D. Stephen Heersink wrote:

>>I recall auditioning Enescu several years ago, on the Naxos label if I
>>am not mistaken, and not liking what I heard.  At a recent CD sale, Arte
>>Nova had Enescu's Symphony 1-3 on three, very inexpensive CDs, with the
>>Bucharest PO under Cristian Mandeal, conducting.  What a difference in
>>either time or performance or both. ...

I think you might have heard, and rightly been nonplussed by, the old
Marco Polo cycle. The new Arte Nova Enescu series is indeed an unmatched
treasure, and I for one can't wait to hear Mandeal in other repertoire.
What might he not do with Bax? Well, we can dream ...

Roger Hecht replied:

>I don't know either set. The Olympias are pretty scratchy. I love the
>Rozdezvensky on Chandos. He plays them hell bent for romantic opulance.

He does indeed, which is precisely what's wrong with his performances of
these symphonies. They are not Rachmaninov. Besides Mandeal the results
sound flabby, overblown and unidiomatic - not unlike some others, alas,
amongst this very great Russian conductor's recent efforts for Chandos.

Christopher Webber,  Blackheath, London,  UK.
http://www.nashwan.demon.co.uk/zarzuela.htm
"ZARZUELA!"