Elgar 2 centenary - 24 May 2011

[Suffolkcoastal]

That's very sensible - I wish I could stop buying Alpine Symphony recordings Tell us more about this.

There are some works where I have two or more recordings, but not that many. I've heard many performances of Elgar 2 and may get round to getting one of Boult's recordings which I really should have I suppose. As for the score marathon, I'm going through my scores alphabetically, I started about 6 weeks or so ago and I indicate what I've followed on the 'What are you listening to now?' thread. I've got some scores though where the work hasn't been recorded as yet (Parry: Pied Piper, Harris: Horn of Plenty).
Next marathon is symphonies in approx. chronological order from Beethoven 1, have around 1500 or so, so might take some time!

[Chris Newman]

Just listening to Glorious John's 1964 performance of Elgar's Second Symphony with the Halle. What sterling stuff!! I will listen to Bernie H and Colin D tomorrow.

[Petrushka]

It was thrilling and moving indeed tonight to play Elgar's own recording made in the Queen's Hall, the very venue of that first performance 100 years ago. It may not be in digital stereo but has a degree of authenticity that no other version can match. Surprised no-one else has decided to play it for this anniversary.

[Norfolk Born]

Just listening to Glorious John's 1964 performance of Elgar's Second Symphony with the Halle. What sterling stuff!!.

(See message #25 - it is a great performance, isn't it?)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It was thrilling and moving indeed tonight to play Elgar's own recording made in the Queen's Hall, the very venue of that first performance 100 years ago. It may not be in digital stereo but has a degree of authenticity that no other version can match. Surprised no-one else has decided to play it for this anniversary.

This afternoon, I listened to the composer's 1924/25 acoustic recording of the symphony with the RAH Orchestra. Despite the high level of surface noise, the spirit of the work really comes across.

[Petrushka]

This afternoon, I listened to the composer's 1924/25 acoustic recording of the symphony with the RAH Orchestra. Despite the high level of surface noise, the spirit of the work really comes across.

I refer, of course, in my post 33 to the electrical recording made on April 1 1927 and re-issued in the wonderful EMI set in 1992. You soon forget the limitations of the sound and get swept along in the glorious music.

[ARBurton]

I agree - I played the 1927 Elgar recording and enjoyed it hugely even with the swooping between notes indulged in by many of the strings - I`m sure therer`s a technical term for that but I can`t remember.

[Norfolk Born]

Portamento?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't find the portamenti too irritating in the symphony. However, listen to Elgar's recordings of his Enigma Variations, where those falling 7ths in "Nimrod" resemble sliding in custard on a big dipper.

[makropulos]

I remember that 1977 Boult Elgar 2 very well. As far as I know, it's never surfaced on disc, but I live in hope (ICA, perhaps?)

Incidentally - it wasn't quite Boult's last Prom appearance - that was Job with the BBC Northern SO a few weeks later - a simply stunning performance (Boult wrote in his diary that it was "Alpha +". I've never forgotten it (I had a particularly good place in the Arena for that concert), and I've an off air recording of it that's not bad. But the original tapes should sound terrific and I really hope this comes out one of these days.

[amateur51]

I remember that 1977 Boult Elgar 2 very well. As far as I know, it's never surfaced on disc, but I live in hope (ICA, perhaps?)

Incidentally - it wasn't quite Boult's last Prom appearance - that was Job with the BBC Northern SO a few weeks later - a simply stunning performance (Boult wrote in his diary that it was "Alpha +". I've never forgotten it (I had a particularly good place in the Arena for that concert), and I've an off air recording of it that's not bad. But the original tapes should sound terrific and I really hope this comes out one of these days.

Gosh, is there any propect of someone working on Boult's diaries for publication, makropoulos? - they could be fascinating I'm sure unless they were completely taciturn and of the 'toast for breakfast, more rain, went for walk' variety

[makropulos]

Hello amateur51 - the bit I quoted is in Michael Kennedy's wonderful biography of Boult, so he must have looked at them. I know Boult always kept a careful note of when he performed pieces, but I hadn't realised that he'd sometimes "graded" them as well !

[Chris Newman]

Michael Kennedy is not infallible in his lively biography of Sir Adrian. Towards the very end of his career Sir Adrian conducted Mahler at the ROH for Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth often with the late Alfreda Hodgson. Kennedy acknowledges Elgar's Enigma Variations at Covent Garden and Sanguine Fan at the London Coliseum which were his last public appearances. At these theatres Sir Adrian could walk to the rostrum on a level floor direct from his car. By this time the Albert Hall and RFH had become impossible for him because of the stairs involved. MK perhaps was unaware of the Mahler in his research, though he is punctillious in his details of concert performances of Das Lied von der Erde. Sir Adrian's diaries, if they exist, would indeed be invaluable in crossing some ts.

[french frank]

Sir Adrian's diaries, if they exist, would indeed be invaluable in crossing some ts.

Faber say that Kennedy had 'unrestricted access' to the diaries and notebooks, which suggests they're still in private hands rather than deposited in any collection. I can't see off-hand who owns them - family, I presume.

Edit: Hmmm, the ODNB's only mention of AB's diaries, together with correspondence and other mss, is in the BBC Written Archives Centre, Reading, 'open to writers and academic researchers in higher education by appointment only' ...