RR Sept 2019

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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... the BaL slot for 28 Sept: now seems to be Martinů -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008vyn

It isn’t advertised as a BaL - more like a summer Record Review Proms composer top 5 recordings.

[Lordgeous]

And the Prokofiev hasnt appeared as a podcast yet, unusually.

[Darloboy]

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... the BaL slot for 28 Sept: now seems to be Martinů -

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008vyn

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Yes, this appears to be a 5 of the best, similar to the Berlioz programme in the last series. Not sure what I think about these. 4 of the 5 Berlioz pieces had been covered in the programme in recent years and the 5th (Davis's Cellini) had been deleted.

Is the 5 of the best format intended to replace the composer surveys that BaL usually runs at least once each series? But Berlioz would never have featured in one of those surveys as his individual works usually merit a programme of their own - in fact, thinking about it, wouldn't we have been better off with a programme dedicated to Cellini, given that Nuits d'ete was last covered in 2014; Romeo et Juliette in 2011; Symphonie fantastique in 2011 and Les Troyens in 2012?

Martinu's a different kettle of fish. He's only featured on BaL 4 times in the last 30 years and each time it's been symphonies (all 6 symphonies in 1992; symphony 4 in 2009 and symphony 6 in 2009 and 2016). Hopefully all 5 recommendations this week won't be symphonies though!

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, a shame about the Martinu.....quite a few significant releases in the last few years, we could have done with a new survey, not just a top 5....
Still trying to come up with my own though...

[vinteuil]

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SPOILER ALERT







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... the Martinu choices seem to be :






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La revue de cuisine
Christopher Hogwood

Julietta
Jaroslav Krombholc

Sonata for cello and piano No. 3
Steven Isserlis
Peter Evans

Symphony No. 6 'Fantaises symphoniques'
Jiří Bělohlávek

The Greek Passion
Charles Mackerras


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[jayne lee wilson]

Disappointing, then....

[jayne lee wilson]

OK - My Martinu Top 5 (I stuck to a sort-of rule that choices have to be on one album or disc... may post this elsewhere tomorrow, bit confusing...it is hard to choose just 5, though!)

Wild Dark Horse:
Symphony No.5. Prague RSO/Valek. Supraphon 2008 (from complete set).

Made New Sweeps Board:
Symphonies Nos.3&4. ORF Vienna RSO/Meister (Capriccio 2011/17, from complete cycle)

Vintage Classic:
Symphony No.6. Boston SO/Munch 1956 (RCA Japan)

Audiophile Intensity:
Double Concerto/Fresques de Piero della Francesca . Prague RSO/Mackerras 1982 (Denon/Supraphon Japan)

Re-Inventive Brilliance:
Piano Concertos Nos.1,2 & 4.
Koukl/Bohuslav Martinu PO/Fagen (Naxos 2008)

....looking forward to other contributions.........

[Pulcinella]

Well, the recommendations prompted me to buy a used copy of the Helios (Isserlis) Cello sonatas CD, which I've been pondering about for a while (£3.19 inc p+p).

[Bryn]

Good to just hear that Opera North's The Greek Passion is to be broadcast soon.

[Bryn]

The Krombholc Julettta may be heard in full, if decidedly data compressed form, via YouTube. Would that the Beeb might negotiate a release of the E.N.O./Mackerras or the Barbican Bělohlávek performance they recorded.

[MickyD]

Disappointing, then....

The choices of the reviewer, or the limitations of 5 pieces?

[DracoM]

Limitations.
BUT we did learn a bit about Martinu.

But we know that Record Review is completely The Andrew McGregor Show now. And for me that is very much a major minus. I want a variety of voices given authority to explain, analyse and talk WITHOUT his interference and monitoring, acting like a dog-trainer. Awful.

[Barbirollians]

Limitations.
BUT we did learn a bit about Martinu.

But we know that Record Review is completely The Andrew McGregor Show now. And for me that is very much a major minus. I want a variety of voices given authority to explain, analyse and talk WITHOUT his interference and monitoring, acting like a dog-trainer. Awful.

Completely stopped listening to it.

[visualnickmos]

Completely stopped listening to it.

So have I. That will remain the case, until such time as it returns to former times: I used to enjoy the different presenting styles of the reviewers, as they had the complete slot to themselves, enabling them to 'get into it' and very often giving excellent in-depth reviews of the versions on offer, as well as insightful supplementary information. Now, I feel they are continually stopped in their tracks, and their irritation is often palpable. It is certainly extremely jarring for this listener, at least, and doesn't allow for an absorbing listen, one iota.

In future, I will rely on the knowledge and guidance to be found amongst many posters on here, many of you of course, being, or having been active in the world of music, in some capacity or other.

Power to the listeners!

[DracoM]