I bought the Lp of the RCA Previn Walton 1st on Gold Seal on its re-release mid seventies I suppose, and never looked to replace it, so good was it. On the release of the big Chandos box of the complete Walton I was quite taken with the Brydon Thompson (which you mentioned.....we're indebted to him for his Bax too!)......but I always return to the Previn - along with his VW series which I fastidiously collected, also on RCA Gold Seal. What a good thing these Previn recordings were (along with his Rachmaninov) for recording in Britain back then.
Just had to be Previn & the LSO (his Telarc version with RPO was a real disappointment....just like his Rachmaninov 2 with the same forces). Remember hearing this first at music college, desperately trying to follow the score! Absolutely blew me away. The LSO really flourished under Previn's stewardship (that splendid RCA Vaughan Williams Symphony cycle, a scorching Shostakovich 5th, and later for EMI Messiaen's Turangalila and Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Concert champêtre amongst many others). Great stuff.
A huge thank you for your amazing channel! This is off topic, but how about a series about works from specific decades - "typical works from 1890s, great works from 1920s" and so on? Best regards from Norway
This is the recording that introduced me to Walton. Wow. It was like THE symphony of the 20th century. Szell's recording of the Hindemith Variations is, for me, another greatest recording ever.
As a teenager I was fortunate to attend a performance of Walton's Symphony No. 1 with Previn and the LSO during their American tour in 1969 or 1970. It was an amazing experience.
For Walton I thought FOR SURE you were going to discuss the Hindemith Variations with George Szell. I think somewhere you mentioned it as being one of the best recordings of anything anywhere... you certainly sold me on it. AND I'll check out the Previn Symphony 1. I've had the Litton CD for some time now.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Maybe. Apple Music (streaming) and Amazon MP3 do not sell the Andante movement (grayed out - "not available in your country or region"). Notice that the third movement in iTunes has no timing. Hmmm.
Have it on now (thank you, Idagio and Qobuz); i know this was on my dad's shelf not long after it came out, but the first (and only) recording I bought for myself was Slatkin and the LPO from 1987. Still enjoy that one, but already I can hear why this is the superior version.
The first time I heard the piece it was with a showing of the last episode of Civilization. Those terrific images of Manhattan from the air accompanied with that music. I was hooked as an youngster. In those days when I lost my first beloved cat there was luckily greatness to fill in that hole. Similar little tastes of what the BBC then produced one also got with their regular culture program Omnibus. There's actually the episode on RUclips here of Omnibus on the rehearsal of this particular piece by Previn with the LSO. That's a worthwhile watch too
Dave, much obliged to you for your videos on Franz Berwald. I've been enjoying his 4 symphonies this weekend based on your discussions and recommendations.
Wholeheartedly agree with the choice of Previn. A milestone recording and mill stone for everyone who followed (save Slatkin IMO). However (!), your mention of Szell and Walton raises the issue of the missed opportunity of getting Szell to record Walton 1 along with the 2nd. Leaving aside the issue of getting George Szell to do anything he didn't want to do, he and the Clevelanders seemed to have everything required for a great Walton 1; rhythmic accuity, textual clarity and virtuosity in spades. But let's not go down that rabbit hole and be grateful for what we have.
Sir Mildred Walton ❤
My favourite British symphony EVER!!
That's a terrific recording. Previn did some great ones with the LSO. BTW, Hi Mildred.
Ok. I’ll bite: Who’s Mildred? What’s the inside joke?
@@greenbeginner3353 Mildred is the cat. Dave introduced her in the first 15 seconds. She's quite familiar to regular viewers.
@@leestamm3187 Oh! Thank you!
I love it when Mildred and Finster appear too! True stars, they are! The talks aren't bad, either!
Serious hat; That's a fine recording from Previn.
I bought the Lp of the RCA Previn Walton 1st on Gold Seal on its re-release mid seventies I suppose, and never looked to replace it, so good was it. On the release of the big Chandos box of the complete Walton I was quite taken with the Brydon Thompson (which you mentioned.....we're indebted to him for his Bax too!)......but I always return to the Previn - along with his VW series which I fastidiously collected, also on RCA Gold Seal. What a good thing these Previn recordings were (along with his Rachmaninov) for recording in Britain back then.
Just had to be Previn & the LSO (his Telarc version with RPO was a real disappointment....just like his Rachmaninov 2 with the same forces). Remember hearing this first at music college, desperately trying to follow the score! Absolutely blew me away. The LSO really flourished under Previn's stewardship (that splendid RCA Vaughan Williams Symphony cycle, a scorching Shostakovich 5th, and later for EMI Messiaen's Turangalila and Poulenc's Organ Concerto and Concert champêtre amongst many others). Great stuff.
A huge thank you for your amazing channel! This is off topic, but how about a series about works from specific decades - "typical works from 1890s, great works from 1920s" and so on? Best regards from Norway
This is the recording that introduced me to Walton. Wow. It was like THE symphony of the 20th century.
Szell's recording of the Hindemith Variations is, for me, another greatest recording ever.
I love this symphony and Previn's knockout performance. Great choice, great review!
As a teenager I was fortunate to attend a performance of Walton's Symphony No. 1 with Previn and the LSO during their American tour in 1969 or 1970. It was an amazing experience.
Why didn't Szell record this work? Other than he wasn't the dedicatee? And good luck convincing Columbia, I suppose.
Was included in the collection of a real British Gentleman which I acquired two years ago so the provenience of my exemplar is impeccable.
For Walton I thought FOR SURE you were going to discuss the Hindemith Variations with George Szell. I think somewhere you mentioned it as being one of the best recordings of anything anywhere... you certainly sold me on it. AND I'll check out the Previn Symphony 1. I've had the Litton CD for some time now.
I think this cd is no longer available. Not (new) on Amazon. Apple Music offers only three movements!
ITunes has it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Maybe. Apple Music (streaming) and Amazon MP3 do not sell the Andante movement (grayed out - "not available in your country or region"). Notice that the third movement in iTunes has no timing. Hmmm.
Have it on now (thank you, Idagio and Qobuz); i know this was on my dad's shelf not long after it came out, but the first (and only) recording I bought for myself was Slatkin and the LPO from 1987. Still enjoy that one, but already I can hear why this is the superior version.
The first time I heard the piece it was with a showing of the last episode of Civilization. Those terrific images of Manhattan from the air accompanied with that music. I was hooked as an youngster. In those days when I lost my first beloved cat there was luckily greatness to fill in that hole. Similar little tastes of what the BBC then produced one also got with their regular culture program Omnibus. There's actually the episode on RUclips here of Omnibus on the rehearsal of this particular piece by Previn with the LSO. That's a worthwhile watch too
Mildred!
Dave, much obliged to you for your videos on Franz Berwald. I've been enjoying his 4 symphonies this weekend based on your discussions and recommendations.
Wholeheartedly agree with the choice of Previn. A milestone recording and mill stone for everyone who followed (save Slatkin IMO). However (!), your mention of Szell and Walton raises the issue of the missed opportunity of getting Szell to record Walton 1 along with the 2nd. Leaving aside the issue of getting George Szell to do anything he didn't want to do, he and the Clevelanders seemed to have everything required for a great Walton 1; rhythmic accuity, textual clarity and virtuosity in spades. But let's not go down that rabbit hole and be grateful for what we have.