CSO/Dutoit/Gil Shaham: Britten, Walton, Beethoven

[richardfinegold]

Two nights ago attended a concert featuring:
Britten--Young Person's Guide
Walton-Violin Concerto
Beethoven--7th Symphony

Dutoit led an energetic Britten. The Walton is a strange, disjointed work that never coalesces. Shaham played it well enough, I guess, but since I've never heard any other version of it I won't judge. The audience was fairly muted in it's enthusiasm, and considering that the soloist is a local favorite, I see that more as a comment on the music.
The Beethoven was the obvious highlight. The movements were played without pause and the repeat was taken in the finale. The brass doesn't ring like it would for Solti or Reiner, but those days have passed.

[Barbirollians]

Two nights ago attended a concert featuring:
Britten--Young Person's Guide
Walton-Violin Concerto
Beethoven--7th Symphony

Dutoit led an energetic Britten. The Walton is a strange, disjointed work that never coalesces. Shaham played it well enough, I guess, but since I've never heard any other version of it I won't judge. The audience was fairly muted in it's enthusiasm, and considering that the soloist is a local favorite, I see that more as a comment on the music.
The Beethoven was the obvious highlight. The movements were played without pause and the repeat was taken in the finale. The brass doesn't ring like it would for Solti or Reiner, but those days have passed.

I suggest you order this at once !!!http://www.amazon.com/Concertos-Benj...rds=walton+ida http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walton-Britt...t_mus_ep_dpi_2

Also available in EMI's cheap Walton edition.

[richardfinegold]

I suggest you order this at once !!!http://www.amazon.com/Concertos-Benj...rds=walton+ida http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walton-Britt...t_mus_ep_dpi_2

Also available in EMI's cheap Walton edition.

I think I may already have it, paired with the Viola Concerto. I'll search the shelves.

[Barbirollians]

That is more likely to be Nigel Kennedy - I think Ida's performance of the violin concerto was once coupled with Tortelier's Walton cello concerto .

Interestingly, I have just taken delivery of the Francescatti performance on an old second-hand Sony Essentials CD . It is very different . I like it , it is somewhat feverish, but I can see far more than with the Haendel how someone might think it a work that it is " a strange , disjointed work that never coalesces" in a performance like Zino's. Though in fact I do think his performance works .

I think the Walton Concerto is an absolute masterpiece - and Ida H , KW Chung and Heifetz are in a class of their own in the recorded history of it .