BaL 2.06.18 - Schumann: Symphony no. 4 in D minor

[verismissimo]

The "runner-up" was Harnoncourt's recording of the 1841 version.

I've decided to order Dausgaard following Jayne's enthusiasm. Was he considered?

[Beef Oven!]

The "runner-up" was Harnoncourt's recording of the 1841 version.

For the 1841 I'll be sticking with JEG.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've decided to order Dausgaard following Jayne's enthusiasm. Was he considered?

Depends how you "translate" the word "considered", verissmi - Dausgaard, Ticciati, and Nézet-Séguin were all dismissed as being (and I paraphrase, I hope not exaggeratedly so) too "lightweight" for Mellor's taste. (IIRC, the Dausgaard was his preferred version of those three.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

For the 1841 I'll be sticking with JEG.

Yes - to my surprise, the JEGgers recording was the only one that stood out for me for the 1841 version. The excerpts from the other recordings of this version only made me feel even more strongly that the later revision is so much a better work that I don't really want to hear 1841 again, except as an academic exercise.

[Barbirollians]

Yes - to my surprise, the JEGgers recording was the only one that stood out for me for the 1841 version. The excerpts from the other recordings of this version only made me feel even more strongly that the later revision is so much a better work that I don't really want to hear 1841 again, except as an academic exercise.

I rather liked the Harnoncourt a conductor who I tend not to get on with in Mozart and Beethoven. Indeed,so much that I have ordered it .

Furtwangler was praised but given rather cursory treatment .

Agree about the impressive winner.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes - to my surprise, the JEGgers recording was the only one that stood out for me for the 1841 version.

In fact, I liked it so much, I've just ordered it!

[Beef Oven!]

Yes - to my surprise, the JEGgers recording was the only one that stood out for me for the 1841 version. The excerpts from the other recordings of this version only made me feel even more strongly that the later revision is so much a better work that I don't really want to hear 1841 again, except as an academic exercise.

I'm not sufficiently familiar with the 1841 to draw any conclusions myself. Interesting to hear that Brahms thought it superior to the later version!

[Beef Oven!]

In fact, I liked it so much, I've just ordered it!

Better than wasting your money on things like food, clothes etc

[visualnickmos]

- there was a much more useful and informative BaL in there trying to get out.

I'd never heard the Barenboim before, either - pretty damn fine. I sha'n't be bothering with Rattle or Harnoncourt.

Same - although I should perhaps try and listen to a bit more of the Harnoncourt; I am 90% dismissive of his recording, as I write. I did not like any of the extracts of JEG one iota. I found the effect was like being in a car driven by someone who has trouble pulling away smoothly. Jarring, in the extreme. Most irritating, to my ears.
Karajan - well, if you can't get enough HvK, go ahead. Just too 'lax' for my liking.
Haitink - very well-worth further investigation.
Zinman - yes, a real bounce and a bit of swagger, I thought. Very much to my taste.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Furtwangler was praised but given rather cursory treatment

I felt it was a bit more than "rather cursory", (Mellor's comments were presented in very considered terms) but I do think that it could have featured more!

I was impressed by the number of recordings that were illustrated - the Cantelli! Wow! I didn't even know that this existed! (The closest in reading to the Leinsdorf recording that wasn't mentioned - but which is galaxies better than

[richardfinegold]

You must stop inflicting this sort of thing on yourself, vibratoforever. Or find a new name.

Well, at least he or she wears their preferences on their sleeve. I listened to the Furtwangler/BPO studio recording on Apple yesterday and was really enthralled. The recording that I had been listening to the most over the past year or so was Dausgaard, and since I no longer read liner notes, I didn’t realize it was an earlier edition of the piece; I had just thought that’s effects were due to reduced forces, lack of vibrato, etc. I have Szell, Kubelik, and Barenboim as well but it will be Furtwangler or Dausgaard that I turn to for complementary approaches to the work from now on

[zola]

Mellor's comments were presented in very considered terms

Since someone called Mellors has been mentioned twice now, I think for the sake of accuracy, it should be noted that the reviewer in today's Building a Library was William Mival.

[richardfinegold]

I enjoyed it very much too - excellent presentation. I think BaL is the best thing R3 does! But I realise that's a very narrow viewpoint!

First time hearing Barenboim in Schumann for me too and I loved what I heard. I must make sure that I tune in when it's played in full (Monday?).

The Barenboim cycle is very well recorded and what is fascinating to me is the sound of the Orchestra, a very Central European sonority. After years of hearing DB conduct the very different sounding CSO it leaves me wondering what DB’s views are to as to how an Orchestra should sound. His idol, Furtwangler, seemed to make different Orchestras have similar characteristics. Certainly Stowkowski and Toscanini would do the same wherever they worked. DB just seems to nibble around the edges in terms of shaping Orchestral Sound

[BBMmk2]

I think I’ll be getting the JEGGERS and Barenboim. Soil ded very good indeed. There again though, I like the chamber orchestras too!

[Beef Oven!]

The Barenboim cycle is very well recorded and what is fascinating to me is the sound of the Orchestra, a very Central European sonority. After years of hearing DB conduct the very different sounding CSO it leaves me wondering what DB’s views are to as to how an Orchestra should sound. His idol, Furtwangler, seemed to make different Orchestras have similar characteristics. Certainly Stowkowski and Toscanini would do the same wherever they worked. DB just seems to nibble around the edges in terms of shaping Orchestral Sound

I really could do without buying any more music and I've plenty of Schumann symphonies to be getting on with. But, it's only £15.99 for 1-4 as a download from Qobuz. I shall give it some thought.

Coincidentally, I have Barenboim's Bruckner CSO on this month's playlist. Over the last few years it's been his BPO & Staatskapelle Berlin and I've kinda neglected the Chicago ....