Haitink's best recordings

[gggg...@gmail.com]

Recently lauded:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

[Oscar]

Musicweb International Recommends

Each Wednesday, we will publish a list of the favourite recordings of major repertoire works, as recommended by members of our reviewing team (see below). There are no supporting comments - nomination to the list is sufficient recommendation.

Because of changes in availability and reissues, we have chosen not to provide catalogue number, only sufficient detail for you to be able to track it down:
- performers
- label
- year, where more than one version exists, e.g. Glenn Gould's Goldbergs from 1955 and 1981

Links to reviews will be provided only where the review is by the nominator. Where the site's review is by another person, it can be found in the Masterwork Index.

This week
Bruckner: Symphony 5
Sergiu Celibidache/Munich PO (1986, Altus) [MB]
Sergiu Celibidache/Munich PO (1993, EMI/Warner) [JFL]
Kurt Peter Eichhorn/Bavarian RSO (Capriccio) [RMo]
Wilhelm Furtwangler/Berlin PO (Music and Arts, 1942) [JW]
Bernard Haitink/Vienna PO (Philips) [JQ review]
Nikolaus Harnoncourt/Vienna PO (RCA) [LW]
Philippe Herreweghe/O des Champs-Elysees (Harmonia Mundi) [MG]
Jascha Horenstein/BBC SO (BBC Legends) [MB]
Eugen Jochum/Concertgebouw O (Tahra, 1986) [SG]
Hans Knappertsbusch/Vienna PO (Decca) [RMay]
Giuseppe Sinopoli/Dresden Staatskapelle (Deutsche Grammophon) [MC]
Gunter Wand/Berlin PO (RCA) [MC]
Gunter Wand/Munich PO (Profil) [LW]

Stravinsky: Petrushka
Claudio Abbado/London SO (Deutsche Grammophon) [MB]
Karel Ancerl/Czech PO (Supraphon) [RB]
Ernest Ansermet/Suisse Romande O (Somm) [JW]
Riccardo Chailly/Royal Concertgebouw O (Decca) [SB][LW]
Antal Dorati/Minneapolis SO (Mercury) [SG]
Charles Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca) [SB]
Ferenc Fricsay/RIAS O (Deutsche Grammophon) [JFL]
Bernard Haitink/Berlin PO (Philips) [MC]
Mariss Jansons/Bavarian RSO (BR Klassik) [MC]
Otto Klemperer/New PO (Testament) [MB]
Pierre Monteux/Boston SO (RCA) [LW]
Pierre Monteux/Paris Conservatoire O (Decca) [SG]
Igor Stravinsky/Columbia SO (Sony) [JQ]
Michael Tilson Thomas/Boston SO (RCA) [RMo]

[Herman]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 9:22:15 PM UTC+1, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

this link doesn't remotely present Haitink's best recordings.

It just happens to mention two of his recordings which may or may not be among his best recordings.

[Bob Harper]

Yeah, seemed pretty useless to me. I'd nominate his digital Bruckner 9
as his best.

Bob Harper

[Bob Harper]

And add the Duo of Mahler 9/DLvdE. Incredibly cheap at Amazon.

Bob Harper

[Marc P.]

Is this the 9th with the LSO? I'd nominate his second Concertgebouw Bruckner 7th, from the late '70s. Haitink's live 8th with the VPO at Carnegie Hall some years ago was sensational, as icy as I've ever heard Bruckner performed. Thanks to Ramon for sending me a burned CD copy (or was it Simon?).

Marc

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:22:15 AM UTC-10, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

Concerning DON G., an Amazon customer posted:

- The humor, drama, and sheer enjoyment of the cast members is infectious and one of Bernard Haitink's best recordings.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

In 1997, someone here said:

- Haitink's second recording of it would "blow you away" too; an
astoundingly powerful second movement; perhaps Haitink's best recording...

[furrybear57]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 2:22:15 PM UTC-6, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

Haitink's best? IMHO: THE PLANETS and SCHEHERAZADE, both with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and FIDELIO with the Dresden Staatskapelle.

[Bob Harper]

On 12/9/15 6:52 PM, Marc P. wrote:
(snip)

>
> Is this the 9th with the LSO? I'd nominate his second Concertgebouw
> Bruckner 7th, from the late '70s. Haitink's live 8th with the VPO at
> Carnegie Hall some years ago was sensational, as icy as I've ever
> heard Bruckner performed. Thanks to Ramon for sending me a burned CD
> copy (or was it Simon?).
>
> Marc
>

I'd forgot about that, but no, it's the one with the RCO from the early
'80s. And yes, the 7th from '78 is one of the great ones.

And the live 8th my wife and I heard in April 2013 at the Concertgebouw
was sensational as well. I keep expecting it to be issued, but so far
that hasn't happened.

Bob Harper

[Herman]

I'm going against the grain by proposing his Boston SO Brahms cycle, including the 2nd PC with Ax.

[Oscar]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:35:28 PM, Herman wrote:
>
> I'm going against the grain by proposing his Boston SO Brahms cycle, including the 2nd PC with Ax.

Not my grain. I've been extolling the virtues of said cycle for years now.

[Herman]

People tend to regard Haitink as a Bruckner - Mahler guy, but the way I look at it the two composers he's always been looking at, taking them to another orchestra, recording them one more time, are Beethoven and Brahms.

And the Boston cycle me have been his best recorded shot at Brahms. (The LSO Live is disappointing.)

[Oscar]

Haitink's BSO Brahms may be just a little too close-miked, but for a DDD recording it's as close to an ideal of Brahms interpretation as it gets. I've warmed to Chailly, btw, but still prefer Haitink as the one by which to assess the merits of others.

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:22:15 AM UTC-10, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

According to the following Haitink's recording of TANNHAUSER is superior to Solti's:

https://books.google.com/books?id=CsGj12DnHLYC&pg=PA681&dq=%22technical+control+and+interpretive+perception+of+Haitink+superior+to+that+of+Solti%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrwvbP-dDJAhUN0WMKHSuHAg4Q6AEIHTAA#v=onepage&q=%22technical%20control%20and%20interpretive%20perception%20of%20Haitink%20superior%20to%20that%20of%20Solti%22&f=false

[RiRiIII]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:22:15 PM UTC+2, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

For me:

Haitink's first recording of Mahler's 3rd with Forrester, the digital Mahler 4th with Alexander, his 2nd recording of Mahler's 7th, Brahms Hungarian Dances, the BSO Brahms cycle, the BSO Ravel Bolero (with the most amazing trombone solo), Debussy with the RCO, Beethoven 7th with the LSO, Shostakovich 8th with the RCO live from some years ago, Bruckner 8th with the VPO, Strauss Alpensinfonie with the RCO.

[Randy Lane]

I rate his Brahms Serenade No. 1 his best recording.

[3Bs]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 2:57:23 PM UTC-6, Herman wrote:
> It just happens to mention two of his recordings which may or may not be among his best recordings.

Well I certainly wouldn't pick that Bruckner 5 as one of his best. We've already mentioned his best Bruckner. I also like his Bruckner 3's especially the RCO one, with a bit more verve than you normally expect from him. I also find his Tragic Overture very well-judged.

Philips always managed such fine sound for his recordings, especially the RCO ones- it was always a pleasure getting to know a new Haitink LP.

[Raymond Hall]

On Thursday, 10 December 2015 07:22:15 UTC+11, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

I recommend his Shosty 8th, 11th, 13th and 15th from his recorded cycle, a Debussy Philips Duo with La Mer, Nocturnes, etc., and a pretty solid RVW cycle of the symphonies.

Ray Hall, Taree

[Terry]

No argument from me. But this is such a consistently fine conductor that it would be much more useful to try to compile a list of Haitink recordings that are NOT first-class.

[Terry]

On Friday, 11 December 2015 22:27:27 UTC+11, Raymond Hall wrote:

No argument from me. But this is such a consistently fine conductor that it would be more useful (and easier) to try to compile a list of Haitink recordings that are not first-class.

[Bob Harper]

I suspect most people here have their own 'best' list for Haitink, as
we've seen, but I would agree that he has a remarkably high batting
average, with few real clinkers (I can't think of any offhand, but no
doubt someone will remind us of one or more). I've no doubt this is
partly due to the fact that he's always enjoyed good recording and great
orchestras, but that he's a first-class conductor is not to be doubted.

Bob Harper

[Steve de Mena]

On 12/9/15 4:42 PM, Bob Harper wrote:

Yes, this one. Love it!
http://smile.amazon.com/Bruckner-Symphony-No-9-Anton/dp/B00000E2LS

The CD initially had a geometric pattern:
https://www.trustysound.com/image/public/0000/4472/713a.jpg

Steve

[Steve de Mena]

On 12/9/15 6:52 PM, Marc P. wrote:
> On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 4:42:33 PM UTC-8, Bob Harper wrote:
>> On 12/9/15 12:57 PM, Herman wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 9:22:15 PM UTC+1, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>> Recently lauded:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm
>>>
>>> this link doesn't remotely present Haitink's best recordings.
>>>
>>> It just happens to mention two of his recordings which may or may not be among his best recordings.
>>>
>> Yeah, seemed pretty useless to me. I'd nominate his digital Bruckner 9
>> as his best.
>
> Is this the 9th with the LSO?

No, Philips (now Decca) with RCO

>I'd nominate his second Concertgebouw Bruckner 7th, from the late '70s.

Yes, a good one, and a little hard to find for awhile.

http://smile.amazon.com/Bruckner-Symphony-No-7/dp/B00000E3LP

Steve

[gggg...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 10:22:15 AM UTC-10, gggg...@gmail.com wrote:
> Recently lauded:
>
> http://www.musicweb-international.com/mwi-recommends.htm

Concerning RITE OF S.:

- ...Haitink, crossed the Channel to record "The Rite" with the London Philharmonic in 1973, and the result is one of the great sleepers...

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-rite-stuff