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Jerry Dubins, who must be Fanfare's most prolific writer, once gave a list of his top Sibelius symphony recordings. Even though I don't always agree with Dubins, I respect his taste so I investigated a few of them. His somewhat obscure choice for the 2nd Symphony was the Dorati/Stockholm Philharmonic on RCA Victrola, apparently never issued on CD.
I was able to score a sealed copy of this which I cleaned yesterday and played today. First, I think it is indeed an excellent reading - more "romantic" than I prefer, but with good tempos - e.g. not overly slow like the Barbirolli reading issued on Chesky. Dorati gets good orchestral execution from the Stockholm Phil, and the sound is surprisingly good.
I say surprisingly good since the vinyl is paper-thin - I have a number of the Victrola issues, and this has to be as thin as I've seen. I had a hard time cleaning it on the Clearaudio Double Matrix Pro, which generally doesn't like thinner records. And, the vinyl is kind of crappy - not quiet at all.
Too bad, because I like this reading a lot better than say, the Monteux (famous, but I don't think he was a committed Sibelian) or even the Karajan Philharmonia recording. (Why didn't HvK, who was a committed Sibelian, record the 2nd for DG?)
Dubins is one of those guys who prefers the Sibelius violin concerto to all of his other works, but is less passionate about the symphonies. It is interesting to see this kind of bifurcation - the violin concerto is atypical of Sibelius' work - and I personally find way more in the symphonies, but I know of others who feel the way Dubins does. My only LP of the violin concerto with with Oistrakh and coupled with the 3rd symphony conducted by Kletski.
Follow Ups:
I've never seen that record? I'll have to find it. My favorite remains the Szell Phillips version. I hear there is a live Szell version (in Japan) on CD that is better, but I have not searched for it.
OH Columbia why no Szell Sibelius cycle?
Gregg
Have the same problem with his legendary Dvorak Cello Concerto with Casals. So expedient!
But OTOH, love Szell's Wagner and Strauss.
Some like them cooked really well; others prefer al dente. I like my Sibelius al dente!
I have known the Szell performance since about 1974 when I first purchased the open reel tape. I have never felt it wanted for something.
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My touchstone performance is the Szell Concertgebouw as well, although I have the SACD of the Cleveland live in Tokyo concert. I suspect that Szell didn't do more of the Sibelius symphonies for Columbia/Epic because Lenny and Eugene did them all, and Sibelius was considered to be a bit out of fashion in those days. (Each of them did a Beethoven set, for example, which must have sold well - in fact, Columbia/Epic also had the Walter set).
Right! I needed to be reminded that Ormandy was considered to be a Sibelius expert, and Bernstein, well, was Bernstein. Lenny was my introduction to Sibelius 2 and 5 I believe. Luckily not the 4th, which was Maazel on Decca. That was a great first listen, and remains a stereo - what's the opposite of - firework - but still means a good thing?
What do you think of the Szell/Japan 2?
Gregg
Honestly, I have not heard it in awhile. If I am not mistaken, it was the last recording made by Szell before his death. I need to dig it out and give it a listen.
Original Decca, not a first issue (no band name on label), but a nice wicked clean early UK issue.
Also listening to Ella Sings Duke Ellington Song Book vol one. Original double LP black label Verve. Not the best shape, a bit of extraneous noise in the quietest parts. Great LP.
Good tree trimming music. We got it early this year.
Decided to try this one next. No Dorati, tho.
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some wobbly horns in the very delicate, whispery opening, and the orchestra is a touch tired by the big finale. Still, what Kubelik unearths in the 2nd - 4th mov'ts!
Walter's on Columbia is a personal favorite, and nice bass drum sound too!
since the reissue is available in vinyl.Do you have Walter's earlier mono release recorded live in Carnegie in 1954?
The sound of course is primitive, but much livelier than the later stereo set. The finale's fireworks is something else. Still, the stereo version is plenty powerful.
Edits: 11/30/15
I had the early Walter, but scratched. Made a local thrift dump and low and behold, it shows up on Ebay as NM. Sold for a nice amount too!
Tom Scott - Blow It Out
Ramsey Lewis - His Greatest Sides
Johann Strauss - Greatest Hits
still breakin' in the retip and new setup.
I bought this LP when I was in high school, and I've had it ever since. Took the buckboard down to the general store to fetch it, if I recollect correctly.
Also the White Album from the Blue Box. I don't care what you guys say, I still enjoy listening to Revolution 9.
Last up (so far) was ELO's On The Third Day. I'm not a big ELO fan, but I have a thing for Grieg's In The Hall Of The Mountain King, and ELO does a kick ass version of it on this LP. Well recorded too.
"You won't come back from Fletcher-Munson curve"-Jan and Dean
Opus 33 1/3
"Dubins is one of those guys who prefers the Sibelius violin concerto to all of his other works, but is less passionate about the symphonies."
my kind of guy! lol
I know - I thought of you as one of those others. If you get a chance, pull out your copy of the Dorati Sibelius 2 (I know you have it) and see if the vinyl is as crappy for you.
soon.
earlier maroon Victrola, not a later thin pink or red release. sounds fine, in all regards.
Haha
i might eventually find another one or two copies of same out in my garage collection.
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