BaL - 2.02.13: Walton's Symphony no. 1 in B flat minor

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am Building a Library
Martin Cotton with a survey of recordings of Walton's 1st Symphony.

Available versions:-

Orchestre National de Lille, Owain Arwell Hughes
New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton
LPO, Sir Adrian Boult
BBC Scottish SO, Martyn Brabbins
English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
LSO, Sir Colin Davis
LSO, Louis Frémaux
Phillharmonia Orchestra, Louis Frémaux
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson
Philharmonia Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Bournemouth SO, Andrew Litton
LPO, Sir Charles Mackerras
LSO, Andre Previn
RPO, Andre Previn
CBSO, Sir Simon Rattle
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
LPO, Leonard Slatkin
New Zealand SO, Sir William Walton
Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir William Walton

[Hornspieler]

9.30am Building a Library
Martin Cotton with a survey of recordings of Walton's 1st Symphony.

Available versions:-

Orchestre National de Lille, Owain Arwell Hughes
New Haven Symphony Orchestra, William Boughton
LPO, Sir Adrian Boult
BBC Scottish SO, Martyn Brabbins
English Northern Philharmonia, Paul Daniel
LSO, Sir Colin Davis
LSO, Louis Frémaux
Phillharmonia Orchestra, Louis Frémaux
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Sir Alexander Gibson
Philharmonia Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Bournemouth SO, Andrew Litton
LPO, Sir Charles Mackerras
LSO, Andre Previn
RPO, Andre Previn
CBSO, Sir Simon Rattle
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent
New Zealand SO, Sir William Walton
Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir William Walton

My choice, so far, would be the New Philharmonia with Sir Malcolm Sargent
Sir Adrian Boult would come a close second, but I have not heard Previn's two recordings.

Sir William Walton was a wonderful composer and, in my personal experience, couldn't conduct a bus! (Should have taken lessons in bus conducting from Andre Preview!

HS

[Nick Armstrong]

Ah... That's one not to miss! Trouble is, smart money would have to be on the Previn, I suppose.

What do we think of Martin Cotton, I can't remember...?

Also I wonder when Walton 1 last appeared on BAL. Have there been many new versions since then? Paul Daniel perhaps - I reckon it might be worth having a flutter on his excellent Naxos performance...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]Ah... That's one not to miss! Trouble is, smart money would have to be on the Previn, I suppose.

It was Previn last time around.

[umslopogaas]

Hmm ... I have three of the above, all on vinyl, and a fourth that isnt on the list: Boult and "The Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra", on the Nixa ('mono' I think they all were) label. Anyone know who the Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra were? Sounds to me like a bunch of London orchestral players making a bit of extra cash on the side.

Conduct a bus? Hold very tight please, ting ting ... we like to drive in convoys, we're most gregarious ... the driver and conductor of a London omnibus (with apologies to Flanders and Swann).

"Them jackal taxi drivers can only swear and cuss, beside that monarch of the road, observer of the Highway Code, that big six wheeler, scarlet painted, ninety seven horsepower omnibus.

I stops when I'm requested, although it spoils the ride,

So he can shout

GERRAHTOFIT, WE'RE FULL RIGHT UP INSIDE!"

I stick's me flippin hand out as I jams on all me brakes ...

There is more, if I could be bothered to get the disc out and play it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Hmm ... I have three of the above, all on vinyl, and a fourth that isnt on the list: Boult and "The Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra", on the Nixa ('mono' I think they all were) label. Anyone know who the Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra were? Sounds to me like a bunch of London orchestral players making a bit of extra cash on the side.

I think the PPO was the LPO (and the third mentioned on Alpie's list) - they were under "exclusive" contract to DECCA at the time, so could only appear on another label under this alias. Do you still have it on vinyl, umsloppy? - rather a garish cover image: a multi-coloured set of straight lines, IIRC.

Of course it will be Previn's first recording: the real job will be deciding the "runner-up"! Slatkin? Mackerras? A "dark horse"?

[VodkaDilc]

the real job will be deciding the "runner-up"! Slatkin? Mackerras? A "dark horse"?

I can't see Slatkin/LPO in the original list. It's a fine recording.

[Beef Oven]

I can't see Slatkin/LPO in the original list. It's a fine recording.

It's not on the list. It came about later when a few of us who are keen on it posted with gusto.

.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I can't see Slatkin/LPO in the original list. It's a fine recording.

Good Heavens! You're absolutely right! I was sure I'd seen it there; I must have been taking it for granted that so fine a performance and recording would be included! Well, then that's it - my prediction:

1st choice: Previn,
2nd: Mackerras,
Historical: Walton.

I might see if Ladbrooks are interested!

[salymap]

I have the National Orchestra of Wales with Tadaaki Otaka conducting

Previn with the LSO on a Cd and an LP.

I have a cassette of a Sargent recording but can't find it.

Walton could have written 'This is the best of me' on the score, like Elgar, in MHO.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Walton could have written 'This is the best of me' on the score, like Elgar, in MHO.

[EdgeleyRob]

Good Heavens! You're absolutely right! I was sure I'd seen it there; I must have been taking it for granted that so fine a performance and recording would be included! Well, then that's it - my prediction:

1st choice: Previn,
2nd: Mackerras,
Historical: Walton.

I might see if Ladbrooks are interested!

Tricast ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Tricast ?

Nah! All or nothing: those recordings in those positions!

[salymap]

There are two Previn recordings. Which one do you mean ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Nah! All or nothing: those recordings in those positions!

- that is a Tricast, isn't it?! I've had a very moral upbringing (and a very large Tallisker! )