Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!register@zhora.DEC (Mike Register, A.I. Applications)
From: register@zhora.DEC (Mike Register, A.I. Applications)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Philadelphia Orchestra Recordings
Message-ID: <387@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Sep-85 09:47:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.387
Posted: Tue Sep 10 09:47:35 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Sep-85 21:13:14 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 45

>I heard recently (on National Public Radio) that Philadelphia
>Orchestra recordings were generally the best around for that
>genre.  I don't have the most extensive library in the world
>(maybe 30-40 albums), but I had always thought that getting a
>good recording was a combination of luck and looking for
>"famous" orchestras (e.g., New York, Cleveland, London).
>When I realized that my very favorite record is Philadelphia
>performing Stravinski's "Firebird" and Mussourgsky's (sp?)
>"Pictures at an Exhibition", I decided that from now on I will
>try to only buy albums by Philadelphia.
 
>I was wondering if any netters had opinions on this, or
>if they could correct my generalization to "Philadelphia
>recordings made between 1960 and 1980 are good, but the
>others are so-so", or somesuch.
 
>Bill Stoll, ..!whuxlm!wws


When I was an undergrad in music school (Indiana Univ. 79-83) it was common 
knowledge that there were 5 orchestras in America which stood out from the rest.
Those orchestras were:  Boston, New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and
Chicago. There were also a couple of orchestras around that were pretty
close to that select group (Los Angeles comes to mind).  

As to whether any one of these 5 put out the best recordings during 1960-1980, 
I think its probably a matter of personal opinion and what you listen for in 
an orchestral recording.  Being a brass player myself, I naturally prefer
orchestras with a strong brass section.  In my opinion the Chicago Symphony 
has for a long time had the finest brass section in the world so I usually
buy albums by that orchestra.  My suggestion to a person starting an orchestral
recording library is to sample recordings from all of these orchestras (at the
same time sampling conductors) and determine for yourself what you like best
in orchestral recordings.  Usually this will lead you to either one or a group
of orchestras and one or a group of conductors.  Also keep in mind that what
types of orchestral music you like will also determine what your favorite
orchestras are.  It seems you have done a bit of this exploration already.

Cheers,

Mike Register
DEC A.I. Applications Group
Hudson, Mass.
UUCP: ...!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-rayna!register
ARPA: register%rayna.DEC@decwrl