BaL 9.07.22 - Walton: Symphony no. 1

[Alison]

Rather like the Rach 2 we don’t need this covered again especially with a lack of new recordings (if I am not mistaken).

[Wolfram]

Just realised I have that CD (while looking for the Bryden Thomson CD). I remember I bought it for the Belshazzar, not the symphony. Great disc.

It seems that, as of this Friday, the Rattle is available as a download from Presto.

[Goon525]

It seems that, as of this Friday, the Rattle is available as a download from Presto.

And is now being played.

[Barbirollians]

Rather like the Rach 2 we don’t need this covered again especially with a lack of new recordings (if I am not mistaken).

Typical BAL laziness - lots of 10 years ago BALs being done again whilst many works have either never been done or have not been done for a generation.

[Master Jacques]

Of the classic Previn: "whether it sustains ... throughout the whole symphony is a moot point".

I think you've just lost 90% of your audience, Tom!

[Bryn]

Very glad to see Slatkin getting the praise he deserves here –his is a terrific Walton 1. Others I have and rate highly include:

Boult LPO (FSM)
Boult BBCSO (Carlton)
Daniel (Naxos)
Gibson (Chandos)
Haitink (EMI)
Harty (Decca/Dutton, very special and important)
Karabits (Onyx)
Litton (Decca – under-rated? I like it a lot)
Mackerras (Eminence)
Previn LSO (RCA)
Previn RPO (Telarc)
Walton himself (EMI, mono)

I also have a live (unpublished) Mackerras/Chicago SO performance from 1978 which is pretty stunning, as might be expected.

Of these, I hope it doesn't sound contrary to say that Previn/LSO is not the one I reach for first...good as it is.

Ones I've had but not kept: Handley, Thomson, Ashkenazy, Colin Davis, Frémaux, Rattle. Gardner, Brabbins and Sargent. Of these, for me the last two are actual duds (one sleepy, the other lumpy), Rattle seems to hang fire and Davis is weirdly recorded and ultimately disappointing. To my ears, the others don't quite have the character or energy of the best, but that's always going to be a personal reaction (clearly Ashkenazy has his supporters, but his Walton doesn't grab me as it clearly does others here).

What. no Karajan, cut as it is.

[RobP]

Good lord, Service sounds as though he is on Speed, so as ever with this man the words just gush out, although thankfully we are largely, if not completely, spared the pretentious nonsense you get from him in his Guardian feature articles.

[Barbirollians]

Previn’ excerpts seem to me to be just showing how it remains at the top of the pile . I have it - Rattle,Harty ( on cassette ),Haitink and Gardner. This review not making me feel the need for any more - as for Service and McGregor’s comments on the finale in Previn’s recording - what a pile of ****

[Ein Heldenleben]

A propos of nothing in particular. Is there any other twentieth century symphony whose opening so conspicuously couldn’t be anything other than a symphony? Or one that gives such a prominent ( and wonderful) role to the oboe ?

[DracoM]

Service is a totally impossible presence to follow on ANY live programme, let alone one with subtleties and attention to detail needed.
This was a broadcasting mess and mistake.

[Master Jacques]

Previn’ excerpts seem to me to be just showing how it remains at the top of the pile . I have it - Rattle,Harty ( on cassette ),Haitink and Gardner. This review not making me feel the need for any more - as for Service and McGregor’s comments on the finale in Previn’s recording - what a pile of ****

You put it very neatly.

Mr Service needs a break, I think: he's become predictable, and if there is an iconic recording to diss he makes sure he disses it, even where (as here) for anyone with ears to hear, the superiority of that recording is palpable. The Previn/LSO disc hasn't been hailed as one of the great recordings for nothing, as even the excerpts he trashed showed quite plainly. It's superior music making, way above the perfectly decent, workmanlike job Rattle does with the work.

In this case, Service's crass misunderstanding of the work stemmed from his dismissal of *what the composer himself said about it*, with the result that he preferred performances determined to emote (or gush) rather than those which simply present the work cleanly and clearly. He was much too concerned to align the piece with 'European Tradition' (whatever that is), Shostakovich et al. to pinpoint what we might be listening for.

I used to think Service's enthusiasm was a breath of fresh air, but these days his flowery didacticism sounds a bit modish, and his judgement is suspect. Oh dear.

[Alison]

I’d have Rattle as no more than a **(*) in Penguin terms. It appeals on first encounter then doesn’t invite you back. Doesn’t that ending actually sound rather hard work and self conscious?

[HighlandDougie]

I'm no great fan of Tom Service but one somehow knew, irrespective of what he actually said, that, frankly, the knives would be out, given the usual animus against him on this forum. And the 1966 Previn is indeed wonderful (and still sounds it) but it was good to hear other, possibly less frenetic versions. I've ordered the Karabits, which I much liked.

[Alison]

And how easily Andy McG falls in with Tom’s reappraisal of the Previn.

[Keraulophone]

This was a broadcasting mess and mistake.

Normal Service has been resumed on Radio 3.