Sir Arthur Bliss

[umslopogaas]

Post 12 suffolkcoastal

According to the sleeve notes on my 1977 recording of Bliss'es cello concerto, it was written at the insistence of Rostropovich, who gave the first performance at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1970,with the ECO conducted by Britten. Interestingly, the notes are careful to avoid stating that Rostropovich "commissioned" it, only that it was written in response to "... the insistence - urgent appeals, sometimes - of Mstislav Rostropovich ..."

[Suffolkcoastal]

That sounds right, I've got the same recording, but am not at home today so will probably pull it off the shelves tomorrow. It is a good piece, probably Bliss's best work of his later years. I don't know why Cellists don't take it up, it's one of several British Cello Concertos that don't get the attention they deserve.

[Roehre]

Ive mentioned in another thread re Bliss's mammoth Piano Concerto! What aworkand I hear that Peter Donohoe has recorded it on the Naxos label. I have Philip Fowke playing this, but I cant remember what labelit's on, or even if this is still available. If anyone hasn't heard this, the should asap!

The CD I've got of Fowke's recording (coupled with the March of Homage) is Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2029 (only 2nd hand copies, if any, available I'm afraid).
A straightforward transfer form LP to CD without any futher fillers/additions, total playing time a shocking 44'20".
Whatever, a brilliant performance, IMO slightly preferable to Donohoe's.

[amateur51]

The CD I've got of Fowke's recording (coupled with the March of Homage) is Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2029 (only 2nd hand copies, if any, available I'm afraid).
A straightforward transfer form LP to CD without any futher fillers/additions, total playing time a shocking 44'20".
Whatever, a brilliant performance, IMO slightly preferable to Donohoe's.

Much better value is the Solomon performance of the Bliss concerto that comes with an outstanding recording of Beethoven piano concerto no 3 on Naxos

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00006669K/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00000DO7O&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0Y5AT6M18XSHY1HEA87N

[Op. XXXIX]

I believe you've got that wrong I'm pretty sure Bliss with several other composers wrote in support of Elgar after a damning criticism in the 1920's.

I do not disagree with that. Might want to check out 'The Best of Me, a Gerontius Centenary Celebration' edited by Geofrrey Hodskins. One chapter concerns the famous Sargent 1945 recording of Gerontius, Bliss basically opposed it, and he doesn't really come off in a very good light. By the 1940's Bliss felt that his music was more relevant that Elgar -didn't everybody?- but odd considering how derivative so much of his music is. His piano concerto, dedicated to the American people, is basically an unconscious rewrite of the Tchaikovsky.

Don't get me wrong. I love Bliss, but in the grand scheme IMO his music isn't all that important.

[BBMmk2]

The CD I've got of Fowke's recording (coupled with the March of Homage) is Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2029 (only 2nd hand copies, if any, available I'm afraid).
A straightforward transfer form LP to CD without any futher fillers/additions, total playing time a shocking 44'20".
Whatever, a brilliant performance, IMO slightly preferable to Donohoe's.

That's the recording, Roehre! I managed to get one from this cd/record shop I go to at times. They do mail order to! They have a collection of used cds second to none. If members wish to know more, please pm me.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Bliss was in a very difficult position about the Gerontius recording if the circumstances I'm thinking about are correct, (mind you I love Elgar except Gerontius). You'll find most composers music is derivative of something else, of something else, of something else. Anyway if we only had music that was considered important that we would have a very narrow range and we'd all be much poorer musically as a result.

[Op. XXXIX]

mind you I love Elgar except Gerontius.

Stinks of incense, does it? Not remotely RC myself, but I love the piece very, very dearly. And thanks, Suffolkcoastal, for the rest of your post. Nicely written, will always look forward to your contributions here.

[rauschwerk]

According to the sleeve notes on my 1977 recording of Bliss'es cello concerto, it was written at the insistence of Rostropovich, who gave the first performance at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1970,with the ECO conducted by Britten. Interestingly, the notes are careful to avoid stating that Rostropovich "commissioned" it, only that it was written in response to "... the insistence - urgent appeals, sometimes - of Mstislav Rostropovich ..."

According to John Culshaw: "When ... the directors of the Aldeburgh Festival commissioned a distinguished elderly British composer to write a new work for them, he turned in a piece for cello and orchestra with the request that it might have its first performance by Rostropovich. It was not very good. Slava ... gave it a close examination and ... said to Britten, 'When I am in Russia I am obliged to play Russian s**t, which is no reason why I should play British s**t when I come to Britain. But if you want me to play it, I will.' And he did."

Was this the Bliss concerto? Culshaw avoids giving a date for this incident.

[umslopogaas]

Post 21 Brassbandmaestro. You mentoned a "... cd/record shop I go to at times." As you are close to Brighton and Hove, would that be Fine Records of George Street, Hove? Excellent shop, I have been spending too much money there for many years. Sadly, but just as well for my bank balance, I have now moved too far from Hove to visit them very often, but I still make the occasional pilgrimage.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Stinks of incense, does it? Not remotely RC myself, but I love the piece very, very dearly. And thanks, Suffolkcoastal, for the rest of your post. Nicely written, will always look forward to your contributions here.

Thanks Op. XXXIX. No nothing to do with the RC content, I've just never 'got' Gerontius, I find it very claustrophobic and depressing for some reason. I much prefer 'The Kingdom'.

[Suffolkcoastal]

According to John Culshaw: "When ... the directors of the Aldeburgh Festival commissioned a distinguished elderly British composer to write a new work for them, he turned in a piece for cello and orchestra with the request that it might have its first performance by Rostropovich. It was not very good. Slava ... gave it a close examination and ... said to Britten, 'When I am in Russia I am obliged to play Russian s**t, which is no reason why I should play British s**t when I come to Britain. But if you want me to play it, I will.' And he did."

Was this the Bliss concerto? Culshaw avoids giving a date for this incident.

Well I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed the Bliss that was being referred too. But how Rostropovich could dare call such a finely crafted work s**t when he openly championed works of shall we say less than first rate quality.

[amateur51]

Well I wouldn't be surprised if it was indeed the Bliss that was being referred too. But how Rostropovich could dare call such a finely crafted work s**t when he openly championed works of shall we say less than first rate quality.

Isn't that precisely the point that Rostropovich was making?

[Suffolkcoastal]

I can see my point has been missed again. I'm not thinking about some of the distinctly 3rd rate Soviet concertos he was obliged to play but the concertos that he seemed to think were 1st rate but in reality are perhaps less so.

[Panjandrum]

I can see my point has been missed again. I'm not thinking about some of the distinctly 3rd rate Soviet concertos he was obliged to play but the concertos that he seemed to think were 1st rate but in reality are perhaps less so.

Don't worry SC - your point was clear!