Andre Previn .... best recordings

maswot · February 17, 2009, 01:30:09 PM

Previn's Prokofiev symphonies were also usually quite good, as I recall, especially no. 1 with the LSO and 5 with San Francisco (if I recall correctly), and the ballets, of course. A couple of weeks ago I was listening to some of his Vaughan Williams (I have a mix of his RCA and Telarc recordings, and I find them all excellent.

vandermolen · February 18, 2009, 02:32:04 AM

I think that Previn is underrated these days.

My favourite recordings:

Shostakovich Symphony No 8 (LSO,EMI)

Shostakovich Symphony No 4 (Chicago SO, EMI)

Vaughan Williams: symphonies 2,3 and 8 (these are my favourite versions)

Rachmaninov: Symphony 3 (EMI)

Holst/Britten: Perfect Fool etc/ Sinfonia da Requiem (EMI)

Oddly enough I do not really like his much praised version of Walton's 1st Symphony - I don't think that the opening is as mysterious and tense as it should be.

Daverz · February 18, 2009, 09:18:09 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on February 18, 2009, 02:32:04 AM
Oddly enough I do not really like his much praised version of Walton's 1st Symphony - I don't think that the opening is as mysterious and tense as it should be.

What would be your choice for the Walton?

vandermolen · February 18, 2009, 09:30:19 AM

Quote from: Daverz on February 18, 2009, 09:18:09 AM
What would be your choice for the Walton?

I like the old ones by Boult and Sargent (neither available at the moment)

Otherwise the Mackerras LPO version is good (EMI) as is Ashkenazy (Decca) and Thomson (Chandos). There is a very good Arte Nova super-cheap one with Adrian Leaper and (surprisingly) the Orchestra of Grand Canary. The Karajan version on EMI Great Conductors is worth searching out and the premiere recording with Hamilton Harty is terrific (from the 1930s - was on Dutton).

If you want one I'd go for Ashkenazy or Thomson.

Daverz · February 18, 2009, 09:54:37 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on February 18, 2009, 09:30:19 AM
I like the old ones by Boult and Sargent (neither available at the moment)

I found the Sargent on an excellent EMI Odeon Lp on my last trip to L.A. Has it ever been on CD (I bet there was a Japanese release

). It is indeed excellent (though Walton is said to have privately preferred the Previn.) I'll have to look for the Boult.

Quote
If you want one I'd go for Ashkenazy or Thomson.

I got the Decca Double with Ashkenazy's symphonies for the Violin Concerto with Chung. I don't think I've actually listened to the symphonies yet!

vandermolen · February 18, 2009, 12:33:09 PM

Quote from: Daverz on February 18, 2009, 09:54:37 AM
I found the Sargent on an excellent EMI Odeon Lp on my last trip to L.A. Has it ever been on CD (I bet there was a Japanese release ). It is indeed excellent (though Walton is said to have privately preferred the Previn.) I'll have to look for the Boult.

I got the Decca Double with Ashkenazy's symphonies for the Violin Concerto with Chung. I don't think I've actually listened to the symphonies yet!

The Sargent has, to my knowledge, been available twice on CD (in the UK). Once on EMI Angel (with Previn's version of Symphony No 2 - this is the CD I have). It was also once on an HMV CD (only available from HMV shops then) with Crown Imperial I think. The Boult is very rare on a Pye CD (I got it second hand from the USA). The recording is a bit muffled but the performance is excellent.

Daverz · February 18, 2009, 12:48:06 PM

Quote from: vandermolen on February 18, 2009, 12:33:09 PM
The Sargent has, to my knowledge, been available twice on CD (in the UK). Once on EMI Angel (with Previn's version of Symphony No 2 - this is the CD I have).

Oh, duh, there it is on Amazon. I just ordered it.

J · February 18, 2009, 03:33:41 PM

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Previn's EMI Berlioz Requiem. It's riveting, - and received nothing but exceptional reviews.

eyeresist · February 18, 2009, 07:10:14 PM

val mentioned Ravel, reminding me I have an EMI disc of Previn with the RPO - the sound and performance are gorgeous, a real "hot cocoa" affair. Sadly, most Ravel doesn't hold my attention, which is why I forgot this!

Previn recorded Prokofiev symphony 7, as well as 1 and 5. I haven't heard any of this, as most of it is OOP (a lot of Previn seems to be that way).

vandermolen · February 19, 2009, 02:45:33 AM

Quote from: Daverz on February 18, 2009, 12:48:06 PM
Oh, duh, there it is on Amazon. I just ordered it.

Hope you enjoy it. Haitink's on EMI is also very good - unidiomatic in some ways but still excellent. Let us know what you think of the Sargent. I shall go and play it in a minute.

Nunc Dimittis · March 14, 2009, 12:04:14 AM

Quote from: B_cereus on February 16, 2009, 12:14:57 PM
also, any recommends for his best piano recordings?

as he was recognized by Phillips as among the Great Pianists of the 20th Century

For that, you should try his jazz recordings on the Contemporary label he did in the Us during the 50's and early 60's.

knight66 · March 15, 2009, 01:59:46 PM

Quote from: J on February 18, 2009, 03:33:41 PM
I'm surprised no one's mentioned Previn's EMI Berlioz Requiem. It's riveting, - and received nothing but exceptional reviews.

Me, too, it is excellent and has superb sound for its time. Another excellent disc is the Britten Spring Symphony. The best recording of the piece, I feel. He produced some Strauss tone poems. Heldenleben has a filler of Four Last Songs with the silver voiced Arleen Auger. The Vienna Phil sound marvelous, a very open recording with forward sound. It is a very different take on the songs from the many more famous recordings; but it is a gem.

The Carmina Burana is first rate, it has been mentioned. I also enjoy a number of his RVW symphonies. I got rid of the Romeo and Juliet in preference to the Maazel, which springs the rhythms more successfully.

Also; a really good Holst Planets with the Royal Philharmonic, very atmospheric.

Mike

MDL · March 15, 2009, 02:16:39 PM

I got to know Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony via Previn's LSO recording and it still sounds sensational.

Andre Previn .... best recordings

eyeresist