Andrew Litton recordings

[BBMmk2]

Oh - absolutely; I'm looking forward to hearing it - I love "brisk & efficient"!

I would just add that the "hammy" comment arose from the fact that, after I'd stood up for maestro's choice of Litton's recording when others had suggested they didn't agree, maestro then decided to take the opportunity to rubbish one of my own favourites, telling me I couldn't hear what I've heard perfectly well for decades!

I like Litton's Rachmaninoff #1, too.

Strangely enough, Ferney, it was Litton's Rach 1 that made me rethink that work and I love it now like the other two. Mariss Janson's recordings of Rach and shosta are rather good too.

[maestro267]

Oh - absolutely; I'm looking forward to hearing it - I love "brisk & efficient"!

I would just add that the "hammy" comment arose from the fact that, after I'd stood up for maestro's choice of Litton's recording when others had suggested they didn't agree, maestro then decided to take the opportunity to rubbish one of my own favourites, telling me I couldn't hear what I've heard perfectly well for decades!

I like Litton's Rachmaninoff #1, too.

Hang on a minute! The "you" in my post wasn't aimed at you personally. It's a rhetorical 'you'. Of course the tam-tam is there a little bit, but nowhere NEAR as emphatic as on Litton's recording.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Hammy? The Litton recording? You're kidding; understated if anything, and not in a bad way. You should hear the Nelsons, where the timp parts are way overdone (extra unmarked accents everywhere), just as an example.

Anyway, I'd like to track down the Rostropovich/LPO, which was how I first met the work and has some of the most satisfyingly rrcorded timp (Alan Cumberland?) and low percussion work I can recall.

[Pulcinella]

The new (January 2017) issue of BBC MM has as its cover CD a performance of Carmina Burana conducted by Litton in Cardiff on 1 March 2011.

[BBMmk2]

The new (January 2017) issue of BBC MM has as its cover CD a performance of Carmina Burana conducted by Litton in Cardiff on 1 March 2011.

Now that should be great to hear!!

[Alison]

Anyway, I'd like to track down the Rostropovich/LPO, which was how I first met the work and has some of the most satisfyingly rrcorded timp (Alan Cumberland?) and low percussion work I can recall.

Yes that's a glorious version of Manfred, not well enough known really. Only available as part of a whole cycle. Tremendous grip in the first movement with percussion really nailing the coda. I'm sure that was Alan Cumberland on timps

[cloughie]

Yes that's a glorious version of Manfred, not well enough known really. Only available as part of a whole cycle. Tremendous grip in the first movement with percussion really nailing the coda. I'm sure that was Alan Cumberland on timps

Yes but you can get the whole set for under a fiver plus p&p!

[Ferretfancy]

Now that should be great to hear!!

I'm not sure that any Carl Orff is great to hear, but I do enjoy Carmina Burana. I've just sampled the Litton BBC recording which dates from 2011, and for me it comes as a disappointment. Maybe it's my system, but everything seems to take place in an aural fog, especially when the chorus is prominent. Christopher Maltman is good, and you can hear his words struggling through the hollow acoustic, but the tenor Allan Clayton makes heavy weather of those high passages, and my favourite passage, 'In trutina' lacks magic as sung by Sarah Tynan. I could also ask 'Where is the sparkle in the percussion?'

It isn't really possible to guess what it would have been like listening in St David's Hall Cardiff, or appreciate Andrew Litton's conducting. One for Oxfam I'm afraid.

No doubt other boarders will find more to enjoy than I did.

[Petrushka]

I'm not sure that any Carl Orff is great to hear, but I do enjoy Carmina Burana. I've just sampled the Litton BBC recording which dates from 2011, and for me it comes as a disappointment. Maybe it's my system, but everything seems to take place in an aural fog, especially when the chorus is prominent. Christopher Maltman is good, and you can hear his words struggling through the hollow acoustic, but the tenor Allan Clayton makes heavy weather of those high passages, and my favourite passage, 'In trutina' lacks magic as sung by Sarah Tynan. I could also ask 'Where is the sparkle in the percussion?'

It isn't really possible to guess what it would have been like listening in St David's Hall Cardiff, or appreciate Andrew Litton's conducting. One for Oxfam I'm afraid.

No doubt other boarders will find more to enjoy than I did.

I played this last night and formed a somewhat different impression. I would certainly agree about the lack of sparkle in the percussion, bass drum apart, but I found that the chorus came across very well and the children's choir are terrific. Christopher Maltman is excellent but surely it makes dramatic sense for the tenor soloist to sound effortful?

There are better sounding Carmina Burana's out there but I enjoyed this, nonetheless, in the context of a live performance.

[BBMmk2]

I think my favourites are Rafael Frubeck de Burgos and Andre Previn's of Carmina Burana.

[peterkin]

I think my favourites are Rafael Frubeck de Burgos and Andre Previn's of Carmina Burana.

Blomstedt for me

[Bryn]

My favourite has never been recorded, or indeed performed.

[visualnickmos]

I think my favourites are Rafael Frubeck de Burgos and Andre Previn's of Carmina Burana.

Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos,
and Eduardo Mata (with the fabulous Barbara Hendricks, and an LSO on great form.... what more could one desire?)

[cloughie]

Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos,
and Eduardo Mata (with the fabulous Barbara Hendricks, and an LSO on great form.... what more could one desire?)

...or Dorati, Jochum, Ozawa...

[Alison]

Hammy? The Litton recording? You're kidding; understated if anything, and not in a bad way. You should hear the Nelsons, where the timp parts are way overdone (extra unmarked accents everywhere), just as an example.

Anyway, I'd like to track down the Rostropovich/LPO, which was how I first met the work and has some of the most satisfyingly rrcorded timp (Alan Cumberland?) and low percussion work I can recall.

I'm sad to note Alan Cumberland passed away earlier this month.