Yes, there's no doubt Malcolm was uneven and in some cases his earlier recordings are better. e.g. his early '50s Elgar Variations on Decca with the LSO and his 1946 Messiah with Isobel Baillie ad Norman Walker .
Sargent recordings
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Originally posted by smittims View PostYes, there's no doubt Malcolm was uneven and in some cases his earlier recordings are better. e.g. his early '50s Elgar Variations on Decca with the LSO and his 1946 Messiah with Isobel Baillie ad Norman Walker .
SMS also conducted very well. I can see why it was a hot ticket in December in Huddersfield.
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Yes, and that's an excellent recording, also of the VW on the disc. I was lucky recently to find a near-mint copy of the original SXLP (HMV Concert Classics) issue with its lovely landsacpe photo on the cover . I last heard Sargent conduct the Variations at the 1966 proms and that was a fine performance, with, of course,the organ prominent at the end. .
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Originally posted by smittims View PostSargent of course conducted the premiere of Songs of Farewell, Beecham sadly being uninterested in Delius' late works. And his recording ofthe Cello Concerto was the only l one for some years.
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Originally posted by Petrushka View PostThere's a recording out on the Somm label of Sargent conducting the first performance of the RVW 9th in 1958. Presumably this is taken from a BBC broadcast.
Has anyone got this disc and able to comment on the sound quality?
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Originally posted by oliver sudden View Post
It is what you would expect under the circumstances. No better but no worse, I would say. I find it perfectly listenable although my ears are reasonably used to compensating when recordings of this sort of age and provenance are passing through them. It’s on YouTube and as I think is generally the case you can rely on the CD to be somewhat better without being in another class entirely.
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Originally posted by oliver sudden View Post
It is what you would expect under the circumstances. No better but no worse, I would say. I find it perfectly listenable although my ears are reasonably used to compensating when recordings of this sort of age and provenance are passing through them. It’s on YouTube and as I think is generally the case you can rely on the CD to be somewhat better without being in another class entirely."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard Haitink
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Originally posted by Petrushka View Post
Thanks for that, and the steer towards YouTube. I'll give it a listen. I'm very used to listening to historical recordings but tend to draw the line at truly abysmal sound so would have avoided if that had been the case.
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The Sargent VW9 has been broadcast a number of times. I found the sound quality quite acceptable. The interpretation is another matter. Some commentators have criticised it severely, Roy Douglas (who at the time, of course, knew the symphony better than anyone except the composer) being especially scathing. I liked it myself.
I think Sargent conducted the concert because the symphiny was commissioned by the RPS and Sargent was down to conduct that concert. He did have a pedigree as a VW interpreter, having conducted the first public stagings of three of the operas. The RPS didn't provide enough rehearsal and VW actually paid for an extra one out of his own pocket.
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