Scubert Symphonies

George,
I have Beecham (as you say, charming) and Solti with more strength. Jochum sounds worthwhile looking for, but do you know how he compares with Solti?
Regards,
Ken

quote:

Originally posted by KenM:
but do you know how he compares with Solti?

I have both, so when I get a moment, I'll compare the two and let you know. The Solti, in Vienna (and coupled with 8 and 9) was my introduction to most of the works but to be honest it rarely gets played these days and I keep it more out of sentimentality than anything else, I find him rather heavy, which can't really be said of Jochum.

Mackerras with the OAE is also very fine (though the 8th and 9th with which it is coupled are much better served by his later recording on Telarc with the SCO - which I think after the exert he heard, George may be looking for). I have Colin Davis's complete set with the Dresden Staatskapelle but he too is a little on the heavy side.

I have heard very positive things about Abbado's survey with the COE, and can imagine his 5th being well worth hearing, but have never investigated, I don't know if anyone else can comment on them.

regards, Tam

Dear Ken,

The only Schubert Symphony I had under Solti was the Great C Major played by the VPO on a very early and very fine Decca CD.

It ws one of the first handful of CDs I got, and was very well played, but perhaps lacked the affectionate touch that in my view marks out the best Schubert playing. Charm is part of it, I am sure. But to compare the Fifth from Jochum would be impossible as I have never encountered Solti in it!

I suppose the two recordings of the Fifth I would hope to find now would the currently deleted recording under Klemperer, and the available one under Jochum. The recording with the BPO on DG lead by Boehm is rather fine, and was recorded with the complete cycle. I had that cycle on LPs, and I think it has been released as a complete cycle on CD as well.

To be honest I cannot imagine that the style of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under under MacKerras would be anything less than splendid though Tam and I spent our listenin time with them considering the Great C Major, which was utterly convincing!

SCO/Mackerras is where I would be looking for the cycle these days, with the addition of Klemperer and Jochum as they come along!

Not quite an answer, but hopefully some help ...

ATB from George

Dear George,

Just to clarify, Mackerras and the SCO haven't recorded the 5th (he did it with the OAE), all they have done is the 8th and 9th and a disc of unfinished fragments which is of little more than academic interest.

I wish they would record the rest though.

regards, Tam

Dear Tam,

Thanks for the clarification! Yes, I wish the the MacKerras/SCO team would tackle all of them! That would be a superb addition to the catalogue, I reckon.

George

Dear George,
Thanks for the reply (a few posts above). I'll definitely look for the Jochum and as you say, a Mackerras/SCO set would be a wonderful prospect.
Regards,
Ken