Top Shelf Silvestri: The HMV Recordings, Part Four

In part four of this ongoing series, we'll take a look at Silvestri's fantastic and dramatic 1960 recording of Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements and Le Chant du Rossignol with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

HMV ASD 401

Stravinsky: Symphony In Three Movements, The Song of the Nightingale

Philharmonia Orchestra

Constantin Silvestri, conductor

Matrix numbers: 2YEA 469-4 / 470-4

Recorded June 14 & 17, 1960, Kingsway Hall

Price range: median $248, max $717 USD (according to Popsike)

This has got to be one of Silvestri's best sounding HMV stereo recordings. From the opening measures of the Symphony in Three Movements, you can already tell that this is going to be an exciting record! I was not as familiar with either of these Stravinsky works but was very quickly captivated by the excitement and drive of these excellent performances. Here, the presentation of the orchestra is more immediate. The clarity, sense of atmosphere, and dynamics of the recording are wonderful and truly bring out the best in the performances - please feel free to listen for yourself in the excerpts from my copy below:

Symphony in Three Movements, 1st movement:

Excerpt from Le Chant du Rossignol (The Song of the Nightingale):

I find it fascinating to read what the critical reception of these recordings were at the time of release:

• According to the EMG Monthly Letter: "It is very interesting to hear Silvestri's performance of the Symphony in Three Movements, a work so different from the romantic music he so often conducts. The first movement is excitingly done and comes off best, faster than the composer's marking but secure and rhythmic. The second movement suffers a little from an unconvincing balance of instruments particularly between harp and woodwind, and the third form being the least interesting musically, though Silvestri does his best with it. On the whole this performanace does not match the excellent one by Ansermet, and although HMV have given Silvestri a very good recording, with some effective stereo in the twin channel version, the quality does not equal that reproduced by the superb Decca. In the Song of the Nightingale Silvestri is nearer home ground and he gets a splendid performance - only occasionally did we wish he had been as sensitive with the details of texture as he generally is with details of phrasing. Anyone wanting this particular coupling should make their own investigation of the disc. There is no doubt the recording and the orchestral playing are of a very high standard."  

• The Stereo Record Guide, Vol. 3 gave it a qualified two stars *(*) and a demonstration "D": "Silvestri is a romantic: Stravinsky is not and was not even when he wrote The Song of the Nightingale. As always Silvestri carries great conviction in his effort to give these works a new warmth. This record may in fact win converts to Stravinsky, but I am sure it would not convert Stravinsky himself to such interpretations. The composer himself shows in the Symphony how a sharper-edged performance not only has more vitality but conveys the implicit emotion. Recording and orchestral playing very good indeed."

I personally have not heard either the Ansermet Decca or the Stravinsky CBS recordings for comparison, but given how much I liked these compositions, I will be on the lookout for both. If you have thoughts on any of these, please feel free to share them below in the comments.

As for reissues, there are unfortunately not many available on vinyl. Le Chant du Rossignol was paired with Josef Krips' recording of The Firebird on a 1965 Classics for Pleasure release (CFP 40328).

As always, happy listening!