Andre Previn dies at the age of 89

[Roasted Swan]

When two geniuses meet

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFNsywQOW1I

This is the great BBC interview led by Previn with Oscar Peterson.  Its like evesdropping on a conversation between two friends and equals.  Not only a great and insightful programme but a salutatory reminder about when Arts TV could be serious but entertaining without being patronising or dumbed down.  Great playing too - jump to the end for a duet together.

[vandermolen]

When two geniuses meet

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFNsywQOW1I

This is the great BBC interview led by Previn with Oscar Peterson.  Its like evesdropping on a conversation between two friends and equals.  Not only a great and insightful programme but a salutatory reminder about when Arts TV could be serious but entertaining without being patronising or dumbed down.  Great playing too - jump to the end for a duet together.

Terrific programme.

[Roasted Swan]

I listened to Previn's digital/LSO/Debussy La Mer etc on a walk this morning

[asin]B00000DNG0[/asin]

Another cracking disc - fluid beautiful interpretation, excellent committed playing and very good early DDD recording.  I'm not saying every Previn disc is a 5* winner - but I'm struggling to think of any that are "poor"...

EDIT:  apart from a Pittsburgh Mahler 4 I don't think he recorded any other by this composer.  I wonder why - you would think it would tick all the boxes for him (and EMI/LSO at the peak of their relationship)

[Biffo]

I listened to Previn's digital/LSO/Debussy La Mer etc on a walk this morning

[asin]B00000DNG0[/asin]

Another cracking disc - fluid beautiful interpretation, excellent committed playing and very good early DDD recording.  I'm not saying every Previn disc is a 5* winner - but I'm struggling to think of any that are "poor"...

EDIT:  apart from a Pittsburgh Mahler 4 I don't think he recorded any other by this composer.  I wonder why - you would think it would tick all the boxes for him (and EMI/LSO at the peak of their relationship)

Not sure if it is my memory, ears or hi-fi that is playing up but I remember that this disc was criticised for the chorus in Nocturnes not being distant enough and I seem to remember agreeing. Listening to it just now for the first time in ages it sounds fine - an excellent disc. The Ambrosians aren't quite as ethereal as Abbado's New England ladies (with the Boston SO) but there the whole sound picture sounds slightly recessed.

[Roasted Swan]

Not sure if it is my memory, ears or hi-fi that is playing up but I remember that this disc was criticised for the chorus in Nocturnes not being distant enough and I seem to remember agreeing. Listening to it just now for the first time in ages it sounds fine - an excellent disc. The Ambrosians aren't quite as ethereal as Abbado's New England ladies (with the Boston SO) but there the whole sound picture sounds slightly recessed.

Biffo - possibly the Ambrosian ladies are not that distant but I think that is definitely one for the nit-pickers convention!  Overall I thought this was an excellent performance.  MY only passing pick-of-a-nit was that Previn didn't put the brass fanfares back in at the very end of La Mer - once you've heard them it always feels a bit 'bare' in their absence.

[Irons]

I listened to Previn's digital/LSO/Debussy La Mer etc on a walk this morning

[asin]B00000DNG0[/asin]

Another cracking disc - fluid beautiful interpretation, excellent committed playing and very good early DDD recording.  I'm not saying every Previn disc is a 5* winner - but I'm struggling to think of any that are "poor"...

EDIT:  apart from a Pittsburgh Mahler 4 I don't think he recorded any other by this composer.  I wonder why - you would think it would tick all the boxes for him (and EMI/LSO at the peak of their relationship)

I may be mistaken but I think Previn Debussy was the first EMI DDD recording.

I will listen again as I haven't for many years but I recall not being impressed with Previn's Prokofiev 5th Symphony. I found it too slow and monumental (which isn't a Previn trait).

[Roasted Swan]

I may be mistaken but I think Previn Debussy was the first EMI DDD recording.

I will listen again as I haven't for many years but I recall not being impressed with Previn's Prokofiev 5th Symphony. I found it too slow and monumental (which isn't a Previn trait).

The Debussy you are thinking of was the one of the "orchestral "Images" plus Prelude a l'apres midi.  Won an award I think.  This La Mer was a follow up.  But its been recoupled so often that the repertoire has got mixed up!

[Irons]

Wrong one! Should have checked your link. This is the "first" I was referring to.

[vandermolen]

Wrong one! Should have checked your link. This is the "first" I was referring to.

I've just received that CD, in a more recent manifestation, after hearing Previn's evocative 'Après-Midi D'Un Faune' on the radio in the many recorded performances of his work played in recent days.

[Christabel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFNsywQOW1I

[kyjo]

RIP. A fine conductor as well as composer. One of my professors played this (the Song from his Tango, Song, and Dance for violin and piano) in class as tribute to him and I found it to be a beautiful little work: https://youtu.be/GQqqIsRzJd0

...with Previn at the piano and his wife at one point for four years, Anne-Sophie Mutter (who is 34 years his junior! ) on the violin.

[PerfectWagnerite]

...with Previn at the piano and his wife at one point for four years, Anne-Sophie Mutter (who is 34 years his junior! ) on the violin.

There is a word to describe people like that: GENIUS !

If you can marry a woman 10 yrs your junior you are doing pretty well. 20 yrs you are amazing, 34 yrs is a feat of biblical proportions.