BaL 23.09.17 - Franck: Symphony in D minor

[Cockney Sparrow]

Byvhkov's recording is getting a lot of approval.....”showing his faith in Franck's score.......". Bernstein also appreciated, as is Mengelberg.

[Cockney Sparrow]

As to Monteux - a choice for many over the years - IIIRC "perhaps because he offends the least....."

[edashtav]

I was impressed by Semyon Bychkov's interpretation but unsurprised since I've found him to be one of today's outstanding conductors of romantic and late romantic music. Mengelberg's early 78's seem unsurpassable. M.E. brings a fresh intelligence and sensitive ears to his B.A.L. comparisons. Yet another example of the best of R.3.

[ardcarp]

I just knew a lot of reference would be made during the review about Franck as an organist, i.e. his use of the orchestra to reproduce organ colours. May I offer an alternative view? Organ builders and organists in the late 19th century tried terribly hard to reproduce orchestral sounds on their instruments. Many recitals included transcriptions of orchestral works. I'm sure Franck was wholly imbued with orchestral colours and textures, so the organ/orchestra thing was two-way. IMVHO that is.

[DracoM]

Well..............I fear that BAL persuaded me that this is a pretty dull piece of music. Sorry. I tried, I really did...........

[Barbirollians]

As to Monteux - a choice for many over the years - IIIRC "perhaps because he offends the least....."

Jonathan Swain hardly falls into the category of reviewer who would take such an approach to reviewing - I would much rather have heard him do this BAL than the current reviewer .

[Barbirollians]

Well..............I fear that BAL persuaded me that this is a pretty dull piece of music. Sorry. I tried, I really did...........

Listen to the Monteux and you might be inoffensively surprised .

[Alison]

Well..............I fear that BAL persuaded me that this is a pretty dull piece of music. Sorry. I tried, I really did...........

On the contrary I found it a dull review of a rather wonderful symphony that has fallen out of fashion.

I'm happy with BBCPO/Tortelier.

[Pulcinella]

Well..............I fear that BAL persuaded me that this is a pretty dull piece of music. Sorry. I tried, I really did...........

I'm afraid I didn't even bother to listen, as it's not a work of great appeal to me.
At least the (commercial) version I have is by the same orchestra that 'won': but the Barenboim version, as the coupling to his Saint-Saens organ symphony.

Listen to the Monteux and you might be inoffensively surprised .

That may well be true in my case too, but I'm a little more inclined to listen to my copy of the BBC MM CD (the recording that ferney binned) as I'm intrigued to find out just how awful it can be.

[Alison]

Jonathan Swain hardly falls into the category of reviewer who would take such an approach to reviewing - I would much rather have heard him do this BAL than the current reviewer .

spot on.

[Hornspieler]

I don't know why, but Cesar Frank's music makes my flesh crawl.
From "Le Chaseur Maudit" to his "Symphonic Variations, I find the "French Style" of music making and performance irksome",

I can admire the craftsmanship, but I don't like the result.

It's like Listening to Catherine Jenkins, accompanied by Andre Rieu, on the Sky Arts TV Channel.
Sorry folks. I realise that I am probably in the minority here, so "What's not to like?".

Enjoy

HS

[Darkbloom]

Jonathan Swain hardly falls into the category of reviewer who would take such an approach to reviewing - I would much rather have heard him do this BAL than the current reviewer .

Agreed. He's really excellent. Even if it's a work I'm not that interested in, I will usually end up with a new appreciation of it. That used to be the norm for BAL, but these days it seems to be the exception.

[pastoralguy]

Much as I'd love to hear this, I'm not going to buy a 51 cd set to obtain it. I'll keep looking in charity shops.

[vinteuil]

Much as I'd love to hear this, I'm not going to buy a 51 cd set to obtain it. I'll keep looking in charity shops.

... only 21 CDs necessary, I think -

http://amzn.eu/7B3BX0u

,

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4826331

[pastoralguy]

... only 21 CDs necessary, I think -

http://amzn.eu/7B3BX0u

,
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4826331

Ah! I'm sure he said a 51 cd set!

Actually, that's quite a bargain. And Christmas is coming...