Honegger, Rach and Faure from Wales

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I seem to recall that the score to the second symphony was conveyed to the BBC in London by carrier pigeon during WW2

On microfilm, I hope!

[Serial_Apologist]

On microfilm, I hope!

Yes ferney - got out by the Resistence. I should have remembered that. I think it was mentioned when Honegger was COTW several years ago - as can be imagined!

[jayne lee wilson]

I seem to recall that the score to the second symphony was conveyed to the BBC in London by carrier pigeon during WW2 - would that be right?? - then to be broadcast to bring hope to the French people under occupation.

Lovely detail, on the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend...

LaurieWatt, I've never heard Jarvi's Honegger - but you'll find Layton's review of 3/5 in Gramophone 9/93. He is impressed with No.3, only referring to Karajan as superior, placing No.5 below Baudo but a little above Dutoit (review by JS, 5/98)...

Luisi for me remains the best, as well as the most radical, complete cycle - recorded complete in Victoria Hall in three days (!) in July 1999. The 5th is UTTERLY made new (timings 10'56/10'17/5'56!)...

My experience of living with three cycles for some years now is that I'm always keen to return to Luisi and Baudo, but tend to ignore Dutoit...

[edashtav]

[...]

My experience of living with three cycles for some years now is that I'm always keen to return to Luisi and Baudo, but tend to ignore Dutoit...

I, too, hold Honegger in high regard, Jayne, although I don't count him amongst the "greats". I've lived with two of your cycles for years and agree that Dutoit's, which impressed me greatly when I first I heard it, now lurks unloved and unplayed on my shelf - high sheen, very neat playing but a superficial interpretation.

I admire Karajan's Liturgique. For me, the finest version of any Honegger Symphony is the one that Charles Munch made with the Boston Symphony Orchestra of the tragic 5th: "Di Tre Re". That knocked me sideways when I first encountered it - so much so that I rushed to London to buy a score.

Now, I must acquire that Luisi set for your advice re Bruckner was spot-on.

[mathias broucek]

No mention yet of H's Joan of Arc. Anyone who enjoys King David would surely love this too.

It works better as a live performance than on record, although the Ozawa recording got a Gramo award IIRC. I still get shivvers remembering the first and best time I heard it live (Crouch End Festival Chorus in c. 1996)

[Sir Monty Golfear]

I have a very serviceable set of the 5 symphonies , pacific 231 and rugby by Charles Dutoit conducting the Bavarian RSO on Apex . The recording quality does justice to the music. It was had off amazon for a round £6 .

[Bryn]

No mention yet of H's Joan of Arc. Anyone who enjoys King David would surely love this too.

It works better as a live performance than on record, although the Ozawa recording got a Gramo award IIRC. I still get shivvers remembering the first and best time I heard it live (Crouch End Festival Chorus in c. 1996)

That would be his second recording (in French), rather than his first on CBS (in English) with Vera Zorina as Joan of Arc, I guess.

[The CBS recording had quite a star cast, including Heather Harper and Jeanne Loriod. The Orchestra was the LSO. I am more than a little surprised it has not made it to CD.]

[Bryn]

The talk of Le Roi David got me to reminiscing. I first heard the work on a record club (Concert Hall, IIRC) double LP set with Serge Baudo at the helm, back in the early '60s (which, of course, I do not otherwise remember). So, I went searching on amazon.co.uk for the/a Baudo recording. All that were listed were Supraphon issues of a later digital recording. I ordered the cheapest I could find. The vendor was the ubiquitous Zoverstocks. What they sent was not the Supraphon CD but the recording I first got to know, in it CD manifestation on the Accord label. I have no intention of seeking a replacement from them. I have, however, now ordered the Supraphon again, but from a different vendor, at nearly half as much again. I also ordered the Abravanel recording while I was at it (mainly for Mme. Milhaud's contribution), oh, and the 'original' version (though with the later narration added) on Naxos. Good job I am rather fond of this somewhat strange animal of a work.

[mathias broucek]

The talk of Le Roi David got me to reminiscing. I first heard the work on a record club (Concert Hall, IIRC) double LP set with Serge Baudo at the helm, back in the early '60s (which, of course, I do not otherwise remember). So, I went searching on amazon.co.uk for the/a Baudo recording. All that were listed were Supraphon issues of a later digital recording. I ordered the cheapest I could find. The vendor was the ubiquitous Zoverstocks. What they sent was not the Supraphon CD but the recording I first got to know, in it CD manifestation on the Accord label. I have no intention of seeking a replacement from them. I have, however, now ordered the Supraphon again, but from a different vendor, at nearly half as much again. I also ordered the Abravanel recording while I was at it (mainly for Mme. Milhaud's contribution), oh, and the 'original' version (though with the later narration added) on Naxos. Good job I am rather fond of this somewhat strange animal of a work.

Sounds like you'd enjoy Judith too (also with Abravanel)....

[MrBear]

Just0listen back to the Honegger from Friday and really enjoyed it didn't like what I heard on Friday but did miss the start

Not listened to any Honegger for too long have a CD of two of the symphonies with other orchestral works, 2 versions of le roi David, the Ozawa Joan arc which I have really enjoyed
Was not impressed by the Karajan symphonies
Going to look at getting all the symphonies

[mathias broucek]

Luisi symphonies now going for £70......

[MrBear]

Honegger starting Through the night tomorrow morning if you dont know Honegger give it a listen

12:31 AM WED Honegger, Arthur [1892-1955] WED Pastorale d'été (1920) WED Swiss Italian Radio Orchestra, John Axelrod (conductor)