than ever before, shaping the emotional arc with unerring exactitude, unleashing truly terrifying levels of dynamic violence where needed, and infusing the whole opera with unmistakeable theatrical power and emotional intensity. Given how he used to conduct Verdi, I don’t know how this has happened, but I’m very, very happy that it has. His own orchestra – hard to think of the LSO as being anybody’s else’s, Gergiev notwithstanding – responded like souls possessed, and played even out of their normal, elevated mode of execution, verging on the demented (a term of high critical approval in these quarters). And the 130-strong chorus just about tested the Barbican’s shallow-bore, low head-room acoustic to near-destruction. I think the Hall’s ushers are still scraping people’s belongings, and quite possibly some actual people, off the various back walls….'

[AjAjAjH]

I've mentioned a few of my favourites on the Colin Davis RIP thread. Here they are again with the Bruckner added.

For me his Bruckner 6 is the only Bruckner 6 to listen to.
I love his Smetana 'Ma Vlast'.
His Dvorak 6-9 are a treasure.
But for me his best recording is his LSO live Sibelius 'Kullervo'.

[visualnickmos]

I'm going to sound like a complete ignoramus, but is Berlioz's Requiem, the same piece as sometimes entitled Grande Messe des Morts?

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm going to sound like a complete ignoramus, but is Berlioz's Requiem, the same piece as sometimes entitled Grande Messe des Morts?

Yes - see here (but much better read Berlioz Memoirs about the first performance)

[silvestrione]

What amazes me is that his recordings (and live performances) were never dull - they always seemed to have such a fresh, live quality about them. As I type I am transferring a 1965 tape of Colin Davis conducting the LSO in Tippett's marvellous Concerto for Double String Orchestra (RFH Commonwealth Arts Festival) - tremendous drive and energy! Did he never record it commercially?

Alas no...probably because the Mariner/Academy recording was successful, and the Barshai/Bath Festival O. well regarded too.

I was never sure why, as Colin Davis led the first performance of The Mask of Time, Andrew Davis made the recording...was Colin Davis lukewarm about the work, I wonder?

[visualnickmos]

Hello Richard T

Many thanks for your reply, and the useful link/info.

Nick

[Petrushka]

All the RCO Haydns (82, 83, 88, 93-104). Was there really an 86?

Yes. The Haydn 86 was coupled with No 98 on LP - it's before me as I write - but as far as I know it has never been transferred to CD, possibly because there was no available coupling for a CD issue. It's the best performance of it I've heard. All of his Haydn synphonies recordings would make a delightful box.

[Petrushka]

Ah, yes; I hadn't noticed that cruel and unnatural singular!

Neither had I until I just read your post! Please, as was my intention, nominate as many of Sir Colin's recordings as you wish!!

[jayne lee wilson]

I really enjoy his recording of Mendelssohn's 3rd and 5th Symphonies on Profil, i havent heard the 3rd done better, in the way that he moulds the score.

Gosh yes, I'd forgotten the Profil Dresden series, that's a superb CD! As are the Schubert 9 and the glorious Tippett Child of Our Time...(more expansive sound than the LSO one).