Blind Comparison: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

[TheGSMoeller]

Indeed. I''ve noticed too in past comparisons we've often been at opposite extremes. Definitely something to keep in mind when we recommend things to each other    Monkey Greg and I seem to have very similar taste (in past blind threads certainly). I don't know how he rates most of these Sf recordings, or how he'd rank them, but we do share a thing for Ticciati and Norrington.

Sarge

This is true, Sarge. I think even our Haydn tastes are similar.
I have my Sf favorites, and will mention them once the comparison is over, I run the risk of seeming like I'm picking the winners, but I'm alright with that. Plus I didn't want to mention recordings that might be used in this, considering I contributed 10 or 12 of them or something.

Actually, 2 of my favorites were ousted already.

[trung224]

  My result for group X
A1: very lyrical interpretation, tempo is very slow but with so much nuance and details. I like its vision but it is not "fantatique" by any mean. Rank 4
A5: The "Un bal" movement is ordinary but the March is energetic and frightening in the finale. Conventionally A5 would be rank higher than A1, but I prefer more distinctive interpretation in A1. Rank 5
B2: Hyperromantic with so much unusual phrasing and push-and-pull tempo. The sound is also very special, very different from the homogenized sound of Orchestra today. I suspect it is from French Orchestra in the 50s, 60s and 70s, so B2 could be Martinon's, Cluytens's or Munch's late account.
   Overall, it is my favorite performance in Group X. rank1
B6: Ordinary, Run-through performance. Rank 6
C2: Like A4, the Un Bal strike me as ordinary performance, but the "March" is truly great one. Rank 3
C5: The performance can be described like "deamonic". The "Unbal" is very fast, exciting even lacks of nuanced. the March is frightening, dark, mad. Rank 2
   Conclusion B2>C5>C2>A1>A5>B6

[TheGSMoeller]

We particularly need Group X votes.

Yes, perhaps 3 2 more votes so we have an even number of votes from each group.

[trung224]

   Personally, I don't like group Y much, because it has too many middle-of-the-road performances, especially in the Un Bal movement. Here is my results
rank 1: A4: fast, dramatic, even manic interpretation
rank 2: C4: fast, exciting, dramatic somtimes strike me as ordinary.
rank 3: C3: HIP performance with much surprising interpretation choice, but it is quite control, less "fantatique".
rank 4: A2; a good Un Bal, but not special, the March is quite dramatic
rank 5: B4: nothing wrong, but nothing right
rank 6: B1: straight, ordinary performance.

[TheGSMoeller]

   Personally, I don't like group Y much, because it has too many middle-of-the-road performances, especially in the Un Bal movement. Here is my results
rank 1: A4: fast, dramatic, even manic interpretation
rank 2: C4: fast, exciting, dramatic somtimes strike me as ordinary.
rank 3: C3: HIP performance with much surprising interpretation choice, but it is quite control, less "fantatique".
rank 4: A2; a good Un Bal, but not special, the March is quite dramatic
rank 5: B4: nothing wrong, but nothing right
rank 6: B1: straight, ordinary performance.

Would you like Group x? Perhaps some better listening to be had. 

[Brian]

Would you like Group x? Perhaps some better listening to be had. 

Scroll up a bit

[TheGSMoeller]

Scroll up a bit

Ah-ha! The beer is working!

[madaboutmahler]

   Personally, I don't like group Y much, because it has too many middle-of-the-road performances, especially in the Un Bal movement. Here is my results
rank 1: A4: fast, dramatic, even manic interpretation
rank 2: C4: fast, exciting, dramatic somtimes strike me as ordinary.
rank 3: C3: HIP performance with much surprising interpretation choice, but it is quite control, less "fantatique".
rank 4: A2; a good Un Bal, but not special, the March is quite dramatic
rank 5: B4: nothing wrong, but nothing right
rank 6: B1: straight, ordinary performance.

Thank you for your vote!

Are we likely to get any more votes before the end of the weekend? Group X could definitely do with some more votes.

[aukhawk]

From the two group X results I've seen, it's only really a battle for 4th place, you have a clear top 3 who would go through even if a 3rd vote went completely the other way.  I reckon.

[Sergeant Rock]

Results so far for Group Y

xochitl  Sarge  aukhawk  mc urkneal  trng224

A4         C3          A4             C4             A4
B4         A2           B4             B1             C4
C3         C4          C4             A4             C3
A2         B4           A2             C3             A2
C4         B1           B1             B4             B4
B1         A4           C3             A2             B1


Results so far for group X

Brian   trung224  Sarge

   C2        B2          C2
   B2        C5          A1
   C5        C2          C5
   B6         A1          B2
   A5         A5          B6
   A1         B6          A5

[TheGSMoeller]

Results so far for Group Y

xochitl  Sarge  aukhawk  mc urkneal  trng224

A4         C3          A4             C4             A4
B4         A2           B4             B1             C4
C3         C4          C4             A4             C3
A2         B4           A2             C3             A2
C4         B1           B1             B4             B4
B1         A4           C3             A2             B1


Results so far for group X

Brian   trung224

   C2        B2
   B2        C5
   C5        C2
   B6         A1
   A5         A5
   A1         B6

Not to drag it out any further but if we could get one more for group X it would be splendid! 

[Sergeant Rock]

Not to drag it out any further but if we could get one more for group X it would be splendid! 

Do you expect any of the remaining X groupers to post soon? Like today? If not, send me the link.

Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

sent a PM earlier with the link, Sarge.
Thanks!

[Sergeant Rock]

sent a PM earlier with the link, Sarge.
Thanks!

Got it but I may not be able to listen to it tonight.

Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

Got it but I may not be able to listen to it tonight.

Sarge

That's fine. I think we can wait another day.

[madaboutmahler]

That's fine. I think we can wait another day.

Absolutely! Thanks, Sarge!

[Sergeant Rock]

1 - C2 Cornet nicely integrated in the texture; the waltz light and delicate. Lovely. The march tempos perfectly judged with a slow, funereal tempo to start; the repeat taken (a plus when this well done). Only the "execution" seemed rushed, perfunctory. Great orchestral detail; I like the trombone raspberries and the prominent tuba.

2 - A1  I love the slow tempo and the delicacy of this waltz. The march is marred by less than great sound. Detail gets lost in the mush but I decided not to deduct points.

3 - C5  I didn't know whether to rank this first (because it's so uniquely insane) or last (because it's so uniquely insane). What did the conductor ingest after the rather ordinary first movement to produce this madness?    It's a version I want to own but one I have trouble ranking. I'll put it in the middle.

4 - B2  A touch of madness is always good in the Fantastique but I didn't think I could live with the grotesquely intrusive cornet. But on second and third listens, it grew on me. The march likewise confused me; caused contradictory thoughts. Loved some of the detail I heard; missed detail I expected. The sudden acceleration at the end just bizzare. This is another version I want to own but I have no idea how to rank it. Interesting performance and interpretation, sure, but I don't think it belongs in the final round.

5 - B6  At first I thought the cornet better balanced than B2 and I enjoyed the sound. But then it kept getting buried, disappearing competely at times. The march didn't do anything for me.

6 - A5  I should love this march more. It's slow, the repeat is taken, and it has by far the best "execution" of the six in this group. But somehow it's not gripping. Dull sonics (especially dull percussion) may be the cause. Too little rubato in waltz.


Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

Thank you, Sarge. I'll wait for Daniel's OK but I say we could move on.

[madaboutmahler]

Thank you very much, Sarge. Think it would be good to get just one more vote for Group X, if anyone else wants to do it, please do ask. If not, there's one person who has returned recently who might!

[TheGSMoeller]

Thank you very much, Sarge. Think it would be good to get just one more vote for Group X, if anyone else wants to do it, please do ask. If not, there's one person who has returned recently who might!

Cool!