The Symphony
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Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 12:48
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Topic: The Symphony
Posted By: presdoug
Subject: The Symphony
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 12:45
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Thought i'd start a thread for specifically The Symphony, those by any composer, from any period, and interpreted by any orchestra or conductor.
I have over 1,000 recordings of symphonies, ranging from Haydn to Shostakovitch. Symphonies are something that i devote a lot of my listening time to, and are for me, the pinnacle of musical expression. My favorites are the towering edifices of composer Anton Bruckner, especially his last three ones, with his 8th Symphony being the greatest one ever written by anybody, imho. Bruckner's 8th expresses for me the inexpressible, and it is hard for me to put into words what it signifies for me. As far as interpreters of symphonies go, i am almost exclusively an Historical recordings collector (before 1960) with my focus mainly on the 1930s and 40s, with a whole host of conductors like Furtwangler, Walter, Koussevitzky, Beecham, Barbirolli, Abendroth, Schuricht, Stokowski, Monteux, Knappertsbusch, Mengelberg, van Beinum, etc. Other favorite symphony composers of mine besides Bruckner include Mahler, Beethoven, Sibelius, Elgar, Brahms, Haydn, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss. I would love to hear from other members who love symphonies! |
Replies:
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 14:33
| ^ I pretty much buy recordings as I see them. Just curious what the benefit is of doing only historical recordings? |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 15:04
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Historical recordings often give performances that have way more emotion, spirit and depth than what is more current. Conductors like Furtwangler, Toscanini and Bruno Walter brought out so much more "soul" in their recordings than anybody from a more modern position. There are several reasons for this being so.
Conductors from, let's say, 75 or more years ago, had much more time to rehearse with a given orchestra than is the practice today, therefore they were more able to stamp their individuality in their performances. Therefore, you had "the Stokowski sound", or the "the Toscanini sound". Too many conductors and orchestras of today sound like each other. Also, in some cases, these conductors and orchestra members from decades ago had the benefit of knowing how a great composer would approach his own music in interpretive method, thus knowing the music of a composer more directly. Seeing and hearing Mahler or Bruckner or Wagner or Elgar conduct and direct an orchestra that they could hear and be a part of directly. Or even just knowing people who did was a great learning experience for an emergent conductor, musician or singer. There are, of course, modern symphony composers who teach to today's orchestras, but they do not hold a candle to the past masters of the 19th or early to mid 20th Centuries. I do sometimes listen to a bit of non-historical recordings, but not much. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 15:13
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I have a small collection of Haydn, Mozart, & Beethoven symphonies. Also had a vinyl Herbert Von Karajan conducted performance of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and "Night on Bald Mountain". ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 15:19
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The.Crimson.King wrote:Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 16:46
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I can't call myself an expert, but I do really appreciate the Symphony as a form. My favorite is probably (cue troll face) Messiaen's "Turangalila Symphonie" which I didn't necessarily discover on the "symphony" train of thought. In terms of traditional symphonies, however, none of them do it for me like Brahms 3. Shostakovich 8 is also one of my favorites. I recently bought a 10 CD Set of Brahms Symphonies and other works. I don't remember all of the conductors on it, but Herbert Von Karajan was one of them. I also recently bought scores for all of Brahms' symphs, as well as Shostakovich 8, and Messiaen's "Poemes Pour Mi." There really isn't anything like reading along with your favorite pieces. If you can read music at all, I would recommend it. I plan to do some heavy analysis on the scores, too, once they arrive. |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 18:35
| Thanks for the explanation presdoug, been curious about that point of view for a while. As for myself, I own plenty of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Shostakovich, and Mahler (from various box sets) as well as some Bruckner and others on individual discs. The praise Brahms has been getting around here lately has me curious about him. |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 19:49
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Thanks for starting a great thread, Doug! Boy do I have a lot to learn (and experience)! With no musical training but a lot of interest and innate curiosity, Mozart and the "Baroque" composers before him were the easiest for me to get into. I was able to evolve my ear and brain into the Classical Period (Beethoven is great), then the Romantics and Impressionists. Chopin then Brahms. Brahms' 3rd (and 4th) have spoken to me like no other(s). As for modern composers, I've listened with fascination if little comprehension and enjoyment--except for the "Minimalist" composers. Those I get, appreciate and enjoy. For some reason, the 12-note chromatic scale is hard on my ear; I do much better with keys. Plus, I know in my heart and soul that major seventh chords and harmonic overtones sing to me with the greatest joy and meaning. I love learning. I'm also just getting into the joy and appreciation of hearing the differences between various conductors' and orchestras' interpretations of composers' works. Von Karajan v. Bernstein v. Toscanini v. Fürtwangler v. Szell v. Walter v. Barbiroli--it's fascinating. I read so much praise for Leonard Bernstein (as a conductor) but whenever I hear his compositions I can only hear West Side Story! Is that weird?! It has definitely biased me against him. (0ne can only take so much West Side Story!) And I always thought Von Karajan a god because he was so prolific, had an orchestra with such great reputation, and published on the amazing Deutsche Gramophon label. Now it turns out I may have been wrong on all accounts! ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 20:56
 I don't know how to read music, but i think i will learn, and it would be fascinating to read along with a score. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 21:03
Some of my other favorite symphonies happen to be Beethoven Sym. 5,7,9 Berlioz-Symphony Fantastique and The Funeral and Triumphal Symphony Mahler Sym. 1,4,7,and 9 Elgar Sym. 1 and 2 Richard Strauss-Domestic Symphony and Alpine Symphony Shostakovitch Sym. 5, 10 Tchaikovsky Sym. 4,5,6 |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 21:11
I took to the Late Romantic period right away, and later developed an appreciation for earlier music. I find classical music appreciation is like anything else, the more time and effort one puts into it, the greater the reward. Yay! |
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 21:14
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^Symphonie Fantasique is my favorite ever symphony. Pure genius! I also really like Haydn, Sibelius, Bruckner, Mendelssohn and of course Beethoven.
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 21:19
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Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: August 17 2013 at 21:21
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I never could get into Haydn. Or Mozart. Or anything else in the Classical Era. I've been able to appreciate all periods of classical music except that one. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 01:23
I have the complete orchestration for Mozart's Don Giovanni and it's the most fun I've ever had reading along with a score  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 13:03
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Posted By: Mr. Mustard
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 15:33
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Tchaikovsky's 4th and 6th, Dvorak's 9th, and of course Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, and 9th are my favorites. Not really a fan of classical symphonies, though some of Mozart's late stuff (40, 41) is good. As far as conductors, a very large proportion of my recordings are done by Karajan, so I lack knowledge about a lot of others. ------------- 
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 16:21
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^i love Dvorak's 9th, as well as his 7 and 8th.
I think the last three Mozart symphonies are his most striking works. Sir Thomas Beecham worked wonders with the Mozart ones, and also did a very beautiful recording of Dvorak's 8th. |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 16:41
I love Mozart, he is one of my top composers, so I certainly encourage you to explore his works. But I have this to say on the note of "What's all the fuss" ... except for the academic approach (which doesn't help anyone but future composers), the fuss is always generated by the following: A lot of people like him. I like Mozart a lot because I like his compositions, but if you don't, there's nothing magical or different about them than anything you do like
 |
Posted By: The Neck Romancer
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 16:57
Turangalîla is awesome! I particularly love Alfred Schnittke's Third (the electric guitar and brass part in the third movement's introduction gives me goosebumps)... ... along with Gustav Mahler's Second... ... and (recently deceased) Dutilleux's First: ------------- 
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Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: August 18 2013 at 17:22
On another note, I usually appreciate more modern recordings over older ones. While I respect the "soul" in the older recordings, I often find I am missing out on the sonic depth of the orchestrations. Anyone feel the same way? |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 20 2013 at 21:04
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I've been delving back into the Beethoven symphonies conducted by Bruno Walter with the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestras. They are in a complete cycle on the Music and Arts label that i would highly recommend.
What a delight! |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: September 01 2013 at 10:57
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I came back from Montreal with some INCREDIBLE symphony recordings, i am so excited listening to them.
Bruno Walter Farewell concert with the Vienna Phil. with Schubert 8 and Mahler 4 (live '60) Bruckner 3 with Karl Bohm (studio '71) Mahler 2 with Carl Schuricht (live '58) These performances are all exemplary, and i would recommend them to anyone-all the sensitivities in these works are brought out in a lovely way. |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 01 2013 at 23:17
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I am really enjoying the classical education I'm receiving via threads like this as well as my "PROG VS. THE WORLD" polls. Just listened/watched on YouTube to five different versions of Brahms' first piano concerto and have been listening to Olivier Messiaen today/tonight. Amazing stuff! That Turangalîla-Symphonie is INCREDIBLE!! I've got to hear it again and again! Wow! ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: October 25 2013 at 20:52
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Sony has just released a budget box set of the Tchaikovsky symphonies with Eugene Ormandy. I was listening to No. 1 at the store today, and it sounds wonderfull.This set includes the Manfred Symphony and the Symphony No. 7 in E flat.Also included are the Piano Concertos and other orchestral works. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: October 31 2013 at 08:20
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I just picked up an lp set of the last six symphonies of Mozart, conducted by the late Sir Thomas Beecham. These were recorded in the early fifties for Columbia, and have never made it onto CD, but reissued on this CBS Odyssey label. Beecham is the perfect conductor for Mozart, his way of interpreting music just right for a composer such as this. All the delight and wonder and elegance in the orchestral texture and phrasing are there, in spades! Highly recommended. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 01 2013 at 20:40
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Attention: Shostakovich fans. Today, i just heard for the first time Arturo Toscanini's NBC Symphony broadcast recordings of Sym. 1 and 7, and they are stunning! He goes deep into the score, and brings out all you can imagine in these works. Something i am going to return again and again, i tell you. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 18 2013 at 17:07
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This week, i heard for the first time what for me are definitive versions of the two student, un-numbered symphonies of Anton Bruckner, the Symphony 00, and the Symphony 0. Sym. 00-Elyakum Shapirra conducting the London Symphony Orchestra (1972) Sym. 0-Henk Spruit conducting a mix of a couple of Dutch orchestras (1952) Both are available as free downloads at John F. Berky's abruckner.com site. The propulsive force and orchestral texture of both recordings are exemplary. Highly recommended. |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: November 18 2013 at 23:19
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I am a poor man
I haven't wealth nor fame I have my two hands And a house to my name And the winter's so And the winter's so long... Sorry, can't afford it.  ------------- |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: January 31 2014 at 20:34
| Just heard (again) a great Bruckner Symphony 8 recording with Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival in 1967-it is intense and luminous-one of the very best Bruckner-Karajan of all time. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 16:56
Hi Doug, I'm glad to find this topic you created, just found it by case and no doubt I'll come back here often, it's just nice for me to check out the comments and suggestions here because since my childhood up to date I've known very very little about symphonies - I only know Brahms' Symphonies 3 and 4, which I enjoy very much, and the nine Beethoven's symphonies, which I love. It would be wonderful to have the privilege of listening to the incomplete Beethoven's 10th, that one he could not conclude. From Beethoven I feel his majestic "symphonic vein" even when I listen to his Concerts for Piano, what a delightful experience I have! I agree with you - the symphony is the pinnacle of musical expression, unfortunately Chopin never composed any symphony, I like very very much his compositions. But I was always curious about these other composers from the Romantic and Classic Eras, so I'll give a break to prog right now and begin to download the symphonies mentioned here from Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Strauss, Mahler, Berlioz, Bruckner, Haydn, etc. I'm sure it will be a long and fabulous journey of superb discoveries, as the Classical Music world is for me the most fascinating. But to be honest these masterpieces are not worth of being achieved in ".mp3 files"... Hence it will be so nice when I get to buy their CDs recorded by Deutsche Grammmophon for instance. Thanks again for this great thread, I was feeling the lack of an exclusive Classical Music topic in this Forum. -------------  "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 17:12
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Presdoug, what do you find interesting about older recordings? I can tell you, besides the obvious sound quality difference, hearing older recordings has its magic in some cases but not always for me. To be able to sit through a mono, full of hiss and noise recording it really has to be something else, think Furtwangler conducting Beethoven's 9th (not the classical EMI recording - which I love - but his 1954 one available in many editions including a Tahra one), but unless is something like that, I suffer with mono recordings. Also, of course the fact that my biggest passion in music is Bach (with Handel very close) doesn't help: baroque performance practices have certainly improved IMO and I usually much prefer HIP versions rather than grotesque romanticized ones (with some exceptions like Klemperer's slower-than-hell bnut out-of-this-Earth St Matthew Passion). For Bruckner, I could never go without my Jochum, Karajan, Tinter, and specially, Wand. Same for Shostakovich. As I said, mono recordings have to be of really extraordinaire performances to make me rush to them. ------------- 
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 21:02
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 21:20
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 21:25
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^Yet, i also like the sheer allure of the music in someone like Beecham, or the magisterial and granitic approach of Klemperer, as well. (I love Klemperer's Messiah recording) |
Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: February 04 2014 at 21:50
| I'm a fan of that giant, impressive sound that the symphony is supposed to have, which is why I like more modern recordings as they catch the intricacies of the orchestration much better. But conducting doesn't cross my mind as often as composition, specifically orchestration. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 08:55
 but it is hold together so magnificently. On Beecham, don't get me started on his uber-atrocious Messiah recording using Goosens ridiculous version... -------------
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 11:45
This thread passed me by. Say Doug are looking for a way to write your symphony? nudge nudge  BTW, on a serious note, if you want to try something really modern, Joe Jackson's Symphony No. 1 is pretty good. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 16:34
I did not know Joe Jackson wrote a symphony. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 05 2014 at 16:36
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Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: February 15 2014 at 13:20
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Hi Doug, finally i get to know another majestic masterpiece that cannot miss in anyone's symphony collection - Anton Bruckners' Symphony No.8, both it's grandeur and it's superbly strengthy style remind me Beethovens' and also Brahms', even though i felt this symphony's movements flowing in kind of a slower pace. But the more i listen to this Bruckner's Symphony the more i enjoy it. I'd like to make here a special mention also to Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No.9, 'From the New World', I enjoyed it and maybe, as happened to me, many people have already listened at least once it's last movement without knowing which is that and who composed it. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 15 2014 at 20:53
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^hey, Ric, right on. It took me decades of listening to Bruckner's 8th to fully grasp it's deep message and inner meaning, and the whole journey has been a wonderfull experience. One of my favorite recordings of it is with Bruno Walter conducting the New York Phil. in '41. I also love Dvorak's 9th, especially moving for me is the recording conducted by the late Ferenc Fricsay and the Berlin Philharmonic, which is the first version of that wonderful symphony i ever heard. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 08:55
Joe is best known for his pop music but occasionally he delves into prog territory. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 20:33
Thanks Doug, i'll take in account the conductors you mentioned here. Today i've been searching for a good recording of Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique, unfortunately didn't find yet any conducted by Beecham, Walter, Munch or Monteux, only found by Igor Markevitch, Boulez and Riccardo Muti, who maybe is one of the most contemporary conductors, isn't he?. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 17 2014 at 21:09
| ^Yeah, Muti and Boulez I would say both typify the newer ways of conducting. Interesting you mention Markevitch, he is an interesting figure, sort of transitional between old school and new school. His early fifties recording of the Fantastique on DG with the Berlin Phil. is quite good. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: February 20 2014 at 10:05
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hey Doug, just one more delightful experience has been listening to the whole Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique... indeed stunning. After listening to its second movement (Un bal - A ball), i just wondered how much propicious would it be the romantic atmosphere of that days to inspire a specially talented composer like Berlioz in order to compose this brilliant symphony. My musical journey of listening to these symphonies has been indeed the most amazing i ever experienced ! Cheers my friend... ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 20 2014 at 12:06
| ^wonderful to hear that Ric, the Fantastique is truly fantastic! Wait till you hear it with Beecham or Monteux,if you can locate those recordings. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 20 2014 at 13:06
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Ricardo Muti has a glorious Fantastique that is actually very cheap. One of the best. -------------
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 20 2014 at 13:21
| ^He made an interesting Bruckner 4th. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: February 20 2014 at 13:27
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Bruckner is a difficult composer to bring to live. In the wrong hands, his gigantic, cathedralesque structures can get hard to understand and the wrong pace can kill them. But in the hand of specialists (and I think Bruckner is a specialist-conductor composer) he's one of the best, and in my view, second symphonist ever only behind Ludwig. -------------
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Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: February 21 2014 at 21:08
I agree. I love so much Bruckner's "albums", even more than Beethoven's. My fav is Symphony No. 0; I own a LP released in 1979 on Deutsche Grammaphon, conducted by Daniel Barenboim; I bought that vynil LP in early 80s but I can't find now that version on YouTube. Doesn't metter because https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_M9IIus1l4" rel="nofollow - this one is awesome version too. Aside of No.0, I have all of his "albums" released on Μелодия (Melodya). edit: my second fav of Bruckner's amazing symphonies is his third symphony. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 22 2014 at 06:21
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^^For me, Bruckner is the greatest symphonist of all time. And though i agree in part about specialists being suited to Bruckner, you would be surprised how great are the recordings made by conductors who make for strange bedfellows with his music- 7th-Sir Thomas Beecham-RPO 8th-Dr. Serge Koussevitzky-BSo 6th-Leonard Bernstein-NYP 7th-Charles Munch-BSO 7th-Arturo Toscanini-NYP P.S. this is my post 5000! |
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: February 22 2014 at 08:02
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The symphony is one of my favorite musical forms in classical music. Quite crazy about Dvorak's 9th. I grew up with the version of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with the conductor István Kertész. Also been favorite: Beethoven's 5th and 9th. I heard several good versions of them. Mozart's Symphony no. 40 is also a favorite, especially the first movement. Then I would like to mention Bruckner's 4th Symphony, especially the first movement I like a lot. I grew up with the version of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sir Georg Solti. And then I must mention Schubert's Unvollendete and Tschaikowsky's Symphonie Pathetique. My aim is to try out more Bruckner, Brahms, Sibelius and Vaughan Williams symphonies. To start with. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 22 2014 at 10:34
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^That's interesting. Kertesz made a couple of great recordings of the Bruckner 4th , one studio and one live. Another example of a conductor not really that connected to that composer that did a great job of his music. Never heard the Solti Bruckner 4th. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: February 22 2014 at 17:36
Hi Doug, no way, i'm finally giving up searching for a recording of that fantastic symphony conducted by Beecham or Monteux, anyway i'm enjoying even more the version conducted by Igor Markevitch. In other news, I think you already have this rarity: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.9, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Bruno Walter, The HMV Recording, made "LIVE" in Vienna, 1938. This has been the first version of a Mahlers' symphony that i just happen to know, and the more i listen to its subtleties, the more i'm enjoying this symphony, another masterpiece! by the way it's usual when being from these classical celebrities... ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: February 22 2014 at 21:33
| ^That's awesome about the Mahler, Ric. Also great is Bruno's studio recording of the 9th with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, and Jascha Horenstein's recording from '52. |
Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: March 05 2014 at 19:33
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I might have to agree about symphonies being the pinnacle in many ways. Mozart and Beethoven are the greatest by far, for me. Bruckner 8 is amazing (thanks for this), but most romantic symphonies I've heard strike me as bloated and inadequate, which kills me seeing as it's the biggest period for symphonies. Perhaps it's too much for most composers to handle. I like Brahms and Dvorak though, and Vaughan Williams although I'm not sure I've heard symphonies from him. I wish I liked Schubert more than I do. I do enjoy Haydn. For a guy who can't stand Mahler, and given the above, could anyone recommend symphonies? |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 13:37
| I would recommend Sir Edward Elgar's three symphonies. Sorry I took so long to respond. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 20:28
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Hi Doug, It was always an intense and deep delight listening to many of the Beethoven's sentimental compositions. And for a particular strong temper present in quite a few of them (as expected for his explosive temperament), i considered them as being, let's say, somewhat like a "heavy metal" of the classical music, until i get to know some of the Bruckner's Symphonies - i take my hat off to him, even having listened only to the 3, 4 and 8, enjoying particularly his deployment of every single integral element of the orchestra to produce these majestic symphonies, such is the grandeur of these compositions. It has been a very especial musical journey indeed, by the way the Classical Music listening journey which i am just begining again has always been especially of such a deeply delightful experience that i hardly could find in prog or other genre, and it will always be of timeless spirit. As a next step just now i'm looking forward to listen to the Bruckner's Fifth Symphony (Karajan - Berliner Philharmoniker, 1976), but i'll keep on looking for a recording conducted by Knappertsbusch, as you suggested. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 21:27
| ^Wonderfull, Rick. The Karajan Bruckner 5 is great. So glad to hear you discovering more Bruckner. Another great Bruckner 5 is with the Hamburg Philharmonic under Eugen Jochum from 1938. And also Knappertsbusch from the 1950s. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 21 2014 at 15:26
| I have dozens and dozens of classical cd's. Among my most recent purchases was a complete Mahler symphony set conducted by Bernstein, Shostakovich's Symphonies 1 & 7 also conducted by Bernstein and the complete symphonies of Vaughan Williams conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Bruckner is definitely one of my favorite composers and I have a complete set of his symphonies conducted by Eugen Jochum which was recorded in the 50s & 60s. I have had vintage recordings from the 30s & 40s before but the sound was always a turnoff for me. I prefer my recordings to be in modern stereo instead of mono. I like George Szell's recordings of Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Mendelssohn & Schubert. He really brought a fiery passion to his recordings which I like. I also have Munch's recording of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Outstanding! |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 21 2014 at 16:31
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^Welcome. An interesting perspective. I love Munch in the Fantastique, especially with the Paris Orchestra (1967) I have that Eugen Jochum set, and quite like it. I quite like Szell, and have his Beethoven cycle, and Bruckner 3, 7 and 8, and also some R. Strauss pieces-awesome! |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 21 2014 at 17:10
| Szell was a great Strauss conductor for sure. His recording of Don Quixote, Don Juan and the Horn Concerto is very good. I would also recommend Evgeny Mravinsky's recording of Tchaikovsky's symphonies 4, 5 & 6. You won't believe this is the same composer who wrote Swan Lake & the Nutcracker! This recording absolutely smokes! |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 26 2014 at 20:49
| I just had an incredibly moving experience listening to the first movement of Mahler's 9th conducted by Otto Klemperer on EMI Studio. It was breathtaking and such an experience that no one should be without! |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 10:48
| I've heard Klemperer's Mahler 9th and totally agree with you. It's so monumental! I wish Klemperer would've recorded more Mahler since he had such an affinity for him. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 12:10
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^I was so moved by it, I cried.
I also like his Mahler 2,4,and 7. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 16:24
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Klemperer's Mahler 2nd is a landmark recording, no doubt about it. Klemperer was a pretty good conductor. I especially like his way with Bach. Those who prefer their baroque performed with small ensembles and on period instruments will certainly run screaming out of the room! Are you familiar with Eine Alpensinfonie from Richard Strauss? So powerful and majestic! |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 16:47
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Yes, Klemperer is really something, I also love his Bruckner and Beethoven symphony recordings. I love EineAlpinesinfonie, especially the recordings with Karl Bohm and Strauss himself. Oh, and Karajan's one as well. It is a sublime work. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 10:42
| Totally agree. The version I have is Karajan's who excelled in Strauss. I don't typically go for Karajan recordings as there are generally too lush sounding for my taste, but the lushness actually works beautifully in Strauss. Bohm was a great Strauss conductor as well, but I have not heard any recordings from Strauss himself. Klemperer's Beethoven recordings are legendary. I like how heavy & gothic they sound. The 6th is one of the best I have ever heard. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 10:50
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We should do our lists of favorite symphonists. For me: 1. L. v Beethoven 2. A. Bruckner 3. D. Shostakovitch And, in no clear order: R. Schumann, J. Brahms, J. Sibelius, P. Tchaikovsky, G. Mahler, A. Borodin, A. Dvorak, and so many, many more. But my "desert island" symphonists are the three above. -------------
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Posted By: The T
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 10:53
, but it is unique, profound, solemn, glorious, and manages to survive among the sea of HIP performances. -------------
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Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 11:14
My top 10 are:
1. Beethoven (naturally
 )2. Brahms
3. Mahler
4. Vaughan Williams
5. Bruckner
6. Dvorak (symphonies 6-9)
7. Nielsen
8. Haydn (the London Symphonies)
9. Tchaikovsky (symphonies 4-6)
10. Sibelius
Of course Schubert, Schumann, Mozart, Shostakovich, Borodin, Berlioz & Franck all wrote excellent symphonies as well. On any given day my favorites will change.
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 11:15
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my top three symphonists are 1) A. Bruckner 2) H. Berlioz 3) R. Strauss and also Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Elgar, Sibelius, Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovitch are up there below those three for me. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 16:16
| Are you familiar with the symphonies of Rued Langgaard? They're pretty amazing and actually rather proggy. Definitely modern. Charles Ives is another modern composer I like, but he is more of an acquired taste. Ives incorporates a lot of American folk music and spirituals into his music which I find quite fascinating. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 16:23
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^I've never even heard of Langgaard. Are there historical recordings of his symphonies? (knowing me) I love Charles Ives symphonies, especially the first two, I have the world premiere recording of the 1st with Morton Gould conducting, fabulous, and am looking for the 2nd with Bernard Herrmann conducting, which is hard to find. I also like his "Holidays Symphony" Have you heard any of Roy Harris's symphonies? Or my fellow Canadian Healey Willan? They are quite striking, but overlooked. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 17:17
| I've heard of Roy Harris and he is quite good I must say, but I am not familiar with Healey Willan. I'll have to investigate him. Any recommendations? I'm not aware of any historical recordings of Langgaard. His symphonies were neglected for decades and were quite obscure and have only recently been recorded (that I know of). He is in the same vein as Sibelius and Nielsen though more progressive I would say. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: March 29 2014 at 07:32
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I would recommend Willan's 2nd Symphony. There are a couple of really good recordings of it done in Canada, one with the superb conductor Karel Ancerl and I think the Toronto Symphony (but haven't seen it on cd yet) and another recording on cd with Uri Mayer. I will check out Langgaard on youtube. |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: March 31 2014 at 09:50
| I listened to some Willan and he is quite good. A great recommendation! |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: April 05 2014 at 12:16
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Heribert Ritter von Karajan !!  http://www.warnerclassics.com/karajan-official-remastered-edition/news/1011" rel="nofollow - http://www.warnerclassics.com/karajan-official-remastered-edition/news/1011
------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: April 05 2014 at 12:48
^ Happy Birthday Karajan! 
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: April 06 2014 at 10:51
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Posted By: Prog 74
Date Posted: April 12 2014 at 07:43
Glad to hear it. Try to check out his 8th symphony if you get a chance. Absolutely brilliant!
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Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: April 15 2014 at 10:10
| just listened for the first time in ages, Testament's release of Richard Strauss conducts Strauss the Last Concerts-his recording of the Domestic Symphony is energetic and vital, with sensitively done passages, as well. Awesome! |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: May 03 2014 at 16:19
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The Three FANTASTIC Four ! Beethoven - Symphony Nș 4 (DG, BPO, Karajan, 1963) Brahms - Symphony Nș. 4 (BPO, Karajan, 1978) Bruckner - Symphony Nș 4 'Romantische' (BPO, Karajan, 1975): By now these are my favourite 3B symphony composers (don't know Bach's any symphony yet, if there are) - with a special mention to the indeed rich and heartfelt melodies of the Beethoven's Fourth, which touches me even more deeply than the others, maybe because i've already listened to it a thousand times, but I'm sure it will always catch me that intense and sublime way... So much unique music to know... so much magically inspired compositions to experience... I'll be forever grateful to this magic world of the classical music... ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 03 2014 at 16:50
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^hey, right on, Ric! I love all those 4ths as well, my fave Beethoven 4th being with Willem Mengelberg, Brahms 4th with Carl Schuricht, and Bruckner's 4th with Hans Weisbach. Karajan is sure great with those works, too. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 11 2014 at 13:01
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Heard something for the first time, recently, that i an ecstatic and excited about- Hermann Abendroth a Varsovie-German conductor doing Beethoven 3 and 7, and Mozart 40 live with the Warsaw Philharmonic-the performances are stunning! |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 25 2014 at 19:18
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Here is one of the great symphonies ever, by the greatest interpreter ever. |
Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: May 25 2014 at 19:29
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I'm a huge classical fan. My favorite symphonists are Shostakovich, Vaughan Williams, Sibelius, Martinu, Elgar, Myaskovsky, W. Schuman, and Nielsen. ------------- Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music. - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: May 25 2014 at 20:39
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Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: May 26 2014 at 07:07
Absolutely right Doug ! Arturo Toscanini is a fantastic conductor whose works I must know better, and the Beethoven's 5th is indeed one of the greatest wonders ever created by a human being. ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: August 09 2014 at 11:25
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I just heard a symphony recording, that has me so excited, it is a revelation! The recording being Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony conducted by Sir John Barbirolli with the Halle Orchestra recorded in 1959 on EMI. The recording is rivetting, and deeply moving-Barbiriolli does everything with it you can imaginably wish for, going very deep into the score. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: November 07 2014 at 16:34
There is another musician who deserves to be recalled here as one of the most prominent contemporary conductors:  His last cultural office was as the Artistic and Musical Director of the Orchestra Mozart, the recording below was released some days before his death on January 20th, and it was his last performance. At the time of this releasing it was being said that whenever Claudio Abbado and Martha Argerich made music performances together, something extraordinary happened! RIP Abbado!  ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: November 10 2014 at 04:31
| Any Carl Nielsen fans? His 4th has a great first two movements, but it kind of lost the plot for me somewhere in the third. Needs another listen at least though. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 12 2014 at 15:41
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^I like the 4th. I have a great recording of it done by Sir John Barbirolli. Haven't heard it for a long time, so it needs another listen here, too. |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: November 19 2014 at 20:25
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Just heard for the first time, Karl Bohm's Beethoven's 9th, from 1972, first movement, it is noble and grand, and dramatic sounding. Though not in Toscanini's or Furtwangler's league. |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: December 11 2014 at 15:49
Wow!.. Awesome indeed! ------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: December 11 2014 at 16:05
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Hey Doug, I've been so keen on Bruckner's music again... and as I told you, recently had acquired that Bruckner Symphony Nr.7 conducted by Karajan, so today I listened for the second time to the whole Bruckner Symphony Nr.7, oh man I'm glad to be already overwhelmed by another amazing travel through such profound emotions translated into an awesomely complex music!, as usual when it comes to Bruckner's music, such is the expressive power I find in his symphonies, often in such a stunningly dramatic form! Impressed too with the majestic second movement's groundbreaking melodies. It was unique the pleasing peace I felt after this awesome musical journey... to say the least., I'm very happy that another symphony of him is beginning to grow on me. Just can't wait to have my Bruckner 7th conducted by Knappertsbusch. Finished today's Bruckner journey listening to the 8th and 5th, such an incredible strength I find in them!... What a groundbreaking way that the 5th starts!, these perhaps my favourites, or rather being honest I guess I have to listen to all of them a thousand times in order to know which are my favourite(s), not to say for finding the most subtle differences between recordings .------------- "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB |
Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: December 11 2014 at 16:37
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Posted By: Argonaught
Date Posted: December 11 2014 at 16:55
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I am not sure about the performers, as in orchestras, soloists and conductors, but here is my list: Ocean (No. 2) - A. Rubinstein New World Symphony - A. Dvorak No. 3 - C. Saint-Saëns No. 2 - J. Sibelius Jazz Symphony in 3 movements - B. Trotsyuk (in a nod to Stravinsky, apparently) (right here: https://www.gemm.com/store/VINYLUNIVERSE/item/ALL-UNION-RADIO-ESTRADA-SYMPHONY-ORCHESTRA-SILANTYEV-B-TROTSYUK-M-KAZHLAEV-I-STRAVINSKY-LP/1459572079) |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: December 11 2014 at 20:04
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