Ok...A bit corny this title!
I was really lucky to pull out of the local Salavation Army store a Columbia Entre LP of Frederick Stock conducting the CSO in Brahms' wonderful Third Symphony. Overall the record was in a good shape...I lucked out! I thought it would be kind of cool to juxtapose the Stock with Reiner's take of some 15 or so years later. My copy of the Reiner is not in living stereo but rather the mono version, albeit a rather clean copy to say the least.
The Stock version is simply the warmest, most lush performance that I have ever heard. I would say that this is very much a 19th century take, edges are smooth and the whole performance just sort of "plays itself." I don't think that Stock offers any profound insights but rather, he lets the music relate the message with beautiful, lush playing. I like this approach but I suppose that folks raised in Toscanini or Reiner will probably find something that isn't to their liking.
Yes, with Reiner we get precision, immaculate phrasing and in general, a more 20th century, literal approach. In comparing the orchestral sound, I will say that Reiner has superior strings and woodwinds, but I really do love the brass sounds of the Stock ensemble, especially the trumpetes (I'm a trumpet player you know). I believe that the trumpets in Stock's orchestra would have been Renold Schilke and Eldon Benge, two of the great orchestral trumpeters of the 20th century AND outstanding trumpet makers to boot! Imagine that, great players AND great horn builders, one in the same! Anyway...listen how the orchestra changed between 1940 and the later 50's...really quite fascinating and a testament to the will, and talent, of a great conductor, at least that's what I think.
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