Romantic orchestral music WITH RUBATO AND FLEXIBLE TEMPO

[maticevska]

Give recording recommendations or else.

Stuff like Artur Nikisch, Oskar Fried but more recent. Even Mengelberg's interpretations were when orchestral rubato and freedom of tempi within movements and continuous stretches of music were from a time when it was going out of vogue.

Later in the 20th century a modernised approach to tempo (fixed, rigid, unchanging) infected all performers, even the so-called historically informed ones (historically cherry-picking).

I want flexible tempi please.
I want to hear some good old orchestral rubato in modern recordings on modern instruments.

what have u got for me. 

[relm1]

I think Walter Weller's prokofiev symphonies are full of rubato.  It's beautifully shaped and phrased.

[maticevska]

I think Walter Weller's prokofiev symphonies are full of rubato.  It's beautifully shaped and phrased.

I like these very much, but i am asking about romantic orchestral music.

[MishaK]

If you want modern sound and flexible tempos and long lines a la Furtwängler, look no further than Daniel Barenboim. He was deeply influenced by Furtwängler's conducting and is the closest thing you will find to that tradition on modern instruments and in modern sound. Plus, his control of the orchestra is better than his idol's and the modern day Chicago Symphony and Staatskapelle Berlin play way better than the Berlin Phil of the 40s and 50s ever did in their wildest dreams.

Among the currently performing conductors you might catch live (but who are not as prolific on recordings (yet)), you may want to check out Tugan Sokhiev and Dalia Stasevska if they happen to show up on a stage near you. Truly amazing talents and likewise favoring flexible tempos and generous rubato (especially Sokhiev).

PS: one old school conductor I noticed you didn't mention in your list is Carl Schuricht. He was likewise a Furtwänglerian style conductor, but had the good fortune of outliving some of the others, so we have some real gems he recorded in the 60s in excellent HiFi stereo. In particular, there is what is to me the most riveting Bruckner 8 ever put on record, which he recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1963 (EMI); as well as a truly magical Brahms violin concerto with Christian Ferras and Vienna (Decca) that is an absolute marvel of a spontaneous, flexible dialog between soloist and orchestra.

Lastly, another offbeat slightly older recommendation (but active into the 1990s): Do check out Takashi Asahina. He apprenticed with Furtwängler in prewar Berlin and took what he learned to Japan, where he led the outstanding Osaka Philharmonic for many decades. There are a number of stupendous Bruckner performances from the 90s (as well as other romantic classics) that sound like modern day Furtwängler, as well as an absolutely red hot flaming intense Sibelius 2 recorded on tour in the mid 70s.

[Jo498]

I like many recordings by Schuricht but I think he is far more straightforward in tempi and in general than e.g. Furtwängler, Mengelberg or Abendroth usually are.

[prémont]

I like many recordings by Schuricht but I think he is far more straightforward in tempi and in general than e.g. Furtwängler, Mengelberg or Abendroth usually are.

Yes, and this is why I prefer Schuricht to the others mentioned.

[MishaK]

I like many recordings by Schuricht but I think he is far more straightforward in tempi and in general than e.g. Furtwängler, Mengelberg or Abendroth usually are.

Furtwängler was a huge fan of his and absolutely effusive with praise for his conducting. When Furtwängler died, Schuricht took over the planned Vienna Philharmonic US tour. He very much is a romantic, if not with such abandon as Mengelberg or Furtwängler. This greater restraint also yields far better orchestral execution.

[Mandryka]

Give recording recommendations or else.

Stuff like Artur Nikisch, Oskar Fried but more recent. Even Mengelberg's interpretations were when orchestral rubato and freedom of tempi within movements and continuous stretches of music were from a time when it was going out of vogue.

Later in the 20th century a modernised approach to tempo (fixed, rigid, unchanging) infected all performers, even the so-called historically informed ones (historically cherry-picking).

I want flexible tempi please.
I want to hear some good old orchestral rubato in modern recordings on modern instruments.

what have u got for me. 

In Beethoven Brahms and Schubert, Herbert Blomstedt. In Brahms, Thomas Zehetmair. In Dvorak, Manfred Honeck. In Elsewhere Ivan Fischer maybe.

[Jo498]

Furtwängler was a huge fan of his and absolutely effusive with praise for his conducting. When Furtwängler died, Schuricht took over the planned Vienna Philharmonic US tour. He very much is a romantic, if not with such abandon as Mengelberg or Furtwängler. This greater restraint also yields far better orchestral execution.

To me Schuricht's recordings sound very different. I am by no means an expert but I have known his Decca box and the Vienna Phil Bruckner 3,5 (live),8,9 for many years. I am not against the recommendation but he just doesn't sound much like Furtwängler or Mengelberg to me.

[maticevska]

In Beethoven Brahms and Schubert, Herbert Blomstedt. In Brahms, Thomas Zehetmair. In Dvorak, Manfred Honeck. In Elsewhere Ivan Fischer maybe.

I should listen to more Blomstedt in that case. I never particularly associated him with historical performance practice! I love Honeck and Fischer

[Mandryka]

I should listen to more Blomstedt in that case. I never particularly associated him with historical performance practice! I love Honeck and Fischer