Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances: Last note!

[Parry1912]

Ormandy stifles the tam-tam.

As can be heard here

[PJPJ]

Janson's RCO recording kind of solves the problem for me, as it's one of earlier RCO Live issues, where they kept the applause.

What happens is that we get the laisser vibrer on the final tam-tam (not gong!) stroke (as on Jansons' EMI recording) but in fact the audience is in well before this finishes; I don't normally like that in a live recording (or the "football-crowd" cheer that you get at the Proms for any old performance of something with a grandstand finish) but there is the odd occasion when it works. My personal preference is for the stopped final note, but with enough "splash" for a slight overhang.

Sitting there waiting for the laisser vibrer to finish on a recording does feel rather daft.

I guess those who started applauding could no longer hear it. I do have this recording and would have preferred the laissez vibrer and no applause, but that would have involved patching.

What feels more daft to me is the abrupt cut-off in other performances and recordings.

[Barbirollians]

Inspired by this thread I bought a second hand copy of the Ormandy which comes rather oddly coupled with Gaite Parisienne and three dances from the Bartered Bride .

A very enjoyable account of the Symphonic Dances though.The stifled tam tam sounds convincing to me .

[Stanfordian]

Inspired by this thread I bought a second hand copy of the Ormandy which comes rather oddly coupled with Gaite Parisienne and three dances from the Bartered Bride .

A very enjoyable account of the Symphonic Dances though.The stifled tam tam sounds convincing to me .

Hiya Barbirollians,

I fully agree the performance of the Symphonic Dances by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandyis quite superb.

[Barbirollians]

It is mesmerising. Straight to the top of the list for me . Gosh those lovely Philadelphia strings are so perfect for this music.

His Rachmaninov symphony recordings have terrific sweep too though there are the old cuts .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

His Rachmaninov symphony recordings have terrific sweep too though there are the old cuts .

Ormandy re-recorded the complete Second Symphony for RCA in the mid-'70s - the first recording I ever bought of the work.

[gradus]

The performance by Jurowski/LPO that I attended had the tam tam played successively louder on each of the three strokes and allowed to sound at the end, the whole effect was as Rachmaninov must have intended - Electrifying.

[Ferretfancy]

I enjoy the Ormandy performance of the Symphonic Dances, but to my mind nobody has bettered the Moscow PO performance with Kondrashin which I still have on LP.
The Melodiya recording is very typical of its time, with a lovely 'empty dance hall " sound for the saxophone in the first movement and wonderfully impassioned playing throughout. I don't think this performance is available on CD. The LP has the Three Russian Songs as a coupling, another sizzling performance of a work that is little heard.

[vibratoforever]

I have a Melodiya CD from 2005 with Kondrashin and Moscow PO with Symphonic Dances and The Bells, and I would not be without it. My favourite however is Svetlanov's 1995 version - no tam tam at the end as described in other versions - but it has a superb recording and playing. Svetlanov claimed the work was his favourite by any composer and it shows.

[Ferretfancy]

I have a Melodiya CD from 2005 with Kondrashin and Moscow PO with Symphonic Dances and The Bells, and I would not be without it. My favourite however is Svetlanov's 1995 version - no tam tam at the end as described in other versions - but it has a superb recording and playing. Svetlanov claimed the work was his favourite by any composer and it shows.

vibratoforever

You devil! Now I've found it and ordered, but I'll have to get the Svetlanov as well !

It's a small pity that the coupling presumably doesn't have room for the Russian songs, but I expect I'll find them somewhere, and The Bells will make up for that, thanks for the info!
Bws Ferret

[Ferretfancy]

I have a Melodiya CD from 2005 with Kondrashin and Moscow PO with Symphonic Dances and The Bells, and I would not be without it. My favourite however is Svetlanov's 1995 version - no tam tam at the end as described in other versions - but it has a superb recording and playing. Svetlanov claimed the work was his favourite by any composer and it shows.

vibratoforever

You devil! Now I've found it and ordered, but I'll have to get the Svetlanov as well !

It's a small pity that the coupling presumably doesn't have room for the Russian songs, but I expect I'll find them somewhere, and The Bells will make up for that, thanks for the info!
Bws Ferret