Halle Loughran years on record

[Barbirollians]

These seem more than forgotten . I had the ASV Beethoven set on LP . I know they were highly rated by many but I have always wondered if I had some duff pressings . Somehow they have languished on a shelf in my parents ' box room since about 1988 and I have recovered them and must play them again .

On the other hand I have always loved their Brahms set since buying them done years back on CFP and thus weekend discovered a charity shop CFP CD of the Symphonie Fantastique - the Cgebouw or VPO for Colin Davis they might not be but what an exciting direct performance it is coupled with overtures including a terrific rumbustious Corsaire .

Any other favourite Loughran Halle records ?

[visualnickmos]

Elgar's symphonies - I always enjoy these.

[Alison]

A superior the Planets.

I've never understood how such a fine conductor of Beethoven and Brahms could pretty much disappear from view.

[visualnickmos]

A superior the Planets.

Yes - of course, how could I have overlooked one of favourite Planets; there is also a very fine New World symphony.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes - of course, how could I have overlooked one of favourite Planets; there is also a very fine New World symphony.

There is, indeed - but IIRC, that was with the LSO rather than the Hallé?

The Brahms Piano Concertos with Lill are a very good "supplement" to their Symphony/Overtures set (the Violin Concerto with Hasson not nearly as impressive, I thought).

There was also a good performance of Belshazzar's Feast, let down IIRC by a rather murky recorded sound.

But the pride of place of all these recordings is that Brahms Symphony cycle.

[CallMePaul]

I see from wikipedia that James Loughran was 85 in June this year, which may have given a reason to reissue some of his recordings. However, the ASV label has been defunct for a few years now. I presume that Warners have the rights to his CFP recordings so a reissue of these would surely be possible, He is well-known in Germany and Scandinavia as well as in Britain so a reissue of, say, his Brahms cycle (I have these on LP and agree with earlier comments re their quality) ought to be commercially viable.

IIRC, his recording of Beethoven's Eroica had an unusual layoput in LP format. To accommodate the exposition repeat in the 1st movement and avoid a break in the slow movement, Side 1 had the finale followed by the firat movement, with the 2nd and 3rd movements on Side 2. Of course this would not be necessary in CD or download format.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

IIRC, his recording of Beethoven's Eroica had an unusual layoput in LP format. To accommodate the exposition repeat in the 1st movement and avoid a break in the slow movement, Side 1 had the finale followed by the firat movement, with the 2nd and 3rd movements on Side 2. Of course this would not be necessary in CD or download format.

- indeed so. IIRC, the Eroica was issued on LP before the others on the ENIGMA Classics label (there was also a Schubert Great C major, too - not one of Loughran's successes I thought at the time). Wasn't ENIGMA started by one of the record producers who'd worked at CfP?

[Bryn]

I see from wikipedia that James Loughran was 85 in June this year, which may have given a reason to reissue some of his recordings. However, the ASV label has been defunct for a few years now. I presume that Warners have the rights to his CFP recordings so a reissue of these would surely be possible, He is well-known in Germany and Scandinavia as well as in Britain so a reissue of, say, his Brahms cycle (I have these on LP and agree with earlier comments re their quality) ought to be commercially viable.

IIRC, his recording of Beethoven's Eroica had an unusual layoput in LP format. To accommodate the exposition repeat in the 1st movement and avoid a break in the slow movement, Side 1 had the finale followed by the firat movement, with the 2nd and 3rd movements on Side 2. Of course this would not be necessary in CD or download format.

Quite so re. the Eroica. I managed to get the LP boxed set (good condition) in a charity shop last year.

[EdgeleyRob]

Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony.
An LP of Bolero,Espana,Sorcerer's Apprentice etc (there were a few of these hits type records from JL IIRC when I was just getting into classical music).
Vague recollection of a Brahms 1st p/c,John Lill (I might have borrowed this from the school record library rather than owned it).
Berlioz Fantastique,which I might have bought for the rude cover as much as the music

All vinyl,all long gone.

[pastoralguy]

Iirc, the Schubert 9 was the first recording to include all the last movement repeats. I doubt the Halle would have managed that in the concert hall. (Or any other orchestra!)

[visualnickmos]

There is, indeed - but IIRC, that was with the LSO rather than the Hallé?

But the pride of place of all these recordings is that Brahms Symphony cycle.

You are quite right - but it's in fact, the LPO - so either way, it doesn't really 'belong' here at all!

The Brahms symphony cycle - that's a 'must investigate' for the future... (I have to show sensible restraint!)

[Dave2002]

I have/had the Brahms symphonies on LPs. Definitely worth while.

[Petrushka]

I saw a great deal of James Loughran and the Halle Orchestra between 1975 and 1978 both in Manchester and the Victoria Hall, Hanley, where I was introduced to much fine music. A cracking Walton 1 comes to mind, as does a fine RVW 9, Many of the orchestra were still from the Barbirolli era at that time, including the leader, Martin Milner, whom I once saw give the Elgar Violin Concerto under Loughran.

I have a number of the recordings mentioned on LP but nothing, alas, on CD. My memory of the Walton Belsezzar's Feast is a bit different from Ferney's as I thought the sound was pretty good with better percussion detail than any other and Michael Rippon was a first rate soloist. It's nearly 40 years since I last heard it so I may be completely wrong.

Yes, if Warner can bring together those CfP recordings and perhaps find a way to issue the ASV ones with them then they would make a good set.

I do wonder if some of the recordings actually turned out better than they were supposed to especially as the repertoire largely duplicated that from EMI's roster of star names such as Previn and Boult. A cracking review of a lowly CfP issue in Gramophone by a 'provincial' band under a less than star conductor might have upset a few people.

Loughran's disappearance from view from the UK music scene is regretted but perhaps he lacked that ability to push himself forward when it really mattered and was happier to do so.

[pastoralguy]

My introduction to the Brahms' symphonies was Loughran and the Halle on Lp. (One a week at £1.25 a pop as pocket money allowed!). I replaced them on cd when they were released on that format although I admit it was partly nostalgia that prompted me to do so. After all, I had by this time got all the BIG names doing these pieces. But I found they were every bit as good as those more glamorous combinations and they get a regular outing. Alas, as mentioned, their violin concerto was very ordinary.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

My memory of the Walton Belsezzar's Feast is a bit different from Ferney's as I thought the sound was pretty good with better percussion detail than any other and Michael Rippon was a first rate soloist. It's nearly 40 years since I last heard it so I may be completely wrong.

Ditto ... and, indeed, ditto! (A Loughran-led RVW#9 ... <sigh>)

My introduction to the Brahms' symphonies was Loughran and the Halle on Lp. (One a week at £1.25 a pop as pocket money allowed!). I replaced them on cd when they were released on that format although I admit it was partly nostalgia that prompted me to do so. After all, I had by this time got all the BIG names doing these pieces. But I found they were every bit as good as those more glamorous combinations and they get a regular outing. Alas, as mentioned, their violin concerto was very ordinary.

Checking CD availability of the Belshazzar's Feast (not readily available, it seems ) I was reminded of one particularly good recording that I'm ashamed not to have remembered to mention - John McCabe's Chagall Windows and the Hartmann Variations (coupled with the exquisite Notturni ed Alba with Jill Gomez/CBSO/Frémaux).