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This page is devoted to recommended
recordings of repertoire that the orchestra is presenting during the
2009-2010 season. In addition to a description of the recording and a short
review, short sound clips from each work are included as samples in order
for you to familiarize yourself with the season repertory.
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From the 2009 -2010 Season:
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- Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, op. 13 "Winter Dreams"
Recommended Recording: Mariss Jansons/Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra CHANDOS 8672/8 (Complete Set of Six Symphonies plus "Manfred" Symphony)
CHANDOS B000000ADD -Single
 This performance of the 1st Symphony was recorded in April 1985, and was the third of the symphonies to be recorded. It is still one of the finest performances of the symphony recorded, due to finely judged tempi, and the atmosphere that Jansons creates, particularly in the second movement. The scherzo is well played, and the finale has a sense of exuberance without sounding like a football band. Highly recommended, as well as the rest of the set.
Ottorino Respighi: The Pines of Rome
Recommended Recording: Mariss Jansons/Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
EMI B000002RW0
 Recorded in 1995 along with Respighi's "Roman Fountains", (Roman Festivals was recorded earler), this performance is a hallmark of Mariss Janson's strengths as a conductor. His ability to create an atmosphere is strong throughout this performance. The children romp and play in the Villa Borgehese with great enthusiasm, and the sense of the dead past is strong in the "Catacombs' movement. The performance really shines in the "Janiculum" - one really feels the atmosphere of a summer's evening, with the sounds of the nightgales all around. Jansons handles the crescendo in the "Appian Way" movement with great skill - he never lets the orchestra get overly loud. Skillfully judged, he holds back the volume until the last possible moment, giving the performance a most exciting and robust conclusion. The orchestra's performance is splendid throughout, and Leif Arne Tangen Pedersen's solo clarinet is of the highest caliber. Well worth having in one's collection. The performances of Roman Festivals and Fountains of Rome are equally compelling.
Antonin Dvorak: Overture "In Nature's Realm"
Recommended Recording: Istvan Kertesz/London Symphony Orchestra
Decca/London 430-046-2
 This recording of "In Nature's Realm" was issued in 1991 as part of a collection of the collection of the complete symphonies, recorded between 1963 and 1967. In its original release on LP, it was coupled with performances of the Symphony No. 6 in D major. Like the recordings of the symphonies, this performance has stood the test of time. Istvan Kertesz, whose career was cut short by his sudden death in 1973, had a natural feel for the music of Dvorak, as is evident throughout the cycle. His treatment of the overture "In Natures' Realm" shows the same sense of pace and timing as does the symphonies, and he allows the music th flow and sing, with no loss of energy. Highly recommended. If you can, by the complete set - it is a bargain!
Alan Hohvanness: Symphony No. 2 -"Mysterious Mountain"
Recommended Recording: Andrew Litton/Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dorian Recordings DRN 90224
 Recorded in the 1990s, this performance is part of a collection called "An American Tapestry', and includes music of William Schuman, Aln Hohvannes, Charles T. Griffes, Charles Ives and Walter Piston, All of the works are given a clean and articulate performance. The Hohvaness is especially well-done. The string tone of the Dallas Symphony is full-bodied, and the recording sound is very good. Most enjoyable.
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, "Spring"
Recommended Recording: Bernard Haitink/Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
Philips 416 126-2
 Released as a complete set of the four symphonies in the mid 1980s, towards the end of Bernard Haitink's twenty-four year tenure as Music Director of the Concertgebouw Orchestra (it added the "Royal" in 1988, after Riccardo Chailly became Music Director), this recording of the First Symphony exhibits all of the hallmarks of a Haitink performance - clarity, an excellent sense of tempi - intense without being forced, andan excellent sense of musical architecture. Schumann's symphonies are said to be problematic to perform due to supposedly poor orchestration, but to judge from this performance, none of this evident. It is a performance that is engaging without being forced, and the playing of the orchestra is of extremly high caliber. The same holds true for the entire set. Recommended.
Ferde Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite
Recommended Recording: Antal Dorati/Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Decca/London B0000041YQ
 Recorded ca. 1980, this recording of Grofe's popular symphonic evocation of America's greatest national park remains a stunner, both sonically, and more important, musically. Unlike other recordings of the work, Dorati manages to dig into the score and bring out the best in each movement. "Sunset" and "Cloudburst' are particularly compelling in their breadth, and the other movements are superlatively played as well. I find that "On the Trail" remains a lot of fun to listen to! Coupled with a superb performance of the Symphonic Synthesis from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess", this disc remains a winner all around! Highly recommended.
Edward MacDowell: Second Suite, op. 48
Recommended Recording: Siegfried Landau/Westphalian Symphony Orchestra
VoxBox CDX 5092
 Recorded in the 1970s, and released by the Vox label, this version of the Suite is performed by Siegfried Landau, founder of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and the Music for Westchester Symphony,leading a little-known German ensemble called the Westphalian Symphony Orchestra (most likely a pick-up orchestra active in Germany during the period 1970 - 1976). Though the sound is a bit dated, the performance is a spirited one, and shows a great depth of feeling, the Dirge being particular pognant. It is available as part of a two disc-series released by Vox, as the last work on the second disc of the set.
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Recommended Recording: Bernard Haitink/The London Philharmonic
(coupled with the Symphony No. 5 and Norfolk Rhapsody)
EMI/Angel B000002RV
 Bernard Haitink held the post of Music Director of the London Philharmonic from 1967 until 1979, and over time has become known as one of the foremost interpreters of the music of Vaughan Williams. Over the course of a decade (1984 - 1995), Haitink recorded all of the symphonies with the LPO, along with such works as "The Lark Ascending", and "The Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1". In this performance of "The Lark Ascending", the LPO and Haitink are joined by violinist Sarah Chang. The performance is well played, and while some find this to be a bit too brisk, one cannot say that it is static. Recommended.
Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, op. 64
Recommended Recording: Herbert von Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker
DGG B000001GK2
 Recorded in 1981, this recording iss still considered one of the best ever made of Richard Strauss's musical description of a day in the mountains. Majestic, broad, and sweeping are adjectives that aptly describe this performance. Karajan always had a way with the music of Richard Strauss, and his enjoyment of this music is evident in every bar. The nebulous atmosphere in the Night section is quite well done, and the logical sequence to the summit is well presented. Karajan gets us the summit, and it is most beautifully played. The second half of the work is equally impressive - the Descent and Storm sections are awesome. Highly recommended.
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