Yes indeed: the final pages just expand, expand, expand. Everything is very well shaped and paced from the trumpet fanfares to the end; not too rushed, not too stately. Stunning, deep bass. Organ and orchestra are as smooth and perfectly-blended as I've ever heard. Put a huge smile on my face.However, IMHO the first mov't is a bit too carefully articulated; too much tree, too little forest. Where's the nervous, kinetic energy?
In the second half of part one, the Cellos/Violas start off gorgeously but when the organ takes over the theme, there's not enough hall atmosphere to blend with the upper strings which hover above. (Who can forget Ormandy's Philadelphia strings at this point on Telarc?)
The Scherzo is relatively plodding compared to Paray's and especially Toscanini's.
The finale starts off well, especially when the organ takes over the stately theme-Wow!-but then we go back to pastel mode: IMHO not enough incisiveness and energy to keep the listener riveted.
I've been looking at other choices, and the one that keeps coming up (apart from the early Paray and Munch) is Barenboim's Chicago on DGG, for both performance, and (gasp) sound. Hmmmm.
Edits: 12/05/16
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Topic - Stern's Saint Saens Organ Symphony on Reference Recordings: best final pages ever, if you're still awake by that point - jdaniel@jps.net 07:14:33 12/05/16 (22)
- RE: Stern's Saint Saens Organ Symphony on Reference Recordings: best final pages ever, if you're still awake by that poi - docw 10:32:25 12/06/16 (1)
- RE: Stern's Saint Saens Organ Symphony on Reference Recordings: best final pages ever, if you're still awake by that poi - jdaniel@jps.net 19:28:19 12/06/16 (0)
- RE: Stern's Saint Saens Organ Symphony on Reference Recordings: best final pages ever, if you're still awake by that poi - rbolaw 17:17:31 12/05/16 (5)
- Unfortunately it's gone it seems, but - jdaniel@jps.net 07:10:12 12/06/16 (2)
- Aha! Sorry it's gone, but thanks for that amusing trip down memory lane! nt - rbolaw 12:18:19 12/06/16 (0)
- Thanks for the link - that's a trip down memory lane - Chris from Lafayette 09:50:09 12/06/16 (0)
- Probably before my time here - would love to have seen it - Chris from Lafayette 21:56:22 12/05/16 (1)
- Agreed. - rbolaw 06:33:08 12/06/16 (0)
- RE: This is the one for me - kitch29 13:07:34 12/05/16 (2)
- Yes, had that issue as part of a really handsome EMI box set of all the symphonies. - jdaniel@jps.net 18:30:22 12/05/16 (0)
- RE: This is the one for me - Travis 15:48:12 12/05/16 (0)
- A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - Chris from Lafayette 10:27:38 12/05/16 (9)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - ahendler 12:50:34 12/05/16 (8)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - Utley1 20:12:25 12/12/16 (5)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - ahendler 23:05:07 12/12/16 (4)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - Utley1 04:40:52 12/13/16 (1)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - ahendler 09:15:39 12/13/16 (0)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - Utley1 04:28:45 12/13/16 (1)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - ahendler 09:16:58 12/13/16 (0)
- RE: A 24/96 download of the Paray recording available - Bill Way 07:08:27 12/06/16 (0)
- Ironically I just sold my "FR10" Merc Lp. Your rec's are pretty compelling! - jdaniel@jps.net 18:35:42 12/05/16 (0)
- RE: " Barenboim's Chicago on DGG, for both performance, and (gasp) sound." - Ivan303 07:36:06 12/05/16 (0)