Finzi cello concert - In Concert 2.2.18

[ardcarp]

...BBCSO, Andrew Davis, Paul Watkins. I don't know this work, one of Finzi's last, at all well. Big Finzi fan though I am, one cannot help but wonder if there was ever a composer who re-visited harmonic, melodic and textural ticks as often? Finzi always had great difficulty (IMHO, of course) in sustaining the momentum of a fast movement, always ready to lapse into the lyrical (pizz double basses, lush strings and a clarinet passage or three). I felt he made a real attempt to keep going in the final movement of the cello concerto!

As for the performance tonight? Enjoyable though it was, I had the impression that perhaps it wasn't a familiar pair of old slippers for the BBCSO.

[EdgeleyRob]

Yes GF was fond of his own particular musical 'hooks'.
But there's so much more in this work.
To my ears there is anger,darkness,a sort of what I can only call Elgarian Nobilmente at times (probably not the right phrase but the best I can come up with)and the shadow of death as you would expect.
I think the finale does more than just keep going.
Forumites may know that the premier was brought forward by a day so GF could hear the broadcast from his hospital bed,he died 24 hours later.

Yo-Yo Ma with the RPO under Handley (Lyrita)are superb(although the soloist isn't ideally recorded)in a work I find as emotionally draining as the Elgar CC.
I felt tonight's performance came up a bit short

[Historian]

Well I was there and felt that Paul Watkins' performance became more convincing as it went on. Probably too emotionally involved in the live performance (for various reasons) to listen critically, so leave it to others who know this piece better to judge. However, the audience listened intently and at least some of the many who didn't know this work were pleasantly surprised. Full marks to the BBCSO for letting me hear this splendid Finzi work 'live' for the first time. Also enjoyed the Shostakovich 10 in the second half.

[LMcD]

I've long been an admirer of this work (and indeed of Finzi in general). I have the Naxos recording with Tim Hugh.

[Conchis]

I've long been an admirer of this work (and indeed of Finzi in general). I have the Naxos recording with Tim Hugh.

I have that, too, but haven't listened to it in years.

I recall it as 'pleasant but inessential'. Like all the other Finzi I've heard.

[ahinton]

I have that, too, but haven't listened to it in years.

I recall it as 'pleasant but inessential'. Like all the other Finzi I've heard.

I respect, though am no fan of, Finzi but the cello concerto has always seemed to me to be on a higher level altogether to the remainder of his output; perhaps he would have entered a new phase with it had he survived...

[BBMmk2]

...BBCSO, Andrew Davis, Paul Watkins. I don't know this work, one of Finzi's last, at all well. Big Finzi fan though I am, one cannot help but wonder if there was ever a composer who re-visited harmonic, melodic and textural ticks as often? Finzi always had great difficulty (IMHO, of course) in sustaining the momentum of a fast movement, always ready to lapse into the lyrical (pizz double basses, lush strings and a clarinet passage or three). I felt he made a real attempt to keep going in the final movement of the cello concerto!

As for the performance tonight? Enjoyable though it was, I had the impression that perhaps it wasn't a familiar pair of old slippers for the BBCSO.

I hope he will record this on one of their Chandos sessions. I've never heard it yet. I've yet to listen to this concert. Should be pretty goo. There's a very good recording on Chandos of this team and Tasmin Little(violin) of Delius's Double Concerto, violin concerto and cello concerto!

Just had a quick look through, it doesn't appear that there are many recordings of this work around. so it be rather good if this team does make a recording, with the Ecologue for piano, perhaps and other assorted works?

[ahinton]

There's a very good recording on Chandos of this team and Tasmin Little(violin) of Delius's Double Concerto, violin concerto and cello concerto!

I can't help thinking of that Double Concerto as "Delius's Concerto" given that it strikes me as superior in every way to all of his others!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have that, too, but haven't listened to it in years.

I recall it as 'pleasant but inessential'. Like all the other Finzi I've heard.

Yes, I think that's how I feel, too - the last two movements especially "pleasant". I have great problems with the First Movement: I cannot get it to "click" coherently, and it just seems to ramble on to no good purpose. A pity - there's so much to love in the subsequent Music.

[Historian]

I respect, though am no fan of, Finzi but the cello concerto has always seemed to me to be on a higher level altogether to the remainder of his output; perhaps he would have entered a new phase with it had he survived...

That's one of the joys of music; we each have those composers whose music is essential (is that the word?), and those whose music 'pleasant but inessential' to quote Conchis. To me Finzi is essential and therefore I must admit a bias in his favour. However I think that you are on to something ahinton, that the Cello Concerto may have marked a new departure; alas we shall never know. Similar to Holst, perhaps, whose (relatively) early death deprived of us some interesting works.

BBM, Chandos already have the Raphael Wallfisch/Bryden Thomson recording, although that's getting on a bit now I suppose. I would be very happy to hear Paul Watkins on CD. Like the suggestion of the Eclogue as a coupling.

[ardcarp]

I recall it as 'pleasant but inessential'. Like all the other Finzi I've heard.

Oh dear. Without Finzi there would be a Finzi-shaped hole in 20th century music! Admittedly he filled the hole many times in a similar way, but there are some works I would hate to be without; probably obvious ones. Dies Natalis, The 5 Bagatelles for Clarinet, Lo the Full Final Sacrifice are just a few. And he had a real gift for writing songs; a master of word setting.

[Historian]

There is a fine line sometimes between being distinctive and repetitive; I find Finzi a distinctive composer, whose music appeals greatly. The first piece of his I heard knowingly was his Nocturne Op.7 'New Year Music'. I still recall the effect it had on me and that effect has not changed over the subsequent 35 years.

Agreed about his songs, ardcarp. I have had the pleasure of singing some of them and hope to learn more. It helped that he chose some fine poets to set.

[LMcD]

I think that his 'Let Us Garlands Bring' is among the finest of all Shakespeare settings.

[Historian]

I think that his 'Let Us Garlands Bring' is among the finest of all Shakespeare settings.

[antongould]

There is a fine line sometimes between being distinctive and repetitive; I find Finzi a distinctive composer, whose music appeals greatly. The first piece of his I heard knowingly was his Nocturne Op.7 'New Year Music'. I still recall the effect it had on me and that effect has not changed over the subsequent 35 years.

Totally agree Historian