BaL 14.12.24 - Wagner: Siegfried Idyll

[Pulcinella]

Bumping in anticipation of this afternoon's programme.

[Wolfram]

Well did anyone see that coming?

[Pulcinella]

Not me!
She's plumped for Stokowski:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7938397--great-performances-from-the-library-of-congress-vol-7

Available on CD as well as as a download.

[visualnickmos]

Bizarre choice of "winner!" Sounds like Catford bus garage.

[Wolfram]

Bizarre choice of "winner!" Sounds like Catford bus garage.

🤣

To be honest I was taken by both Norrington and the Cologne chamber versions; but not Stokowski I’m afraid. Over the years I’ve come think that those conductors who favour faster tempi in Wagner - Krauss, Bohm, Kubelik, Pappano and Janowski for example - are perhaps closer to what Wagner intended. I’ve heard Norrington’s recording of the Meistersinger overture, like Janowski fast at around 8 1/2 minutes, and find it convincing. Actually looking at the timings, Norrington’s Idyll is not that much faster than the rest. I have invested in Norrington because I think I should hear all the recordings on his disk, and will probably invest in the Cologne chamber players also.

I didn’t include Boulez in the list above because, although he too takes a quick approach, I find his Wagner soulless.

[Petrushka]

Not me!
She's plumped for Stokowski:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7938397--great-performances-from-the-library-of-congress-vol-7

Available on CD as well as as a download.

A lengthy Amazon review is highly complimentary about this disc. He does, however, describe the Siegfried Idyll as 'passionate and lush' but also intimate which would appear to me to be something of a contradiction. It can't be both, surely?

I've not heard the disc but knowing of Stokies liking for 'lush' as well as for retouching and rescoring I'm more inclined to be wary.

[Alison]

Quite pleasing to see an old recording win, confounding my theory about ‘fashionable’ choices on this occasion anyway.

[Barbirollians]

Quite pleasing to see an old recording win, confounding my theory about ‘fashionable’ choices on this occasion anyway.

Look forward to hearing this - Gillian Moore has form for this resolutely choosing Bruno Walter's Mahler 1.

[Barbirollians]

I liked the recent Koln recording - Norrington's vibrato free effort was what he thought Wagner ought to have done rather than did . Stoky was fascinating but I am sorry that the Haitink and Boult were left out.

[visualnickmos]

🤣

To be honest I was taken by both Norrington and the Cologne chamber versions; but not Stokowski I’m afraid.....

Yes, I too was very taken with both Norrington and Koln. Stokowski really didn't cut it for me - playing and dreadful 'sound quality'

[Goon525]

The sound quality alone shoukd have been enough to disqualify it as a Library choice, however enjoyable it might be. I liked the ASMF/Marriner more than I’d expected.