Sir Andrew Davis conducts Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius

[mercia]

(Programme says it will be broadcast at 2pm on Monday 21 April).

Gerontius @ 2:45pm after the Walton VC
Music Makers 23 April 2pm
The Apostles 24 April 2:20pm

a week of English music on Afternoon on 3

[cloughie]

Mmmm....currently available

DoG
Enigma Variations
Falstaff
Cello Concerto (with Mork)
Violin Concerto (with Kennedy)
Grania & Diarmid

As Barenboim has just done Sym 2 with his Berlin orchestra (It will be interesting to hear how his interpretation has changed since his LPO recording now app 40 years old!), perhaps a good time for Rattle and BPO to record Syms 1 & 2!

[gradus]

The 1991opening concert of the Proms conducted by Sir Andrew was a tremendous performance with Willard White and the eternally memorable Florence Quivar singing like no one else I have ever heard in the role, talk about passionate commitment!

[Petrushka]

The 1991 opening concert of the Proms conducted by Sir Andrew was a tremendous performance with Willard White and the eternally memorable Florence Quivar singing like no one else I have ever heard in the role, talk about passionate commitment!

A memorable concert indeed which I remember well from the TV broadcast. I had it on a VHS video which, needless to say, has long since disappeared. I attended a BBCSO/Andrew Davis performance in Westminster Cathedral as well as the later one in St Paul's so it's clear from all the performances mentioned that he has a strong commitment to the work.

[pastoralguy]

Re. Sir Simon...

Mmmm....currently available

DoG
Enigma Variations
Falstaff
Cello Concerto (with Mork)
Violin Concerto (with Kennedy)
Grania & Diarmid

I'm sure there's a p&p march with the Berlin Philharmonic that was recorded shortly after he started as principal conductor. I did once ask him if he intended to do Elgar with them but he replied that, apart from the 'cello concerto, Elgar was not high on the orchestras list of priorities.

I'd love to hear them perform the symphonies!

[Alison]

Re. Sir Simon...



I'm sure there's a p&p march with the Berlin Philharmonic that was recorded shortly after he started as principal conductor. I did once ask him if he intended to do Elgar with them but he replied that, apart from the 'cello concerto, Elgar was not high on the orchestras list of priorities.

I'd love to hear them perform the symphonies!

You might have expected Sir Simon to do a lot more Elgar in Berlin. For me this is just another example of his somewhat disappointing tenure.

[MrGongGong]

You might have expected Sir Simon to do a lot more Elgar in Berlin. For me this is just another example of his somewhat disappointing tenure.

Why ?

I'm sure he is more than happy to choose repertoire that he wants to conduct.

[Petrushka]

Why ?

I'm sure he is more than happy to choose repertoire that he wants to conduct.

It seems that Rattle, despite the odd performance and recording, isn't all that keen on Elgar which is a pity because with Elgar being so much in the Central European tradition he could have done much to bring him back into it where he hasn't been for the past 100 years.

I did hear Rattle conduct an excellent Falstaff during his time in Birmingham but I'm not sure that he has ever conducted the symphonies. I happen to think he'd bring more to the Second rather than the First.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

It seems that Rattle, despite the odd performance and recording, isn't all that keen on Elgar which is a pity because with Elgar being so much in the Central European tradition he could have done much to bring him back into it where he hasn't been for the past 100 years.

I did hear Rattle conduct an excellent Falstaff during his time in Birmingham but I'm not sure that he has ever conducted the symphonies. I happen to think he'd bring more to the Second rather than the First.

Just musing, maybe Elgar is just that bit more difficult to "bring off" than is generally assumed...

[Pabmusic]

Just musing, maybe Elgar is just that bit more difficult to "bring off" than is generally assumed...

Your musings have a point. Although from a technical point of view the music generally 'plays itself' there are at least two hurdles. First is the fact that Elgar hardly ever wrote melodies without flitting between instruments, sometimes only for two or three notes (a kaleidoscopic effect as Michael Kennedy called it) so that individual players unused to Elgar can feel it 'fussy' and not follow what is happening as easy as they can, say, Mahler. Second, Elgar is a very intimate composer who makes grand gestures, and this is easily overlooked. It's not easy for conductor and players to realise the vulnerability in the music if they're not well used to it.

Having said that, it's not too difficult to get used to it, either.

[amateur51]

Why ?

I'm sure he is more than happy to choose repertoire that he wants to conduct.

[MrGongGong]

Your musings have a point. Although from a technical point of view the music generally 'plays itself' there are at least two hurdles. First is the fact that Elgar hardly ever wrote melodies without flitting between instruments, sometimes only for two or three notes (a kaleidoscopic effect as Michael Kennedy called it)

sssssssssssh don't tell them he used a kind of Klangfarbenmelodie, you will have the Elgarians spluttering into their soup

[Cockney Sparrow]

I had reservations, as to the soloists, at the Gerontius performance. No such reservations for the performance of The Apostles last night. It was very well performed by all, and Davis' interpretation was very persuasive. A memorable performance, I'm looking forward to hearing it again on radio3 on 26 April.
I picked up a copy of the Elgar Society Journal from their stall - it contained a review in fulsome terms of the Oramo/Stockholm PO recording of the 2nd Symphony (with Sospiri/ Elegy) - on the BIS label. The reviewer finds that Oramo brings out afresh aspects of the orchestration that even their beloved Barbirolli recordings (Halle/Philharmonia - one of them 1964 EMI) do not reveal. The recording very good (as would be expected from BIS) and playing in Stockholm refined and committed.

[Alison]

Why ?

I'm sure he is more than happy to choose repertoire that he wants to conduct.

Of course that is his prerogative but may I be allowed to express my disappointment please.

[BBMmk2]

Indeed you should be Alison! A poorer place it would be if we couldn't!