Favourite Symphony 2

[kyjo]

An interesting thread (if I say so myself   )

Many interesting choices. I'm ashamed to say that I hardly know Mahler's Second Symphony but will listen to it again. I thought a live concert I attended of his Third Symphony a while back was terrific. Here is a new list:

Popov
Ben Haim
Bernstein
VW (1920 version)
Tubin
Rootham

I find Rootham's last ditch Second Symphony incredibly moving - many other of the choices here I like, including Honeggar, Glazunov, Scriabin, Bax, Elgar, Creston, Diamond and Sibelius. One new suggestion - Madetoja.

Mahler's 2nd is a great work, Jeffrey - I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I find the final five minutes or so to be among the most moving in all of music.

Interesting choices. I know the Ben-Haim 2nd from the ASO/Botstein download, where, at the end of the slow movement, someone yells "Cover your mouth" in response to a coughing audience member It's a fine work, reminiscent of RVW, if not particularly compelling IMO. I must check out the new CPO recording however. I do really like Ben-Haim's Symphonic Metamorphosis on a Bach Chorale, a lyrical and occasionally dark work which reminded me of Bliss' masterful Meditations on Theme by John Blow. I must check out Ben-Haim's 1st Symphony which sounds like it would be right up my street.

[Brian]

Rachmaninov
Brahms
Martinu
Borodin
Elgar
Dvorak

Hon. Mentions: Sibelius, Randall Thompson, Schubert

#2 happens to be my LEAST favorite symphony by Roussel, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky, not that you asked.

New ranking:

1. Martinu
2. Borodin
3. Rachmaninov
4. Mahler
5. Elgar
6. Schubert
7. Brahms
8. R. Thompson
9. Sibelius
10. Beethoven

[SymphonicAddict]

It's time to make some changes:

Sibelius
Hanson
VW
Rachmaninov
Schumann (my favorite by him)
Rimsky-Korsakov Antar
Elgar
Mahler
Kalinnikov
Bantock A Pagan Symphony
Stenhammar
Schmidt
Bortkiewicz
Casella
Rangström
Madetoja
Atterberg
Tubin
Prokofiev
Merikanto
Ben-Haim
Khachaturian
Braga-Santos
Hovhaness
Englund
Simpson
Penderecki
Górecki
Yoshimatsu