David Harbin responds to me:

>>In Third Ear Classical Music, I wrote that Sinopoli's is the most
>>powerful version, ...  Sinopoli and the close recording bring out
>>many often hidden instrumental lines, revealing a more complex, vibrant,
>>and eerie score than most.  ...
>
>... I shall give it a go. You mention the close miking.  May I please
>aks then if the soloists are naturally balanced?  ...  May I please
>ask too about the openejing.  Is it slow (like VChailly) or swift
>(like Gielen?)

Actually, it's pretty well balanced voices and orchestra.  The opening
takes 2:38, which is about 7 seconds slower than Chailly.  Just glancing
at the times, I'd say Sinopoli is about 4 minutes longer overall.  The
disc says 49'11".  I'm too lazy to add the tracks on the Chailly.

Roger Hecht