BaL 24.05.14: Beethoven Symphony no. 2 in D

[verismissimo]

Did you see this from another thread, Pet?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R1TJMOK4UK4ZUW

Lots of B cycles reviewed. Somewhat 'safe' conclusions, IMO.

[Thropplenoggin]

Did you see this from another thread, Pet?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R1TJMOK4UK4ZUW

Lots of B cycles reviewed. Somewhat 'safe' conclusions, IMO.

A decent overview, but not a single Jochum cycle mentioned.

[Bryn]

As often on here, a thread has prompted me to go back to a work I haven't played for a while. I've just played Manchester Camerata/Douglas Boyd, which I remembered was the favourite from my shelves.

Having ordered it as one of the many 1p amazon marketplace item, that disc of 'live' 2 and 5 arrived today. It is currently spinning here and I hear just why it might be a favourite which should not spend too much of its time on the shelf. Thanks for alerting me to it.

[amateur51]

The latter with its French accent!

[Barbirollians]

I hate these twofers .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I hate these twofers .

Twofers I can cope with, it's these 100plussers that are the issue for me.

[verismissimo]

Twofers I can cope with, it's these 100plussers that are the issue for me.

Only 121 versions, Alpie. No problem!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My first recording of this work was a Mercury recording, issued in the UK by Philips, with the Detroit SO conducted by Paul Paray. I don't remember much about the performance, but I recall just how acoustically dead the recording was, and buying the Decca Schmidt-Isserstedt recording a few years later was a revelation.

The LP layout was interesting, with the first 3 movements of no. 2 on side 1' turning over the record for the finale plus the entire first symphony.

[mikealdren]

Another discussion rather than a review, do they really know what their audience likes? If it wasn't for Rob Cowan, I wouldn't bother listening.

Mike

[Bryn]

Basel Chamber Orchestra, Giovanni Autonini

Umm.

[visualnickmos]

Alpen - your lists are a work of genius and utmost patience!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Umm.

Fair enough.

[richardfinegold]

Alpen - your lists are a work of genius and utmost patience!

I counted about 9 versions in there that I have owned at one time or another. There must be another half dozen in my collection that didn't make the list, but I'd probably agree with their exclusion, with one exception, and that would be Krips/LSO. It was my first exposure to the work, and while I won't claim it's the greatest ever I still enjoy it.
Regarding the Paray/Detroit recording, I know that Pristine has remastered some of those recordings but I am not sure if Beethoven 2 got the treatment.
Of the ones on the list that I am familiar with, I'd give the nod to Szell/Cleveland, which by coincidence I was just listening to in my car right before I read this thread. My seconds would be Herreweghe and Hogwood.
I think we just had a thread on this work that was started by Petrushka.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sadly the Furtwangler recording is very poor with dropouts. Whereas there are several versions of his other a beethoven symphonies, only on has survived of number 2.

[Bryn]

Fair enough.

Well it's prompted me to give it a spin, after the mono Hungarian's Op. 130/133 I am currently much enjoying, that is.

[Hmm. The Antonini Beethoven 1 and 2 SACD will have to wait. I appear to have misfiled it an am in no mood to go searching at the moment.]