01. - 04. Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, op.100 [44'25]
05. - 08. Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, op.131* [32'50]
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
EMI CDM 5651812 (recorded March 1974 and December 1977*; This CD released 1994)
(CD-rip; flacs, cover scan only, no booklet)
Recording venue: Abbey Road No.1 Studio, London
Recording engineer: Christopher Parker; Producer: Christopher Bishop and Suvi Raj Grubb*
I had been searching for a digital version of this recording of the fifth symphony for a long time. Given the scarce availability outside Japan, I feared that when I eventually heard it again I would be disappointed and that it would not be the fine performance and recording that I remembered. Recently, a friend kindly sent me this CD-rip and I do not know the original source. However, I am pleased to say that the performance and recording (great depth of the orchestral image) are both very fine - right up there with the best that I have heard. Unfortunately, the file came to me without any documentation so I have included a cover image (masquerading as a Warner Music disc) and the original LP cover and sleeve note - all sourced from the interweb.
The accompanying recording of the seventh symphony has been around in several guises and it has already been posted here on MIMIC in one of friend Davide's megaposts - but with different couplings. This is also generally another fine performance but ruined for me by Previn opting for the revised jolly ending of the last movement and not, at the very least, offering the original quiet ending as an alternative. (It's good to note that Gennady Rozhdestvensky in his superb recording with the Moscow Radio Symphony for Melodiya doesn't even consider offering the revised ending.)
Download from MEGA.