BaL 9.04.11 - Beethoven: Violin Concerto

[Nick Armstrong]

I am wondering if the BAL crew are becoming sensitive to the comments on here about Andrew's particpiation in some recent BALs? There was no mention of his involvement in the emailed newsletter I received last Friday and I see no mention on the CDR website for yesterday's programme either.

??

But he was involved throughout the programme from 9 until he stuck the CD of the Week in the machine at 5 to 12...

However, i wondered something similar - that the detailed explanation for the new selective BAL approach, due to the proliferation of recordings, arose in part from the debates here as to the 'new style' BAL survey based on just recent releases..

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thos not obsessed by HIPPology might be interested in this arrangement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto.

[Bryn]

I am familiar with the Collins arrangement, and of course the composer's own for piano, but neither do I find as enticing as Kazuhito Yamashita's arrangement for guitar.

[Alf-Prufrock]

Did Beethoven give metronome marks for his violin concerto? I used to have the score and cannot remember them being there.

Of course editors might easily add them.

[rauschwerk]

In a word, no. He left marks only for the symphonies, the septet (Op.20), the Hammerklavier sonata, the first 11 string quartets and a couple of short vocal pieces. I cannot understand any reference to authentic metronome marks in relation to the violin concerto.

[Bryn]

My understanding is that they were given for the later piano version, which should at least give a fair indication of the tempi he had in mind for the violin original too. However, as the metronome markings for the 5 original piano concertos with opus numbers were deligated to Carl Czerny, perhaps those for Op. 61a also derive from his efforts.

[rauschwerk]

However, as the metronome markings for the 5 original piano concertos with opus numbers were deligated to Carl Czerny, perhaps those for Op. 61a also derive from his efforts.

No mention of authentic LvB marks for any concerti here http://www.ringnebula.com/Beet/Maelzel_contact.htm so I think your hunch is correct.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I've only just got round to listening to Saturday's programme and have mixed feelings. As a discussion, I found it very interesting, especially Roy Goodman's insights which may not have come to the fore without the 'conversational' atmosphere. The limited field did allow an opportunity for real comparisons and there was much to delight. I take issue with Goodman's 'deal-breaker' regarding Patricia Kopatchinskaja's use of overdubbing for the first movement cadenza. I find it works well. She's also performed it in concert where the leader of the orchestra joins her to create the necessary chords from the piano version's cadenza. I was also very taken with Janine Jansen's recording (coupled with the Britten, I seem to recall, which featured strongly in a La Tribune programme last year).

As a BaL, I can sympathise with those who wanted a full survey comparing all available versions, but as Alpie's list in Post 1 illustrates, there are so many that a shortlist was always going to be needed as a starting point. Perhaps it needed a second portion next week to consider recordings pre-2000. I find it deeply ironic that a survey of recordings from the past decade throws up a 'winner' which is supposed to be currently unavailable...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As a BaL, I can sympathise with those who wanted a full survey comparing all available versions, but as Alpie's list in Post 1 illustrates, there are so many that a shortlist was always going to be needed as a starting point.

Rather than restricting the slected versions to a particular timespan, I would prefer it if the reviewer announced a broad shortlist at the beginning, and concentrated on those versions.

[DoctorT]

Tetzlaff/Zinman may be allegedly unavailable, but I picked it up in Head in Belfast a couple of days ago for £3!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Tetzlaff/Zinman may be allegedly unavailable, but I picked it up in Head in Belfast a couple of days ago for £3!

It's possible to get hold of virtually any CD, including deletions, by scouring the internet. Amazon sell 2nd hand CDs of deletions that are in good condition and reasonably priced.

[PaulT]

Yes and I have just picked the Tetzlaff/Zinman up on Amazon as well.

[Barbirollians]

Beethoven Violin Concerto - if you were restricted to just one performance

Looking at the numerous versions on my shelves today - I wondered if restricted to one which would I choose - despite the claims of all the Menuhin versions, Oistrakh, Haendel, Milstein, Hahn, Adolf Busch, Faust , Steinbacher ,Zukerman,Huggett, Stephanie Chase,Mutter, Francescatti, Huberman, Schneiderhan,Heifetz, Znaider and Kremer on my shelves .

It would still have to be the 1981 Perlman/Giulini - such a wise accompaniment , such a wonderful tone and to me still the most beautiful account of all .

[Bryn]

Zehetmair/I18C/Brüggen

Here's a live alternative to the CD:

[richardfinegold]

Oistrakh