BaL 5.11.11 Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony

[Barbirollians]

I have not heard the Ashkenazy - I was very fond of his recording of the 7th though.

As for the Carlos Kleiber the recording quality is pretty ropey but I like the performance a lot. Very invigorating.

[Bryn]

I recall buying an LP of the Pastoral conducted by Boult back in my early youth. The purchase was made in Woolworths and the disc was of their own bargain basement label IIRC. The orchestra was named as something like the 'London Philharmonic Festival Orchestra'. It was a very fine recorded performance, as I recall.

Ah, this must be it, the 'Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra of London':

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphony-No-...9823718&sr=1-7

[Roehre]

As for the Carlos Kleiber the recording quality is pretty ropey but I like the performance a lot. Very invigorating.

The original recording has badly deteriorated. For the bits which were beyond repair a cassette tape in possession of the Kleiber family has been used. That explains the recording quality.
I think it is one of the most naturally developing and evolving pastorals, pity of that ropey recording indeed.

[Colonel Danby]

I think that we all have a soft spot for our earliest purchases in classical music: I still play Colin Davis's account of the "Pastoral" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but I will always plump for Roger Norrington on EMI Reflexe: this is an excellent issue that I always return to. It will be interesting to hear our critic's choice tomorrow, but I reckon it will be probably be Kleiber. Just a hunch...

[Alison]

No mention of the Rattle version there, Colonel ...

[Colonel Danby]

Well of course I do have the Rattle VPO live recording, Alison, as part of his complete cycle (I mean, who doesn't?) but I have a passion for period instruments, and I rather like Roger the Dodger (I know that I'm in a minority on this one): his accounts are occasionally wayward, but nevertheless always exciting. Norrington for me...(but I know that he will not get the nod in tomorrow's morning's show, I betcha...).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think that we all have a soft spot for our earliest purchases in classical music: I still play Colin Davis's account of the "Pastoral" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, but I will always plump for Roger Norrington on EMI Reflexe: this is an excellent issue that I always return to. It will be interesting to hear our critic's choice tomorrow, but I reckon it will be probably be Kleiber. Just a hunch...

Actually, it's a week tomorrow.
The period instrument Norrington version I can accept, as it strives to get the work back to its roots. But his Stuttgart performances are historical nonsense. But if some people like it...

[antongould]

I'm I hallucinating or did the Dodger's Virgin Classics Box set once get a BAL recommendation?

[Bryn]

A view with rather less hysterical nonsense than was posted at 21:09

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=6291

[Barbirollians]

Quite possibly - in the late 80s he was raved about.

I played his Pastoral to a friend and then followed it with the Bohm - their response as a neophyte was to say it was like following a sketch with the finished painting.

I think he had a point.