CLASSICAL

摘要

The 'Farewell' Symphony (No 45) is one of his most popular, not least because the players leave their stands and walk away during the Adagio finale. Three explanations are cited -and Hermann Scherchen's old recording had spoken 'adieu's and the sound of footsteps crossing the soundstage! Antonini's ends with a sharp decrescendo to silence. The rapid speed for (i) comes as an initial shock, but there's frequent lovely soft playing, Antonini always creating a sense of line. Yet the real star item here is the soprano Sandrine Piau's heroic account of the three-part, tragic cantata 'Berenice, che fai'. The elaborate booklet has essays and night-time coloured photos. CB