Your Desert Island Symphony

[Symphonic Addict]

Is this the one with the 13 minute Scène aux champs? If so I agree, I like the lively feel to this interpretation.

Well, these are the timings for both:

Munch 1954
III - 14:02

Munch 1962
III - 14:56

I've only heard the 1962 recording. I guess the 1954 has a slightly inferior sound quality.

[VonStupp]

Well, these are the timings for both:

Munch 1954
III - 14:02

Munch 1962
III - 14:56

I've only heard the 1962 recording. I guess the 1954 has a slightly inferior sound quality.

I also came around on this work from Munch. I have the 1954 on RCA SACD and have not been displeased with its audio.

VS

[kyjo]

What's wrong with RVW, John?? Explain yourself!

[Mirror Image]

What's wrong with RVW, John?? Explain yourself!

Oh, nothing wrong at all, just prefer people to be more precise with their choices.

As a sidenote: I love RVW (well, not everything of course). There are many works of his that I cherish.

[vandermolen]

RVW Symphony #2 'A London Symphony', in this version.

Tough decision, but although I currently place others higher in my listening preferences, RVW is the voice of the English symphony. Powerful, tuneful, narrative, evocative...

I'd be happy to go for this choice as well. I grew up in central London, not too far from where VW composed A London Symphony and his music has meant a lot to me for about 50 years. I find the poetic section towards the end of the last movement, which VW later excised from the score, to be one of the most moving and soulful moments that I know in music.

Other contenders:
VW Symphony No.6 (endlessly thought provoking)
Miaskovsky Symphony No.6 - a sprawling epic and very moving in places.
Moeran Symphony - reminds me of the wilder aspects British countryside and references Sibelius's 'Tapiola'.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh, nothing wrong at all, just prefer people to be more precise with their choices.

As a sidenote: I love RVW (well, not everything of course). There are many works of his that I cherish.

Here you go then:  No. 2! 

PD

[Mirror Image]

Here you go then:  No. 2! 

PD

A London Symphony is a fine choice, indeed.

[Symphonic Addict]

If forced to choose just another one, I would say Langgaard's 6th or his 4th. I literally can't live without any of them whenever I revisit them. I get obsessed by their incredibly evocative and intense soundscape. These works resonate with me like nothing else. And I like that pair between "enemies" in the same country (L4-N5-L6).

[Mirror Image]

If forced to choose just another one, I would say Langgaard's 6th or his 4th. I literally can't live without any of them whenever I revisit them. I get obsessed by their incredibly evocative and intense soundscape. These works resonate with me like nothing else. And I like that pair between "enemies" in the same country (L4-N5-L6).

Sorry, but you're stuck with Nielsen's 5th and only his 5th as your "desert island symphony".

[TheGSMoeller]

So should we start posting desert-island chamber work, opera, vocal work, etc. on this thread? Or will you start a new one? 

[Mirror Image]

So should we start posting desert-island chamber work, opera, vocal work, etc. on this thread? Or will you start a new one? 

I think each genre deserves its own thread. Wouldn't you agree, Greg?

[TheGSMoeller]

I think each genre deserves its own thread. Wouldn't you agree, Greg?

Agreed!

[classicalgeek]

If I had to choose just one?

Mahler 2, for the transformation from darkness to light, tragedy to life-affirming. The choral finale (especially from "Bereite dich" to the end) never fails to move me to tears. It really embodies Mahler's own quotation - "A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything."

Second choice would undoubtedly be Brahms 2. Also life-affirming, full of gorgeous tunes from first note to last, with one of the most satisfying final perorations in all of music.

And there are so many symphonies I just adore... a number of Haydn's, Mozart 39, Beethoven 7 and 9, Mendelssohn 3, Dvorak 5, 6 and 8, the Saint-Saëns Organ, Bruckner 7, Sibelius 2, Shostakovich 4, 8 and 10, Korngold Symphony in F-sharp... I could go on and on! 

[bhodges]

Mahler 2, for the transformation from darkness to light, tragedy to life-affirming. The choral finale (especially from "Bereite dich" to the end) never fails to move me to tears. It really embodies Mahler's own quotation - "A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything."

OK, signing on for Mahler 2 as well (with regretful looks at Shostakovich, Bruckner, Nielsen, Sibelius, and any number of others).

--Bruce

[LKB]

I considered M2 for longer than any other candidate,  having performed it six times between 1980 and 2013. I finally decided that l couldn't decide...

But M2 is very important to me...

[Skogwald]

This one is surprisingly easy for me. I don't think there is a more beautiful symphony than Sibelius 6.

The most satisfying version is this one:

[LKB]

This one is surprisingly easy for me. I don't think there is a more beautiful symphony than Sibelius 6.

The most satisfying version is this one:

I don't think I've ever heard anything from the Sibelius, so now l have something to do at work - thanks. 

[AnotherSpin]

I don't think I've ever heard anything from the Sibelius, so now l have something to do at work - thanks. 

Try Mozart too, you will be pleasantly surprised  

[DavidW]

I think I'm going to ignore the "symphony" part just because I put some thought into what should make a desert island recording.

And that is not necessarily your favorite work.  Because if you have only one work to listen to, chances are you will actually become bored of your favorite.

It needs to be long, complex, with shifting moods, that can't be easily memorized or become tired of.  Every part has to be exceptional... and the more I thought of it, the more I became convinced that there was only one work...

Bach.  The Art of Fugue.😇

[LKB]

Try Mozart too, you will be pleasantly surprised  

My acquaintance with Mozart began in 1977. I've played Symphony No. 39, the overture to Die Zauberfloete ( on both timpani and the oboe ), and have sung both solo and choral parts for his Requiem ( which is very special ) more times than l can remember.

I just don't quite connect with him ( or anyone else ) as a listener the way l do with Mahler.