The Recordings of Andre Previn

[bluestateprommer]

While, strictly speaking, this isn't solely on the topic of Previn's recordings, I thought Forumites might enjoy this interview by David Patrick Stearns in the Philadelphia Inquirer with "Mr. Preview":

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/andre-previn-says-he-keeps-telling-john-williams-john-stop-it-with-the-star-wars-20171012.html

I can keep an eye out for a review of the Sunday recital, if one makes it to the Inquirer, which should mention his new song cycle.

To keep nominally on topic, just had a look at the shelves. 9 CDs of his work (2 of them as pianist), and 1 LP.

[pastoralguy]

A person I would LOVE to shake hands with and say 'Thanks for the music'.

A truly great musician.

[Conchis]

A churlish person of my acquaintance once described him as 'a great conductor of second-rate music.'

He doesn't seem to be taken as seriously as he deserves and I blame those Ferguson television commercials (plus, the notorious M&W sketch, which is not actually that funny and certainly doesn't bear watching more than once).


His version of Also Sprach Zarathustra with the VPO is probably the best recording of that piece I've ever heard.

[Petrushka]

A person I would LOVE to shake hands with and say 'Thanks for the music'.

A truly great musician.

I met him way back in 1977 and was only too glad to say something along those lines!

Must disagree with Conchis, though: I must have watched the M&W sketch a thousand times (including the original transmission) and still find it totally hilarious, especially when one knows that Previn first viewed the script in a taxi from airport to studio and apparently ad-libbed a fair bit of it.

I know a 10 CD box appeared at one time but when will Warner release a boxed set of his complete EMI recordings?

[pastoralguy]

I met him way back in 1977 and was only too glad to say something along those lines!

Must disagree with Conchis, though: I must have watched the M&W sketch a thousand times (including the original transmission) and still find it totally hilarious, especially when one knows that Previn first viewed the script in a taxi from airport to studio and apparently ad-libbed a fair bit of it.

I know a 10 CD box appeared at one time but when will Warner release a boxed set of his complete EMI recordings?

To be honest, the only time I found M&W to be funny.

Actually, on reflection, isn't there a sketch with Penelope Keith where she's dressed very glamorously and her and the boys are high kicking down a flight of stairs only to find the stairs aren't complete and they have to man handle her off the set?

[BBMmk2]

Everything he touched, seemed like gold.

[cloughie]

Everything he touched, seemed like gold.

[Barbirollians]

Great conductor IMO in particular in Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and Walton and a supreme accompanist in concertos .

[bluestateprommer]

There is indeed a review of Previn's new song cycle, Lyrical Yeats, which he wrote for Renee Fleming, from DPS in the Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/arts/renee-fleming-premieres-andre-previns-first-rate-new-song-cycle-20171016.html

"Previn’s Lyrical Yeats cycle belongs in a more intimate setting. The composer’s highly personal, sometimes-conversational vocal lines insist on being enjoyed at closer range than this large-hall recital allowed. They’re nothing fancy: A great fan of Irish literature in general and W. B. Yeats in particular, Previn believes in setting one syllable to each note — no coloratura ever — with music that here zeroed in on the essential content, especially in “Brown Penny” and “When You Are Old.” Only “The Fiddler of Dooney” had anything so obvious as a Celtic accent (and then only a slight one).

Also, Previn delights in trick endings that take you to unexpected places, but not for the sake of novelty. Though sentimentality makes me want to say that he’s writing some of his best music at 88, I really do believe — in the case of Lyrical Yeats — it’s true."

Just for the record, the Kimmel Center in Philly has its main hall (Verizon Hall), where the Philadelphia Orchestra performs, and a much smaller recital hall (Perelman Theater). Fleming sang in Verizon Hall, per DPS' review; hence DPS' reference to the need for a "more intimate setting" for the song cycle.

[Barbirollians]

I enjoyed his violin concerto when it came out and bought the recording but admit it has not reappeared in the CD very often since .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The RCA/CBS Recordings

Due out in five weeks - 55CDs at around £2.19 each, with free P&P.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D51864Y

Too many duplications for me (and quite a lot of stuff I don't particularly want) - but a wider selection of repertoire than I for one had realized he'd recorded.

[PJPJ]

Due out in five weeks - 55CDs at around £2.19 each, with free P&P.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D51864Y

Too many duplications for me (and quite a lot of stuff I don't particularly want) - but a wider selection of repertoire than I for one had realized he'd recorded.

I hope there'll be another box with the early jazz recordings. Hallelujah! (1947)......

This can't be love

[BBMmk2]

Due out in five weeks - 55CDs at around £2.19 each, with free P&P.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D51864Y

Too many duplications for me (and quite a lot of stuff I don't particularly want) - but a wider selection of repertoire than I for one had realized he'd recorded.

That be worth getting for sure!

[cloughie]

Due out in five weeks - 55CDs at around £2.19 each, with free P&P.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07D51864Y

Too many duplications for me (and quite a lot of stuff I don't particularly want) - but a wider selection of repertoire than I for one had realized he'd recorded.

Annoying isn’t it!

[gurnemanz]

Some Previn favourites on my shelf:

Dvorák: Cello Concerto with Heinrich Schiff
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, Piano Concerto
Korngold: Film Music, Symphony, Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham
Messiaen: Turangalila Symphony
Poulenc: Concertos
Orff: Carmina Burana
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos with Vladimir Ashkenazy
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2
Chausson: Poème de l'amour et de la mer with Janet Baker
Grieg, Schumann: Piano Concertos with Radu Lupu
Walton: 1st Symphony, Cello Concerto with Yuri Bashmet