Christian Ferras

[visualnickmos]

That account with Silvestri is wonderful

Right now, I'm listening to his Lvb Sargent/RPO (not Philharmonia, as I previously stated)

Fabulous! and the cadenzas are quite out of this world..... glorious

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I would think that perhaps any leaning towards 'schmaltzyness' is perhpas more Karajan's doing than Mr Ferras.....?

Why?

[visualnickmos]

Why?

Just a thought in response to akiralx - that's all... I do not find the HvK Tchaikovsky in the least schmaltzy.... but I think that sometimes HvK can very occasionally have his finger ready on the 'bit of schmaltz here' button.

[vinteuil]

There is an excellent 4 CD Ferras set on Brilliant Classics 93791

Ferras plays the Franck and Lekeu Sonatas, the three Brahms Sonatas,. the Schumann Sonatas and a selection of encores by Kreisler, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Dvorak and Dinicu. The pianists are Pierre Barbizet and Jean -Claude Ambrosini (in the encores.)
.

... many thanks for this - I think this is something I need!

The Ferras / Barbizet Beethoven piano / violin sonatas are also to be found in the EMI 50 CD 'Beethoven chefs d' oeuvre' box

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000NA2PCS

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Just a thought in response to akiralx - that's all... I do not find the HvK Tchaikovsky in the least schmaltzy.... but I think that sometimes HvK can very occasionally have his finger ready on the 'bit of schmaltz here' button.

Really? The usual criticism is that he is "cold", "glacial", "chromium-plated" etc etc etc - and in none of the five recordings of the late Tchaikovsky Symphonies can the slightest trace of schmaltz be detected (one of their great strengths this). Nor can it in Karajan's later VPO recording of the Vln Concerto with Mutter. (And, like you, I do not hear it in the Ferras recording, either.)

At the risk of moving off-topic, visnick - which passages from which of his performances did you have in mind did you have in mind?

[visualnickmos]

Really? The usual criticism is that he is "cold", "glacial", "chromium-plated" etc etc etc - and in none of the five recordings of the late Tchaikovsky Symphonies can the slightest trace of schmaltz be detected (one of their great strengths this). Nor can it in Karajan's later VPO recording of the Vln Concerto with Mutter. (And, like you, I do not hear it in the Ferras recording, either.)

At the risk of moving off-topic, visnick - which passages from which of his performances did you have in mind did you have in mind?

Well, when I listen to his Richard Strauss, I occasionally am reminded of Hollywood! Not that that's a bad thing, don't get me wrong - but moving back (I think) to topic, my original comment was really just enlarging on as a possible debating point, the point made by akiralx.....

[Beef Oven!]

Really? The usual criticism is that he is "cold", "glacial", "chromium-plated" etc etc etc - and in none of the five recordings of the late Tchaikovsky Symphonies can the slightest trace of schmaltz be detected (one of their great strengths this). Nor can it in Karajan's later VPO recording of the Vln Concerto with Mutter. (And, like you, I do not hear it in the Ferras recording, either.)

At the risk of moving off-topic, visnick - which passages from which of his performances did you have in mind did you have in mind?

With due respect to all, Karajan is one of those musicians that people have become accustomed to recycling third or fourth-hand ideas that were most likely wrong in the first place. A kind of reverse osmosis on meaning. A close ear on the music-making alone, often gives a very different idea. Just my opinion, of course.

[visualnickmos]

With due respect to all, Karajan is one of those musicians that people have become accustomed to recycling third or fourth-hand ideas that were most likely wrong in the first place. A kind of reverse osmosis on meaning. A close ear on the music-making alone, often gives a very different idea. Just my opinion, of course.

I think you are quite right. The only valid analysis or opinion is formed after listening to the piece in question. But that is only my opinion, of course!

[Hornspieler]

I was aware of the tragic life of Ferras and that his playing had been a favourite of HVK but only knew his Bach double with Menuhin until discovering his Tchaikovsky with Silvestri on that Classic CD magazine cover disc which I thought was terrific .

In my vain quest to own almost as many Beethoven violin concerto recordings as PG I found his recording with Karajan in a charity shop last week for a pound . Good heavens it is slow the opening of the first movement in particular but Ferras is absolutely magnificent the Kreisler cadenza I cannot recall ever hearing better played and there is such emotion ,personality and warmth in his gloriously accurate playing .

I have now ordered very cheap second hand copies of his Brahms and Sibelius recordings from the river people but what other recordings do forumites recommend ?

Mozart, W. A Violin Concerto Nº 4 in D Ferras/Paris Conservatoire/Joseph Vandernoot

It's on my shelves somewhere amongst more than 250 others. I'll get back to you when I find it.

HS

Edit: Just found this one:
Lalo, Eduard Sinfonie Espagnol Ferras/Philharmonia/Susskind

[Barbirollians]

Right now, I'm listening to his Lvb Sargent/RPO (not Philharmonia, as I previously stated)

Fabulous! and the cadenzas are quite out of this world..... glorious

This is on that Royal classics double CD set with the Gina Bachauer Grieg .

Just listened to it - I agree what playing in the cadenzas and a Larghetto far more than just the pretty interlude some make it sound like . Absolutely terrific ( not sure what is foursquare about the accompaniment as Rob Cowan suggested ) ok they don’t draw your ears to the orchestra like the BPO /Karajan but they are splendidly supportive . I must listen to the HVK again but this is a great record.

PS sad to read that our late friend Hornspieler never got back to us..

[cloughie]

This is on that Royal classics double CD set with the Gina Bachauer Grieg .

Just listened to it - I agree what playing in the cadenzas and a Larghetto far more than just the pretty interlude some make it sound like . Absolutely terrific ( not sure what is foursquare about the accompaniment as Rob Cowan suggested ) ok they don’t draw your ears to the orchestra like the BPO /Karajan but they are splendidly supportive . I must listen to the HVK again but this is a great record.

PS sad to read that our late friend Hornspieler never got back to us..

The Ferras ICON box is currently available £14 for 13CDs - I cannot say that all are the best recordings and performances of the pieces on offer but at the price must be a bargain!

[Dave2002]

The Ferras ICON box is currently available £14 for 13CDs - I cannot say that all are the best recordings and performances of the pieces on offer but at the price must be a bargain!

Sounds a good idea - https://www.amazon.co.uk/ICON-Christ.../dp/B074BNZP5Z

[Barbirollians]

That's an extraordinary bargain - the Beethoven sonatas with Barbizet surely value enough alone together with the concertos with Sargent and Silvestri.

[HighlandDougie]

The Ferras ICON box is currently available £14 for 13CDs - I cannot say that all are the best recordings and performances of the pieces on offer but at the price must be a bargain!

As Barbs has implied, it's a steal at that price (probably half of what I paid a couple of years ago). As well as what's in this box and what he recorded for DGG, there is an unforgettable performance of the Berg VC with Michael Gielen contained in Volume 8 of the SWR Gielen edition.

[Barbirollians]

As Barbs has implied, it's a steal at that price (probably half of what I paid a couple of years ago). As well as what's in this box and what he recorded for DGG, there is an unforgettable performance of the Berg VC with Michael Gielen contained in Volume 8 of the SWR Gielen edition.

Bowled over by Ferras/Silvestri in the Mendelssohn - one of the most quicksilver , magical performances of this concerto I have ever heard.