01. - 04. Sergei Rachmaninov - Symphony No.2 in E minor, op.27 [54.00]
Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson
Chandos CHAN6606 (recorded May 1980; first issued on LP in 1981; this CD released in 2003)
(digital download - flacs, booklet and cover)
Recording venue: Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
Recording engineer: Ralph Couzens; Producer: Brian Couzens
This very overshadowed recording has made little impression since its first release in 1981 but I rather like it and it has become a favourite. Although Alexander Gibson was past his prime in 1980 and the Scottish National Orchestra was nowhere near the polished ensemble that it has become, it's a genial and fresh view of the symphony. However, it would be idle to pretend that the performance matched the London Symphony under Previn; let alone the Bergen Philharmonic under Litton.
The early digital recording is also fine and exhibits none of the issues often experienced with digital recordings of the era. It was also made before Chandos adopted their unfortunate big reverberant sound.
The Symphony is played complete although without the repeats - no disadvantage as far as I am concerned. The current cover (see right) for CHAN6606 is so dull that I have used the original LP cover instead to illustrate this post.
Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Alexander Gibson
Chandos CHAN6606 (recorded May 1980; first issued on LP in 1981; this CD released in 2003)
(digital download - flacs, booklet and cover)
Recording venue: Henry Wood Hall, Glasgow
Recording engineer: Ralph Couzens; Producer: Brian Couzens
This very overshadowed recording has made little impression since its first release in 1981 but I rather like it and it has become a favourite. Although Alexander Gibson was past his prime in 1980 and the Scottish National Orchestra was nowhere near the polished ensemble that it has become, it's a genial and fresh view of the symphony. However, it would be idle to pretend that the performance matched the London Symphony under Previn; let alone the Bergen Philharmonic under Litton.
The early digital recording is also fine and exhibits none of the issues often experienced with digital recordings of the era. It was also made before Chandos adopted their unfortunate big reverberant sound.
The Symphony is played complete although without the repeats - no disadvantage as far as I am concerned. The current cover (see right) for CHAN6606 is so dull that I have used the original LP cover instead to illustrate this post.
