Brahms Violin Concerto

[Barbirollians]

Absolutely! Wasn't the senior EMI producer, David Bicknell, married to Gioconda de Vito who, naturally, got opportunities that Ida should have got?

As I recall it that was why Ida H did not get more EMI opportunities after her early 1950s recordings .

As for the 1970s who knows I always wondered whether her idiosyncratic Elgar with Boult did not sell well .

[visualnickmos]

As I recall it that was why Ida H did not get more EMI opportunities after her early 1950s recordings .

As for the 1970s who knows I always wondered whether her idiosyncratic Elgar with Boult did not sell well .

Not in my 'favourites list' of Elgar's violin concerto recordings.... although I have huge admiration for both Ida Haendel and Adrian Boult - just not in this recording! Far too laboured and - well too damn slow!

[pastoralguy]

Not in my 'favourites list' of Elgar's violin concerto recordings.... although I have huge admiration for both Ida Haendel and Adrian Boult - just not in this recording! Far too laboured and - well too damn slow!

If I recall correctly, her Sibelius album as well as the Britten and Walton recording were very well reviewed as was a recital Lp. I'm not sure why her Elgar disc was so slow since her Testament cd with Rattle was terrific. PERHAPS the slow speeds were Sir Adrian's idea.

[Barbirollians]

If I recall correctly, her Sibelius album as well as the Britten and Walton recording were very well reviewed as was a recital Lp. I'm not sure why her Elgar disc was so slow since her Testament cd with Rattle was terrific. PERHAPS the slow speeds were Sir Adrian's idea.

It's very odd - he is much quicker with both Campoli and Menuhin and she is much quicker with Rattle and on an old Radio Classics disc live with Pritchard.

[visualnickmos]

If I recall correctly, her Sibelius album as well as the Britten and Walton recording were very well reviewed as was a recital Lp. I'm not sure why her Elgar disc was so slow since her Testament cd with Rattle was terrific. PERHAPS the slow speeds were Sir Adrian's idea.

Quite possibly, although I wasn't aware that Boult was ever considered generally 'slow?' It is an oddity of the recordings of this œuvre. I've heard her recording with Rattle, (don't own one yet!) and it is, indeed terrific. Her Sibelius and Britten - wonderful...

[verismissimo]

It seems to me that all the boys and girls that I've heard in this concerto over the years play with more, and more continuous, vibrato than Joachim would have done, including Kreisler in 1936 and Hahn in 2001 (the two that I've listened to this afternoon).

Are there exceptions? Szigeti in 1924?

I've now had the opportunity to listen to Szigeti with the Halle/Harty - in 1928 (not 1924 as I posted earlier).

It's a terrific performance (and a good recording for its date), and Szigeti's playing has many of the hallmarks of Brahms's dedicatee and co-composer, Joachim - a much tighter, faster vibrato than 99% of subsequent star fiddlers and with a good deal more portamento. Lovely!

[Barbirollians]

Going back to Gioconda de Vito and her effects on Ida Haendel's HMV career I think they must be overstated . G de V seems to have made few records and of limited repertoire . Johanna Martzy was ,however, also signed up to EMI at the time so three women violinists appear to have been too much for the executives to take in the 1950s .

I suspect also that preference was always given to Menuhin and then later Oistrakh and then Perlman.

[Once Was 4]

I've now had the opportunity to listen to Szigeti with the Halle/Harty - in 1928 (not 1924 as I posted earlier).

It's a terrific performance (and a good recording for its date), and Szigeti's playing has many of the hallmarks of Brahms's dedicatee and co-composer, Joachim - a much tighter, faster vibrato than 99% of subsequent star fiddlers and with a good deal more portamento. Lovely!

Now, sorry to be hornological But listen to the way that the third horn (probably that great character Otto Paersch) plays his solo in the first movement; dreamy musing on the main theme and no element of "listen to me and my great sound!" Have we lost something over the years?

[verismissimo]

Now, sorry to be hornological But listen to the way that the third horn (probably that great character Otto Paersch) plays his solo in the first movement; dreamy musing on the main theme and no element of "listen to me and my great sound!" Have we lost something over the years?

Not just the horn, Once Was 4!

[Barbirollians]

I shall have to add another Brahms VC to my hordes of recordings now just to hear this horn solo ! As well as Szigeti of course.

[cloughie]

Quite possibly, although I wasn't aware that Boult was ever considered generally 'slow?'

Indeed, I always thought of him as military medium, very efficient and just got on with the job, and he has very few duff recordings!

[Barbirollians]

Indeed, I always thought of him as military medium, very efficient and just got on with the job, and he has very few duff recordings!

I think that rather understates his ability. Boult’s discography abounds with performances of blazing excitement and emotion belying his appearance as a dapper man with a moustache.

His live recordings have just underlined this the ICA Classics coupling of Brahms 3 and Elgar 1 for a start.

[Lordgeous]

Not to be misunderstood: the Hilary Hahn/ASMF/Marriner recording is absolutely outstanding IMO.

Bought this after seeing your recommendation. Mightily impressed with her playing, tone, intonation, everything, and beautifully recorded. The Stravinsky coupling is pretty impressive too. Thankyou.

[pastoralguy]

If I recall correctly, her Sibelius album as well as the Britten and Walton recording were very well reviewed as was a recital Lp. I'm not sure why her Elgar disc was so slow since her Testament cd with Rattle was terrific. PERHAPS the slow speeds were Sir Adrian's idea.

Sorry. I should have been clearer. I believe that this was Sir Adrian's last commercial recording so it's possible that extreme old age had taken its toll on him on this occasion. I didn't intend to imply that he was ever a 'slow' conductor.

[Bryn]

Slightly OT, but it was mentioned during a BBC World Service feature re. the late Prof. Stephen Hawking this morning, that the Brahms Violin Concerto was a favourite work of his. It was also one of his Desert Island discs (David Oistrakh), though the Mozart (et al) Requiem was his stand-alone.