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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
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?
schubert OP
7,386 posts
 
No, Overture hall is a beautiful newish(5 yr old i think )2500 seat venue in downtown Madison . Madison SO is a good class B band IMO. just yesterday the Green Bay SO, a decent semi-pro band disbanded after 105 years for lack of an audience.Happening everywhere, I really miss the Syracuse SO which I thought was really good.
If you think Tina Helseth is "not all that" as they say, please tell me, your honest opinion is valuable .
Sounds like you play in my fave venue, the Gewandhaus.LOL
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.
schubert OP
7,386 posts
 
In all fields, American workers are competitive.
In all fields, American management is not.

Perhaps a bit of my usual overstatement to make a point, but thats what I've seen.
schubert OP
7,386 posts
 
Learsfool, I checked the stats online of Overture Hall, my eyeballs were not all that far off, it seats 2,250 , home base for Madison SO, WI Chamber Orchestra, Mad.Opera and Ballet. In a 10 year old building also housing art museum , total cost was $210 Million inclusive of a great Klais organ.
Does host plays,acts like Steely Dan, but was built as a classical concert hall, stunning visually and aurally.
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