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What are your TWO favorite Symphonic Recordings?

Only one would cruel and unusual punishment.

My first would be Joseph Krips 1958 recording of Schubert's 9th on London with the London SO.There was a CD of it as well
which is also OP I believe. If you can find either it or the record at anything under a $1OO its a good buy. Personally
I would give 2K for one if I didn't have a copy.
More than once I've read a critic claim this was the greatest record ever made. The LSO was at the top of its game and gave
this uber- powerful symphony a power-house performance.

My second is the 1976 recording of the Brahms 2nd by James Levine and the Chicago SO in the acoustically wonderful Medina Temple in Chicago. Originally it was on RCA but can be had on Amazon as part of Sony Classical 3 disc set of all Brahm'4 symphonies and his great masterpiece the "German Requiem" for less than 15 bucks ! Very nice sound as well.
Levine does a near-miracle in capturing the 2nd Symphonys combo of power , lyricism and harmonic stability all at the same time.
Of all the great Romantic composers Brahms was the most learned, he literally had the music of 4 centuries at his fingertips, knew every note of Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven. It took me 30 years of listening before I really
got a glimmer of just how great he is.

A few words of Brahms on Schubert;

"Where else is there a genius like his,that soars with such
boldness and certainty ...he is a child of the Gods...who plays in a region and at a height to which others can by no means attain .
schubert

Showing 3 responses by learsfool

learsfool
1,215 posts
 
@Frogman - you just listed my two favorite recordings of Shepherd on the Rock, too!

@Schubert - Helseth will be soloing with my orchestra very soon. I actually have not ever heard her play yet, so I am really looking forward to it.
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
The hall I play in is considered world class, especially for opera - it is a multi-purpose venue. Acoustics are good both out in the audience and on the stage for us to hear each other as well - those two things do not always go together.

I can't remember if I have ever played in Overture Hall or not. I have performed in Madison with a traveling opera company, but do not remember the venue. This would have been 1994, I think, possibly 95. I think it may have been on the campus of U of W Madison. Is that Overture Hall?
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
2500 seating, huh? Pretty big, that must be a multi-purpose venue as well, I'd guess.

Sad about the Green Bay symphony, but it isn't over yet. Perhaps they can still be saved, ala the San Diego Opera. Also, it is irksome to me that not just the media, but the arts institutions themselves keep repeating this mantra that everything is failing. Actually, there are more orchestras doing well than ever. Musicians have had to do their own advocacy/education on this issue, though, as our managements apparently don't know how. What other business do you know of that continually trashes itself??!! OK, rant over.
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