I don't usually use this blog to solicit shopping tips, but I'm trying to get my hands on what is proving to be a most elusive CD. For a major project I'm currently working on, I'd very much like to track down a copy of a recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 4 by Dmitri Mitropoulos and the New York Philharmonic. Practically every reference source devoted to the Vaughan Williams symphonic canon mentions this account, and apparently the composer thought highly of it, too.
Mitropoulos and the "Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York" recorded the symphony on January 9, 1956 at Columbia's 30th Street Studios in Manhattan; it was issued on LP in 1957. I scored a used copy of the original album moments ago on eBay -- and I know, I know: my valiant buddy FJO and other vinyl purists figure I should stop at that. But for reasons too lame and unwieldy to go into, playing LPs here is something of an arduous ordeal at the moment, and I default to aluminum laziness whenever possible.
Besides, the two CD issues of which I've learned -- both British Sony BMG issues, naturally -- include compelling added incentives. One is a Mitropoulos/New York Phil recording of Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, recorded on March 3, 1958 at the St. George Hotel in Brooklyn, and released in the same year. The other is the Symphony No. 6, recorded by Leopold Stokowski and the Phil in the 30th Street Studio on February 21, 1949, and issued that year -- notably, a year before Vaughan Williams revised the Scherzo movement, which means this disc includes the original version. (I've got Boult's recording of the first version, but would love to hear Stoki's.)
Both of the above discs are available for serious gobs of pounds through secondhand sources on Amazon.uk, but I'm wondering if anyone can offer me a better deal. Comments from those who know these performances are welcome here. But if you've got a CD with which you'd be willing to part -- even temporarily -- e-mail me via the address in my ABOUT profile.
(Recording specifics courtesy of James H. North's impressively researched New York Philharmonic: The Authorized Recordings 1917-2005: A Discography.)
Newly on the blogroll: So I've Heard, the recently promised, just ignited blog of left-coast senior correspondent Alan Rich, among the most vibrant and vital classical reviewers currently tapping keys. (Props to ACD for noting the launch.)
Playlist:
:Zoviet*France: - Music for a Spaghetti Western (Klanggalerie), In.Version (Charrm), Gris (No Man's Land) and Mort aux Vaches: Feedback (Mort aux Vaches/Staalplaat)
Fish - 13th Star (Chocolate Frog)
Made Out of Babies - Trophy and Coward (Neurot), and The Spoiler (The End)
Reformed Faction - The War Against... (Soleilmoon) and Vota (Klanggalerie)
A Storm of Light - And We Wept the Black Ocean (Neurot)
Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be (Nonesuch)
Torben Waldorff - Afterburn (ArtistShare)
Eivind Opsvik - Overseas III (Loyal Label; sample the sounds in this nice review by Hank Shteamer)
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Symphonies Nos. 1-9 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra/Vernon Handley (EMI Classics)
The Residents - Duck Stab and Eskimo (Ralph/Mute)
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