Walton: Symphony No. 1 / Violin Concerto (Edward Gardner / Chandos)

[Bryn]

The Szell version is wonderful,coupled with the neglected Hindemith Variations. We should hear those more often

Agreed, a classic recording. I seem to recall their Partita being excellent, too.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, as the Queen Mother was wont to say, Bbm

Wotchyoo talkin' about, ami?

[Nick Armstrong]

Wotchyoo talkin' about, ami?

[amateur51]

Wotchyoo talkin' about, ami?

I'm trying to talk Bbm down from a potentially major strop about differing viewpoints about Tezza & Eddy's Walton disc, innit

[antongould]

My favourite recording of the first two (of the three) movements is Mackerras':

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walton-Symphonies-1-Charles-Mackerras/dp/B00004SE9W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1404285220&sr=1-1&keywords=walton%2C+mackerras

... and at £1.27 including P&P for a "very good" second-hand copy, it's a real bargain (superb First Symphony, too).

Szell is splendid, too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Classics-Szell-William-Walton/dp/B000063Y0A/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1404285404&sr=1-2&keywords=walton%2C+szell

Less succesful at presenting the glow of the Music in the first two Movements, but (IMO) better at integrating the Finale into the whole scheme of things is Brabbins on a BBCMusMag (I don't know his Hyperion version) - but I'm happier being discontented with the last Movement in exchange for Mackerras' superb performance of the first two movements. This really does make clear that there is some of Walton's very best Music in this work - and my "second-best" (as children in Spennymoor used to say) recording of the First, too.

Many cheers ferney - after raiding the grandchildren's money boxes I have got the £1.27 and done the deed.....

[antongould]

My favourite recording of Nº 2 is the one that I was playing in - but to return to Nº 1:

For me, it defines the true William Walton and not the one written at the behest of his publishers and bank manager.

HS

Dare one ask which one you played on HS?

Double dare one ask does playing something one doesn't "rate" impacts your high level of performance....

[Barbirollians]

Many cheers ferney - after raiding the grandchildren's money boxes I have got the £1.27 and done the deed.....

Well done anyway who paid a fiver for that Szell set it looks like you get Francescatti and Ormandy's sizzling version of the Violin Concerto thrown in too .

[akiralx]

Ida Haendel she ain't - and I don't think she ever will be.

I'm sure Tasmin Little will be relieved to hear you say that... On this CD the concerto is better than the symphony, in fact I find Ms Little's performance one of the finest ever, alongside Kyung Wa Chung's.

[BBMmk2]

I'm trying to talk Bbm down from a potentially major strop about differing viewpoints about Tezza & Eddy's Walton disc, innit

Ah I wasn't in a strop though haha!!

Just merely an opinion :)

[amateur51]

Ah I wasn't in a strop though haha!!

Just merely an opinion :)

Good to hear, Bbm

[Hornspieler]

Dare one ask which one you played on HS?

Double dare one ask does playing something one doesn't "rate" impacts your high level of performance....

I have a recording taken off air conducted by Charles Groves. It is not, as far as I am aware, available as a CD.

I did not say that Walton Nº 2 "does not rate" - it is a fine piece of writing, but it does not have the autobiographical impact of Nº 1.
Regarding the violin concerto, I am told that Nigel Kennedy gave a good account of that with the Bournemouth players (I was not taking part, AMS, so don't bother to comment)

So I wonder if there is a recording of Joshua Bell, a player who I much admire, performing the work. I imagine that he is of a similar temperament to Nige and the concerto might suit him.

[Ferretfancy]

I have a recording taken off air conducted by Charles Groves. It is not, as far as I am aware, available as a CD.

I did not say that Walton Nº 2 "does not rate" - it is a fine peice of writing, but it does not have the autobiographical impact of Nº 1.
Regarding the violin concerto, I am told that Nigel Kennedy gave a good account of that with the Bournemouth players (I was not taking part, AMS, so don't bother to comment)

So I wonder if there is a recording of Joshua Bell, a player who I much admire, performing the work. I imagine that he is of a similar temperament to Nige and the concerto might suit him.

Joshua Bell's version is splendid, with the Baltimore SO and Zinman. In its original pairing it was with a lovely performance of the Barber concerto, I'm not sure if it's still available. It has also been issued in the Decca Sound bumper box.

[Nick Armstrong]

I wonder if there is a recording of Joshua Bell, a player who I much admire, performing the work.

Joshua Bell's version is splendid, with the Baltimore SO and Zinman. In its original pairing it was with a lovely performance of the Barber concerto

I wholeheartedly second Ferret's comments, this is one of my favourite violin concerto discs (and my favourite version of all of the Barber) - and I see it has been re-released (and remastered! sounded pretty great to me in its initial mastering) in the Universal 'Originals' series

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barber-Walto...+Shem+%7E+Bell

[BBMmk2]

Cali, this means another cd to buy!!

[Barbirollians]

Cali, this means another cd to buy!!

The Bell is very well played but a bit safe IMO .