BaL 9.04.11 - Beethoven: Violin Concerto

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There's also a Menuhin version that appeared about 5 years of him playing and directing the Menuhin Chamber Orchestra on EMI. It was never issued during his lifetime and was available a couple of years in the HMV sale for a pound!!

Whilst sorting through available versions I did omit a Menuhin version in a collection. I thought it was with the Bath Festival Orchestra, but couldn't be certain, so put it aside until I knew more...

[mikealdren]

The Campoli with Pritchard was the first recording I bought and I played it to death. The trigger to buy it was hearing Oistrakh on television and that performance (with Boult) has been reissued on DVD, well worth seeking out.

Despite my love of Oistrakh, I do like the more classical performances of Grumiaux (Davis or Galliera) and the former is very well recorded. A more modern alternative in a similar vein (with even better recording) is Hilary Hahn.

Of the classic recordings both Schneidehahn and Kulenkampff are magnificent.

Mike

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Would anyone be bold enough to guess the final choice?

[aeolium]

I'm going to have a punt on Zehetmair with Schneiderhan as the historical choice (neither my own choices btw).

[umslopogaas]

This will be fascinating.

In such a fundamental work, can there be just one overall choice? Well, yes, there will be, because that's the format, but I doubt the reviewers will be able to say with finality, YES, this is the one and there are no others. I dont even particularly revere this composition (yes OK its Beethoven and therefore not really up for criticism, but even so, I dont much bother with it) and despite my indiffernce my recordings are in double figures, you just cant not notice it: be your interests Stockhausen or Stradelli, you cant avoid Beethoven's vc.

A thought for violinists. Was there ever a player up to the challenge who DIDNT play this concerto? It seems to me that its an entry necessity for every aspiring fiddler who ever lived.

[umslopogaas]

Post 32 mikealdren

Campoli must have made a speciality of this concerto, I dont know the version with Pritchard, but there is a much earlier version, back in the glory days of Decca mono LPs:

Decca mono LXT 2674: Beethoven vc, Campoli with the LSO, cond. Joseph Krips.

Looks like he played it a lot. But if I could play a note of anyone's on anything, let alone on the violin, I probaby would, too. What a glorious work!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Campoli must have made a speciality of this concerto,

Campoli himself might have considered the Mendelssohn E minor to be his speciality, possibly giving more performances of this work than any other violinist.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Slightly off-topic, but I've always found the Kreisler cadenza for the Beethoven concerto to be quite exceptional - the way he combines two of the themes on a single 4-stringed instrument always has me kissing-the-ground-and-bowing-three-times-to -the-east .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Oh dear. Here we go again - only recordings from the last 10 years. So the likes of Oistrakh, Schneiderhan and Heifetz might just as well have not bothered.

Constant prattle about what is "right". Never mind what is musical. Frau Alpensinfonie has joined me and is quite staggered about Roy Goodman's inept use of language. She's just screamed "Who is this man?" (I'm a Host, so I can't quote what else she said.)

This is the worst BaL I've ever heard. I'm beginning to agree with DracoM that twofers are not a good idea.

[MickyD]

And no mention of the performance of the Hanover Band directed by Roy Goodman himself, with Stephanie Chase on violin (Cala, 1992). Nor of the Monica Huggett with the OAE and Charles Mackerras on CFP.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's as bad as listening to David Cameron talking to Michael Gove.

And no mention of the performance of the Hanover Band directed by Roy Goodman himself, with Stephanie Chase on violin (Cala, 1992).

Oo no! Can't have such old hat stuff as that.

[MickyD]

Oops, my mistake, I've just heard Goodman making reference to the Huggett recording.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

MickyD, do you think we are the only people still listening?

[MickyD]

Well, EA, even I nearly turned off at the anecdote of the Hanover Band singing words about Jell-O to the works's finale tune.

[PJPJ]

No, I've been listening and enjoying.....

Tetzlaff is still available from Amazon on CD and low bitrate mp3.