 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out of interest, I know this box set does not include Herrmann's classical recordings, but what do people think about his The Planets?
It seems to get pretty bad reviews overall, but what do we think? Do we covet it?
Cheers
I'm not nuts about it. I heard it, but found it just doesn't hold together as well as other versions. It's not that the tempi are slower than usual -- I think slower does not at all mean less exciting and can be very effective -- , but that the resulting performance feels laborious, and the playing lacks precision.
The thing is, if you are a Bernard Herrmann fan, or a film music fan, the recording may hold some interest, as this is a composer/conductor best known for his excellent film music tackling a piece of classical music. So it may very well be interesting to hear Bernard Herrmann's performance of the work if your point of reference is Bernard Herrmann.
However, if you are looking for a great version of THE PLANETS and not for Bernard Herrmann, then there are many recordings that I would simply prefer, including recordings be John Elliot Gardiner, Herbert von Karajan, Simon Rattle, or Adrian Boult if you look for one with the same orchestra Herrmann conducted.
It's not that there is inherently anything "wrong" with Bernard Herrmann's version, but the competition is stiff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out of interest, I know this box set does not include Herrmann's classical recordings, but what do people think about his The Planets?
It seems to get pretty bad reviews overall, but what do we think? Do we covet it?
Cheers
I'm not nuts about it. I heard it, but found it just doesn't hold together as well as other versions. It's not that the tempi are slower than usual -- I think slower does not at all mean less exciting and can be very effective -- , but that the resulting performance feels laborious, and the playing lacks precision.
The thing is, if you are a Bernard Herrmann fan, or a film music fan, the recording may hold some interest, as this is a composer/conductor best known for his excellent film music tackling a piece of classical music. So it may very well be interesting to hear Bernard Herrmann's performance of the work if your point of reference is Bernard Herrmann.
However, if you are looking for a great version of THE PLANETS and not for Bernard Herrmann, then there are many recordings that I would simply prefer, including recordings be John Elliot Gardiner, Herbert von Karajan, Simon Rattle, or Adrian Boult if you look for one with the same orchestra Herrmann conducted.
It's not that there is inherently anything "wrong" with Bernard Herrmann's version, but the competition is stiff.
And yet, you neglect what for me is the finest Planets ever recorded in absolutely the best sound - William Steinberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The recent issue comes not only with a newly and brilliantly remastered CD but also with a Blu-ray audio version that will knock your socks off. The tempos are perfection, but everything about it is perfection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
May 18, 2021 - 12:56 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
gyorgyL
(Member)
|
Out of interest, I know this box set does not include Herrmann's classical recordings, but what do people think about his The Planets?
It seems to get pretty bad reviews overall, but what do we think? Do we covet it?
Cheers
I'm not nuts about it. I heard it, but found it just doesn't hold together as well as other versions. It's not that the tempi are slower than usual -- I think slower does not at all mean less exciting and can be very effective -- , but that the resulting performance feels laborious, and the playing lacks precision.
The thing is, if you are a Bernard Herrmann fan, or a film music fan, the recording may hold some interest, as this is a composer/conductor best known for his excellent film music tackling a piece of classical music. So it may very well be interesting to hear Bernard Herrmann's performance of the work if your point of reference is Bernard Herrmann.
However, if you are looking for a great version of THE PLANETS and not for Bernard Herrmann, then there are many recordings that I would simply prefer, including recordings be John Elliot Gardiner, Herbert von Karajan, Simon Rattle, or Adrian Boult if you look for one with the same orchestra Herrmann conducted.
It's not that there is inherently anything "wrong" with Bernard Herrmann's version, but the competition is stiff.
And yet, you neglect what for me is the finest Planets ever recorded in absolutely the best sound - William Steinberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The recent issue comes not only with a newly and brilliantly remastered CD but also with a Blu-ray audio version that will knock your socks off. The tempos are perfection, but everything about it is perfection.
Yes, the William Steinberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra version is excellent !!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oh, folks, I get it there are many better versions of The Planets out there.
I wasn't really looking for a recommendation of which was the best one, I was really only wondering how we as Herrmann fans feel about Herrmann's recording, given it seems to be the one classical reviewers hate.
Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gut reaction time.
I remember thinking for years The Planets had a certain Herrmann sound already when I listened to the LP I was given by my uncle many years ago. That would be a mono Bolt recording.
Imagine my shock at seeing the Herrmann recording on Phase 4 in a record shop.
Love it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The thing is, if you are a Bernard Herrmann fan, or a film music fan, the recording may hold some interest, as this is a composer/conductor best known for his excellent film music tackling a piece of classical music. So it may very well be interesting to hear Bernard Herrmann's performance of the work if your point of reference is Bernard Herrmann.
However, if you are looking for a great version of THE PLANETS and not for Bernard Herrmann, then there are many recordings that I would simply prefer, including recordings be John Elliot Gardiner, Herbert von Karajan, Simon Rattle, or Adrian Boult if you look for one with the same orchestra Herrmann conducted.
It's not that there is inherently anything "wrong" with Bernard Herrmann's version, but the competition is stiff.
And yet, you neglect what for me is the finest Planets ever recorded in absolutely the best sound - William Steinberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The recent issue comes not only with a newly and brilliantly remastered CD but also with a Blu-ray audio version that will knock your socks off. The tempos are perfection, but everything about it is perfection.
My bad, that's also a terrific version. I didn't want to give the impression that I know all versions of THE PLANETS or my suggestions were definitive. Steinberg's THE PLANETS is great.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
May 18, 2021 - 5:27 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
TerraEpon
(Member)
|
Selling catalogue classical discs now is all about box sets, there's just so many out there. The latest huge box set is the, "Andre Previn: The Complete HMV Recordings", 96 discs!
Yeah, the last few years have seen a huge swath of these types of box sets by the majors, but almost nothing else in the way of reissues of old stuff. No symphony cycles, no 4-10CD collections around a composer (often by one conductor), no two CD sets of three albums or whatever pretty just a relative drip feed of new releases and really big box sets, usually celebrating one recording artist (though there's also been a few so-called-but-not-actually complete works of composers and to a lesser extent, just large sets of them dedicated to composers).
But I suppose all that is a rant for another thread....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Aug 5, 2021 - 5:26 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Last Child
(Member)
|
I didn't bother with this because I got the LPs in the day, and later the single CD issues as they were released. I appreciate that this new set is a Herrmann tribute, but there were additions to some of the single CDs that I suspect aren't included. For example, one that comes to mind is on the 1989 "Shakespeare..." CD: the terrific 7-minute version of Agincourt from Walton's "Henry V" score, performed by the London Festival Orchestra (Decca's in-house orchestra) conducted by Stanley Black. I know, this new release is solely Herrmann performances from the old LPs, but I'm happy with those vinyls and the following CD issues. The new set is brilliant, though, for people who missed out back then.
Looks like you're correct, they stuck to the LP content and didn't include the previous cd's bonus "Henry V" suite. The tracklist is on SAE and Intrada.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
