Menuhin recordings

[pastoralguy]

Ah yes the Menuhin/Elgar - a performance that is " not special " and "for the casual Elgar tourist" according to Simon Heffer .

I look forward to hearing Mr. Heffer's recording of said masterpiece...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah yes the Menuhin/Elgar - a performance that is " not special " and "for the casual Elgar tourist" according to Simon Heffer .

Silly Heffer.

[Nick Armstrong]

Silly Heffer.

Yes. Heffing ridiculous.

[Barbirollians]

More sense would probably have been obtained from a heifer .

[teamsaint]

More sense would probably have been obtained from a heifer .

but they would heff to ask one to find out.

( heading rapidly into S E F X territory...)

[EdgeleyRob]

Ah yes the Menuhin/Elgar - a performance that is " not special " and "for the casual Elgar tourist" according to Simon Heffer .

Blimey,beggars belief !!

[Nick Armstrong]

Blimey,beggars belief !!

Have you Heffer heard anything like it....!

[EdgeleyRob]

Have you Heffer heard anything like it....!

Neffer effer !

[Barbirollians]

Funnily enough, I had just put a CD in the machine, which arrived today. I decided to glance on here - saw this thread. Said CD being Beethoven's violin concerto with YM and Klemperer (plus a couple of the usual overture fill-ups) on HMV Classics (rec. 1966) at a price much less than the stamp

A recording I've been aware of for decades, but this is the first time I've ever heard it!
Love it - the first movement cadenza is fabulous - makes you want to get up and dance!!! The whole concerto is a superb balance of Klemperer's richness and fine sound, with YM's playful mastery. Getting to become quite fond of YM...

I agree entirely this recording has received a lot of stick over the years and I avoided it . Show how much musical criticism is no more than opinion. Yes a few scratchy moments but a real performance and a glorious Larghetto and a terrific foot stamping Rondo .

[visualnickmos]

I agree entirely this recording has received a lot of stick over the years and I avoided it . Show how much musical criticism is no more than opinion. Yes a few scratchy moments but a real performance and a glorious Larghetto and a terrific foot stamping Rondo .

Perfect summation.

When all is said and done, we have to be our own critics; Opinion is fine, of course, and informed opinion, too - but in the end we listen, we like or not like what we hear - voila! Job done. A little example; I, for one love HvK's Brandenburg Concertos, knowing full-well that it's probably as far away as it's possible to get from Bach's envisaged sound. Who knows - he may have liked modern grand orchestras had he the opportunity to hear them.....?

[akiralx]

Ah yes the Menuhin/Elgar - a performance that is " not special " and "for the casual Elgar tourist" according to Simon Heffer .

The composer's input is invaluable but the soloist is pretty woeful...

[pastoralguy]

The composer's input is invaluable but the soloist is pretty woeful...

A lot of people would disagree with that comment, not least E. Elgar, esq. O.M.

[Barbirollians]

The composer's input is invaluable but the soloist is pretty woeful...

I am afraid I think that is absolute nonsense . Are you Mr Heffer ?

[Barbirollians]

Love Menuhin's Elgar symphony recordings - they may lack the particular individual touches of Boult and Barbirolli but for straightforward very well played deeply committed and unvarnished accounts of both works they are terrific.

[visualnickmos]

Love Menuhin's Elgar symphony recordings - they may lack the particular individual touches of Boult and Barbirolli but for straightforward very well played deeply committed and unvarnished accounts of both works they are terrific.

Couldn't agree more

One thing I find particularly appealing with Menuhin's (conducting) recordings, is that he doesn't hang about, but nothing sounds rushed; just brisk and lively...