David Stewart wrote:
>They are selling VW's Symphonies in my local 2nd hand music shop for $25.
>It is the Teldec w/ Andrew Davis & the BBC.
>
>Is it worth getting?
One of those times I answer when I think about it, because I'll forget
later, but you'll probably get better answers later.
I haven't heard any of Davis' VW. I have heard a *lot* of his Elgar, live
and on disc, and also his Planets. He is superb in both, I think. He goes
for a darker weighter sound than some, which appeals to me a lot, yet there
is nothing overly sloggy or heavy about him. He moves things along at
moderate tempos--a good combination.
Would this apply to VAughan-Williams? That's the question someone else
might answer, but I'd suspect so.
I didn't realize he recorded all the symphonies: did he? Is this a
complete set? I've been thinking of trying his VW myself.
You've heard about all the competing sets, I presume. Previn, Boult (both
of which I like very much). Naxos has an ongoing series. The 7th and 8th
are very good, though I don't think they're quite at the top, good as they
are. (Others will disagree.) The 7th is a bit urgent and fast at times,
but it has great sound and is very dramatic. I certainly like it as one
of four or five that I have, but it's not my favorite. Reportedly, the
recordings of 3 & 6 and of 2 are not as good. 5 and 9 are coming out soon.
(That's between Previn and Boult, though the latter is not favored by
everybody.) I don't know Handley's, Slatkin's or Thompson's.
Roger Hecht
|