[Audio Empire]

On Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:06:10 -0800, Jason wrote
(in article ):


[snip] At one time I was pretty good at
picking-out a performance by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra
because Ormandy whipped that group into an unmistakeable "sound". But he's
been gone for several generations, and whatever it was that he brought to
the
Philadelphians is long gone with him.

Ormandy is recognizable because he generally reduced tempi compared to
others and coaxed a dreamy sound out of the orchestra. Their recording of
The Firebird - especially at the end - is so very different for -any-
other rendition I've ever heard. Beautiful, too!


While what you say is definitely true, he also coaxed a unique string sound
from the Philadelphians; one that was unmistakeable. While he and the
orchestra were good at most any classics, they were especially good - even
great at interpretations of late romantics and post romantic composers such
as Sibelius, (his 'Finlandia' with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is without
peer), as well as Debussy, Ravel, and Resphigi (his "Roman Trilogy" and
Church Windows is great). But he was also especially effective with
Tchiakovsky, and Rachmaninoff. Unfortunately, too many of his best
performances, such as the aforementioned choral 'Finlandia' remain
unavailable (as in never been released) on CD.