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

[salymap]

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 .

I think Walton and Sargent, very old friends, had a sort oflove -hate relationship. Walton often relied on Sargent for first performances in the early days, Sargent thought Walton should write more symphonies, Walton blamed Sargent for the partial failure of his opera Troilus and Cressida although the full score was almost unreadable, etc. He turned away from MS after his marriage to Susanna too.

Just my ideas, based on what Ive read and heard. Anyway Previn's recording has done well to remain in the lead, well done Andre.

[Nick Armstrong]

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'd agree with that Ferns, having caught up with this BAL this morning. What chimed with me in MC's survey was the stress he laid on performances keeping up the pulse and momentum.... And how many times do conductors and orchestras fail to accept the gift of that 'malizia' indication!?

Missing out on the malice, and letting pulse and tempo slacken, are black marks for me - and MC seemed to take a similar view. That illustration of (I think) the new Brabbins, failing to maintain the momentum in the scherzo...

And ferns I think my reaction to the Haitink has been the reverse to yours. I got it when it came out, loved the 'alternative' view to the Previn/LSO, loved the weighty brass, splashy percussion... but have gone off it since, for those 'momentum' related reasons.

Agree with you about Rattle though. I think it was his recording that started my disenchantment with him. Not getting the 'edge', not getting the 'syncopation', not getting the malice... and a miss is as good as a mile. Plus a horrible stodgy recording.

It was Litton's reading that caught my ear most in this BAL, of those I don't know. As usual, I've just checked the shelves to make sure I hadn't bought it and forgotten about it ... no sign of it.

I have Previn/LSO, Davis/LSO live, Rattle , Haitink ... and - to my delight - the BBCMM disc referred to above with Otaka conducting. It's playing at the moment - very nice tight, live performance. Am feeling the pulse and enjoying it! (update: cracking ending to the first movement, esp. impactful timps... no wonder there's quite a ripple of spontaneous applause...)

(Jealous and interested about the Boult BBCMM disc also mentioned above!)

[BBMmk2]

Thank you Cali, I must hunt down my copy of thgat aforesaid Otaka BBCMM CD!