16.02.19 - Berlioz 5 essential works in must-have recordings

[BBMmk2]

This gives me the excuse to repeat my favourite George Szell story, as recounted by John Culshaw in Putting The Record Straight:

Szell's Decca contract was up for renewal and Maurice Rosengarten was hoping to get one over on him. But Szell breezed into the meeting, sat down and, before Rosengarten had a chance to speak, said: 'Mr. Rosengarten - I have known you for many years as a man of culture and a man of enlightenment . A man with thoroughly civilised values who believes in the life of the mind . I, by contrast, am a simple businessman whose only concern is money. Here are my terms which, needless to add, are not subject to negotiation.'

Rosengarten was so winded that Szell got exactly what he wanted.

Brilliant!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The late Martin Milner (the very fine Hallé leader) had an agreement that he never played in concerts with Tchaikovsky symphonies, he had just played them too often.

The first ever concert I attanded had MM as leader, with Tchaik 6 as the final work. Presumably this was before his "agreement".

[Barbirollians]

I'm amazed she didn't think Saint Saens could write a tune, I think he was a very tuneful composer. As to Elgar's orchestration, his string writing is superb, can't comment on the harp parts though.

The late Martin Milner (the very fine Hallé leader) had an agreement that he never played in concerts with Tchaikovsky symphonies, he had just played them too often.

The parts for harp in the Larghetto of the Second Symphony sound marvellous and far from “ lousy”

[Barbirollians]

Whatever happened to Michael Davis? I know he led the BBC Symphony after leaving the London Symphony Orchestra but he seemed to disappear.

Retired I assume - he was born in 1941 I think judging by a N Y Times story I found from 1963 on the net.

[Stanfordian]

Whatever happened to Michael Davis? I know he led the BBC Symphony after leaving the London Symphony Orchestra but he seemed to disappear.

That's taking me back. Indeed I do remember Michael Davis - LSO Leader 1979–86. He seemed to be on tv a lot back then; one who liked the tv camera and the camera liked him.

[pastoralguy]

Retired I assume - he was born in 1941 I think judging by a N Y Times story I found from 1963 on the net.

Thanks for that, Barbi. My goodness, how time flys!

[mikealdren]

Retired I assume - he was born in 1941 I think judging by a N Y Times story I found from 1963 on the net.

He'll be retired now but I think he went back to the Hallé after the BBC and yes, he did lead the Tchaik symphonies that MM didn't want to, MM was the more senior and had the choice (and the Hallé Strad).

[edashtav]

He'll be retired now but I think he went back to the Hallé after the BBC and yes, he did lead the Tchaik symphonies that MM didn't want to, MM was the more senior and had the choice (and the Hallé Strad).

The BBC website records that Mike Davis was born in 1937 and, sadly, died in 2008

[Barbirollians]

The BBC website records that Mike Davis was born in 1937 and, sadly, died in 2008

I found reference to a Michael Davis with those dates who died in the US but the obit was odd as it mentioned him having led American orchestras and the SNO but said nothing about the Halle ,BBCSO or LSO .

It said he was born in Hull but the pictures did not look the man I remembered from a documentary about the LSO.

[verismissimo]

Anyone pick up the 5?

[Lat-Literal]

I have been struggling somewhat with R3's weekend of "he's only ok" Berlioz immersion.

We will have more of this at the Proms.

However, I enjoyed these inventive surprises on Record Review:

Sebastian Koolhoven
Au Suivant
Performer: Flex Ensemble.
Au Suivant! Ravel, Fauré: Chansons for Piano Quartet. CAvi-music. 7.

Nicolas Gombert
Media Vita
Choir: El León de Oro. Director: Peter Philips.
Hyperion.

Friedrich Gulda
Concerto for Cello, Wind & band Op.129: V. Finale
Performer: Edgar Moreau. Ensemble: Les Forces Majeures. Conductor: Raphaël Merlin.
Erato.

……...and, minimal knowledge of Parry to the fore, I was astonished that this was by him.

Really excellent!

Hubert Parry
Piano trio, No.3 in G major: III. Lento
Ensemble: Leonore Piano Trio.
Hyperion.

[vinteuil]

Anyone pick up the 5?

... I share your exasperation : ca'n't find the chosen five on the bbc website.

I think there was :

the Symphonie Fantastique with Daniel Harding
Romeo et Juliette with Charles Munch
I don't know which performers for les Nuits d'été *
Béatrice et Bénédict with Colin Davis, the philips recording [ no : it was Benvenuto Cellini (thanks, Howdenite...) ]
and the Nelson les Troyens .


*The Nuits d'Été was with Veronique Gens, with Louis Langrée & Lyon Opera [... thanks, LeMartinPecheur and ostuni. ]




.

[Bryn]

... I share your exasperation : ca'n't find the chosen five on the bbc website.

I think there was :

the Symphonie Fantastique with Daniel Harding
Romeo et Juliette with Charles Munch
I don't know which performers for les Nuits d'été *
Béatrice et Bénédict with Colin Davis, the philips recording [ no : it was Benvenuto Cellini (thanks, Howdenite...) ]
and the Nelson les Troyens .


*The Nuits d'Été was with Veronique Gens, with Louis Langrée & Lyon Opera [... thanks, LeMartinPecheur and ostuni. ]

They have now got round to sorting out the listing for last Saturday's Record Review.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I've got the impression that, with regard to the iPlayer, little gets sorted out between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. Like doctors. Presumably they only have very limited tech staff over the weekend because those folks don't like working weekends.

So, in the case of programmes that should be available on the iPlayer but aren't, check on Tues/Wens (and later) having reported the fault (I always report as a complaint, so it gets into the stats - I hope).