The difference Pappano makes to the LSO
mainFrom the Lebrecht Album of the Week:
…. He hustles things along in the fourth symphony, where Boult gets bogged down, and he shows real anger in the sixth. These are cogent and apt approaches, reminiscent in certain ways of John Barbirolli in the 1930s …
Read on here.
And here.
En francais ici.
In Spanish here.
In Czech here.
UPDATE: Various commenters have taken issue with my statement that no non-UK conductor has recorded the symphonies. In fact I overlooked a set by Bernard Haitink, who was resident in the UK for two decades. Apologies.
“No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies.”
What about Mitropoulos and Bernstein in the Fourth, then? Or Berglund (4 and 6)? Jurowski (No 8)? Bernard Haitink / G Rozhdestvensky (complete cycles)?
And how can the F minor be seen as remotely Sibelian???
You state: “No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies”. What about Bernard Haitink or Gennady Rozhdestvensky? I believe they recorded complete Vaughan Williams symphony cycles. U
“No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies.” Errrr… Haitink and Rozhdestvensky?
What of the complete recorded cycles by Haitink and Rozhdestvensky? Both have very special insights.
N.B. Bernstein recorded VW 4. He’s surely a non-Brit star conductor.
‘No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies. The only European champion on record is the Dutchman Kees Bakels on Naxos.’ What about Bernard Haitink? Magnificent complete set on EMI / Warner
“No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies. The only European champion on record is the Dutchman Kees Bakels on Naxos.”
Apart from Bernard Haitink.
You say that no European/non-UK conductor has ever tackled them? Arguably one of the most consistent and powerful cycles ever recorded was by Bernard Haitink for EMI.
“Italian born and London bred, Pappano brings a dramatic perspective…” If only you’d added “and Connecticut raised,” your review would suddenly have become fully persuasive.
Pappano was born in England.
Bernard Haitink recorded a complete set and Paavo Berglund made a wonderful recording of the 4th.
In your review you state:
“ No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up [Vaughan Williams’] symphonies. The only European champion on record is the Dutchman Kees Bakels on Naxos.”
I must therefore have imagined the complete set of his symphonies conducted by Bernard Haitink I have on my shelves.
And by the way, Tony Pappano was born in Epping, Essex, not in Italy.
Agreed.
http://www.colinscolumn.com/antonio-pappano-records-vaughan-williamss-symphonies-4-6-for-lso-live/
Boult not bogged down here in VW4:
http://www.colinscolumn.com/boult-the-nbc-recordings-on-pristine-classical/
I feel I must challenge your assertion that `no star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies`. Two non-UK/US conductors spring to mind namely Bernard Haitink and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. BH recorded all the symphonies in the 1980`s and 1990`s with the LPO and GR`s date from 1988/89 and are with his Russian orchestra based in Moscow. When BH`s recordings began to appear in the 1980`s they were regarded as a fresh take on this music especially when compared with the cool objectivity of Sir Adrian Boult and his disciple Vernon Handley. BH`s recordings turned out well and should always be taken into consideration when assessing a new recording and making a comparison. GR is another conductor not to be ignored in this repertoire. In a conversation I had with GR in the 1990`s, he expressed admiration and enthusiasm for these works particularly the 4th, 5th and 6th symphonies. Incidently he recorded the fifth symphony with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as well. I think you will agree with me that they are both `star` conductors.
Oh, and Sir Antonio was born in Epping, not Italy!
“ No star non-UK or US conductor has ever taken up his symphonies. The only European champion on record is the Dutchman Kees Bakels on Naxos.”
Haitink and rozhdeskvensky both recorded RVW cycles!
Bigger “stars” than many!
Norman, you seem to have forgotten that, in addition to Kees Bakels (who didn’t complete his recorded cycle), European and Dutchman Bernard Haitink has also recorded a cycle. Then there is the slightly curved ball of Gennady Rozhdestvensky’s recorded cycle to contemplate, along with Nos. 4 and 6 as set down by the Finn, Paavo Berglund.
And where exactly in Italy is Epping?
The area used to be part of the Roman Empire.
It’s a shame about Rattle, he should have stayed and not gone to Munich, but this is going to be a major period for the LSO nevertheless. It was an absolute coup de maitre to get Pappano. Orchestral life is, relatively speaking, much easier than life in the opera house. He will crown his career in London and prove himself worthy of the best among his generation, he will give the moral leadership Rattle didn’t provide, and even with Rattle gone, the LSO a better conductor working in the drive seat than any other London orchestra.
So Andre Previn was British?
He was American, and is listed as such in the review.
Leonard Slatkin & The Philharmonia on BMG. Complete symphonies plus other pieces (Tallis Fantasia, Norfolk Rhapsody no. 1, etc). The box set is sitting in my car right now.
Slatkin would come under the “US” heading.
And Dave Brubeck’s mother was not English!