[SACD-R][OF] Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra - Barber, Vaughan Williams, Pachelbel, Tchaikovsky/Чайковский - 1981-1982/2004 (Orchestral)

A wide assortment of some of the favorite pieces for string orchestra. Although all the Telarc Soundstream SACDs are now out of print, this one remains the rarest.
Review from John Philips at Musicweb
Here is a bargain and a half! This is another Telarc disc, re-issuing two previously available CDs. The new disc is released in SACD format. The music is recorded in spectacular sound and superbly performed.
Telarc is well known for audio excellence, and rarely, if ever, have I seen a negative review of one of their products in this respect. And so it is here with a recording that cannot be faulted. As far as performances go, do not be put off by the name Leonard Slatkin. These recordings were made well before Slatkin’s disastrous tenure with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, now thankfully at an end. He made a number of superlative recordings with the St. Louis band on RCA, Telarc and Vanguard, but of these three, the recording quality was always best with Telarc.
The Vaughan Williams items, particularly the Tallis Fantasia, sound just right, reinforcing the conductor’s high reputation in English music. Listening to this disc, one would not immediately pick it as being by American performers, there being little gloss to the playing with a superior acoustic.
The Samuel Barber makes its customary impact, although not quite replacing Bernstein’s performance on DG.
The other small items on the disc, Fauré, Pachelbel, and Grainger, are exceedingly good, with the orchestra sounding particularly well, eclipsing or at least equalling most competitive versions.
The main work on the disc is the Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, written at a particularly happy time of in the composer’s life. It is contemporary with the 1812 Overture, and whereas the overture was written unenthusiastically, the Serenade was entirely self generated. It is in four movements, the first being in formal sonata form, reinforcing Tchaikovsky’s love of Germanic constructions in music. There follows a beautifully written Waltz, which has become self sufficient as a favourite encore for many conductors. Slatkin’s phrasing of the slow movement brings out all of the emotion in the piece. The finale is a rushing Allegro con Spirito and it really is that.
I can heartily recommend this disc to all collectors whether or not they wish to take advantage of Telarc’s superb SACD sound.
Review from thepilot on SA-CD.net (check out the discussion of the disc – and its prices)
This has always been a splendid collection of memorable masterpieces and especially the celebrated Barber Adagio comes of splendidly with strings that soar above the stave. The recording was very good indeed despite the fact that it was an early 16bit/50kHz soundstream recording. The DSD remastering has brought even higher definition, bloom and wide dynamic range. The orchestra play like angels for maestro Slatkin and the Adagio and Pachelbel’s Kanon are the highpoints of this wonderful collection. Pity it is not multichannel and not original DSD because the performances are really perfect. The sound quality could have been a little bit more transparent, but the air and bloom around the string sections and the velvety quality of the strings really ravish the ear.
And a dissenting view from ClassicsToday, giving is a 6/8 (performance/sound)
These are competent performances, warmly recorded, but there’s little else worth noting. Slatkin elicits playing from the St. Louis strings that’s smooth to the point of blandness. In the Tallis Fantasia, one listens in vain for a hint of passion, for the dynamic range and natural flexibility of pulse that characterizes the great recordings by Silvestri or Barbirolli (both on EMI). The other major work, the Tchaikovsky Serenade, goes a bit better (the second movement waltz has a nice lilt to it), but the lack of tension in the outer movements, the unwillingness of the players to dig hard and point the rhythms, ultimately lets the music slip away like warm bath water down the drain. It other words, it’s pleasant, but not memorable.
Less is at stake in the shorter works, though the Greensleeves Fantasia droops, the Pachelbel is irrelevant, the Barber Adagio lacks intensity, and the Fauré Pavane sounds like it always does. I almost forgot about Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry, and so will you. It’s generous of Telarc to offer such good value in combining two discs, and the sonics match the interpretation: warm and fuzzy. These were not Telarc’s best early recordings, though there’s no denying their naturalness. Certainly they accurately reflect what Slatkin and his orchestra are doing, for better or worse. I can see this disc appealing to the “quiet listening” crowd, but if you love the major works and seek great performances in exceptional sound, this disc doesn’t fit the bill.

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