A Bournemouth Love Affair - rare Silvestri

[Barbirollians]

I have come across a 2 CD set put out by Nimbus with an outfit called Romanian Musical Adventure . It contains a number of unpublished Silvestri recordings with the Bournemouth orchestra

There is a cracking account of Enescu's First Symphony from Colston Hall in 1966 and a not very well recorded but enjoyable Magic Flute Overture and Symphony 29 plus a fizzing Prokofiev Classical Symphony .

The second CD which i have not listened to yet includes Enescu's first two orchestral suites , Silvestri;s own three pieces for strings and three of Dvorak's Slavonic Dances - all recorded in the Winter gardens Bournemouth .

I wondered if any of our alumni remember these performances all recorded between 1963-67.

[umslopogaas]

I must investigate. I have just played through a 15 CD set of Silvestri's published (presumably) recordings with the Bournmouth SO, released on EMI Classics (50999 7 23347 2 0). One of the works you list - Dvorak's Slavonic Dances - does appear in this set, though of course it may be a different recording. It is a very enjoyable set, and if I recall correctly, not expensive. Plenty of Tchaikovsky and fellow Russians including Shostakovich, lots of Dvorak, lots of French composers such as Saint-Saens, Dukas, Ravel, and one or two items that seem to be out of fashion at the moment, like Hindemith's Mathis der Mahler.

[Barbirollians]

I must investigate. I have just played through a 15 CD set of Silvestri's published (presumably) recordings with the Bournmouth SO, released on EMI Classics (50999 7 23347 2 0). One of the works you list - Dvorak's Slavonic Dances - does appear in this set, though of course it may be a different recording. It is a very enjoyable set, and if I recall correctly, not expensive. Plenty of Tchaikovsky and fellow Russians including Shostakovich, lots of Dvorak, lots of French composers such as Saint-Saens, Dukas, Ravel, and one or two items that seem to be out of fashion at the moment, like Hindemith's Mathis der Mahler.

That is a indeed a very fine set - yes these are all BBC live recordings and some are a bit ropey - the performances though are excellent .

[Hornspieler]

That is a indeed a very fine set - yes these are all BBC live recordings and some are a bit ropey - the performances though are excellent .

I was there.

Yes, some recording quality is a bit ropey, but that may be that they were some of the ones originally recorded by Silvestri himself on his little open reel tape recorder at 15/16 ips and subsequently rescued and 'cleaned up' by Raymond Carpenter and myself.

The BBC were not in the habit of taking/keeping recordings of live transmissions by the non-BBC orchestras during the 1960s (as Ferretfancy will no doubt confirm ?)

HS

[Barbirollians]

I was there.

Yes, some recording quality is a bit ropey, but that may be that they were some of the ones originally recorded by Silvestri himself on his little open reel tape recorder at 15/16 ips and subsequently rescued and 'cleaned up' by Raymond Carpenter and myself.

The BBC were not in the habit of taking/keeping recordings of live transmissions by the non-BBC orchestras during the 1960s (as Ferretfancy will no doubt confirm ?)

HS

That is interesting . The cover refers to them as being BBC recordings.

[Hornspieler]

That is interesting . The cover refers to them as being BBC recordings.

If they say so, who is to argue? They certainly are recordings of performances which were broadcast by the BBC.

We also edited some of Silvestri's recordings which were collected by Kenneth Matchett after the maestro's untimely death and some of those are now held in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra archives in Winchester.

I will consult with Raymond, who, at the tender age of 92, still has a better memory than I have.

HS

*Edit

Well, I've just consulted my shelves and found a CD, recorded by me under my own private label (Horncat Records) and guess what it contains?

Enescu: Suite Nº ! and Suite Nº 2

Silvestri: Three pieces for strings

Dvorak: Slavonic Dances 3,4,5

Coincidence? I certainly remember cleaning up those original tape recordings.

But it's water under the bridge now. I'm very pleased that Silvestri's legacy is now available to a much larger public.

[Hornspieler]

Please see my edited message #6

HS

[Barbirollians]

Further acquaintance has made it clear to me that this is a very special set. The Enescu performances in particular are treasurable .