Menuhin recordings

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've never rated the Delius violin concerto at all but, thanks to last Saturday's BaL and the discussion here, I've listened to it at least a dozen times now! I'm now seeing that I've totally mis-judged it and am willing to admit it to my own personal list of great works.

So, although 'Sea Breeze' is unlikely to figure highly on my list of fav pieces, it has served as a starting gun for an appraisal of Delius' music.

Still some space to cover, though

[pastoralguy]

Still some space to cover, though

Oops!

[Barbirollians]

I think the other reason perhaps why I have always struggled with that Menuhin Delius recording is that it comes after the old classic Menuhin/Boult Elgar Violin Concerto recording in which he is in so much better form .

[Pulcinella]

Lennox Berkeley,Williamson and Panufnik violin concertos (EMI),just amazing.

As a conductor,there's a wonderful RVW 5 with the LPO c/w the 2 piano arrangement of the piano concerto.

Both on the shelves here, and both fairly often played, though the RVW for the concerto rather than S5.

[richardfinegold]

This is drifting off-topic - apologies. Anyhow, I see that the BBC MM performance is the 1982 Prom with Herbig and the BBCSO - the last time YM played at the Proms. I remember that concert and, sadly, I'm not eager to hear it again.

The earlier YM performances are better - and I agree that the first (1946) one with Dorati/Dallas is probably best of the bunch. Knowing the version with Furtwängler, I'm not sure how essential it is - very great as Furtwängler was, he isn't on particularly good form here (especially not in the last movement), and the recording does the orchestra no favours either (they sound as if they're in a different postcode from Menuhin). The Dorati/Mercury version isn't bad, though Menuhin's tone is unattractive under pressure. The Menuhin/Dorati/EMI version is, as you say, less essential (I tend to avoid it altogether). There's also a live performance with Reiner and the Chicago SO which Menuhin's admirers will no doubt find interesting. Gertler/Ancerl, or Szeryng/Haitink are vastly preferable stereo versions to my ears than either the Mercury or EMI Menuhin records.

Which leads me to wonder why one "surely should" want to have Menuhin in this particular piece?

For a really historic recording of the piece - and in spite of the sound quality - I can't resist Zoltan Szekely and Mengelberg (the world prem, live).

I've tried to like this piece for decades now, and have about 4 recordings, since I otherwise admire Bartok, but it just has never won me over. I nodded off in Concert (Tetzlaff/Dutoit) a Few years ago and almost fell out of my seat and gave up on it then

[Bryn]

I've tried to like this piece for decades now, and have about 4 recordings, since I otherwise admire Bartok, but it just has never won me over. I nodded off in Concert (Tetzlaff/Dutoit) a Few years ago and almost fell out of my seat and gave up on it then

My first encounter with the work was via the Igor Oistrakh/Rozhdestvensky recording (10/- in H&G), back in the early '60s. I was hooked from the start but became even more so on getting the Gertler/Ancerl (17/6 in W H Smith). Including LPs, I must have a dozen or so commercial recordings now. I've not yet listened to the Menuhin/Herbig yet, and may well give it a pass, considering the negative comments on it here. Think I will give the Pat Kop a Spin after the Zappa Thirteen. Must admit, I have long had a much higher regard for Menuhin as a moral example and educator than as a performer.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As far as possible, could we keep discussion specifically about the Delius Violin Concerto on the BaL thread, and other Menuhin recordings here?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As far as possible, could we keep discussion specifically about the Delius Violin Concerto on the BaL thread, and other Menuhin recordings here?

Why? The BaL Delius was about Sea Drift - the Violin Concerto is off-topic there. Discussing Menuhin's recording of the Delius Violin Concerto belongs here.

[visualnickmos]

Does Menuhin as a conductor count? If 'yes' then I discovered a rather nice Dvorak symphony no. 8, in the Royal Philharmonic series. It was a speculative bargain purchase, and it is worth looking out for.

[Pulcinella]

Does Menuhin as a conductor count? If 'yes' then I discovered a rather nice Dvorak symphony no. 8, in the Royal Philharmonic series. It was a speculative bargain purchase, and it is worth looking out for.

Well, his recording as a conductor of RVW S5 and the (two-)piano concerto was mentioned in post #42 (and endorsed in post #49!), and I have just remembered that I have an EMI recording (German pressing) of Handel's Water Music (Boyling edition), dated 1964, with the Bath Festival Orchestra, with Menuhin described as Dirigent: I have no idea if he did this from a podium or the front desk.

[Barbirollians]

Well, his recording as a conductor of RVW S5 and the (two-)piano concerto was mentioned in post #42 (and endorsed in post #49!), and I have just remembered that I have an EMI recording (German pressing) of Handel's Water Music (Boyling edition), dated 1964, with the Bath Festival Orchestra, with Menuhin described as Dirigent: I have no idea if he did this from a podium or the front desk.

Love that record !

His Mozart symphonies on Virgin were very good too , his Bach is a bit 1960s but charming Suites and as I recall RO said some nice things about his Beethoven cycle .

[Tony Halstead]

Well, his recording as a conductor of RVW S5 and the (two-)piano concerto was mentioned in post #42 (and endorsed in post #49!), and I have just remembered that I have an EMI recording (German pressing) of Handel's Water Music (Boyling edition), dated 1964, with the Bath Festival Orchestra, with Menuhin described as Dirigent: I have no idea if he did this from a podium or the front desk.

You mention the 'Boyling edition' of the Water Music... I wonder whether many or even any of our 'boarders' will know anything about 'Boyling'?
During the 20-odd years that I played the horn with the LSO and ECO I used to chat with one of the senior 'sound engineers' at the EMI Abbey Road studio: Neville Boyling, and I very soon realised that he was the editor of the 'Boyling edition'.
Additionally he wrote many 'sleeve notes' for EMI LPs and CDs. Since his initials were 'N.D.R.B.' his 'nom de plume' for these sleeve notes was 'Charles Enderby'.

[visualnickmos]

Love that record !

His Mozart symphonies on Virgin were very good too , his Bach is a bit 1960s but charming Suites and as I recall RO said some nice things about his Beethoven cycle .

Am I right in thinking this is with Sinfonia Varszowia? (please forgive spelling!) Would it be more of a 'chamber ensemble' type of sound.....? Just curious, that's all....

[Barbirollians]

Am I right in thinking this is with Sinfonia Varszowia? (please forgive spelling!) Would it be more of a 'chamber ensemble' type of sound.....? Just curious, that's all....

Yes I think you are right it was with that orchestra . I have not heard them though . The Mozart with SV is chamber sounding.

[visualnickmos]

Yes I think you are right it was with that orchestra . I have not heard them though . The Mozart with SV is chamber sounding.

Thanks - the Mozart sounds interesting; may be something to add to the ever-growing wish list....

YM's Elgar symphonies are rather good.