I think I like the Payare/Montreal M5 more than Bychkov/CPO (both Pentatone!)

[barryguerrero]

Soooo, folks, doesn't it seem it a bit weird that Pentatone would immediately follow-up their Bychkov/Czech Phil. M5, with yet another M5?    .    .    .    this time with Rafael Payare and the Montreal Symphony? Well, I guess they wanted to rush this out, because they're performing it on tour and that's including Carnegie Hall.

I'd be very curious to hear anyone's reaction, IF you actually listened to both Pentatone recordings. I think I actually like the Payare one a tad more.

[ChrisH]

Here is Payere doing the 5th with Detroit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ztalwhqBUw

[barryguerrero]

There you go - THAT'S the real deal. There's no stupid stand in front of him to partially block everyone's view - no burying his head in the score to make the page turns. He even looks like a cross between Mahler and Sinopoli.

In this day and age, orchestras rarely - IF EVER - get lost to the point of having to restart. There really is no reason conductors should have to have a score out in front of them - not by concert time. These guys and gals are getting paid TONS of money, so the least they can do is learn to memorize their scores. 

[ChrisH]

This Payare recordings sounds the exact opposite of the Bychkov, at least to me. Payare conducts this on the edge. He and the OSM REALLY are going after this piece. It's always moving forward, never slack, never dwells. Loved it. Wish more ensembles and conductors put this much in to their recorded work and concerts. This is not auto-pilot. I feel like we hear so much auto-pilot, that sometimes we forget the amount of excitement that can be developed from these works.
Recorded sound is excellent, but again very different than the Bychkov. Payare really focus' on the low strings, allowing the rest of the players to ride this amazing cushion of sound. Bychkov is balanced to the nth degree, and the low brass are potted down way too much.

Like both recordings quite a bit.

[barryguerrero]

Yes, they're both quite likable.