BaL 22.10.22 - Mozart: Symphony no. 31 in D "Paris" (K.297)

[smittims]

Tommy had recorded the G major, K199 in 1947 with the RPO, and he did a stereo remake of the Jupiter Symphony in 1957 after his return to EMI, but, apart from the 'Linz' recorded at Walthamstow in 1954 those you've listed are his only gramophone recordings of Mozart Symphonies with the RPO.

I regretted that he never recorded the B flat symphony K319, which Bruno Walter and Herbert did so well, and that he never re-recorded his wonderful interpretation of the C major K338, which he did for Columbia in 1940 with the old LPO.

[HighlandDougie]

The later Philips recording from the fifties is enjoyable too as are TB's other Mozart sym. records with the RPO from the same era, my LPs include 31, 35, 38,39 40 and 41, perhaps there were others?

Andrew Rose has done one of his Pristine remastering jobs on these American Columbia recordings. Snippet at:

https://www.pristineclassical.com/collections/artist-thomas-beecham/products/pasc409

[Mal]

Andrew Rose has done one of his Pristine remastering jobs on these American Columbia recordings. Snippet at:

https://www.pristineclassical.com/co...oducts/pasc409

Thanks. Great snippet. Especially interesting was "The Magic Flute" overture (from 1915!) Radio 3 should do a special on these restorations.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Good Bal this . The interlocutor well in command.

[Barbirollians]

Good Bal this . The interlocutor well in command.

Any mention of Mackerras ? I have not heard any though am doing things in the house and have not heard any - ah here he is ?

[pastoralguy]

Any mention of Mackerras ? I have not heard any though am doing things in the house and have not heard any - ah here he is ?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Any mention of Mackerras ? I have not heard any though am doing things in the house and have not heard any - ah here he is ?

And now Beecham!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Very telling the beginning of the finale . Mackerras absolutely peerless so much better than Bohm and even Beecham and his wonky Suisse Romanders. Why does Bohm emphasise the accompaniment over the violin figures…?

[Ein Heldenleben]

It was obvious from the slow movement onwards Simon Hayes was going to pick the Freiburgers. I just don’t think the string sound and phrase shaping is as good as the SCO under CM and for me the timps over -dominate in an over -reverberant acoustic. Nicely shaped performance though.

[Mal]

Impressive BAL from Dr Simon Heighes, I thought the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra certainly sounded like a worthy winner from the clips he played.

I'm currently listening through Bohms complete Mozart symphonies, and find it a remarkable box set - as both reviewers stressed: "such a beautiful sound", and the clip got that across, I think. Is Bohm too slow? Andrew kept on saying "he's too slow". What's wrong with slow?

Maybe Mackerras' speeds was better for this symphony, for most, but is he really that much better than Bohm? It's the 1965 BPO, can the SCO really beat them for silky violin sound & largeness of effect? Maybe better if you like it fast. But otherwise?

That Beecham did sound a bit wonky - but there are better Beechams - they are linked to earlier in this forum. Why did they pick the Suisse Romande recording?

[Bryn]

Slightly OT but relating to the chosen recording. In addition to K297, it also has K297b. Does anyone here have that CD? I ask because there is considerable confusion in various listings as to which version of K297b is played. Is it the almost certainly misattributed one with a clarinet among the four soloists, or is it, perhaps, the reconstruction made by Levin with flute, oboe, horn, and bassoon? I suspect the latter and that the Presto folk have simply got it wrong in citing a clarinet in the make-up. They certainly do not name a clarinetist: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...s-1778#reviews

The QOBUZ listing is no help, either.

[smittims]

The sample one can hear on the Presto site features a flute, see the opening of the second movement.

[Bryn]

The sample one can hear on the Presto site features a flute, see the opening of the second movement.

Thanks. I did not notice the link to a sample. It turns out that amazon.co.uk has an image of the back cover. No mention of Levin but a clear indication of flute, oboe bassoon, and horn.

[gurnemanz]

Can't resist chipping in that I posted above that Goltz and Pinnock were my two versions, so probably sorted. I don't have the CD mentioned but Goltz/Freiburg is also on the recommendable Harmonia Mundi Lumières box, now defunct but still available second hand.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musique-Lumi%C3%A8res-Music-Enlightenment-Limited/dp/B005BZBY1I

[Bryn]

Can't resist chipping in that I posted above that Goltz and Pinnock were my two versions, so probably sorted. I don't have the CD mentioned but Goltz/Freiburg is also on the recommendable Harmonia Mundi Lumières box, now defunct but still available second hand.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musique-Lum.../dp/B005BZBY1I

Thanks for the reminder. I have that box but had forgotten that it had K297 in it. I will listen via QOBUZ to the K297b from the chosen CD. No new purchase of K297 for me, either, then. I have all three short-listed recordings. Lucky me.