Blind Comparison: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

[mc ukrneal]

Y Group

I accidentally deleted most of my comments (grrrrrrrr) but had written down the order, so that is all there is this time - sorry! You'll laugh, but normally I don't write it down, but I wanted to keep track and be able to compare with the previous poster (whose second post I did start to read). I will include something really brief so that at least it is clear where my choices are coming from...

(Y6) C4 (waltz is nice, march had good impact)
(Y3) B1 (dreamy waltz with a nice lightness to it, march is straight-forward)
(Y2) A4 (loved sound impact in march, didn't really like the waltz, but not horrible)
(Y5) C3 (stylish waltz, march - slower is ok, but there has to be something gained by that, and I don't feel it here)
(Y4) B4 (bland waltz and heavier on the harp, which I don't mind except in the runs at the end you cannot hear anything (bad), while march is a bit better)
(Y1) A2 (middle of the road - nothing really stood out for me)

[TheGSMoeller]

Y Group

I accidentally deleted most of my comments (grrrrrrrr) but had written down the order, so that is all there is this time - sorry! You'll laugh, but normally I don't write it down, but I wanted to keep track and be able to compare with the previous poster (whose second post I did start to read). I will include something really brief so that at least it is clear where my choices are coming from...

Don't you growl at me! 

Thanks, Neal, for the votes and comments 

[madaboutmahler]

Always annoying when that happens, Neal! Thank you very much for your vote!

[Brian]

I'm going to the cinema and then later today I'll finally listen to my group. Is today still the deadline?

[madaboutmahler]

Today was the deadline? Ooops... must admit I had forgotten, sorry!

Let's make a new deadline, as I doubt all the voters will be able to return their votes by the end of today and we only have 2 votes so far. Will everyone be able to return their votes by Wednesday? (23rd Jan)

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for that, Daniel!

[Brian]

The movie theatre was closed on account of their computer system had broken down. So;

GROUP X

A1: In round 1, I wrote, "I wouldn't mind hearing more from this, but I also wouldn't mind not." My opinion is trending downwards. The waltz is far too square, slow, and plain-jane. In the march, I notice a slight slow-down at 12:01 for no good reason, but otherwise it goes A-OK without being remarkable or interesting. Definitely not what I'd choose to advance. 4 of 10; sixth and last

A5: This waltz is similarly competent and pleasant, but also similarly square and unsurprising. It benefits from being slightly faster than A1. The march starts off very well indeed, but then at the climaxes I start noticing decided wimpiness among the trumpets. It's good to hear the flutes at 22:00, but not because the brass is wimpy. Similarly, I love hearing the oboe at 25:20, but for the most part this one's not doing it for me. Another recording which I hadn't wanted to advance to this round, although the A recordings I did like are both in Group Y so they survived, at least! 5.5 of 10; fifth

B2: The heightened intensity is clear from the first bar. This is a waltz that really means it; warm-blooded, hyperromantic, and blessed with the optional cornet obbligato part. Spotlit harp but I can't say as I care after the dull first two recordings. The drumrolls at the start of the march reveal the sonic limitations and age, but the march itself is a mixed bag: some parts are excellent, some initial stages lag a little bit, and then right before the terminal clarinet recollection, the orchestra speeds up truly crazily.  8 of 10; second

B6: Bubbly waltz, absolutely correct tempo, and another one with the cornet obbligato. Weirdly non-resonant timpani to start the march. Overall, perfectly average. I may be starting to reach burnout. 7 of 10; fourth

C2: Another very, very competent waltz that hits every mark exactly where it should be and offers an ideal balance of cornet. Hard to argue against. The march is similarly excellent: while it never reaches feverish, sweaty nightmare realms, it's perfectly executed and I love the snarly sounds of the lower brass. Probably the best of the playing-it-straight interpretations. Man, those trombones. Definitely deserves to advance. 8.5 of 10; first

C5: Atrocious sound quality! This bodes well, because all my favorites so far have been truly ancient recordings. This is by far the fastest of the waltzes, and it's lovely but maybe a little too empty, if that makes sense. WHOA! This march is CRAZY! Oh my gosh. I don't know if I like it yet, but it is really remarkably Different. In a weirdness kind of way. Definitely prefer this to some of the same-old-same-old performances, but there is no way this would be my first choice. Or second. ...but maybe third. 7.5 of 10; third

C2
B2
C5
B6
A5
A1

[madaboutmahler]

Sorry to hear about the movie theatre, Brian. Thank you very much for your vote!

[aukhawk]

I don't know why the links between the Y group and the original ABC group ID's weren't apparent to me as they obviously are to others (and I was happy not knowing them anyway  ) - but assuming the links in Neal's vote are correct, I've updated my Y group vote upthread, to show them.

[TheGSMoeller]

I don't know why the links between the Y group and the original ABC group ID's weren't apparent to me as they obviously are to others (and I was happy not knowing them anyway  ) - but assuming the links in Neal's vote are correct, I've updated my Y group vote upthread, to show them.

I'm not sure, aukhawk. Send Daniel a PM and maybe he can sort it out for you. 

[Sergeant Rock]

1 - C3 I think I know who this is. I like it even though the march could have more drama, more punch. The waltz is intensely beautiful. Perhaps too mannered for the ballroom, but utterly lovely. The cornets in the waltz, and the repeat in the march, help make this number 1.

2 - A2 Love the ballroom feel; a real waltz here, played at a danceable tempo. A pity the recording doesn't have better sound; a bit muffled with slightly boomy timps. The march slightly too fast for me, but just a tad slower than C4...which places it ahead.

3 - C4 This sounds like it could be a reference recording. Great timps but another fast march and missing what should be prominent and growling trombones. (None of the six marches in this group have the sonic impact of Norrington's period brass.)

4 -  B4 Good recording with, in general, lots of detail. I don't feel the dance; it's not an idiomatic waltz: played too straight with no rubato. Nice leisurely trudging tempo in the march but I can't believe they let the prisonier switch from the ox cart to Seabiscuit for the final furlong: it becomes a mad dash to the guillotine. I wouldn't be so eager for the blade    This has the best "execution" though: poignant and "realistic."

5 - B1 Nothing terribly wrong with it but seemed overall meh.

6 - A4 Both movements just too fast, verging on the manic. This guy isn't on opium but crystal meth 


Sarge

[aukhawk]

(None of the six marches in this group have the sonic impact of Norrington's period brass.)

True, that.

[TheGSMoeller]

And where's the Norrington/LCP disc at the moment? Oh yeah, sitting on the bench. (cue trumpet with plunger mute)

Great comments, everyone! Keep it up! 

[Sergeant Rock]

And where's the Norrington/LCP disc at the moment? Oh yeah, sitting on the bench. (cue trumpet with plunger mute)

Yeah, on the bench (where I helped put it  ), sitting beside Ticciati....which I've just heard in its entirety for the first time. Loved it. Superb sound.

Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

Yeah, on the bench (where I helped put it  ), sitting beside Ticciati....which I've just heard in its entirety for the first time. Loved it. Superb sound.

Sarge

Whew, I was getting nervous. But I'm ready to accept full credit for the recommendation. 

And I'm with you, I love the Norrington. Along with the Minkowski and Ticciati (Norrington and Minkowski could easily crack my top 5 SF recordings). Sad to see them out so quickly...but there are some great ones still around

[xochitl]

here's group Y:

Y2
Y4
Y5
Y1
Y6
Y3

[Sergeant Rock]

Results so far for Group Y

xochitl  Sarge  aukhawk  mc urkneal

A4         C3          A4             C4
B4         A2           B4             B1
C3         C4          C4             A4
A2         B4           A2             C3
C4         B1           B1             B4
B1         A4           C3             A2

[mc ukrneal]

Results so far for Group Y

xochitl  Sarge  aukhawk  mc urkneal

A4         C3          A4             C4
B4         A2           B4             B1
C3         C4          C4             A4
A2         B4           A2             C3
C4         B1           B1             B4
B1         A4           C3             A2

What really strikes me is how similar xochitl and Aukhawk are and how nearly opposite you and I are on this piece. I think we are nearly at maximum opposite, and only by your swapping C4 and B4 will we get any futher apart. This may be good news for us - always good to find someone's opinion who is totally similar or totally different (and I didn't like ticciati at all either). We'll see if this was just luck or not in the next round.

[madaboutmahler]

Thank you for your vote! (I like your choices very much ) Very interesting variety in the results so far!

I imagine we'll have to extend the deadline a little further still? How many people think they can post their votes before tommorow? We particularly need Group X votes.

[Sergeant Rock]

What really strikes me is how similar xochitl and Aukhawk are and how nearly opposite you and I are on this piece.

Indeed. I''ve noticed too in past comparisons we've often been at opposite extremes. Definitely something to keep in mind when we recommend things to each other    Monkey Greg and I seem to have very similar taste (in past blind threads certainly). I don't know how he rates most of these Sf recordings, or how he'd rank them, but we do share a thing for Ticciati and Norrington.

Sarge