BaL 27.04.13 - Tchaikovsky's Hamlet Fantasy Overture Op.67

[visualnickmos]

Ah, yes, Ive heard good rep-orts about the Maazel Decca cycle!

I don't know the rest of LM's Tchaik sym cycle - only have his Hamlet and Manfred (sounds like a luxury gents' toiletries company!)

I am keen to know Azhkznazy's Thcaik symphonies...

[Ferretfancy]

I have two CD copies of Stokey's Hamlet, one on Dell'Arte and one on Everest. There were some criticisms of the Everest re-masterings when they were reissued, and although the difference is not huge, I prefer the sound on the Delle'Arte copy. They are both listed on Amazon.

Another stunning recording from the same source gives us Stokey in breathtaking performances of Don Juan and Till.

Like many others I was stunned that Stokowski wasn't even mentioned in this BAL. I listened to a recording from Freeview, and although the music examples were fine,Stephen Walsh sounded as if he was being recorded on a crystal microphone in a cupboard under the stairs,very rough with nasty level variations which made his rather patronising tone even worse.

Will certainly listen tomorrow to Bernstein / Israel PO

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I am keen to know Azhkznazy's Thcaik symphonies...

Favourably reviewed in Gramophone, and I was persuaded to buy no. 6, but it had the following niggles:
1. Decca's fondness of over-highlighting the bassoons;
2. An uncomfortable error in the accompanying brass chords in the finale, which I anticipated ebery time I heard it - consequently never replaced it with a CD.

[visualnickmos]

Favourably reviewed in Gramophone, and I was persuaded to buy no. 6, but it had the following niggles:
1. Decca's fondness of over-highlighting the bassoons;
2. An uncomfortable error in the accompanying brass chords in the finale, which I anticipated ebery time I heard it - consequently never replaced it with a CD.

Thank you for your - as ever, concise and helpful info.

I'll stay with Markevitch on Philips, I think ... and Muti on EMI. I also like Ormandy in symphonies 4,5 and 6 on RCA (but then there isn't much from Ormandy that I don't like!)

[mikealdren]

Coming to the programme with the Stokowski recording in my head, I found the other examples played sounded rather flacid. None of the whirlwind excitement that makes the Stokey so memorable.

Mike

[Barbirollians]

Well said Mike - and I did not warm to the reviewers rather snotty tone either .

[vibratoforever]

That snotty tone was well-illustrated by the comment "any serious Tchaikovsky conductor must". Whatever my opinion of any performance mentioned or omitted, I am sure the conductor was totally serious with his performance.
Equally mystifying was the large number of minutes devoted to the two Bernstein recordings when one was dismissed rather easily and the other approved, despite the reviewer holding his nose at the same time in the final summary, due to some minor transgression.

[LaurieWatt]

Ah, yes, Ive heard good rep-orts about the Maazel Decca cycle!

You have to try Maazel's Pathetique with the VPO. Very much one of my long time favourites - trombones to the fore again particularly in the first movement but wonderfully effective.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You have to try Maazel's Pathetique with the VPO. Very much one of my long time favourites - trombones to the fore again particularly in the first movement but wonderfully effective.

Ah, the tone of the violins on their first entry. There's nothing like it -

[BBMmk2]

In that case, surely the rest of the cycle be worth a buy?

[visualnickmos]

In that case, surely the rest of the cycle be worth a buy?

I've been wondering the very same thing. Certainly his Manfred symphony and Hamlet (on a single CD that I've had forever) is excellent.

[LaurieWatt]

In that case, surely the rest of the cycle be worth a buy?

Yes, it is, but critical opinion was divided over the first three symphonies. The best were undoubtedly No 4 and No 6, and, in my view, Manfred. I also much enjoyed his No 2 but, as a dyed-in-the-wool lover of the Vienna Philharmonic, I loved them all, even if what Maazel's sometimes does with them is quite eccentric! Truly trivial points but, on the plus side, there is a lovely flappy bass drum in the last movement of No 2, and, on the minus side, the VPO big deep tam-tam is not really that effective in the first and last movements of Manfred!

[BBMmk2]

RE the tam-tam, that does surprise me! I thought they would wack it out somewhat!!

[ostuni]

That tam tam is a serious disappointment in Bernstein (Israel), Maazel and Stokowski. I listened to the Pletnev yesterday; I share RW's misgivings about the rather slow tempo of the second subject, but dynamics are scrupulously followed, and the tan tam sound is the best of the lot so far.

[LaurieWatt]

RE the tam-tam, that does surprise me! I thought they would wack it out somewhat!!

They do, but it is the wrong sort of gong, being too big and dark to speak sufficiently to break through the orchestral tutti. It is great in No 2 near the end of the last movement but it is alone there and the deep dark sound is rather effective for that moment.

Also, if Ostuni is referring to Manfred the Jurowski account on the LPO Label is awesome from a tam-tam point of view. A terrific performance overall, too.