Search - Beecham, Haydn, Dvorak :: Beecham: The RPO Legacy Vol.5

Beecham Favorites in Astonishingly Good Sound.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 01/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Older collectors will be drawn to this splendid Dutton release because it contains many Beecham recordings appearing for the first time on CD. Younger collectors need not hesitate. Familiar and unfamiliar works can be enjoyed here in astonishingly good sound.Beecham was never far from insisting that music, first and foremost, had to sound good. He took enormous pains, when recording it, to ensure that the listener heard everything it contained to best advantage. The result sometimes seemed "over spiced", according to his contemporary Sir Adrian Boult. You will certainly savour everything done at the harp in Liszt's "Orpheus", and relish everything done in the percussion department at the beginning of "The Golden Spinning Wheel". Beecham had loved and lavished care on many of these works for more than forty years when these recordings were made. He was a champion of Haydn symphonies, presenting them in the right spirit rather than the right letter. Listening to the 3rd movement of No 40, with Dennis Brain leading the horn players, you forget that Beecham prepared and conducted Haydn symphonies from old corrupted editions.A curiosity is the Paisiello overture. You might think that a harmonic structure based almost entirely on only three chords would hold no interest for the listener. Beecham makes it seem enchanting - for six and a half minutes. Lyndon Jenkins, with access to records of Beecham's concert and recording schedules, provides lively and informative program notes. I was delighted to order and receive this CD recently. [....]"

The 'Inimitable Sir Thomas'- in great transfers!

D. Roth | Pleasant Hill, Ca | 09/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When he was captivated by the music he performed, he conveyed that passion with astonishing clarity and elegance-and the music was frequently light or incidental!The main works on the discs, Haydn Syms, 40 & 102, and the Dvorak Golden Spinning Wheel receive incomparably vibrant performances- The Dvorak ( in spite of a few cuts) is as sensitive as either the Talich or Kubelik performances, and also conveys tremendous enthusiasm from the orchestra. The sound on this piece is really spectacular for its time. The Haydn 102 is 'stately' and elegant, but what crispness of texture & articulation!The Saint Saens was re-recorded with the RPO in 1957. The later performance is also sparkling and sounds much better. But the earlier one- almost one minute faster- exquisitely conveys the perpetual spinning wheel depicted in the work. It is this thread of sound, articulation, and texture that stays in mind after hearing these discs, and which made Beecham an especially successful recording conductor. Highly recommended-along with his wonderful Magic Flute (get the one on Dutton Labs, the best transfer so far), His collection of Delius' orchestral works, and his wilful but inspired Messiah."