Steve on VW conductors:

>Brilliant VW Conductors: Barbirolli, Mitropoulos
>Very Good to Great VW Conductors: Boult, Hickox
>Variable VW Conductors: Previn, Haitink
>
>I'm not a fan of Bryden Thomson's VW -- too syrupy.  Marriner's VW is
>stodgy.

BT's VW may be Chandos sound.

I hope Handley would be a part of your list, considering his rewarding
box-set of VW is quite a bargain, esp. used.  I've been comparing
Handley's/Liverpool Sea Symphony to Spano's/Atlanta on Telarc and I must
say I like the Handley better.  Two issues: with Spano, one can't hear
the organ very well at the opening of mov't 1, or during the achingly
beautiful melody that opens mov't 4; and in the oh-so-magical mov't 2,
listen to the hoary characterization in Handley's low-reeds under the
words, "as your mother sways her to and fro, singing her husky song..."
vs.  Spano's rather bland accompaniment.

John Smyth
Sacramento, CA