Hype for Edward Gardner

[BBMmk2]

His torrid former relationship with the trumpeter Alison Balsam has surely provided him with all the life experience a man of his age needs....

Quite so. But contrary to the Gramophone critic, I rather like his recording of Elgar’s S2.

[bluestateprommer]

Not sure if anyone else on the Forum has checked out the LPO's series of videos from the RFH, for this autumn 2020 season during quarantine:

https://www.marquee.tv/series/lpo

Gardner features as conductor on the 1st two, with the first such video available as of Wednesday for a week. It's admittedly rather odd to see the orchestra playing to an empty hall, except for one or two shots during the Sibelius (orch. Rautavaara) song cycle with a cameraman in the seats near the stage maneuvering equipment near Gerald Finley. I'm not 100% sure if these are genuine "one-take" readings, or if perhaps some modest edits were done here and there. Whatever the case, the first video is good; not necessarily a mind-blower, but certainly all right, given the current crazy circumstances, and perhaps a modest harbinger of what's to come once Gardner takes the helm next season. Plus, the fact that this is a produced video, rather than a video of a live concert with an audience, rather makes it fit into a "Record Review" thread more appropriately than anyone could have anticipated, in a way.

[Bryn]

Many thanks for the alert. It is gratifying to find that audio quality has not been sacrificed to video for once. 320 kbps aac has been used, as with Radio 3 HD Sound. I wish the same cound be said for the Vienna Phil's recently linked to concert. That is restricted to a meagre 128 kbps for the audio.

[LMcD]

Not sure if anyone else on the Forum has checked out the LPO's series of videos from the RFH, for this autumn 2020 season during quarantine:

https://www.marquee.tv/series/lpo

Gardner features as conductor on the 1st two, with the first such video available as of Wednesday for a week. It's admittedly rather odd to see the orchestra playing to an empty hall, except for one or two shots during the Sibelius (orch. Rautavaara) song cycle with a cameraman in the seats near the stage maneuvering equipment near Gerald Finley. I'm not 100% sure if these are genuine "one-take" readings, or if perhaps some modest edits were done here and there. Whatever the case, the first video is good; not necessarily a mind-blower, but certainly all right, given the current crazy circumstances, and perhaps a modest harbinger of what's to come once Gardner takes the helm next season. Plus, the fact that this is a produced video, rather than a video of a live concert with an audience, rather makes it fit into a "Record Review" thread more appropriately than anyone could have anticipated, in a way.

Just to echo Bryn's thanks!

[Bryn]

Further details of the concerts here: https://www.lpo.org.uk/what-s-on/202...-concerts.html

[Bryn]

A word of warning. If listening via your HiFi system, the introductory 'theme music' is set at a very high dynamic level. Indeed, there is some marginal clipping, despite showing signs of dynamic compression. The programme itself avoids such.

Also, note that the programme booklet pdf can be downloaded via the link cited in #20.

[BBMmk2]

Since this thread began I've had the pleasure of getting to know Gardner's CBSO Mendelssohn Series recorded in Birmingham Town Hall, as interpretatively compelling, beautifully played & recorded as any on disc or file; as an obsessive Mendelssohn devotee, it goes straight into my top three or five...

And there was the Prom with an outstanding Britten Violin Concerto, James Ehnes the soloist. So I look forward to the next live (Prom 18) or recorded instalment very eagerly....!

I’ve liked everything that EG has recorded and performed thus far. Such a wide ranging repertoire too.

[gradus]

I’ve liked everything that EG has recorded and performed thus far. Such a wide ranging repertoire too.

My view too.

[Pulcinella]

Interesting difference of opinion regarding his new Peter Grimes.
Gramophone made it their Recording of the month (October 2020 issue) but BBC MM, while giving the recording five stars, gave only three for the performance (November 2020 issue).

[bluestateprommer]

Watched the 2nd installment of the LPO's filmed concerts over the weekend. Their program booklet is accessible on the concert listing page:

https://www.lpo.org.uk/whats-on-and-tickets/5656-visions-of-ecstasy.html

If you haven't already seen it, it's well worth a watch/listen, before it goes behind the Marquee TV pay wall this mid-week. I won't spoil in advance where the 40 musicians are placed for the Messiaen . (44 string players are listed in the program for the Schoenberg, one per stand, of course.)

[Bryn]

Watched the 2nd installment of the LPO's filmed concerts over the weekend. Their program booklet is accessible on the concert listing page:

https://www.lpo.org.uk/whats-on-and-tickets/5656-visions-of-ecstasy.html

If you haven't already seen it, it's well worth a watch/listen, before it goes behind the Marquee TV pay wall this mid-week. I won't spoil in advance where the 40 musicians are placed for the Messiaen . (44 string players are listed in the program for the Schoenberg, one per stand, of course.)

Unfortunately, the MARQUEE TV link on the page you linked to give a "502 Bad Gateway" error here.

[Bryn]

Unfortunately, the MARQUEE TV link on the page you linked to give a "502 Bad Gateway" error here.

After a several further attempts and a couple of computer restarts, the link has now functioned as intended. Best of luck to others trying to accss the stream.

[BBMmk2]

I didn't buy any of his Walton, but I got several of his Lutoslawski albums, and the Symanowski 4th, all in 24/96 on Chandos. Some of them are among the best ever readings of that repertoire, as is the CD of Mendelssohn 4 & 5. All these recordings come across brilliantly here - transparent, well-balanced, spacious acoustic presence etc.

As for an "extremely wide dynamic range" - bring it on !
(though I'll allow you might want Lord Copper in the room occasionally...)

I recommend his Walton.

[Bryn]

. . . I won't spoil in advance where the 40 musicians are placed for the Messiaen . . . .

Good to find that Gardner and co. observed the 1-minute silence between the movements.

[Nick Armstrong]

A chance to evaluate tomorrow:

https://www.bergenphilive.no/video-k...CoWcHEMHgz4jlQ