2. music
  3. 170186-74445

Bernard Haitink, R.I.P.

One of the greatest and most recorded Conductors of all time died today, aged 92.  I truly didn’t appreciate him until I moved to Chicago in the mid eighties and then was privileged to see him guest Conduct over the next few decades.  So many great recordings, but my favorites are Symphonies of Shostakovich and Ralph Vaughn Williams.  In both cases he was the first Conductor of a different nationality than the Composers and he led definitive performances that made them seem less pigeonholed, and more Universal.
R.IP., Uncle Bernie
mahler123
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Cut my teeth on the Solti cycle with Decca, recorded between 1964 and 1971.  I wonder how Decca of that vintage compares with Philips.
edgewear
543 posts
 
Agreed, the Shostakovich no.15 stands as one of Haitink's best performances as well as well as best orchestral recordings of all time.

Back to the Concertgebouw, I agree with the observation that the Ashkenazy recordings sound more spacious than most others made there at the time. Perhaps they did away with that midhall curtain. Another great example of the wide open hall sound is Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances from the same period. But actually Decca gave Ashkenazy a somewhat similar sound for his Sibelius cycle with the Philharmonia Orchestra London, recorded in Kingsway Hall. And later also for his Shostakovich symphonies with the RPO, no.4 being a great example. So this wide hall perspective may well have been Ashkenazy's preference. Somewhat underrated as a conductor, these recordings are highly recommended!

As for recorded sound in the 60's and early 70's, there is simply no comparison between Decca and Philips. Snob appeal notwithstanding, there's a 'sound' reason audiophile record collectors are willing to pay a premium for Decca UK pressings.

mahler123 OP
3,324 posts
 
His discography has virtually no Sibelius, Rachmaninov, or Prokofiev.  Did her perform these Composers?
More to discover