On Saturday, Roger Hecht wrote:

>Most of the great VPO recordings, particularly the great sounding ones,
>were made by London, not DG.  In fact, I can't think of a single great
>sounding VPO recording on DG: maybe someone else can, though of course,
>much of this is subjective.

While I agree with Roger's assessment of London and DG VPO recordings, I
encourage him to hear Telarc's 1980s discs of Strauss showpieces, with the
VPO conducted by Andre Previn.  I first heard this partnership's "Alpine
Symphony" on the CD-player of an ex-lister's luxurious Lexus, and the
sound's splendour made me seek the companion releases.

80167 Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30. Tod und Verklarung, Op. 24.
80180 Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40. Four Last Songs
80211 Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64.
80262 Don Juan, Op. 20. Don Quixote, Op. 35

I wasn't disappointed - Telarc's naturalistic soundstage did more justice
to the VPO's refulgent blend than DG's spotlighting and London/Decca's
hi-fi glitz.  And Previn's interpretations have panache without
ostentation.

James Kearney
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