John Parker inquires:

>Specifically, I'm interested in the Tchaikovsky 5th with the Munich PO,
>a live recording.  Anyone know anything about it? Also the discount music
>store where I buy most of my music these days has a couple of Bruckner
>symphonies (can't remember which ones) that he recorded.  Anyone have
>any opinions on him as a Bruckner conductor and know anything about his
>Bruckner recordings?

I have the 5th on EMI, live recording, 29 May 1991 re-engineered and
released 1997.  It runs about 58 minutes.  Celi, born Rumanian and thus not
a Slav, nonetheless firmly believed he had an intuitive affinity to Slav
music, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich in particular.  His recording of the
5th is Celi's belief grafted on to Tchaikovsky's music.  I like it very
much--but then I'm addicted to Celi.  When it comes to Bruckner, the
justification for the addiction is given.  There's an EMI set of Bruckner
symphonies (minus two) that is unbeatable.  Thing to remember concerning
Celi is that, as a mature conductor, the notes counted, yes, but the
personal vision was always there.  For some ears, though not mine, it
sometimes obtrudes.  (Recently Wand, now nearing 90 years of age, played
some Bruckner here in Munich and for my money he's the only top conductor
still performing who can match the late Celi's form.  But he also
free-hands the great Linzer.)

Denis Fodor                     Internet:[log in to unmask]