Our Summer BAL 42: Manfred Symphony

[Stanfordian]

I can't guarantee that this is the complete catalogue or that they are all still available but this might be a useful starter list:

USO Abravanel
LSO Ahronovitch
PO Ashkenazy
CAO Chailly
LSO Goossens
CAO Haitink
OPO Jansons
LPO Jurowski
GurnewitzO Kitajenko
PO Kletzki
RPO Koizumi
CSRSO Lenard
IndianapolisSO Leppard
BoSO Litton
VPO Maazel
LSO Markevitch
LGO Masur
PO Muti
CBSO Nelsons
PhO Ormandy
RLPO Petrenko
RNO Pletnev
LSO Previn
LPO Rostropovich
USSRRTVO Rozhdestvensky
BudPO Saccani
FNRO Silvestri
BoSO Silvestri
LSO Simonov
BPO Svetlanov
USSRSO Svetlanov
LAPO Tilson-Thomas
NBCSO Toscanini

Hiya cloughie,

Pletnev has released two accounts with the Russian National Orchestra one from c. 1993/96 on Deutsche Grammophon and a more recent 2013 acccount on Pentatone.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Interested to see Hornspieler's reference to cuts.

Following my interest in Svetlanov (including in Harold Moore's, yesterday when I resisted a Melodiya purchase pending further research) I've come across reference to his cuts in "Manfred"

In the customer review (and comments on it)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Svetlanov-conducts-Berlin-Philharmonic-Tchaikovsky/dp/B00BUO2I6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436867171&sr=8-1&keywords=svetlanov+berlin+testament

and have taken the plunge on the Testament BPO recording

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Testament/SBT21481

I'll probably also have a listen to some others on Google Play Music All Access and Naxos Music Library.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've only ever heard it in concert once - with HS's old band, the Bournemouth SO (Leeds Town Hall, 1980). I was sitting behind the percussion - the best seat in the gig; especially in the Finale - where I did wonder how Peter Illyich was going to create a climax after all the "hit everything in sight as hard as you can" writing of the bulk of the movement. The entry of the organ is one of the funniest things in the repertoire!

Unlike HS and TB, I don't think the movement needs "trimming" - I think it's a fantastic work; very probably my favourite piece by this composer (the Pathetique - the "yin" to Manfred's "yang" the only real contender).

[Hornspieler]

I've only ever heard it in concert once - with HS's old band, the Bournemouth SO (Leeds Town Hall, 1980). I was sitting behind the percussion - the best seat in the gig; especially in the Finale - where I did wonder how Peter Illyich was going to create a climax after all the "hit everything in sight as hard as you can" writing of the bulk of the movement. The entry of the organ is one of the funniest things in the repertoire!

Unlike HS and TB, I don't think the movement needs "trimming" - I think it's a fantastic work; very probably my favourite piece by this composer (the Pathetique - the "yin" to Manfred's "yang" the only real contender).

Berlioz: Ov. Le Corsair
Delius: Dance Rhapsody No 2
INTERVAL
Tchaikowsky: Manfred Symphony
(encore: Finale from Karelia Suite)

In 1956, TB played that programme in Sheffield Town Hall and also in Manchester Free Trade Hall the previous night.

I was not among the foot shufflers because, as a callow deputy, I kept my head down and did not join in some of the mirth which was always a part of a Beecham rehearsal.

I do remember that in his closing speech, TB made a rather scathing reference to the two Landseer(?) Lions which occupied a large portion of the stage, causing the orchestra to be almost divided into three parts.
That did not go down well with some of the members of the audience!

HS

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh, they're very fond of their big cats in Sheffield! They even called their Rugby team the "Tigers" (nothing to do with Havergal Brian): unlike Landseer's stone Lions, the Sheffield Tigers are rather wooden!

[BBMmk2]

Andris Nelsons and the CBSO are not mentioned! :)

[cloughie]

C

Berlioz: Ov. Le Corsair
Delius: Dance Rhapsody No 2
INTERVAL
Tchaikowsky: Manfred Symphony
(encore: Finale from Karelia Suite)

In 1956, TB played that programme in Sheffield Town Hall and also in Manchester Free Trade Hall the previous night.

I was not among the foot shufflers because, as a callow deputy, I kept my head down and did not join in some of the mirth which was always a part of a Beecham rehearsal.

I do remember that in his closing speech, TB made a rather scathing reference to the two Landseer(?) Lions which occupied a large portion of the stage, causing the orchestra to be almost divided into three parts.
That did not go down well with some of the members of the audience!

HS

I remember well the lions at the City Hall - always a talking point - and with the Marmite factor. Long gone now but I rather liked them. On the question of Manfred My introduction to it was via the PO Kletzki - good mono sound for its age and the Testament reissue is one I revisit often. Many good interpretations since including Muti and Rostropovich. Ahronovitch on DG probably the most idiosyncratic.

[richardfinegold]

I wrote about Manfred recently after seeing a Concert performance with Muti leading the CSO. His Philharmonia recording is my favorite, followed by Ormandy.

[vibratoforever]

Interested to see Hornspieler's reference to cuts.

Following my interest in Svetlanov (including in Harold Moore's, yesterday when I resisted a Melodiya purchase pending further research) I've come across reference to his cuts in "Manfred"

In the customer review (and comments on it)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Svetlanov-conducts-Berlin-Philharmonic-Tchaikovsky/dp/B00BUO2I6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436867171&sr=8-1&keywords=svetlanov+berlin+testament

and have taken the plunge on the Testament BPO recording

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Testament/SBT21481

I'll probably also have a listen to some others on Google Play Music All Access and Naxos Music Library.

I have a 1971 Meloydia recording by Svetlanov, along with the Berlin recording and a later Warner recording. The 1971 is my favourite and appears complete but the other two have substantial cuts in the finale - around 8 minutes worth!

[Barbirollians]

I have a 1971 Meloydia recording by Svetlanov, along with the Berlin recording and a later Warner recording. The 1971 is my favourite and appears complete but the other two have substantial cuts in the finale - around 8 minutes worth!

I imagine this work really suits Svetlanov .

My favourites are the Chailly from which I got to know the work and the Kletzki shame about the cuts but a terrific performance with the vintage Philharmonia .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The 1971 Svetlanov was my first recording. A great performance marred by terrible recorded sound.

[Cockney Sparrow]

The 1971 Svetlanov was my first recording. A great performance marred by terrible recorded sound.

Interesting information. I'm afraid that, generally, I'm less tolerant of badly recorded performances than I used to be. Hope the Testament recording isn't too harsh (which I have on order).

The streaming services get adverse comment, with their 320kbs mp3 max quality(except some like Qobuz at a premium rate) but where they carry the recording*, they do enable listening to a recording. If it reveals I could live with the sound, then I could decide to go ahead and buy it.

*and Hyperion and Testament don't seem to be present on them (which has been said before). Apart from just a few token recordings (or ones that slipped through the net).

[clive heath]

On the topic of 320 kbps mp3 you can experience/enjoy the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel in the "Manfred" possibly broadcast on March 23rd 1971 from the Royal Festival Hall.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

[richardfinegold]

On the topic of 320 kbps mp3 you can experience/enjoy the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel in the "Manfred" possibly broadcast on March 23rd 1971 from the Royal Festival Hall.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

Thanks for that, Clive. Maazel is usually interesting, even when he dramatically missed the mark

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

On the topic of 320 kbps mp3 you can experience/enjoy the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel in the "Manfred" possibly broadcast on March 23rd 1971 from the Royal Festival Hall.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

Maazel's VPO studio recording appeared not so long after that.