What’s Your Favourite Symphony?

[Beef Oven!]

I think Gurnemanz's comment is more a case of syntactical ambiguity than Matrimonium Interruptus...

No, he loves the chase!

(we all know it's all down hill when the song is over!)

[Nick Armstrong]

Go on, get on with it! Tie the knot. What are you waiting for?

Invites are in the post, I trust!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The composer-led BBC SO recording that Silvestrione mentioned is nowadays readily available from NMC recordings at around £12 for the CD (NMC D104) £8 for the MP3, £9 for the flac16.

[silvestrione]

Check out the Brabbins on the iPlayer. From the lack of applause at the end I would surmise that last Tuesday's Afternoon on 3 broadcast was the recording issued by Hyperion. If you do listen to the Brabbins via the iPlayer, do not fail to listen to the work which follows it.

Yes, superb performance of Tippett 2: you always know that it is when you exclaim at the end, what a marvellous piece of music! (rather than what a marvellous interpretation, etc)

Lots of detail and touches brought out I'd not noticed before. Nevertheless the first movement did not quite match the Davis or Tippett versions, in my view. I'm sure the composer meant the second group, when the woodwind come in, to float in wide open spaces, as it were, not to continue with a pulse beating through.

As for Schiarrino (not sure of spelling), the work which followed (see above): extraordinary. Words fail me!

[Arnold Bax]

It a very difficult one to call: obviously, the greatest Symphony would have to be Beethoven 9, but my favourite?

Ralph Vaughan Williams: a London Symphony (no 2) with the complete stuff with Richard Hickox at the helm. Just wonderful

I’ve been thinking about this. So I thought I put a thread up here and see what comes up.

I’m afraid there’s only one symphony allowed.

I’ve no hesitation with mine.

Mahler: Symphony No.6.
Recording Berliner Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado.

[MickyD]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9. In fact I think I'd prefer any of his other symphonies but that one.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9. In fact I think I'd prefer any of his other symphonies but that one.

It's my second favourite of LvB's

[Bryn]

For me the 9th is equal first with the other 8 (Bazza Cooper's Tenth just sounds so anachronistic to my ears - more like something that Beethoven might have composed some 20 years earlier).

[vinteuil]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9. In fact I think I'd prefer any of his other symphonies but that one.

... I do like the first movement of the Ninth.

I don't enjoy the last movement...


.

[pastoralguy]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9. In fact I think I'd prefer any of his other symphonies but that one.

It's not a symphony I listen to often but, my goodness, it's great fun to play!

[Richard Barrett]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9.

Not only that, but for many people (like Sir Arnold here) there's something obvious about how great it is... well, the first three movements are fantastic to be sure but I simply can't handle the finale, its so unsubtle and bombastic.

[MickyD]

Not only that, but for many people (like Sir Arnold here) there's something obvious about how great it is... well, the first three movements are fantastic to be sure but I simply can't handle the finale, its so unsubtle and bombastic.

Yes, I think it is exactly for that reason, Richard. It's difficult to enjoy the first three movements when I know the fourth is lurking!

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, I think it is exactly for that reason, Richard. It's difficult to enjoy the first three movements when I know the fourth is lurking!

The first two movements really need tightening up too - far too repetitive, as if Beethoven didn't know when to stop. I think this is where Bruckner caught the affliction from.

[cloughie]

I'll take cover now, but I have never understood why there is so much adulation for Beethoven 9. In fact I think I'd prefer any of his other symphonies but that one.

The first three movements are really good the comes the banale!

[gradus]

Brahms 4/Eroica - dead heat.