BaL 4.02.12 - Rachmaninov's Symphony no. 2 in E minor

[Barbirollians]

This is it, Barbi:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphony-2-Rachmaninoff/dp/B000003EVK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357242303&sr=8-2

I also have a cassette tape with Boult conducting the "cut" version: very good (Boult's abilities over a wide range of Musics shouldn't surprise me as much as it does) - but the cuts rule it out as generally recommendable.

Interesting but I think I will pass . I have enough recordings of this symphony methinks . Pletnev was rave reviewed as i recall it but last time i played it he seemed just too fast throughout . Like a ride in a very fast train through beautiful countryside .

[Barbirollians]

Going back to the Previn -does anyone have any view on whether it is worth getting the latest 1999 remastering in the EMI Masters series formerly a GROC ? My version is the 1993 remastering on the much lamented old HMV Classics label.

[PJPJ]

I have to agree with you PJPJ,
I find some of the Mercury recordings quite shrill sometimes , but find some of the recordings exceptionally good. I do accept that speakers make a big difference in all of this. I use very good headphones too, and find that perhaps a lot of recordings suffer with to forward a balance on the 1st and 2nd violin sections. This in turn causes compression, hardness and distorted mass violin sound without any of the sweetness but not forwardness that can be had from a live concert balance.
The speakers I use are my own design. That is what I do.
If you are interested you can find out more on http://www.knightloudspeakers.com

Cheers Ian

Thanks - interesting link. I confess I almost never use headphones as they seem to me to intensify any imperfections in both recording technique and in playing.

[PJPJ]

Going back to the Previn -does anyone have any view on whether it is worth getting the latest 1999 remastering in the EMI Masters series formerly a GROC ? My version is the 1993 remastering on the much lamented old HMV Classics label.

Go on, treat yourself:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=TOGE-12053

and see here:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov99/rach2prevn.htm

for another view or two.

PS No, I haven't got the Japanese SACD - what puts me off is the potential £7 (or is it more, now?) inspection fee plus the added duty which may be payable this end. The disc may end up costing £40 or more.

[johnb]

Going back to the Petrenko - I think I was a bit unfair in what I previously wrote about the string sound. I was listening at relatively high levels in a room that is pretty lively, both of which tended to emphasise the coarseness. (My living room has rugs on wooden floors and original wooden shutters at the windows instead of curtains, as it seems a pity to hide the floor to ceiling woodwork of the window surrounds.) I brought in additional rugs as an experiment and this has tamed much of the excess liveliness and the Petrenko disc sounds much better. (Now I need to decide what to do about carpets/rugs on a more permanent basis.)

Two further points about that recording. Someone mentioned the length of the first movement (23 mins) compared to other recordings (the Previn takes ~ 18' 50" on my LP) - the main reason isn't that Petrenko is slow but that he includes the exposition repeat which is often omitted.

The other thing worth mentioning is that much of the symphony is recorded at a much lower level than what we are used to and it is only at the final climax that the level reaches the maximum. I guess that all audio engineers have to make choices about how they fit an orchestra's dynamic range into a CD and the one responsible for this recording has decided to do it slightly differently to what we have become accustomed. I'm not entirely convinced but perhaps further listening will change my mind.

[Curalach]

PS No, I haven't got the Japanese SACD - what puts me off is the potential £7 (or is it more, now?) inspection fee plus the added duty which may be payable this end. The disc may end up costing £40 or more.

I have not found that to be a problem ordering single cds from cdjapan, selecting airmail delivery. The most recent, oddly enough, Rach 2 with the Japan Philharmonic conducted by Alexander Lazarev, good performance, arrived in time for Christmas with nothing extra to pay. This differs from my experience with Amazon.jp and HMV.jp where I have always had to pay duty and collection fee.

[Barbirollians]

I listened to my 1993 remastering of the Previn this morning . It sounded fine to me and the performance is just as marvellous as I remembered not having played it for a while . One of those recordings that properly deserves the epithet " definitive" .

[Barbirollians]

Rather long after the event I have finally acquired a copy of the Leningrad/Sanderling . I can understand its appeal - it is terrifically exciting and one could indeed not get a more echt Russian performance . As David Gutman points out it is not by any means the worst cut - the two middle movements escape unscathed but Sanderling does lop a big chunk out of the finale which is a great shame. Very glad to have it though.

[cloughie]

Rather long after the event I have finally acquired a copy of the Leningrad/Sanderling . I can understand its appeal - it is terrifically exciting and one could indeed not get a more echt Russian performance . As David Gutman points out it is not by any means the worst cut - the two middle movements escape unscathed but Sanderling does lop a big chunk out of the finale which is a great shame. Very glad to have it though.

If you can get hold of it - I got it as a download - his recording of the 1st Symphony is equally exciting - It was originally on the Artia label - in good clear mono sound.