BaL 5.11.11 Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony

[Colonel Danby]

Well of course I do have the Rattle VPO live recording, Alison, as part of his complete cycle (I mean, who doesn't?) but I have a passion for period instruments, and I rather like Roger the Dodger (I know that I'm in a minority on this one): his accounts are occasionally wayward, but nevertheless always exciting. Norrington for me...(but I know that he will not get the nod in tomorrow's morning's show, I betcha...).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think that we all have a soft spot for our earliest purchases in classical music: I still play Colin Davis's account of the "Pastoral" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but I will always plump for Roger Norrington on EMI Reflexe: this is an excellent issue that I always return to. It will be interesting to hear our critic's choice tomorrow, but I reckon it will be probably be Kleiber. Just a hunch...

Actually, it's a week tomorrow.
The period instrument Norrington version I can accept, as it strives to get the work back to its roots. But his Stuttgart performances are historical nonsense. But if some people like it...

[antongould]

I'm I hallucinating or did the Dodger's Virgin Classics Box set once get a BAL recommendation?

[Bryn]

A view with rather less hysterical nonsense than was posted at 21:09

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=6291

[Barbirollians]

Quite possibly - in the late 80s he was raved about.

I played his Pastoral to a friend and then followed it with the Bohm - their response as a neophyte was to say it was like following a sketch with the finished painting.

I think he had a point.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm I hallucinating or did the Dodger's Virgin Classics Box set once get a BAL recommendation?

This site covering Sir Todger's BAL recommendations would appear to indicate an hallucination, dear anton... http://www.bachtrack.com/find-a-cd/0...ger-norrington

[jayne lee wilson]

I feel that's a little intemperate, EA... I actually chose the Stuttgart cycle, along with Szell, as one of my top 2 complete ones on the recent Beethoven symphonies thread. Apart from the interpretative interest which is rich indeed, it's one of the best-recorded and played of all cycles.

I tend to like a crisp view of the Pastoral, but one that opens out and blossoms in the finale. To wit, I would choose Scherchen, the mono 1951 VSOO one a little more relaxed and radiant than the HIPS-avant-la-lettre view of the 1958 stereo version. But both are great, as, I feel are almost all his Beethoven perfomances.
Bruggen doesn't get nearly enough credit for his cycle either, his Pastoral is one of great spiritual depth. And anyone else know the Zender Saarbrucken one that was in his CPO radio recordings box? Shame it's so deeply buried!

Actually, it's a week tomorrow.
The period instrument Norrington version I can accept, as it strives to get the work back to its roots. But his Stuttgart performances are historical nonsense. But if some people like it...

[verismissimo]

My favourites are Karajan EMI Philharmonia, and the Toscanini live version with BBC Sym.

Did Toscanini do a live recording of 6 with BBCSO?

The one I have is 1937, recorded, I think, under studio conditions by HMV at Queen's Hall. But I could be wrong about that?

What a wonderful performance it is!

[visualnickmos]

.....as part of his complete cycle (I mean, who doesn't?)

I don't.

[BBMmk2]

I have 3(I think!!).

Karl Bohm/Wiener Phil; Harnoncourt/CoE and Karajan/BPO(1964).

[silvestrione]

Did Toscanini do a live recording of 6 with BBCSO?

The one I have is 1937, recorded, I think, under studio conditions by HMV at Queen's Hall. But I could be wrong about that?

What a wonderful performance it is!

No sorry, got that wrong, it is not 'live'. But yes, it is wonderful!

[silvestrione]

I suggest they get RO in to do the Eroica especially after his response to the Chailly .

Yes indeed: I think I have already suggested that elsewhere on an earlier thread. Perhaps if we say it enough it will happen!

[Alison]

Expect we'll get Stephen Johnson again ....

[Petrushka]

With so many versions available, some of them very fine, it might be considered more helpful if the reviewer could point out those that are absolute stinkers and to be avoided at all costs, the remainder being judged as recommendable

Seriously, though, the idea rhat there could be a library version of such an oft-recorded work does somehow seem rather absurd to me. There must be a Pastoral out there for every conceivable taste. The first one I ever heard was Konwitschny/Leipzig Gewandhaus on a Fontana LP back in the very early 1970's but Karl Bohm's 1972 VPO account has held its top position for years now and it is as recommendable as ever. I bought the LP in Vienna in 1981 after walking round the countryside surrounding the village of Heiligenstadt, as Pastoral as you can get, and that's my own personal favourite.

[BBMmk2]

Well, Pewtrushka, that not be a bad idea, when you have a load of versiopns of a particular composition!