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