[ The MusicWeb Message Board ]

CELEBRATING 20,000 Classical CD reviews on-line; 21,000 visitors each day.
Return to MusicWeb International

RVW Symphony No. 5 Posted by John France on May 7, 2008, 9:41 am 217.196.232.225 I have just listened to Andre Previn's recording of the Fifth Symphony for the first time and I was really impressed. Ususally, I have sworn by Sir Adrian' verisons! What do others think about the LSO recordings? The Land of Lost Content - British Music Blog  Post a Response

Re: RVW Symphony No. 5 Posted by Tony Haywood on May 7, 2008, 4:40 pm, in reply to "RVW Symphony No. 5" 81.158.15.253 Well, I always rated the Previn cycle. I still have the vinyl box, mainly for the booklet and for old times' sake, as I have bought my favourites from it on CD. I always thought the 5th one of the best, especially Previn's refusal to sentimentalise the music. Mind you, most of his LSO stuff from around this period is reference material, such as Walton 1, Shost 5 etc. He's never done better since, IMHO, and as well as VW 5, I love his London, Sea Symphony and 3rd - come to think of it, I don't think there's a duff performance in the entire set...  Post a Response

Re: RVW Symphony No. 5 Posted by John Quinn on May 8, 2008, 1:10 pm, in reply to "Re: RVW Symphony No. 5" 193.34.231.236 John, I share your admiration for Previn's RVW 5th - and I also think Tony's right in holding so many of the Previn/LSO recordings in high esteem. (To Tony's list I'd certainly add Previn's LSO recordings of Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony, Prokofiev's complete Romeo & Juliet and also Belshazzar's Feast.) Coming back to RVW, I reviewed the complete Previn cycle a few years ago and in general I rated it very highly indeed, not least the Fifth. If you're interested, the review is at http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2004/July04/RVW_Previn.htm If you can find it still it makes an excellent bargain. And count me in your camp on the subject of the Ninth. I think it belongs among his "visionary" works. The material is good, if not quite so distinctive, perhaps, as in Symphonies 1-6. And his willingness to try new sonorities (saxophones, fugelhorn) is truly remarkable for a man of 85.  Post a Response

Re: RVW Symphony No. 5 Posted by chris howell on May 9, 2008, 7:07 am, in reply to "Re: RVW Symphony No. 5" 213.215.159.45 Slightly off-topic, one of the highlights of 4 years' concertgoing while at Edinburgh University was a performance of RVW 5 which Previn conducted with the SNO, I suppose around 1973-4. Playing of extraordinary concentration, far above the SNO norm, with rapt pianissimos. Unfortunately he also conducted Beethoven 7 .... Chris Howell  Post a Response

Re: RVW Symphony No. 5 Posted by Jeffrey Davis on May 16, 2008, 5:43 pm, in reply to "Re: RVW Symphony No. 5" 194.242.159.250 Previn's RCA recording is one of the very best. I have greatly enjoyed the newly issued Proms archive recording with Vaughan Williams conducting and the recently issued Koussevitsky CD. It's always interesting to hear what non-British conductors do with VW. The Hickox on Chandos is probably my favourite modern recording althougfh I am especially attracted to this disc because of the fascinating fill-ups like "The Pilgrim's Paavement"  Post a Response

     «Back to thread

Thank you for using the MusicWeb Message Board. Len Mullenger - Founder of MusicWeb