BaL 27.12.14 - Schubert: Symphony no. 8 in B minor

[vibratoforever]

... I certainly hope so; it would seem the kindest thing to do.

What an intelligent contribution to the thread.

The loss is entirely yours.

[vibratoforever]

Well it would not do to have your views challenged by the likes of de Souza, would it?

Far more relevant than listening to De Souza (who?) is to be challenged by listening to a complete performance which Barbirollians has clearly done. Nothing more needs to be said. He has given his verdict.

[Bryn]

Far more relevant than listening to De Souza (who?) is to be challenged by listening to a complete performance which Barbirollians has clearly done. ...

But equally clearly not to this BaL. Chris de Souza, on the other hand, listened to many recordings of the work in question when preparing for the programme. His verdict was indeed given, based on that informed listening.

[BBMmk2]

You are making my case for me very well indeed! By the way, I wonder if M. Vinteuil has thrown out all of his 'traditional' recordings?

I always think there is room for all three different approaches, from Baroque to modern.

[Bryn]

I always think there is room for all three different approaches, from Baroque to modern.

Not too sure I would get on with a Baroque approach to Schubert's B minor Symphony. That would be a bit like a 19th century romantic approach to Cage or Stockhausen.

[visualnickmos]

I actually quite like Solti's VPO - yes - with it's long phrases(!) which was thrown in the bin by Mr de Souza for that very reason.....

I found that quite an engaging aspect of this version. But what do I know?

[verismissimo]

... There might be a period in which "traditional" orchestras might avoid repertoire which the think they would perform " wrongly". But even if this were the case, the tide will turn...

You'd think from recent posts that the tide had turned decisively towards HIP recommendations, but recently...

Bruckner 7 - Concertgebouw/Haitink
Chopin Preludes - Gulda
Brahms Piano Quartet 1 - Capucons etc

And all those previous Abbado choices.

[Roehre]

You'd think from recent posts that the tide had turned decisively towards HIP recommendations, but recently...

Bruckner 7 - Concertgebouw/Haitink
Chopin Preludes - Gulda
Brahms Piano Quartet 1 - Capucons etc

And all those previous Abbado choices.

As I said: there might be...
and: the Concertgebouw orchestra in Haitink's 1966 Bruckner 7 is smaller/leaner than in either van Beinum's 5 or 9 from a decade earlier

[cloughie]

As I said: there might be...
and: the Concertgebouw orchestra in Haitink's 1966 Bruckner 7 is smaller/leaner than in either van Beinum's 5 or 9 from a decade earlier

Maybe that was CAO austerity or not enough musicians available!

...and were not Abbado's later recordings more than a little HIPP?

[Barbirollians]

When the destination is so unattractive I have decided not to bother with the journey !

[jayne lee wilson]

Jon Swain's 12/90 Gramophone review of the LCP/Norrington was fairly negative about it, the 1st movement especially; redeemed a little by some lovely playing in the andante. He felt that this 8th was "an opportunity missed" after what he described as a "revelatory" Great C Major...

My own experience of Norrington's Schubert is limited to the SWR 4th and 6th, which I found outstanding: plenty of weight and warmth, and a lovely springy resilience to the rhythms. Excellent sound as usual from that source.
In his 7/2013 review of the later SWR 8th, RO found it "weightier and more imposing" than the LCP one, with "a powerful sense of tragic inevitability". But he still felt the pulse of the 2 movements was too similar for them to make their fullest expressive effect ("the old problem of two triple-time movements in too similar a pulse"), citing Klemperer as a touchstone.

In the past I've enjoyed the Klemperer (on Toshiba) for its epic grandeur, and Hans Zender with the SWRSO for its keen-eyed analysis & attack. I recall being very impressed with Willem Van Otterloo's stereo one too, with its sharp & dynamic articulation.
I think Dausgaard is marvellous in Schubert 1-6 (1&2 were a very close 2nd in my 2014 Albums of the Year), so I'd expect great things of his 8th.... better go seek out the review...

[Barbirollians]

As ever Mr Swain is spot on - the 9th is good and invigorating - the 8th sounds like a run through

[Alison]

As ever Mr Swain is spot on - the 9th is good and invigorating - the 8th sounds like a run through

Good gen, Jayne. Thanks.

[edashtav]

Good gen, Jayne. Thanks.

It's high time that Jayne appeared in her own BaL. I wonder which work she would choose?

[jayne lee wilson]

Hey ED.....
Warmest greetings on this coldest and darkest of nights... But you know what? It's past 0200, so it's time for a hot toddy, tweed coat, torch and wellies - those bird feeders need topping up for the dawn...

So I'll take a rain check, or maybe a frost check, on that one...