BaL 19.04.14 - Nielsen: Symphony no. 2

[jayne lee wilson]

A little bird said something in post no.27...

Edashtav... my first live experience of Nielsen was also with Ole Schmidt - No.4 with the RLPO on 28 March 1978, somehow I've just found the programme! I'd probably only attended half-a-dozen concerts in my life by then...

Pretty formative evening, obviously!

Memory jogged, I recall borrowing the original hefty box of the Nielsen/Schmidt LSO cycle from the local library... but the LPs were in less-than-perfect condition and the murky sound that emerged from the Pioneer PL-12D soon put me off. They went back largely unplayed...

[seabright]

I only caught part of BAL, so will catch up later on the iPlayer, but did he mention the splendid Morton Gould / Chicago SO recording? ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Nielsen%20Morton%20Gould%20Symphony%202

[visualnickmos]

A very good BaL, but I'm not in a "rush out to buy3" mode. I am more than happy with my Blomstedt/San Francisco set.
Rozhdestvensky's (from the extract played, did indeed, sound pretty dire - unusually for him - normally Mr Fire and Brimstone)

[BBMmk2]

I am very surprised that the Blomstedt did not win the accolade, this week. Such fine performances that a lot of people have bestowed on this recording.

[amateur51]

I am very surprised that the Blomstedt did not win the accolade, this week. Such fine performances that a lot of people have bestowed on this recording.

David Fanning explained quite clearly why he preferred the Ole Schmidt recording.

I don't know this work at all and was delighted by the BaL which has tempted me to get to know it, probably initially via Spotify, where I can probably do my very own BaL, steered by Mr Fanning's comments before making a purchase

[Sir Velo]

Just caught up with the BAL. I agree that David Fanning was a reliable and instructive guide. Nota bene: the Blomstedt was praised for its superlative recording. I seem to recall some on here a while back going on about how the Decca needed urgent "remastering" , and patronisingly brooking no argument.

Oh, and the Gilbert was nowhere.

[BBMmk2]

David Fanning explained quite clearly why he preferred the Ole Schmidt recording.

I don't know this work at all and was delighted by the BaL which has tempted me to get to know it, probably initially via Spotify, where I can probably do my very own BaL, steered by Mr Fanning's comments before making a purchase

I heard the complete recording yesterday morning. Very good it is too, I might add!

[Nick Armstrong]

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....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).

...

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

Well Mr Fanning must have read your excellent post I think, jayne!

Like others, I thought this a model BAL and learnt a lot about a work I know well from the SanFran/Blomstedt recording which I've had for years. I'm up for a different approach to this wonderful piece and am more than tempted by the Schmidt.

What a pity Chung dropped the ball in the slow movement - the first two sounded terrific!