Think I'll put the Kondrashin on my list. I need a more up to date interpretation,although,to be fair,the Beecham is a belter,sonically, for it's age. A nice cover too. What you call,'fin de siecle'. (And I hope I've got that right!).
Oh,and yes,futile though,I know,but I wish Beecham had done Gliere,too.
My first encounter with the Gliere was the old Unicorn Kanchana set,with that wierd painting of that warrior on a horse,on the front,which grabbed my attention,straight away. It was in my local branch library,back in the days when libraries still had some really interesting records. I was a teenager,then. I have the recording by the late lamented Edward Downes,now. It's tauter,and more exciting,I supose,but the Unicorn recording had a timeless,legendary quality about it that I,sorely, miss.By the way,does anyone think Gliere's Second is worth the 'dosh'? I keep mulling over whether to buy it,but can't make my mind up! Oh,and I have listened to excerpts. I remember one of those old record guides disparaging the first movement as sounding like the soundtrack for an old silent western(?).
