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

[Barbirollians]

There should be a Malcolm Sargent recording somewhere. As someone said earlier,he was first rate with this symphony.

His recording was re-released last year in a bargain set including , amongst other things, the Previn Walton 2 and superb Belshazzar's Feast

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Was there any point in this BaL, I wonder? We all knew the LSO Previn would be chosen - and it was.

[Barbirollians]

Was there any point in this BaL, I wonder? We all knew the LSO Previn would be chosen - and it was.

I cannot agree EA - what was illuminating was that every time a Previn extract was played it was clear why it was head and shoulders above the rest .

Poor old Sargent got a bit of a bashing .

[amateur51]

...

I've just been having a listen ... and very good it is too!

[antongould]

I cannot agree EA - what was illuminating was that every time a Previn extract was played it was clear why it was head and shoulders above the rest .... .

Totally agree - a very enjoyable BAL I thought.......

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I cannot agree EA - what was illuminating was that every time a Previn extract was played it was clear why it was head and shoulders above the rest .

Poor old Sargent got a bit of a bashing .

I don't disagree. It was interesting to hear the comparisons, but the final outcome was never in doubt. It's unusual for one recording to dominate as this one has done, ever since its first release.

[amateur51]

I'd agree with your assessment of the Rattle, M3 - and what good is a merely "OK" performance of this explosive work?
I don't know the Brabbins, but much admire this conductor and would be delighted if he received the laurels - so would Ladbrooks! I have the Brabbins recording of the Second that was issued with a BBCMusMag some years ago - the best overall performance of the work I've heard (he makes the Finale fit in perfectly, whereas I've had problems with this movement in other performances) - the First Movement lacked the glow and shimmer of Mackerras'.

I thought that Martyn Brabbins got short shrift in this BaL as his recording is the latest one to be released. I certainly needed to hear more of it so that I could make up my own mind but it was not to be

I also thought that it was a bit of a surprise that having given Rattle a pretty good kicking (for some good reasons re the recording) Martin Cotton left him in the final field.

As a result of the BaL I'm keen to listen to the Litton & Mackerras & Rattle but I'm delighted that I have the LSO/Previn and that it still stands up.

Footnote: I can understand why people with good equipment (that's ears AND electronics ) might baulk at Sir Colin's vocalisations but I've always liked them so he needs a listen. And the 1950s Boult now in a three CD on First Hand.This sounds like a good few hours with Spotify to me

[johnb]

Footnote: I can understand why people with good equipment (that's ears AND electronics ) might baulk at Sir Colin's vocalisations but I've always liked them so he needs a listen.

I was disappointed that the Colin Davis/LSO Live recording totally disappeared from the review after a single illustration from the very beginning of the symphony, even though MC praised the performance. Not everyone is allergic to CD's vocalisations or the Barbican acoustic so it seems a great pity that we weren't allowed further comparisons so we could make our own judgements.

[salymap]

I only heardthe last 20 minutes of the review but'poor old Sargent' was playing this symphony to appreciative audiences when Previn was in rompers.

Having said which I do have the Previn/LSO in CD and vinyl formats so can't grumble.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Had a look through my shelves during the programme and was surprised to find two BBC MM versions to go with my long-standing Previn on LP and CD. One of the MMs has had a mention (BBCNOW/Otaka) but not the other, a BBCSO/ Boult recording from 3/12/75 (BBCMM308 from 2009).

What made me sit up was the timings. If they are right Boult is much faster overall than Otaka (39+minutes as against 46+ for the whole work - ignore the Total Time of 40'00 quoted on the CD, my player says 39'19). But the real stand-out is in #3 (7'13) where he's streets ahead of Otaka (11'38) and indeed LSO/Previn (11'21). I've listened to the opening couple of minutes of this movement from Boult and Otaka and the tempo difference seems clear - I presume there's no issue of repeats? It's marked Andante con malinconia so is there a 'false tradition', even with Previn, of playing this movement too slow?

It certainly seems odd for Boult at c86 to be setting speed records for no good reason!

[BBMmk2]

Much discussion on these boards has taken place recently, of this work, so I am not surprised that this version of LSO/Previn was chosen.I havnt this boxed saet, so might have a look!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I was disappointed that the Colin Davis/LSO Live recording totally disappeared from the review after a single illustration from the very beginning of the symphony, even though MC praised the performance. Not everyone is allergic to CD's vocalisations or the Barbican acoustic so it seems a great pity that we weren't allowed further comparisons so we could make our own judgements.

Well, yes - so was I. But I think MC's reasons were ... err ... reasonable given the time limit of the programme: I think listeners heard enough of Davis'approach to know whether or not it was for them. I was certainly impressed - that steady build-up of the first "paragraph" (slower than I'm used to) was masterly: to blazes with the compromised sound quality and Sir Col's grunts!

I was also impressed by the excerpt from the Haitink: I heard and disliked this disc when it first came out - it seemed much more powerful this morning. Sadly, the Rattle excerpts only confirmed my doubts about this recording - to much fussy and affected attention to detail, not enough to the swoop of the whole work for me. Very surprised he dismissed Mackerras so quickly - 'tho' this cheered up Ladbrooks!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Had a look through my shelves during the programme and was surprised to find two BBC MM versions to go with my long-standing Previn on LP and CD. One of the MMs has had a mention (BBCNOW/Otaka) but not the other, a BBCSO/ Boult recording from 3/12/75 (BBCMM308 from 2009).

What made me sit up was the timings. If they are right Boult is much faster overall than Otaka (39+minutes as against 46+ for the whole work - ignore the Total Time of 40'00 quoted on the CD, my player says 39'19). But the real stand-out is in #3 (7'13) where he's streets ahead of Otaka (11'38) and indeed LSO/Previn (11'21). I've listened to the opening couple of minutes of this movement from Boult and Otaka and the tempo difference seems clear - I presume there's no issue of repeats? It's marked Andante con malinconia so is there a 'false tradition', even with Previn, of playing this movement too slow?

It certainly seems odd for Boult at c86 to be setting speed records for no good reason!

Deafening silence so far on this speed issue Can anyone say if Boult's studio recordings are equally fast in the 3rd mov't??

[Barbirollians]

I only heardthe last 20 minutes of the review but'poor old Sargent' was playing this symphony to appreciative audiences when Previn was in rompers.

Having said which I do have the Previn/LSO in CD and vinyl formats so can't grumble.

Maybe but Walton's letters record that he much preferred the Previn to the Sargent . Just bad timing for the latter that they came out at the same time I suppose .

[Petrushka]

Deafening silence so far on this speed issue Can anyone say if Boult's studio recordings are equally fast in the 3rd mov't??

The 1956 recording of the 3rd movement comes out at 9'44''. Walton's own recording comes out at 10'20''.