Sargent recordings

[HighlandDougie]

My grandparents had that LSO Sargent Enigma - was it coupled with the Tallis Fantasia on a reissue ?

How to feel old ... not my grandparents but my father. Not a reissue but a first issue on (S)XLP20007 of the Enigma plus the the V W T/T. Much listened to when I was about 8 years old and after. To be a bit anorak-y, Concert Classics numbers beginning with 2 were originals while those beginning with 3 were reissues. Our resident expert on such matters (Smittims, who else) will correct me if I've got that wrong.

[cloughie]

How to feel old ... not my grandparents but my father. Not a reissue but a first issue on (S)XLP20007 of the Enigma plus the the V W T/T. Much listened to when I was about 8 years old and after. To be a bit anorak-y, Concert Classics numbers beginning with 2 were originals while those beginning with 3 were reissues. Our resident expert on such matters (Smittims, who else) will correct me if I've got that wrong.

Spot on HD - many gems there that were ‘60s collection staples.

[Barbirollians]

On now to his late 1940s Messiah - a bit hissy and scruffy sounding . Sargent’s conducting direct but dated but what lovely singing from Baillie,Ripley and sound stentorian stuff from James Johnston and Norman Walker ,

[smittims]

According to EMI 120,000 sets of that late 78 recording were sold. His 1954 Lp remake wasn't so highly thought of, though there is some lovely solo singing. He made a final, stereo set for Reader's Digest with Elizabeth Harwood as solo soprano. .

[mikealdren]

On now to his late 1940s Messiah - a bit hissy and scruffy sounding . Sargent’s conducting direct but dated but what lovely singing from Baillie,Ripley and sound stentorian stuff from James Johnston and Norman Walker ,

Yes, a real period piece, probably as far from HIPP as you can get but I love it too and the Dutton release is in decent sound for its age.

[Pulcinella]

Sargent has featured on six BBC MM CDs: five times as conductor and once as composer (not counting the arrangement of Rule, Britannia).

As conductor:
Vol 6, No 12: Last Night of the Proms, 16 September 1961 (BBCSO; Basil Cameron conducts the main item, the Grieg Piano concerto with Gina Bachauer)
Vol 15, No 10: Elgar Symphony 2 (Live from Colston Hall, Bristol, 29 January 1964)
Vol 20, No 9: Delius Piano concerto (Benno Moiseiwitsch/BBCSO; BBC Proms, 13 September 1955)
Vol 23, No 10: Tchaikovsky Symphony 4 (BBCSO; BBC Proms 5 September 1964)
Vol 29, No 6: Mozart Clarinet concerto (Jack Brymer/BBCSO; BBC Proms, 5 September 1964)

[A pedant writes: were they the BBC Proms back then?]

As composer:
Vol 28, No 11: An Impression on a Windy Day (BBCSO/Oramo; Last Night of the BBC Proms, 9 September 2017)

[Barbirollians]

According to EMI 120,000 sets of that late 78 recording were sold. His 1954 Lp remake wasn't so highly thought of, though there is some lovely solo singing. He made a final, stereo set for Reader's Digest with Elizabeth Harwood as solo soprano. .

That's interesting . Eizabeth Harwood of course also sang on the Mackerras recording - her " I know that my redeemer liveth" is close to my heart as it was played at my grandmother's funeral as one of her favourite pieces of music.

[smittims]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.5. The BBC Symphony Orchestra. HMV ALP 1236.

I thought of heading this 'One to Avoid' in the manner of BBC Music Magazine, but no, there's always something interesting to learn from a historical recording. It's well played (is that Archie Camden on bassoon?) but a curiously subdued (I'm trying not to say 'dull') sempre a tempo performance (the third movement is especially lifeless) until the finale when Sir Malcolm starts to up the tempo and then, startlingly, makes two substantial cuts which, for me , mar the whole thing. I know this was not unknown, and he did sometimes like to 'improve ' works he conducted but this is surely inexcusable.

I see it was scheduled for reissue only a few years later to the 'Concert Classics' label, but I haven't seen a review. I any case Constantin Silvestris' thrilling version was isseud on the same label soon after.

I haven't heard Sir Malcolm's later recording with the LSO. .

[Dave2002]

... In any case Constantin Silvestris' thrilling version was isseud on the same label soon after.

I haven't heard Sir Malcolm's later recording with the LSO. .

I usually like Silvestri's work, but his recording of Tchaik 4 as a very strange opening. I don't think it's what Tchaikovsky wrote.

[smittims]

Yes, it was controversial when it was issued. Silvestri has the trumpets and horns play the second, third and fourth notes of the opening fanfare (i.e. after the long opening note) as two semi-quavers and a quaver instead of a triplet, as we are used to hearing. It sounds very odd at first, but one gets used to it! I suppose he had his reasons.

[Dave2002]

Yes, it was controversial when it was issued. Silvestri has the trumpets and horns play the second, third and fourth notes of the opening fanfare (i.e. after the long opening note) as two semi-quavers and a quaver instead of a triplet, as we are used to hearing. It sounds very odd at first, but one gets used to it! I suppose he had his reasons.

Hornspieler - late of this place - claimed he said "was authentic", but nevertheless strange. I guess I really ought to check the score. Just going to do that now. I haven't got used to it!

At IMSLP we see https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/u...hony_No._4.pdf
which even appears to be a manuscript - though is it Tchaikovsky's?

Definitely look like triplets there.

[makropulos]

Hornspieler - late of this place - claimed he said "was authentic", but nevertheless strange. I guess I really ought to check the score. Just going to do that now. I haven't got used to it!

At IMSLP we see https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/u...hony_No._4.pdf
which even appears to be a manuscript - though is it Tchaikovsky's?

Definitely look like triplets there.

That's Tchaikovsky's handwriting and I don't think there can be any doubt about what he meant. Much as I admire Silvestri, I'm afraid this one sounds like an intervention we'd be better off without! It simply sounds wrong – and Tchaik's autograph ms. is unambiguous.

[Roslynmuse]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no.5. The BBC Symphony Orchestra. HMV ALP 1236.

I see it was scheduled for reissue only a few years later to the 'Concert Classics' label, but I haven't seen a review. I any case Constantin Silvestris' thrilling version was isseud on the same label soon after.

There was an HMV Concert Classics release of Tchaik 5 with the NWDR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wilhelm Schuchter - XLP 20009.

[smittims]

Thanks, Roslynmuse. Yes, Tchaikovsky's later symphonies were favoured candidates for that label. Kletzki's 6th is outstanding (SXLP 20027).

[Barbirollians]

Don’t get me started on Warner’s scandalous neglect of Kletzki’s recordings . That was available on CD for a while on Medici Masters . One of my very favourite Pathetiques.