The eclipse of César Franck's Symphony

[Elgar4Ever]

I agree with Alan about his assessment. Barenboim's performance drains all of the life out of this great Symphony. The recording is sadly not recommended.

[Tapiola]

After hearing (and now sticking with the Monteux/Chicago S.O.), I don't have the need to look for other recordings, frankly. That is still the performance to beat after more than 60 years now in my humble opinion.

[Alan Howe]

That is still the performance to beat

Probably correct. But there are other ways of conducting the work (just not Barenboim's!)

[hyperdanny]

Disclaimer: I like my Franck's symphony "Germenic and monumental", probably because I don't love it deeply, so the authentic French way doen't work for me, I find it mawkish.
That said, there's ways to do it and ways not to.
Very interesting (for me) to compare Baremboim's finale with one of my favorites, incidentally with the same orchestra and label, Giulini's.
That also is criticized for being slow and un-French, and actually timings are almost the same.
But in the Giulini I perceive a deep conviction , a rythmic undercurrent that keeps together the whole movement and carries it inexorably to a triumphant finale that's really "final"
I hear nothing of that in Baremboim's, it's very disorganic, and the final bars are underwhelming. 

[Alan Howe]

When the Symphony is done badly, it's usually because it's too drawn-out and unrhythmical. That's where the latest Barenboim release goes wrong. Franck is NOT Bruckner!