Recordings That You Are Considering

[RussellG]

That's the one I got and I think it's great! 

Thanks George, I actually used to own that No. 1 on a Decca remaster that I may have been a bit hasty to discard during last year's Great Remaster Purge.  I replaced it with a BIS CD (Otaka, BBC National Orchestra of Wales) that I'm not convinced is up to the same standard of performance.

Do you own that actual double Decca?  If so, how is the second symphony?  I haven't heard it.

[George]

Thanks George, I actually used to own that No. 1 on a Decca remaster that I may have been a bit hasty to discard during last year's Great Remaster Purge.  I replaced it with a BIS CD (Otaka, BBC National Orchestra of Wales) that I'm not convinced is up to the same standard of performance.

Do you own that actual double Decca?  If so, how is the second symphony?  I haven't heard it.

Yes, I actually own that double Decca. My collection was begun with many of them, along with the Philips two-fers. Great bargains/performances/masterings.

I recall that it took me a long time to "get" Elgar's symphonies, but it being worth it in the end. I don't recall anything specific about #2, except for the fact that it did not seem like a lesser work compared to #1.

[Coopmv]

Yes, I actually own that double Decca. My collection was begun with many of them, along with the Philips two-fers. Great bargains/performances/masterings.

I recall that it took me a long time to "get" Elgar's symphonies, but it being worth it in the end. I don't recall anything specific about #2, except for the fact that it did not seem like a lesser work compared to #1.

I may have the Solti's Elgar recording on LP.  I have Symphonies Nos 1-3 by Colin Davis on CD.

[Brian]

George, MDT is having a sale on Double Deccas at the moment ($9 a pop), so if there are any you think especially highly of, let me know and I'll throw 'em in the cart. 

[RussellG]

George, MDT is having a sale on Double Deccas at the moment ($9 a pop), so if there are any you think especially highly of, let me know and I'll throw 'em in the cart. 

I know he thinks highly of the Saint-Saëns Piano Concertos 1-5 (Rogé/Dutoit), and so do I, having bought it on his recommendation.

[nut-job]

I can't find many recommendations for Elgar's first two symphonies.  I'm considering the double Decca with Solti/London Phil, before MDT's sale ends.  Any thoughts?

I'm sure it's good.  Barbirolli's Elgar recordings are exceptional. 

[RussellG]

I'm sure it's good.  Barbirolli's Elgar recordings are exceptional. 

Thanks.  Somebody recently recommended Barbirolli on Chesky for Sibelius 2 (it may have been you).  Now I'm thinking of trying out Barbirolli with the Sibelius disc, and if I like him I might check out his Elgar too.  Meantime I'll get the Solti for Elgar.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

  Meantime I'll get the Solti for Elgar.

I highly recommend Solti's Elgar. Other conductors (like Barbirolli) may love the music more, but Solti applies a firm hand of discipline and these symphonies come out as coherent (almost) as a Brahms symphony.

[nut-job]

Thanks.  Somebody recently recommended Barbirolli on Chesky for Sibelius 2 (it may have been you).  Now I'm thinking of trying out Barbirolli with the Sibelius disc, and if I like him I might check out his Elgar too.  Meantime I'll get the Solti for Elgar.

I don't know what's on Chesky, but I was disappointed by Barbirolli's EMI Sibelius Edition.

[jlaurson]

Thanks.  Somebody recently recommended Barbirolli on Chesky for Sibelius 2 (it may have been you). 

That would have been everybody. It's one of those recordings. [It's on Chesky and now also on Testament -- and very different from the EMI recordings of Sibelius.]

Now I'm thinking of trying out Barbirolli with the Sibelius disc, and if I like him I might check out his Elgar too.  Meantime I'll get the Solti for Elgar.

To paraphrase Mel Brooks: What Solti did to Elgar, the Germans did to Poland.

I (perversely) love his very late recording of the Enigma Variations, but Sys.1 & 2 are a complete turn-off for me. I had no idea that there was greatness--or even goodness--in them, until I heard other performances (live or on CD).

Why not give Elder a chance... or even Barenboim who is quite good.  Certainly Barbirolli has a way with this music, too.
Here are a few recommendations on Elgar for his anniversary this year:
http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=503

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

To paraphrase Mel Brooks: What Solti did to Elgar, the Germans did to Poland.

Boy do I disagree with that. But I think a good non-polarizing alternative would be Boult, who was consistently good in English music, even if I wouldn't select him as a first choice.

[Daverz]

To paraphrase Mel Brooks: What Solti did to Elgar, the Germans did to Poland.

I've seen the Solti recommended elsewhere, so I'm curious to hear it, despite the reputation he has for insensitively plowing through things.  I like his In the South.

I think my vote would be for Barbirolli/Philharmonia/EMI.  I thought the Boult on EMI had disappointingly muddy sound.  A bad transfer or a problem with the original recording?

By coincidence I have tickets to see the San Diego Symphony playing the Elgar 1 tomorrow.  Hope they don't muck it up.

[jlaurson]

By coincidence I have tickets to see the San Diego Symphony playing the Elgar 1 tomorrow.  Hope they don't muck it up.

Best live Elgar I've ever heard was Sy.2 with Zinman and--I kid not--Washington's NSO.

[Sergeant Rock]

To paraphrase Mel Brooks: What Solti did to Elgar, the Germans did to Poland.

If true, then Elgar himself must have had imperialistic designs too since his recordings were used by Solti as models of how the symphonies should go.    They aren't the way I think the symphonies should go but Solti's Elgar has long been admired by British critics and I think they should be part of any serious Elgar collection. I'd recommend them, even enthusiastically, especially at MDT's price.

My favorites: Previn's First with the RPO and Sinopoli's Second with the Philharmonia (the latter I can't recommend, though, even though I love it: Sinopoli's slow tempos are too idiosyncratic for most tastes. The performance emphasizes the dark side and is extremely pessimistic but very moving and powerful).

Sarge

[George]

George, MDT is having a sale on Double Deccas at the moment ($9 a pop), so if there are any you think especially highly of, let me know and I'll throw 'em in the cart. 

Roge's Saint Saens PC's
Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov preludes
Ashkenazy's Sibelius Symphonies
Ashkenazy's Chopin CDs, esp the one with the Etudes

[nut-job]

I highly recommend Solti's Elgar. Other conductors (like Barbirolli) may love the music more, but Solti applies a firm hand of discipline and these symphonies come out as coherent (almost) as a Brahms symphony.

For me Elgar's second symphony is like a delicate biscuit that crumbles in a firm hand.    .  Solti should be handling sausage, like a proper butcher.  (BTW, I just ordered two Solti sets on the double decca sale from MDT, I already have the Elgar.)

[Brian]

Roge's Saint Saens PC's
Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov preludes
Ashkenazy's Sibelius Symphonies
Ashkenazy's Chopin CDs, esp the one with the Etudes

Thanks for the recs, George! Adding the Roge Saint-Saens and Ashkenazy Rachmaninov, but unfortunately of the two two-fers that make up his Sibelius set, they only have one (1,2,4) and I'm more interested in the other (3,5,6,7)... 

I haven't really been sold on Ashkenazy yet - his Beethoven concertos introduced me to the works but I don't listen to them anymore, his Rachmaninov concertos ditto. But I could give him a try; you know your pianists 

[George]

Thanks for the recs, George! Adding the Roge Saint-Saens and Ashkenazy Rachmaninov, but unfortunately of the two two-fers that make up his Sibelius set, they only have one (1,2,4) and I'm more interested in the other (3,5,6,7)... 

I haven't really been sold on Ashkenazy yet - his Beethoven concertos introduced me to the works but I don't listen to them anymore, his Rachmaninov concertos ditto. But I could give him a try; you know your pianists 

I agree, Ashy can be inconsistent, but his Rachmaninov Preludes are (justly) loved by many. Way better than his concertos with Previn, IMO. He has the technique, the power and the tenderness to play these challenging works with great beauty and panache.

You can read this review of a later (yet inferior) remastering of the same performances here.

[Opus106]

George, what would you recommend for a set of Rach concerti -- all four of them -- in place of Askenazy/Previn?

[George]

George, what would you recommend for a set of Rach concerti -- all four of them -- in place of Askenazy/Previn?

Maybe Rudy/Jansons? I think you are ultimately better off with individual recordings though. How about this for a compromise:

Janis's 1, 2 and 3 plus Wild on Chesky CD of 1, 4 and Paganini?