Music from the Balkans

[Guest]

Celibidache, Silvestri, Enesco, Comissiona, Cosma.

All Romanian superstars who have visited this country.

But do we ever hear on Radio 3 performances by the orchestras of the Balkan States?

I recall a visit by a Bulgarian lady conductor, who was quite superb.
Dressed in a severe black two-piece and weighing in at about 15 stone, she could have been mistaken for a Russian Tug Boat Skipper, but boy was she good? And there would have been no argument from the players with her.

Recently, I played my CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos, two of them accompanied by the Sofia Chamber Orchestra and two by the Sofia Philharmonic. Absolutely superb orchestral playing.

So why is it that we never seem to hear orchestras from the Balkan countries on Radio 3?
Not personal tours to this country, perhaps, but at least an airing of recordings on the BBC Radio 3 airwaves.
Yes, we get the odd Philharmonia Hungarica recording, but that seems to be about it.

Does anyone else have any views?

VH

[Roehre]

Celibidache, Silvestri, Enesco, Comissiona, Cosma.

All Romanian superstars who have visited this country.

But do we ever hear on Radio 3 performances by the orchestras of the Balkan States?

I recall a visit by a Bulgarian lady conductor, who was quite superb.
Dressed in a severe black two-piece and weighing in at about 15 stone, she could have been mistaken for a Russian Tug Boat Skipper, but boy was she good? And there would have been no argument from the players with her.

Recently, I played my CDs of Mozart Piano Concertos, two of them accompanied by the Sofia Chamber Orchestra and two by the Sofia Philharmonic. Absolutely superb orchestral playing.

So why is it that we never seem to hear orchestras from the Balkan countries on Radio 3?
Not personal tours to this country, perhaps, but at least an airing of recordings on the BBC Radio 3 airwaves.
Yes, we get the odd Philharmonia Hungarica recording, but that seems to be about it.

Does anyone else have any views?

VH

Through the Night offers regularly broadcasts of music from the Balkan states (as well as "normal" war horses) played by orchestras and soloists from that region (tonight between 1 and 3am e.g. a whole Lipatti programme)

[salymap]

Perhaps Breakfast could feature some of these works as a refreshing change then. TtN is not always convenient for everyone.

[Roehre]

Perhaps Breakfast could feature some of these works as a refreshing change then. TtN is not always convenient for everyone.

In terms of the moment of broadcast, you are absolutely right that TtN is not always convenient (most of the time it is very inconvenient to me too).
I hardly listen to the programme at night. But my Skybox (obviously to be programmed in advance) and ListenAgain are very helpful devices for listening to the bits I want to listen to the next day (or so).

[Chris Newman]

Hi Ventilhorn,
About five years ago Salisbury was lucky enough to get a touring Italian opera company performing a very respectable Madama Butterfly. I have mislaid the programme but recall that they called themselves something like "Amici dell'Opera Italiana" (which made me think of the George Raft character Spats in Some Like it Hot) and had a mostly oriental cast who sang very well. The orchestra accompanying them was half of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra the other half were giving another opera elsewhere.

Until recently the Chisinau Opera and Ballet from Moldova used to regularly do a similar British tour as two companies and come together as one at the Albert Hall under the auspices of Raymond Gubbay, though I have not seen their adverts for about a year.

bws
Chris