R.I.P. André Previn (1929-2019)
Seven years ago – can it have been so long? – I attended a concert at St David’s Hall in Cardiff that included a performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony. I enjoyed the performance so much that at the end of my blog post about the evening I asked for recommendations of a good recording. The clear favourite – which I bought straight away – was by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn.
Last night I heard that André Previn had passed away and I wanted to post a little tribute to him. Naturally, I thought of posting that Morecambe and Wise Sketch from 1971, which I love, but almost every website that has mentioned André Previn has included that, so instead I thought I’d post the Third Movement (Adagio) of the Rachmaninov Symphony I heard those years ago. It’s a gorgeous performance of a gorgeous work and, I think, a fitting tribute to a great pianist, both in classical and jazz idioms, conductor and composer who brought music (and laughter) to so many people.
R.I.P. André Previn (1929-2019)
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In the Dark 
March 1, 2019 at 9:08 pm
I only heard Andr´ Previn conduct once. That was with his old band, the London Symphony Orchestra, and with his former wife Anne-Sophie Mutter. After the interval they performed William Walton’s astonishing First Symphony, reliving another famous recording. It was that historic recording that I listened to last night as my own personal tribute to Previn.
I did buy a ticket for a later Previn concert, but the ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic erruption in Iceland prevented him from travelling to London, unfortunately.