The arrival earlier of the CD of the 2019 Salzburg Festival recording of Bernard Haitink's valedictory performance (90th birthday in his case) with the Vienna Philharmonic of Bruckner's 7th is a good example of how multiple performances of the same work with the same conductor illustrate 53 years of interpretative development between the first I know (1966 with the Concertgebouw) via various others to this latest one. So, I'm completely with Petrushka on this question as I feel that life would be much duller had one not been able to experience how Haitink's approach had changed over the years. The 2019 Salzburg performance is, in my unhumble view, wonderful. I feel that I might die happy in the knowledge that I am unlikely to hear a finer performance of what is a favourite work.
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That is, as I'm sure you're aware, the same performance issued on DVD/Blu-ray. I did wonder whether or not to purchase the CD from the VPO shop but so far haven't.Originally posted by HighlandDougie View Post
Your final sentence encapsulates exactly my own feelings after Haitink's final Prom three days after the Salzburg performance. My own retirement was looming and, as I sat down to a rapidly emptying Royal Albert Hall, following that performance, it felt like the end of an era on multiple levels."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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I read a nice quotation the other day…. ‘In Japanese culture, ‘tsundoku’ refers to the act of collecting books and letting them accumulate, not as a result of neglect, but rather as a source of joy and anticipation, knowing that they hold untold stories waiting to be discovered’, which is just as applicable to CDs, records and tapes, imho.
I’ve now accumulated 180 recordings of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with two more to be added in the next month. (Nicola Benedetti and Arabella Steinbacher). I’ve always wanted a representation of all top class violinists and the Beethoven is a work that lays any players abilities absolutely bare. (There are some less than distinguished players amongst those discs although they always have something unique to offer).Comment
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My own particular madness, which I’ve written about before, is collecting Philips ‘Blue Face’ CDs. When cd was launched, there were 60 classical CDs issued by Philips which had distinctive blue discs. These were produced at a time when CDs were a genuine luxury product and were both desirable and expensive. So far, I’ve managed to accumulate 48 of the 60 and it’s a source of great satisfaction when I’m able to add another. (I’m awaiting delivery of the Tchaikovsky 1st piano concerto played by Argerich and conductor Kondrashin which I bought from the States).
Frankly, some of these discs contain music that normally I would have little interest in but I make a point of listening to each disc as it arrives before it’s lovingly filed into a custom made box. Some discs are quite valuable and I’ve made sure that Mrs. PG is aware so that when I die she won’t hand them into a charity shop!Comment
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I had decided to buy the Jakub Hrůsá Dvořák 8th (after the BaL) and then I saw that Bruckner 7th - no brainer. The VPO acknowledges in the booklet that Unitel (of the DVD/BluRay) made available the tape, "free of charge". I have the BPO and the Netherlands RPO plus off-air files but the VPO in incandescent form ... well, nothing more to be said.Originally posted by Petrushka View Post
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I'd also recommend the recently issued 1981 Bavarian. Radio Haitink Bruckner 7 if you don't already have it.Originally posted by HighlandDougie View Post"The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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A variation on the theme is collecting multiple versions of the same recording. Depending how far back in time the original provenance of the recording, one can have recording on shellac, LP, Reel to Reel, cassette, 8 track, SACD, DVD, BluRay…not to mention multiple re mastering within a given media.Comment
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I must plead guilty to that, having the Beecham Balakirev first symphony on Columbia LP, HMV Concert Classics LP (same matrix number too!) and CD. And the Beecham Bizet and Lalo symphonies in mono and stereo, with the red and gold mono label and the cream and gold 'early stereo 'label, though Beecham anoraks will tell you they are actually two different recordigs (same sleeve though) .Comment
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... those of a tidy mind might like to have two identical CDs, for example of a Ravel/Debussy (or Schumann/Brahms) chamber disc, so that one can be filed under R and one under D, (one under S and one under B) ...
haven't yet gone that far - tho' I can feel the temptation...
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Just pop a note in an empty case instead.Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
I have a favoured recording of RVW's Concerto Grosso that I can find as I've put a note inside the case of the version filed under V.
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Another approach which one of my friends adopted once was to put a number on each CD as it was purchased/obtained. Thus - 1, 2, 3 .... etc.Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post
Then fill in a file index card with the number. If there was a need to have the filing organised in multiple ways, card copies could easily be made.
Nowadays the file index card box could be replaced by a spreadsheet file.
I never got round to being that well organised!
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I wouldn't go that far myself otherwise I'd need lots more shelf space. I tend to file such CDs under the composer I'm more likely to listen to. What I do with CDs containing works by multiple composers is to file them at the very end, after Z. The smaller conductor boxes are also filed separately in alphabetical order of conductor. The biggest boxes I just dump on the floor upstairs in my overflow room as there is nothing else to be done!Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
Opera boxes are also filed separately in alphabetical composer order and those are upstairs. Some of those have been duplicated with second hand copies in order to get the libretti. I've been thwarted more than once by finding the booklet missing upon arrival thus wasting money!"The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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I've done exactly that, but with different versions of those works Chilingirian Qt and Kuijkens (on Arcana label) under D, and Melos and Ebène Qt under R, so two under each.Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
I related elsewhere the collecting habit of a customer who spent 60 years just collecting composers beginning with 'A'. But in the pottiest-way-to-library ones LPs and CDs the prize must go to dear David and Derek (neither still with us RIP both
) who arranged them top left to bottom right by birthdate of the composer! Just think how one goes about locating a particular composer!....well you can get close normally. 
BTW the above couple were great contributors to culture in Bristol, respectively conductor of, and producer of, The Bristol Opera Company.Comment
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