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