Live in concert 7/3/13 7:30pm BBCNOW Schumann/Elgar

[Sir Monty Golfear]

What I did like though was the balance of the broadcast. Very listenable.
I think overall if I was able to attend the concert I would have found plenty to like.

[Hornspieler]

Solid tempi across the board....beautiful. Makes a lot of pianists sound as though they are in a hurry to get away!.

Well, my benchmark for this concerto would always be Moura Lympany, but I thought John Lill came very close. Perhaps a couple of slight fumbles at one point but, overall, a convincing performance.

HS

[Hornspieler]

Didn't like the first movement of the Elgar 1 - a bit portentous - but it has improved since then

Spoke too soon some rather alarming accelerations and decelerations in the finale .

Clumsy, would be my verdict. (or if you prefer, "ill judged")

There are very few non-British conductors who interpret Elgar well. Bernard Haitinck, of course - and I have the original* recorded tape (mono unfortunately) of our recording with Silvestri. You only have to hear his "In the South" recording to know that he really understood, and in many ways adopted, the British way of life.

I think that Jac van Steen's shortcomings were best illustrated by his treatment of the slow movement which, like Walton's 1st symphony, reflect the composer's true emotions and purpose in writing the work.

HS

* The BBC were going to destroy it along with many others, so I snaffled it just in time.

[amateur51]

Clumsy, would be my verdict. (or if you prefer, "ill judged")

There are very few non-British conductors who interpret Elgar well. Bernard Haitinck, of course - and I have the original* recorded tape (mono unfortunately) of our recording with Silvestri. You only have to hear his "In the South" recording to know that he really understood, and in many ways adopted, the British way of life.

I think that Jac van Steen's shortcomings were best illustrated by his treatment of the slow movement which, like Walton's 1st symphony, reflect the composer's true emotions and purpose in writing the work.

HS

* The BBC were going to destroy it along with many others, so I snaffled it just in time.

Well off the top of my head Sinopoli, Charles Munch, Charles Mackerras, Rozhdestvensky, Svetlanov, Jochum, Bernstein, Pierre Monteux, yes very few indeed

Good snaffle tho, HS

[Sir Velo]

What a lovely performance of the Schumann, no striving for effect, just beautiful playing and fine orchestral accompaniment, followed by a delightful interval interview.

Loved the clip of his old mum talking about his 1970 triumph in the Tchaikovsky. Easy to forget when listening to his cultured tones, that he came from a relatively unprivileged background.

[Sir Velo]

Well off the top of my head Sinopoli, Charles Munch, Charles Mackerras, Rozhdestvensky, Svetlanov, Jochum, Bernstein, Pierre Monteux, yes very few indeed

Good snaffle tho, HS

Add Solti and to a lesser extent Slatkin to that list.

[Barbirollians]

Clumsy, would be my verdict. (or if you prefer, "ill judged")

There are very few non-British conductors who interpret Elgar well. Bernard Haitinck, of course - and I have the original* recorded tape (mono unfortunately) of our recording with Silvestri. You only have to hear his "In the South" recording to know that he really understood, and in many ways adopted, the British way of life.

I think that Jac van Steen's shortcomings were best illustrated by his treatment of the slow movement which, like Walton's 1st symphony, reflect the composer's true emotions and purpose in writing the work.

HS

* The BBC were going to destroy it along with many others, so I snaffled it just in time.

HS - is that the performance that is on BBC legends ?

[Hornspieler]

HS - is that the performance that is on BBC legends ?

If it is in mono - yes. At the time of recording (mid 1960s), BBC Bristol were still only recording in mono.

I am not aware that there was another recording of Elgar Nº 1 by Silvestri and the Bournemouth orchestra,
although "Alassio" was certainly recorded later and that is on BBC Legends.

HS

[JFLL]

There are very few non-British conductors who interpret Elgar well

Well off the top of my head Sinopoli, Charles Munch, Charles Mackerras, Rozhdestvensky, Svetlanov, Jochum, Bernstein, Pierre Monteux, yes very few indeed.

And Toscanini (Enigma Variations). It's a pity he never recorded the symphonies, IMO. I suppose they were rather out of fashion when he came on the scene.

[Barbirollians]

If it is in mono - yes. At the time of recording (mid 1960s), BBC Bristol were still only recording in mono.

I am not aware that there was another recording of Elgar Nº 1 by Silvestri and the Bournemouth orchestra,
although "Alassio" was certainly recorded later and that is on BBC Legends.

HS

The one on BBC Legends is noted as being recorded on 25th July 1968 at the Winter Gardens Bournemouth .

[Sir Velo]

Add Solti and to a lesser extent Slatkin to that list.

Mea culpa I ought to mention Barenboim as a very fine accompanist in that concerto.

[Hornspieler]

The one on BBC Legends is noted as being recorded on 25th July 1968 at the Winter Gardens Bournemouth .

Thanks, Barbirollians. Yes, I was pretty sure that we only recorded it on one occasion.

The original tape was recorded, believe it or not, on standard non-backed tape. I could be wrong about the mono - it was a long time ago and I have no means of re-recording it to other media.

HS

[Barbirollians]

HS - the booklet is silent as to whether it is in mono - that tends to mean it isn't nowadays but I have not listened to it in a while . I recall it was good though .

His In the South is close to incomparable .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Add Solti and to a lesser extent Slatkin to that list.

I ought to mention Barenboim as a very fine accompanist in that concerto.

Zuckermann or Perlman?
Barenboim's CBS recording of Falstaff is also exceptionally fine; the Symphonies and Enigmas are not quite in the same league, but far from neglegible.

[Sir Velo]

Zuckermann or Perlman?

I was thinking of the other concerto, but then you knew that. Seriously, I had forgotten just how much of the Elgar core orchestral repertoire he had recorded.

Barenboim's CBS recording of Falstaff is also exceptionally fine; the Symphonies and Enigmas are not quite in the same league, but far from neglegible.

Not sure how much of this has been re-released on CD, FHG; must try to hear it.