BaL 19.04.14 - Nielsen: Symphony no. 2

[reinerfan]

There are a couple more versions which are available. The Royal Liverpool P.O. conducted by Bostock, together with all the other Nielsen Symphonies and some orchestral works, in a Membran 10 CD box, and the Tivoli Concert S.O. conducted by Garaguly (one of my favourites) coupled with an excellent Symphony No.4 conducted by Markevitch on Bearac Reissues, available via their web site. I do like the Gould as well!

[BBMmk2]

Has the Eugene Ormandy/Philedelphia cycle been deleted, then on Sony?

[HighlandDougie]

Somewhat confusingly, the Nielsen symphony cycle released by Sony/Columbia is an amalgam of performances split between Ormandy (Nos 1 and 6 - very good they are too) and Bernstein (2, 3, 4 and 5). As far as I know, those are the only LP-era performances of Nielsen symphonies recorded by Ormandy.

[Barbirollians]

Lenny's No 2 has had a bad press unlike his 3 and 5 for example .

[BBMmk2]

Somewhat confusingly, the Nielsen symphony cycle released by Sony/Columbia is an amalgam of performances split between Ormandy (Nos 1 and 6 - very good they are too) and Bernstein (2, 3, 4 and 5). As far as I know, those are the only LP-era performances of Nielsen symphonies recorded by Ormandy.

Oh, I must have another look then! thanks HD!

[kea]

Hmm. From A/B comparing Schønwandt (I don't know why NML doesn't bother with 'foreign' characters) and Blomstedt I think I like Blomstedt better in the first two movements, and Schønwandt better in the last two.

Starting to see why this Building A Library thing caught on. >.>

[visualnickmos]

I acquired the Blomstedt San Francisco Decca set many years ago (stunningly designed box set with beautiful images by the brilliant illustrator, Liz Pyle) and then much later the EMI Blomstedt(!) set.

They are both excellent - possibly the benchmarks? When I listen to either of them, I honestly can't imagine how they could be improved. The perfect recordings. Therefore I almost certainly will not augment my Nielsen symphonies, but I am looking forward to BaL.

[Beef Oven!]

I acquired the Blomstedt San Francisco Decca set many years ago (stunningly designed box set with beautiful images by the brilliant illustrator, Liz Pyle) and then much later the EMI Blomstedt(!) set.

They are both excellent - possibly the benchmarks? When I listen to either of them, I honestly can't imagine how they could be improved. The perfect recordings. Therefore I almost certainly will not augment my Nielsen symphonies, but I am looking forward to BaL.

Agreed.

I also bought Blomstedt yonks ago and I can't see me needing anything else. But, I 'lost' the CD containing 1&6 somehow, and replaced it with a Dacapo Schonwandt issue because it was going for £1.60!

Around the time I bought the Blomstedt, I attended Simon Rattle's cycle with the CBSO at the Barbican (1992?). The best thing I've seen him do, and I've been to many SR gigs.

There was also a splendid version, IMHO, that came free with the BBC Magazine around the same time.

Maybe it's about time I replaced my 'lost' Blomstedt 1&6

And by the by, #2 is my favourite CN symphony by a metric mile.

[visualnickmos]

Maybe it's about time I replaced my 'lost' Blomstedt 1&6

There yer go!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nielsen-Symphonies-Nos-1-San-Francisco/dp/B00000E440/ref=sr_1_8?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1397390636&sr=1-8&keywords=blomstedt+nielsen

[Beef Oven!]

There yer go!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nielsen-Symp...mstedt+nielsen

Think I might wait until the price goes easy

[slarty]

As far a i can ascertain the Stokowski DVD and the audio Nielsen 2 on the Stokowski Great conductors of the Century CD issue are the same performance.
Can anyone verify this? I only have the GCOC CDs.

[jayne lee wilson]

Part of the problem with BaL is that it can deify a given recording (Blomstedt, say) and leave others with great character and individuality unheard by some who might enjoy them. Gould's CSO 4 Temperaments is a classic case. Now there are so many cheap CDs (and even cheaper downloads if you can tolerate them...) I feel it's almost a misconception to look for a best recording, or even 2 or 3 of them. The more different approaches you hear, the more you understand the piece itself. I'm glad kea praised the Schonwandt, the original da capo of 2/3 was the best of that cycle and very good indeed. Beautifully recorded too.

Again Ole Schmidt and the LSO aren't the most disciplined or refined (though I think criticism of it has been very overstated) but what character! Wonderfully bumptious, overblown brass and timpani in the finale, then very dark and deep in the slow episode. Listening to it you think, THIS is how it should go (and Schmidt takes 12'08 for the malincolico but makes it work). The Regis issue has a vividly present acoustic too. (Auger/Hodgson production, Robert Simpson advising, so...)

I haven't played Kuchar or Chung in a while but I recall thinking that the Kuchar sounded rather like Chung, only better...

I hope the reviewer doesn't boringly, predictably choose Blomstedt/SFSO - but if s/he thinks it's the best...? That's the trouble.

[pastoralguy]

Hi Alpine. Please could you add the RSO/ Jack Thomson version on Chandos? Thanks.

[Barbirollians]

Predictable yes - SFSO/Blomstedt - boring never.

[richardfinegold]

sFSO/Blomstedt remains a proper library choice IMO .

I have both the Blomstedt's--not much difference between them that I can recall--and the aforementioned Gilbert, which was poorly recorded and rather dissapointed as an interpretation.