What a conductor!! You hear everything from the distinct instrumental ensembles of the orchestration to the dreamy rubati, completely organic and almost self explanatory! I am so happy to have heard him live accompanying Renee Fleming on the piano in NY more than 20 years ago. What a memorable experience!!
Well, since the '73 with the LSO is considered generally the greatest recording of the Rach 2nd ever, it's fitting this was his last performance with them. There are now so many recordings of the 2nd that it's dizzying, but before Previn and the LSO that was not the case. Thank you Maestro for single-handedly reviving a great work.
What a way to go! Farewell Andre' Previn, Rachmaninoff's majestic 2nd will always remind us of you and your 1973 recording. Thank you for enriching our musical lives for so many decades across so many musical forms.
Superb and ravishing, deeply felt and sincere. Extreme beauty that moved the musicians themselves during this performance. Very demanding music to perform in that respect alone. Maestro Previn never drops a single thread of the melodies and interwoven themes, being a superb composer himself, nor does he ever neglect a nuance while being the most modest and self-effacing of conductors. There are so many ineffable moments unfolding in this glorious music, it truly beggars the imagination, the last minutes alone can put you in touch with God Himself.
Interesting to hear this piece with a completely different set of players compared with same orchestra in 1973 recording. Interpretatively, Previn is fairly similar. The big change is the strings, which in 2015 have a sweeter tone and improved articulation (the 1970s orchestra had a rather harsh, metallic sound). The downside is it doesn’t quite have the macho “ballsy-ness” of the 1973 recording.
The Andre Previn recording of this piece with the LSO in 1975 is much, much better; it is considered one of the recordings of the century. Here the sound is more distant, more muted, and the soloist (clarinet) is not as good as in the earlier recording. You can hear the 3rd movement of this great 1975 recording here on UA-cam and make up your own mind. Sorry but correct. Also, as another poster notes below, something happens around 36:10 in this recording which should have necessitated a rerecording.
Thanks for the input, Ronnie. If you're referring to the 1973 EMI recording - that was a studio recording and is indeed possibly the greatest studio version available. The 2015 recording on the channel however was a single live performance in front of a capacity audience, not a commercial recording, so that the recorded balance is not as good as it might have been in a studio. Being live, there was also no potential for a re-take; yes, there was an issue in the third movement. I was at the concert and saw and heard it, being mainly down to Previn's frailty and fallible technique at his great age.
I was there, and seeing the orchestra drift apart and come back together was the most hair-raising thing ever... But this is the result of his slightly modest range of gestures during a section where more clearly-defined gesture might have been helpful. He was fairly lenient with where he let the players have sectional rubato... and when different sections responded differently to his gestures... that happened... But seeing this great man conduct his favourite symphony with his favourite orchestra, and with his former wife performing his concerto on the first half of the concert... what more can you ask for. It was a very moving occasion.
I was also there, and had the same reaction when it happened. I agree with what you said; Previn was frail as you can see in my background photo taken at the event, and it seemed that they didn't know what to make of his conducting at that point, and he unfortunately just lost them. If anyone, it was the leader, Roman Simovic who pulled them back together - he was really active throughout the performance, and did his bit to make sure that the house came down at the end. So memorable.
Ohh my god, listen to the moment of they destroyed the 3rd movement at 36.10.. the orchestra is completely lost!!! =((( I adore Previn and LSO but this mistake is not acceptable!.. =//
Yes, there was an unfortunate event in the adagio, which was clear to those like me who were in the audience at the time. But your assessment is unnecessarily harsh, and in context the movement was certainly not destroyed. Here's an extract from a blog posting that I made at the time: '...the Barbican is the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, and on this occasion, their 86-year old conductor laureate, André Previn KBE is once more on the rostrum. Previn now cuts a very different figure to that which the musical public in the UK saw during the 1970s, when he was pretty much a fixture on British television. These days he shuffles slowly to his position and has to be assisted onto the rostrum, where he sits in a comfortable office swivel chair to conduct. So it was this particular evening; however, there is no feeling of audience impatience with Previn's slow progress, or the assistance necessary to get him to his conducting position. Indeed, the sight is very touching, as is the response of the packed audience when he half-turns in his chair and smiles at the audience. There is an almost palpable atmosphere, and real expectation. Why? Well, tonight Previn and the LSO are performing Rachmaninov's second symphony. If that statement means nothing to you, then move along please: nothing to see here. But it does mean a lot to many, as the packed audience attests. This performing team has been iconic for decades, but this music in particular is more special than most with them, since their ground-breaking recording of the early 1970s which has to this day been the yardstick by which all other recorded versions are still judged and which by consensus appears to be as yet untouched. On the night, the atmosphere is electric. The frail figure on the rostrum raises his arms, and as if by magic, his frailty falls away as familiar gestures galvanise the orchestra, which surges into the Rachmaninov as if possessed. The strings are tight and in total harmony and the leader of the orchestra, Roman Simovic is so animated that I think that he may fall off his seat. The opening introduction is passionate, and the music builds robustly and inexorably through the movements to crown the finale with an outpouring that has an intensity and momentum that renders me speechless for many minutes afterwards. I cannot even yell bravo for fear of dissolving into sobs. It really is unlikely that after three hearings, that I will hear another live performance by this team, but I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong...'
@@lsoliverecordings3882 I did not want to be rude sorry. I just wanted to say that I would never ever expect a mistake like this from LSO or Previn cause they know this piece from memory and played it together many times, especially around 70'ies while they went on a tour to Russia and Asia together. So I was just upset when I heard that part of the recording. =( by the way, I made my 2nd master of music degree in RCM London and played 2 times in LSO. I am a clarinettist.. =)
Thanks for getting back; it's really not a problem. The upload of this particular performance was outside the norm, the intent of it being as a tribute to the late Maestro in music that he and the orchestra are so well-known for, and especially as it was his last appearance with the LSO. Personally, I continue to derive a great deal of pleasure from this performance - I can still see it in my head when I listen to it - because of the intensity of the response to the conductor and just the sense of occasion. I don't know exactly what happened at that point in the adagio, but the musicians retrieved the situation very well and brought the house down at the end.
==they know this piece from memory and played it together many times, especially around 70'ies while they went on a tour to Russia and Asia together. Yes, but don't forget it's a totally different orchestra these days. There's maybe say, 3 or 4 people there from that tour. They may not even have played the piece at all for a couple of seasons
What a conductor!! You hear everything from the distinct instrumental ensembles of the orchestration to the dreamy rubati, completely organic and almost self explanatory! I am so happy to have heard him live accompanying Renee Fleming on the piano in NY more than 20 years ago. What a memorable experience!!
Well, since the '73 with the LSO is considered generally the greatest recording of the Rach 2nd ever, it's fitting this was his last performance with them. There are now so many recordings of the 2nd that it's dizzying, but before Previn and the LSO that was not the case. Thank you Maestro for single-handedly reviving a great work.
A wonderful performance. Reminds me of the great days Andre Previn was principal conductor of the LSO.
What a way to go! Farewell Andre' Previn, Rachmaninoff's majestic 2nd will always remind us of you and your 1973 recording. Thank you for enriching our musical lives for so many decades across so many musical forms.
I remember listening to this on radio 3 absolutely brilliant
僕は勝手な事ではありますが今日のN響を成長させた指揮者として挙げたいのがプレヴィンとサヴァリッシュであると思っています。
想像ですがプレブィンはその人柄から柔軟な発想とその技量で素晴らしい音を引き出し、聴く者も素直な精神状態でその世界に
身をゆだねられる。聴いていて安心感のある僕にとって孤高の指揮者がプレヴィンと思っております。
A gorgeous performance, with a full, rich tonality. Simply beautiful...
All things considered this is a rapturous recording and they mask the slip up at 36 minutes just fine. It’s live music, mistakes happen. That’s life!
A fitting way to finish a distinguished career. And he brought his wit and sensitivity to the podium with his baton. RIchard
Superb and ravishing, deeply felt and sincere. Extreme beauty that moved the musicians themselves during this performance. Very demanding music to perform in that respect alone. Maestro Previn never drops a single thread of the melodies and interwoven themes, being a superb composer himself, nor does he ever neglect a nuance while being the most modest and self-effacing of conductors. There are so many ineffable moments unfolding in this glorious music, it truly beggars the imagination, the last minutes alone can put you in touch with God Himself.
Interesting to hear this piece with a completely different set of players compared with same orchestra in 1973 recording. Interpretatively, Previn is fairly similar. The big change is the strings, which in 2015 have a sweeter tone and improved articulation (the 1970s orchestra had a rather harsh, metallic sound). The downside is it doesn’t quite have the macho “ballsy-ness” of the 1973 recording.
I think the sound of the strings is down to the poor EMI recording.
Gracias Previn :')
The Andre Previn recording of this piece with the LSO in 1975 is much, much better; it is considered one of the recordings of the century. Here the sound is more distant, more muted, and the soloist (clarinet) is not as good as in the earlier recording. You can hear the 3rd movement of this great 1975 recording here on UA-cam and make up your own mind. Sorry but correct. Also, as another poster notes below, something happens around 36:10 in this recording which should have necessitated a rerecording.
Thanks for the input, Ronnie. If you're referring to the 1973 EMI recording - that was a studio recording and is indeed possibly the greatest studio version available. The 2015 recording on the channel however was a single live performance in front of a capacity audience, not a commercial recording, so that the recorded balance is not as good as it might have been in a studio. Being live, there was also no potential for a re-take; yes, there was an issue in the third movement. I was at the concert and saw and heard it, being mainly down to Previn's frailty and fallible technique at his great age.
Thanks for posting. Any ideas what went wrong at 36.10 ? Did Previn maybe cue at the wrong point ?
I was there, and seeing the orchestra drift apart and come back together was the most hair-raising thing ever...
But this is the result of his slightly modest range of gestures during a section where more clearly-defined gesture might have been helpful. He was fairly lenient with where he let the players have sectional rubato... and when different sections responded differently to his gestures... that happened...
But seeing this great man conduct his favourite symphony with his favourite orchestra, and with his former wife performing his concerto on the first half of the concert... what more can you ask for. It was a very moving occasion.
I was also there, and had the same reaction when it happened. I agree with what you said; Previn was frail as you can see in my background photo taken at the event, and it seemed that they didn't know what to make of his conducting at that point, and he unfortunately just lost them. If anyone, it was the leader, Roman Simovic who pulled them back together - he was really active throughout the performance, and did his bit to make sure that the house came down at the end. So memorable.
Symphony No.2 in E minor,OP. 27 (1906-8).
86歳
Ohh my god, listen to the moment of they destroyed the 3rd movement at 36.10.. the orchestra is completely lost!!! =((( I adore Previn and LSO but this mistake is not acceptable!.. =//
Yes, there was an unfortunate event in the adagio, which was clear to those like me who were in the audience at the time. But your assessment is unnecessarily harsh, and in context the movement was certainly not destroyed. Here's an extract from a blog posting that I made at the time:
'...the Barbican is the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, and on this occasion, their 86-year old conductor laureate, André Previn KBE is once more on the rostrum. Previn now cuts a very different figure to that which the musical public in the UK saw during the 1970s, when he was pretty much a fixture on British television. These days he shuffles slowly to his position and has to be assisted onto the rostrum, where he sits in a comfortable office swivel chair to conduct. So it was this particular evening; however, there is no feeling of audience impatience with Previn's slow progress, or the assistance necessary to get him to his conducting position. Indeed, the sight is very touching, as is the response of the packed audience when he half-turns in his chair and smiles at the audience. There is an almost palpable atmosphere, and real expectation.
Why? Well, tonight Previn and the LSO are performing Rachmaninov's second symphony. If that statement means nothing to you, then move along please: nothing to see here. But it does mean a lot to many, as the packed audience attests. This performing team has been iconic for decades, but this music in particular is more special than most with them, since their ground-breaking recording of the early 1970s which has to this day been the yardstick by which all other recorded versions are still judged and which by consensus appears to be as yet untouched.
On the night, the atmosphere is electric. The frail figure on the rostrum raises his arms, and as if by magic, his frailty falls away as familiar gestures galvanise the orchestra, which surges into the Rachmaninov as if possessed. The strings are tight and in total harmony and the leader of the orchestra, Roman Simovic is so animated that I think that he may fall off his seat. The opening introduction is passionate, and the music builds robustly and inexorably through the movements to crown the finale with an outpouring that has an intensity and momentum that renders me speechless for many minutes afterwards. I cannot even yell bravo for fear of dissolving into sobs.
It really is unlikely that after three hearings, that I will hear another live performance by this team, but I would love nothing more than to be proved wrong...'
@@lsoliverecordings3882 I did not want to be rude sorry. I just wanted to say that I would never ever expect a mistake like this from LSO or Previn cause they know this piece from memory and played it together many times, especially around 70'ies while they went on a tour to Russia and Asia together. So I was just upset when I heard that part of the recording. =( by the way, I made my 2nd master of music degree in RCM London and played 2 times in LSO. I am a clarinettist.. =)
Thanks for getting back; it's really not a problem. The upload of this particular performance was outside the norm, the intent of it being as a tribute to the late Maestro in music that he and the orchestra are so well-known for, and especially as it was his last appearance with the LSO. Personally, I continue to derive a great deal of pleasure from this performance - I can still see it in my head when I listen to it - because of the intensity of the response to the conductor and just the sense of occasion. I don't know exactly what happened at that point in the adagio, but the musicians retrieved the situation very well and brought the house down at the end.
==they know this piece from memory and played it together many times, especially around 70'ies while they went on a tour to Russia and Asia together.
Yes, but don't forget it's a totally different orchestra these days. There's maybe say, 3 or 4 people there from that tour. They may not even have played the piece at all for a couple of seasons
Jonathan Dunsby how long do they take to get back in the seat?