Vaughan Williams, August 2, 1958, Tanglewood (Munch, Boston music director, 1949-62). NB, this was not the US premiere of VW8 for Ormandy had done that in 1956, a few months following Barbirolli’s Manchester launch.
Sibelius: July 30, 1965, Tanglewood (Munch returning as a guest conductor).
Letter from Sibelius to VW regarding the latter’s Fifth Symphony:
Munch seems to have favoured Sib 7 over all the others if a lack of recordings of the other six are evidence.
But it suits him and the history of his orchestra.
Bravo. A wonderful conductor.
Thank you so much for the Sibelius Col, utterly magnificent – the work emerging like a fallen hero from a deep ravine …. tall, scowling and unshaven but defiant to the end (that closing C major has rarely sounded less equivocal). The broad opening paragraphs are especially impressive and while there are one or two uncertain moments later on, as with various performances under, say, Furtwängler, those uncertainties come across as part of the overall struggle. It reminds me yet again that in my opinion – and this is only MY opinion – Sibelius 7 was the last century’s greatest symphony, cramming more into less than half an hour than Mahler managed in an hour and a half. Thank you again.
Thanks for your positive response Rob, very gratifying; and, yes, Munch’s craggy conducting of the Sibelius is indeed compelling and extends appreciation of what this masterpiece can yield. Col