Heard it on regular CD today. Hmmm.... hate to strike a bum note but people spend their entire lives training to sing this kind of music and compared to them, Beth Gibbons sounds unnatural and strained. I'm a big fan of Portishead and her collaboration with Rustin' Man but I think this is a misjudgement.
I found the recording was at too high a level and very compressed - the opening solo double bass should not be as loud as the string tutti either side of the vocal section of the first movement! Interesting to hear Krystof Pendereski conducting it though, he's the last surviving member of the quartet of great Polish post-war composers who found a way forward for their music despite Soviet-era conservatism.
There are several great performances of this symphony available - if you like this music, hear these instead
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006FUA87E/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gorecki-Symphony-No-3-Dawn-Upshaw/dp/B000005J1C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QXO0UZIF434L&keywords=gorecki+symphony+3&qid=1553979405&s=music&sprefix=gorecki+,aps,139&sr=1-1
Heard it on regular CD today. Hmmm.... hate to strike a bum note but people spend their entire lives training to sing this kind of music and compared to them, Beth Gibbons sounds unnatural and strained. I'm a big fan of Portishead and her collaboration with Rustin' Man but I think this is a misjudgement.
I found the recording was at too high a level and very compressed - the opening solo double bass should not be as loud as the string tutti either side of the vocal section of the first movement! Interesting to hear Krystof Pendereski conducting it though, he's the last surviving member of the quartet of great Polish post-war composers who found a way forward for their music despite Soviet-era conservatism.
There are several great performances of this symphony available - if you like this music, hear these instead
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006FUA87E/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gorecki-Symphony-No-3-Dawn-Upshaw/dp/B000005J1C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QXO0UZIF434L&keywords=gorecki+symphony+3&qid=1553979405&s=music&sprefix=gorecki+,aps,139&sr=1-1
I heard it earlier round at Richard (lordsummit)’s and found it somewhat interesting but not right. The orchestral balance was off somehow (maybe compression) and Gibbons sounded close-mic’d and rather FX heavy to me, almost dubbed-on Karaoke in front rather than part of the event. Richard uttered the word ‘Enja’, and there is some truth to that. A shame as I really like Beth Gibbons/Portishead. The original Nonesuch issue is just so perfect I’ve no idea why anyone would take it on to be honest.
I've cancelled my order.