BaL 25.06.22 - Rachmaninov: Symphony no 2

[Nick Armstrong]

The moment has passed ;) But iirc something about the Ashkenazy being my first classical box set and still sounding fine, fair wear and tear excepted.

[Barbirollians]

In his original Gramophone review of the Jansons - David Gutman criticised tweaks to the orchestration involving timpani and cymbals , said they strings were outclassed by Previn’s LSO and disliked some sour clarinet tone . Did any of this get discussed by ES ?

[Nick Armstrong]

In his original Gramophone review of the Jansons - David Gutman criticised tweaks to the orchestration involving timpani and cymbals , said they strings were outclassed by Previn’s LSO and disliked some sour clarinet tone . Did any of this get discussed by ES ?

Nope

[Alison]

In his original Gramophone review of the Jansons - David Gutman criticised tweaks to the orchestration involving timpani and cymbals , said they strings were outclassed by Previn’s LSO and disliked some sour clarinet tone . Did any of this get discussed by ES ?

I really like David Gutman’s reviews, tries to see where a performer is coming from. One dimensional is Ed Seckerson by comparison.

[Lordgeous]

One of my favourite BAL reviewers is the DON. His 'forensic' ears amazingly spot wrong notes, wrong entries, wrong octaves etc that I struggle to hear! But above all its his sheer enthusiasm that wins me over.

[Cockney Sparrow]

One of my favourite BAL reviewers is the DON. His 'forensic' ears amazingly spot wrong notes, wrong entries, wrong octaves etc that I struggle to hear! But above all its his sheer enthusiasm that wins me over.

+1

[Ein Heldenleben]

In his original Gramophone review of the Jansons - David Gutman criticised tweaks to the orchestration involving timpani and cymbals , said they strings were outclassed by Previn’s LSO and disliked some sour clarinet tone . Did any of this get discussed by ES ?

I find reviews where they concentrate on details like that much more useful than vague phrases like “majestic , sweeping , passionate , intense” etc. I like Jack Brymer’s clarinet sound. I prefer it to the thin reedy sound favoured by most modern clarinetists. I like the string sound of Ormandy’s Philadelphia (and indeed Previn’s LSO). And in the end an important part of the experience are these details.
On the other hand I don’t have DON’s preoccupation with performing oddities . For example in the Kempff complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas there are several double key strikes . It just doesn’t worry me.

[gradus]

DON's forensic hearing picks up things that pass me by, although I 've never heard anything identified by him that made the slightest difference to my enjoyment of a performance

[ucanseetheend]

In his original Gramophone review of the Jansons - David Gutman criticised tweaks to the orchestration involving timpani and cymbals , said they strings were outclassed by Previn’s LSO and disliked some sour clarinet tone . Did any of this get discussed by ES ?

Well , would be a long BaL if the reviewer discussed the opinions of other reviewers

[Barbirollians]

Well , would be a long BaL if the reviewer discussed the opinions of other reviewers

As ES can be a stickler for following the composer’s indications I thought that Jansons making changes to the score might have warranted a mention .

[Ein Heldenleben]

Inexcusably excluded from this BAL Svetlanov finally gets his recognition from the quite excellent Marina Frolova-Walker as one of her Five essential Rachmaninov recordings. It’s the USSR state symphony recording - despite the “recorded -in -the -Moscow -Metro “ sound it’s so much more exciting than Jansons. The dynamic detail he gets in ….

[Barbirollians]

Isn't it badly cut according to Svetlanov.

I find the review rather odd as every example showed the Previn sweeping the floor with the Jansons which sounded rather loud and coarse in comparison to me .Then again I much preferred Jansons First to the Previn which was a bit of a flop to my ears compared to all his other LSO Rachmaninov recordings.

I should like to hear the uncut Ormandy judging by the extracts - as I recall it was often regarded as much less exciting than his cut version by David Gutman in his Gramophone Collection for a start.

[smittims]

In my opinion Ormandy's 1975 RCA complete Rach 2 is superb. I prefer it even to the fine Previn which came out shortly before; both conductors recorded the cut version in the 1960s.

[gradus]

That's the one I have and I've never felt the need to buy another.

[Barbirollians]

That's the one I have and I've never felt the need to buy another.

Gosh I would get a copy of the Previn to supplement it . Its fabulous . I have found a cheap RCA CD of the uncut Ormandy online and look forward to its arrival.