BaL 24.05.14: Beethoven Symphony no. 2 in D

[visualnickmos]

Slightly straying off-topic here; hope no-one objects. Here goes, anyway:

I've had a quick look at some comments on Krivine's LvB symphony set, and it really seems to be a complete 'Marmite' of a set! You know what I mean.
Pretty similar outcome regarding Skrowaczewski, as well..... I'm not sure what to make of LvB symphony sets right now. I own a few.

That said, I have a real hankering for Bernstein's set with the New York Philharmonic. Am I normal? Is it worth the punt?

[Nick Armstrong]

I do wish that when a work has a huge number of versions that more time could be allotted. I seem to remember that each component of the 'Ring' given a hour apiece.

Well, to be fair, we did get the full hour for this one, more or less..

My votes go to Cluytens ('vintage'): a set which continues to impress the more familiar it becomes; Hogwood ('historically-informed'); and Wand ('modern sound').

Alas, none of those was even mentioned, unless I missed something.

I thought this was an illuminating BAL about the symphony of LvB that I know least. I didn't think the dialogue spoilt it too much, possibly because I think RC and AMcG approach the subject from different perspectives - AMcG is clearly (based on listening over the years) a fan of the clean, modern approach, exemplified by the Paavo Järvi recordings about which he has enthused regularly. I bought one or two on the strength of seductive-sounding extracts (ditto Krivine and Immerseel) but have disposed of them all as lacking substance and (I thought) trivialising the music... so I was interested and glad to hear RC echo my feelings about that approach, referring to 'superficiality' I think. And then AMcG pressed him about this - don't you like the Jarvi? (or words to that effect)... and slightly disappointingly RC rowed back to a more equivocal (matey?) position of saying 'I like it ... but wouldn't prefer it to some others'...

There were one or two extracts which I found revelatory, although I can't now recall what they were ...



I think I shall give this one another listen

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have a real hankering for Bernstein's set with the New York Philharmonic.

That's a good hanker.

Am I normal?

Oh, I do hope not.

Is it worth the punt?

Yes.

[pastoralguy]

I spent an entire summer listening to every available version I could find of the 'Pastoral' symphony. I recorded them on to mini-disc and numbered them so that my listening would be truly blind and I listened to each one at least twice. I had two clear favourites - Bernstein with the NY Phil. and Bernstein with the Vienna Phil!

So yes Visual and Ferney, great hanker!

[visualnickmos]

That's a good hanker.


Oh, I do hope not.


Yes.

Three out of three - brilliant!

[cloughie]

Three out of three - brilliant!

Could even be a hanker chief!

[visualnickmos]

Could even be a hanker chief!

[richardfinegold]

Slightly straying off-topic here; hope no-one objects. Here goes, anyway:

I've had a quick look at some comments on Krivine's LvB symphony set, and it really seems to be a complete 'Marmite' of a set! You know what I mean.
Pretty similar outcome regarding Skrowaczewski, as well..... I'm not sure what to make of LvB symphony sets right now. I own a few.

That said, I have a real hankering for Bernstein's set with the New York Philharmonic. Am I normal? Is it worth the punt?

I haven't heard the Bernstein set, except for the 7th, in a dog's age. The 7th was my intro to that work and I have it in my collection and listen to it with pleasure. I remember the 6th as being to hard driven--I don't think Lenny was one to relax in the country--and the 9th as being somewhat over the top (but not compared to the performance he gave in Berlin when the Wall came tumbling down). I can't remember the rest of the set at all.

[Barbirollians]

skrowacewski ! Give me strength I heard enough boring Beethoven performances by him and the Halle in the 1980s to last me a lifetime

[verismissimo]

skrowacewski ! Give me strength I heard enough boring Beethoven performances by him and the Halle in the 1980s to last me a lifetime

[Alison]

Rob Cowan was very keen on thrust and I can understand his Skrowacewski selection. There are warm and tender qualities in this work which I didn't get from the chosen reading.

I happened to take down the later BPO/Abbado yesterday and didn't feel short changed in any department.

[BBMmk2]

I'm waiting to receive the complete Abbado/re-mastered LvB cycle soon!

[Barbirollians]

I am a big fan of the last Gunter Wand recording of the work , the LSO/Jochum and the Cluytens - no doubt all ignored .

[John Wright]

As if in response to this thread is was a treat for me driving home late this evening, Symphony 2, Haitink / LSO LIVE, uninterrupted on, ahem, ClassicFM

(at the same time R3 had Haitink/COE Symphony 6)