Music Lane

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that Sir Jeffrey is no longer with us

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This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

That would be Jeffry Tate, who recorded extensively for EMI and other labels. I enjoyed many of his recordings, especially those of late 18th Century music which were untainted by the HIP contagion. These include the complete Mozart Symphonies and the last twelve Haydn Symphonies. The only comment I'd make about possible improvements in those Haydn Symphonies is that he should have augmented the ECO a bit more. I think Haydn had in mind a very large orchestra for these works, and Tate and the ECO sometimes miss some of the type oomph I like to hear in them (for instance in Kubelik's No. 99). But in every other respect, I find Tate's performances really outstanding!

He also made a few recordings with the Sk Dresden, which I also like, but which might have a more limited appeal. In both the Beethoven 7th and the Schubert Great C-major (who knows what the real number of that symphony is anymore? LOL!), Tate favored slower than usual, very steady tempos which for me imparted a granitic strength to the music (similar to what many listeners associate with Klemperer's performances), and the articulation and tone quality of the orchestra were pretty glorious IMHO.

Lots of other recordings could be added to these favorites too - I'll pick just a couple more I really like:

Lots of good stuff beyond what I've shown here - In any case, RIP.

Edits: 06/05/17

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