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I saw the news yesterday that the conductor Bernard Haitink passed away yesterday, age 92. What a long career he had! He was making records in the 60s.
In my early days as a record enthusiast, I did purchase a number of his records, mostly Bruckner and Mahler. I actually found that despite the excellent production values of these records, IMO they were somewhat boring, which was enhanced by the distant balcony acoustics used by Philips for the Concertgebouw. I did purchase a few of his recordings in the CD/SACD era, and again, many were dull, IMO, although his Beethoven cycle with the LSO was a major surprise- really good and lively. I'm sure he made other great recordings, I just don't have them.
Last year (I believe it was) I bought the direct to disc recording of Bruckner's 7th, his valedictory concert with the Berlin Phil. This is a beautiful package, of course-the BPO goes all out on its products, and the sound, and performance, are superb, IMO, a fitting epitaph for a man devoted to music.
Follow Ups:
Conductor James Conlon announced his passing before the program.I heard the gasp from the audience ( including myself! ) then the moment of silence was observed. The orchestra played Bach's Air in a G String before starting evening's program.
I am lucky to see his performances with CSO many times and in particular, enjoyed his Mahler, Bruckner and Beethoven programs. The most memorable was his Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. I was probably a few feet away from him and after the last note in a golden silence I saw his hands trembling possibly moved by the music as much as I was!
I thought of purchasing that D to D pressing but its elaborate overkill packaging kind of put me off plus I figured nothing replaces my memory of live experience so I did not pull the trigger. ( altho if someone offered me its test pressing I probably wont' say no. ) :)
Echoing the previous posts, I have two Philips LPs of Debussy orchestral works and one of his Shostakovich 15th. Great sonics, great structure and orchestral colour.
Alex
A great conductor. No personal histrionics, just letting the music speak for itself. The disc I wouldn't be without? The box set of Debussy Orchestral Works. Performances ranging from very good to superb with some of the most natural orchestral sound quality I have come across on LP. Original Philips pressings from the Netherlands are simply beautiful.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
Edits: 10/22/21
nt
Let's not forget Haitink's ~1980 recording of Beethoven's symphony #9 with his usual Concertgebouw. It may not be one of the top choices for this great piece, but it's one of the earliest classical digital recordings released by Philips. As I remember, it is on 2 discs with one movement on each side. I should still have it somewhere.
Regards,
Ying
I have some of his Shostakovich symphonies, which I think are my reference in those works !!
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