Barry Douglas - 10 Mar

[Frances_iom]

One of the most civilised concerts for some time - an excellent performer who also gives thoughtful answers with possibly the only presenter who can introduce the works without trying to dominate or push their own opinions.

[Ein Heldenleben]

One of the most civilised concerts for some time - an excellent performer who also gives thoughtful answers with possibly the only presenter who can introduce the works without trying to dominate or push their own opinions.

I wasn’t too taken with his Appassionata. Just not a fan of that big rit in the first movt second subject , too much exaggeration throughout and pulling about tempo wise and quite a lot of finger trouble. However he is not helped by a very clangy piano sound - it sounds terribly compressed on FM .He’s playing The Seasons beautifully though...

[Bryn]

I did not tune in but was considering listening via Sounds, later. Does anyone here know which edition of Pictures . . . he played?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I did not tune in but was considering listening via Sounds, later. Does anyone here know which edition of Pictures . . . he played?

It sounded pretty much like the Schott* Edition I’ve got but I wasn’t listening very closely and this work lends itself to , how can I put it ? , embellishments by the player - unintended or otherwise ...
* the Schott claims to be the “text as Mussorgsky originally conceived it “

[Bryn]

It sounded pretty much like the Schott* Edition I’ve got but I wasn’t listening very closely and this work lends itself to , how can I put it ? , embellishments by the player - unintended or otherwise ...
* the Schott claims to be the “text as Mussorgsky originally conceived it “

Thanks. Any indication of who edited it, and when? The original manuscript has, as I understand it, been tinkered with by other hands, over the years.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Thanks. Any indication of who edited it, and when? The original manuscript has, as I understand it, been tinkered with by other hands, over the years.

Says on the title page
Neuausgabe nach dem Urtext von Alfred Kreutz .

I’ll listen agin tomorrow to see if Barry stuck to it. Pianists do tend to tinker but I think he is a bit of a purist

[Roslynmuse]

It looks as though Christoph Flamm's edition for Barenreiter is the most recent (2013/15) and has been generally well-received. I don't always find Barenreiter editions to be as well proof-read as they might be, though. (I remember some publicity material for Jehan Alain organ works with a glaring typo, and a couple of vocal scores I've worked with recently - Glagolitic Mass and Berlioz Romeo and Juliette - have had errors in them)

[oddoneout]

I wasn’t too taken with his Appassionata. Just not a fan of that big rit in the first movt second subject , too much exaggeration throughout and pulling about tempo wise and quite a lot of finger trouble. However he is not helped by a very clangy piano sound - it sounds terribly compressed on FM .He’s playing The Seasons beautifully though...

I appreciated the fact of this recital - live music - but it wouldn't be one I would choose to hear again. The Seasons I did enjoy, and thought it the best of the programme. The piano sound to me was as expected, a rather percussive instrument in a large empty space - like listening in to a rehearsal - not the best, but again allowance has to be made for the circumstances?

[Frances_iom]

One point that stuck out, at least to me, was the presentation style of John Toal - no pushing of his own opinions, no 'look how knowledgeable I am' - intelligent adult conversation between him and Barry Douglas (compare this with last weeks cr@p) and the complete absence of the chipmunk on speed type presentation we were 'treated' to in too many earlier 'concerts' this week.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I appreciated the fact of this recital - live music - but it wouldn't be one I would choose to hear again. The Seasons I did enjoy, and thought it the best of the programme. The piano sound to me was as expected, a rather percussive instrument in a large empty space - like listening in to a rehearsal - not the best, but again allowance has to be made for the circumstances?

Yes it must be very difficult giving a performance to a completely empty hall and I don’t want to sound ungrateful. I enjoyed the concert overall . I wonder whether the piano was just too closely miked ?

[Ein Heldenleben]

One point that stuck out, at least to me, was the presentation style of John Toal - no pushing of his own opinions, no 'look how knowledgeable I am' - intelligent adult conversation between him and Barry Douglas (compare this with last weeks cr@p) and the complete absence of the chipmunk on speed type presentation we were 'treated' to in too many earlier 'concerts' this week.

I agree John Toal is excellent . I think the rather wistful portrait he painted of Barry in white tie etc and himself as the sole listener was very deftly done...

[Frances_iom]

I wonder whether the piano was just too closely miked ?

I think this was the case - it certainly felt that you could touch the piano when I listened to the DAB broadcast on my pair of Quads

[Ein Heldenleben]

Thanks. Any indication of who edited it, and when? The original manuscript has, as I understand it, been tinkered with by other hands, over the years.

There is an Urtext edition of the score from Henle Verlag. My Schott edition is Urtext based with the odd addition (eg dynamics ) in brackets . Some pieces have very few dynamic markings . I enjoyed Barry’s performance but he didn’t always follow the indicated markings (assuming they are M’s as the Schott editors make a big thing of asserting) . For example in the (very tricky) trill based trio of the Ballet of the Little Chicks is marked triple PPP but was played forte last night.

[richardfinegold]

One Pianist that I have never warmed to. Always found his Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms uninvolving

[oddoneout]

I agree John Toal is excellent . I think the rather wistful portrait he painted of Barry in white tie etc and himself as the sole listener was very deftly done...

I realise it is a matter for debate but I did agree with BD's approach that his concert gear is his uniform that he wears to do his job - playing concerts - regardless of how many people may be physically present. I like the idea of someone making that extra little gesture even though all the listeners are, like me, sitting at home rather than in the concert hall, but wouldn't condemn anyone who takes a different approach. Indeed there are occasions when a more casual approach is very much the right thing to do.
Agree with comments about John Toal's excellent presentation and interview.