Post by brenda April 28, 2007 (1 of 19)
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Dear Scott, how does the performance, rather than the sound, compare to the Hickox?. Regards, B
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It puzzles me how under-appreciated the 5th symphony is. Taken on its own merits,without reference to other Vaughn Willams symphonies, I think it is very fine and worthy of repeated listening. I would say it is a very spiritual piece, much like some Bruckner, but without Bruckner's huge climaxes...and without any of Bruckner's amateur-like (clumsy) gestures.
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Post by Livy April 30, 2007 (3 of 19)
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brenda said:
Dear Scott, how does the performance, rather than the sound, compare to the Hickox?. Regards, B
This performance is, in general, more deliberate than Hickox. Spano emphasizes the brass and double bass line to a greater extent. This is not to say that the performance is dull or sluggish - accents and entries are sharp. He just allows the music to unfold at a slower pace. In the Finale, however, they are very similar.
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Post by pgmdir May 14, 2007 (4 of 19)
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I am disappointed by this performance. I'm afraid I much prefer Barbirolli or Boult. There were times when I thought the ghost of Mantovani had possessed Spano. Parts are quite beautiful, but on the whole, I found it lacking in tension and drama.
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Post by Edvin May 14, 2007 (5 of 19)
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Spano does put emphasis on the sheer beauty of the pieces, but calling it Mantovani is a bit too much. Especially since Mantovani has written a lot of non-sentimental music of high quality. My favorite is "Hatari".
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Post by pgmdir May 14, 2007 (6 of 19)
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That was Henry Mancini.
I listened to Menuhin's and Barbirolli's yesterday, and each had beauty galore--but with the needed tension. Doesn't matter, really. If you love the Spano, more power to you.
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Post by Edvin May 14, 2007 (7 of 19)
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Of course it was Mancini, stupid ol´ me.
I never really warmed to the Menuhin version and my favorite of all is the Previn RCA. But I have never heard a bad version of this symphony, the music is far too beautiful in itself. Well, maybe Slatkin and Hickox.
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Post by terence May 14, 2007 (8 of 19)
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Edvin said:
my favorite of all is the Previn RCA....
i think i would agree with that. stupendous playing from the LSO if i remember rightly.
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Post by pgmdir May 15, 2007 (9 of 19)
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Well--- I have to admit I've never heard a really bad one either. I had the Previn years ago, but the sound was a bit sub-par as I recall. By the way, I did enjoy Spano's inclusion of the original Thomas Tallis piece to compare to the Fantasia.
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Post by Edvin May 15, 2007 (10 of 19)
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The sound on the Previn RCA is a bit strange. I think RCA are using a rather worn tape copy. There are dropouts here and there and sometimes a shrill string sound. If you compare it to, say, the Pastoral you will find a much fuller sound on the latter. Maybe someone at BMG can locate the original tape someday.
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