Shostakovitch 6
Tue, Aug 7 2012, 1:55AM
#2
RE: Shostakovitch 6
Yep, 33lp, got that one too. Now here is where the fun starts. The New Symphony Orchestra of London was an ad hoc orchestra created by Decca around 1950. It used musicians from other London orchestras and free lancers. I have read somewhere that at some point it was an actual orchestra, but I think Reader's Digest used that name in some (maybe all, I'm not sure) of their recordings and it never was an orchestra that performed for the public. When they isssued Franck's Symphony conducted by Boult it was called "New Symphony Orchestra of London." However Alan Sanders's Boult discography calls it the "Philharmonia Orchestra." I think that was the case because most of the musicians were from that orchestra. Now as far as the Chesky we both have (I have the CD (CD53), you have the LP) the orchestra was called "New Symphony Orchestra of London," and is stated as such by Sanders in his discography. The CD has more on it than your LP does.
To add to the confusion, the venue is also in question. Sanders says the Franck was recorded at Watford Town Hall, Chesky says Kingsway Hall. Sanders says the CD (CD53, your LP) was recorded at Kingsway Hall, but Chesky says Walthamstow Town Hall!! Oh well, it's the performance that counts. I'm not sure if the Franck Symphony ever made it to CD.
I hope I got all this right. My head is swirling now.
Tue, Aug 7 2012, 7:11PM
#3
RE: Shostakovitch 6
Yes Bliss I think the Philharmonia is perhaps a likely bet for the main make up of the New Symphony Orch (of London) as when Decca first used the name the Philharmonia would have been under Legge's direct control and exclusive contract to EMI. I too don't think it ever performed in public as the New SO but they were very good on record.
The New SO of London was also used on some of the Decca made early RCA Living Stereos. Of the two records made by the little known Hungarian Raymond Agoult, the first "Overture, Overture" (Suppe & Herold etc) it's the New SO of London, but on the second "Clair de Lune" (with a luscious Thais Meditation & un-named soloist) it's the London Proms Symphony Orch. When Decca re-issued the latter years later, it too had become The New SO!
Later on Decca then came up with the National Philharmonic Orch used on some opera recordings with Bonynge & for Gerhardt's RCA film score series. This was an ad hoc band and its leader Sidney Sax played in a dance band in the 1930s (as did conductor Hugo Rignold).
On one Chesky CD Gerhardt conducts the National Philharmonic, the Philharmonic Pops Orch, the London Pops Orch and the London Promenade Orch! He was actually rather good and his Vlatava is as good as any I've heard. I believe though he wouldn't conduct in public.
Most of my Chesky recordings feature the RPO though with one LSO (Horenstein Brahms 1) and one New Philharmonia with Earl Wild in Dohnanyi's best known piece with the composer's son (or is it grandson) conducting.
Then both Chandos & Chesky have issued Wild's Reader's Digest Rachmaninoff concerti & Rhapsody with Horenstein & the RPO which must be amongst the best played and recorded out of hundreds of versions. Another superb Gerhardt/Wilkinson production.
Tue, Aug 7 2012, 10:26PM
#4
RE: Shostakovitch 6
In 1919 the conductor Landon Ronald had an orchestra called the New Symphony Orchestra. Elgar made some acoustical recordings with it. Later on the name was changed to the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, but it would still call itself the New Symphony Orchestra from time to time. In fact, in 1929 Elgar recorded with an orchestra Fred Gaisberg of Gramophone referred to as the New Symphony Orchestra and that's the name that went on the labels. So I guess when Decca put together a freelance orchestra someone remembered the past, and out again came the New Symphony Orchestra, with "of London" added. Or maybe not.
Then there's the National Philharmonic Orchestra made up of first chair and other fine musicians, but you've covered that quite well. Bernard Herrmann used it too. Anyhow, Wikipedia has a good write-up also.
While researching this I've been listening to an outstanding performance of Elgar's 1st Symphony with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rory Macdonald. This has nothing to do with the topic, Shostakovitch 6, but was time enjoyed.
Wed, Aug 8 2012, 10:17PM
#5
RE: Shostakovitch 6
I think the "of London" was added for American listeners.
Rory Macdonald is a new name to me but I am already undecided when I want to hear Elgar 1 between 2 Boults, Barbirolli, Handley, Solti or the composer!
Sat, Aug 11 2012, 1:54AM
#6
RE: Shostakovitch 6
Rory Macdonald is a Scottish conductor. You can read about him on Wikipedia. The Elgar 1 was available for viewing on classicslive.com, but the whole website does not seem to be there today.
Thanks again Bliss I thought the sound on Job wasn't as good as the VW 9th or the Shostakovich. The present Everest has the Wasps but not the Arnold.
I don't remember whose 78 we had of Fingal's Cave when I was young but there's a splendid Boult performance on a Chesky LP along with Les Preludes, P&C No1, Night on a Bare Mountain and (more unusually) Sullivan's Overture di Ballo. One of the (presumably) RCA/Reader's Digest recordings, engineered by Kenneth Wilkinson & produced by Charles Gerhardt with Decca's New Symphony Orchestra (were they a psudonym for contractual reasons or an ad-hoc group?). I've never heard better performances and the Walthamstow sound from 1960 is absolutely stunning.