I owned quite a few of these back in the day. Since I just listened to the Egmont, it reminded me that I loved Lenny's performance of it.
The VPO/DGG recordings are Bernstein's later years. These re-makes have many examples of Bernstein at his most exaggerated, like his remakes of Sibelius 5th and 7th symphonies. In any case, my issue with the Columbia [later Sony] NYPO recordings is the variable sound quality. I suspect that a lot of the sonic issues have been ironed out in the recent mega-box reissues. The earlier "Eroica" recording was looser is conception and realization than the re-make. On the other hand, the 1964 NYPO recording of the 7th compares favorably with the 1970's VPO production in all respects, resulting in a competitive dead heat twixt the two, at the very top of the heap. Bernstein's DGG Beethoven cycle was earliest among the maestro's DGG recordings and are are the least mannered of Lenny's remakes. There's some Mahler from the later years stretched like taffy and a slo-mo rendition of the 'Enigma' Variations that must be heard to be believed.
I listened to Glazunov's Violin Concerto Op. 82 for the first time yesterday and I enjoyed it a lot. The cd that I listened to was with Oscar Shumsky and the Scottish National Orchestra/Neeme Jarvi (Chandos). Anyone familiar with this work? Are there any other recommended recordings?
I am envious of you living in Finland just because of all these metal records that must be available there!
I only enjoy Bernstein/NYPO recordings from Bernstein's early years, i.e. when he was the conductor ...
1939-10-28 with NBCSO--BBC Mus Mag from RCA 60269-2-RG (Mine is packed away, too, but I usually include such things in the folder name when I do my transfers.) Oh, and speaking of tipping hats, when I wrote I was remiss: I didn't credit Gilbert Rowland's attempted complete cycle on his own Keyboard label, spanning 25 or so LPs and on into two or three CDs, which expressly organized the sonatas in Kirkpatrick pairs/triptychs. What a pity he never finished that admirable project.
And I love this 2-CD set...red hot, no "taffy" here for sure though I do agree with Robin L's take on most of those DGG/Bernstein recordings.
Well, I wouldn't recommend Jose Serebrier, and the Russian National Orchestra with Rachel Barton. I think it is mostly because of Serebrier.
I know a number of you are into Toscanini. While I do have a number of recordings by Toscanini, including his Beethoven cycle, I still prefer Furtwangler over him ...
Now enjoying CD 01 of this set, my very first complete set of Haydn piano sonatas. Great piano sound coupled with nimble, fleet playing. A winner!
Shaham and Pletnev/RNO is my favorite performance of the Glazunov Concerto. It is on DG but OOP. Great sound. The Allegro Finale is a fun listen in that piece.
I listen to Lenny's slow stuff on occasion and wind up stopping most of them midstream. There is one exception-his VPO recording of the Sibelius First Symphony. I may be going overboard but that is one of my favorite orchestral recordings of all time. I agree.....his Enigma rendition must be heard at least once. I think it is a little too slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Uh-oh! I can't figure out what it is, but there is a noise is, like a "pop" or "click" sound, but it's on my set and two others that I tried from completely different sources. It can be easily heard intermittently throughout the set, but clearly heard on such movements as track 11, CD 01 and track 02, CD 02. Can folks who have this set please check and see if you hear the noise and can tell me what it is? It's on Spotify as well.
I am guessing you like the NYPO. I don't know, some Lenny fans are rabid over his later stuff. I have some of the box sets.
