BaL 22.04.23 - Schubert: Symphony no. 5 in B flat D. 485

[Bryn]

I think it was one of the works that Alan Bennett said in his Private Passions interview with Michael Berkeley that he had heard too often.

Both John Cage and Peter Schickele have quoted from this symphony in their different ways.

[Barbirollians]

I find there is a Barbirolli version with the Georges Enescu philharmonic - have to hear that .

Barbirolli Society CD has arrived . Mono sound but GE Philharmonic play well in a live recording and there is much charm at far from sluggish speeds.As a well known admirer of Barbirolli even Alan Bennett might have been convinced.

An impressive Prokofiev VC 2 with Ion Voicu follows.

[Barbirollians]

I actually missed the programme because I believed the "character" who said it had been cancelled in this thread. Oh well, lesson learned. Never trust anyone in internet forums, never understimate how bad a sense of humour can be. Always perform careful checking in other sources! Fortunately, it's still available on the web site...

You didn’t miss much though I was glad to hear the Bernstein.

Back to Barbirolli I recommend this two disc set highly. CD2 contains a highly characterful account of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra with a great sense of the music’s colour no doubt a tough gig to conduct the Hungarian State Orchestra in this .Like the Prokofiev music one would not normally associate with Barbirolli .

[Mal]

Having just listened to the programme I now realise it was cancelled two weeks ago and replaced by Saint Saens at that time and the "character" was not making a strange and funny joke - just telling it straight two weeks ago! So I deleted my comment but Barb quoted it, hence I have to make this comment. What a tangled web we weave!

P.S. I though the programme was OK - maybe a bit too much HIPP for my taste. I liked Abbado going in and think it is a good choice. Beecham is an equally nice performance but the sound is a bit harsh and grating, as old EMI can sometimes be. Bernstein did sound interesting...

[Barbirollians]

The Bernstein Concertgebouw is outstanding and glad that Sarah Devonald rated it so highly . I was very taken with their Unfinished too.

[Barbirollians]

The Bernstein Concertgebouw is outstanding and glad that Sarah Devonald rated it so highly . I was very taken with their Unfinished too.

I have obtained a copy of the Ninth he also recorded with the Concertgebouw not long before he died so looking forward to that too in light of the 5th and 8th.