Paul Watkin's new recording of the Elgar 'cello concerto.

[pastoralguy]

I came across this CD this afternoon and have ordered it from Amazon. Am expecting it tomorrow. The BBC Phil. is conducted by Sir Andrew Davies.

Has anyone heard it yet?

[Barbirollians]

I hope it isn't as dull as his opening night of the Proms performance of a couple of years back .

He said he was inspired by a reticent Tortelier /Boult like approach to the music but to my ears it so drained the work of meaning and emotion that I was sent rushing back to the Du Pre/Barbirolli ! Indeed he made Navarra soun gushing.

[Alison]

Sir Andrew is incapable of dullness.

[Barbirollians]

Not sure I agree with that Alison - try his Dvorak 6

[Mr Pee]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/05/elgar-cello-watkins-davis-review?newsfeed=true

I think I might order it myself!!

[reinerfan]

Sir Andrew is incapable of dullness.

That may well be live but, unfortunately, he is far too often on disc.

[Alison]

5 stars from Andrew Clements is a very rare accolade.

Like he says, he does rumbustiousness very well.

[Barbirollians]

Not for me - the Delius concerto record was good but seriously overrated by some critics and I suspect the same of this record.

[PJPJ]

Not for me - the Delius concerto record was good but seriously overrated by some critics and I suspect the same of this record.

The sound clips of the Elgar are very promising and I think both Delius releases are superb.

[Barbirollians]

The sound clips of the Elgar are very promising and I think both Delius releases are superb.

Well we will have to differ . I prefer Pougnet and Holmes by far to Little and Watkins sounds rather prosaic next to du Pre

[Mr Pee]

Well we will have to differ . I prefer Pougnet and Holmes by far to Little and Watkins sounds rather prosaic next to du Pre

You seem to have made up your mind already, despite not having heard the recording, not to mention the 5 star review from the Guardian.

[PJPJ]

I think Barbirollians is referring to the Delius rather than the Elgar. It is a matter of taste to the greater extent, isn't it? For what it's worth I think Watkins captures the spirit of Delius more than du Pre does.

[Barbirollians]

Exactly PJ I do not tend to like Davis in Elgar and I suspect I will not like this if it is like their Proms performance

[PJPJ]

Exactly PJ I do not tend to like Davis in Elgar and I suspect I will not like this if it is like their Proms performance

Today's Times refers to that Proms performance saying Watkins' introspection and the Albert Hall didn't work. It was also extremely hot*. The reviewer does make the point it's not like the Proms performance.

We're at opposite poles here - I really do love the live Elgar 2 with Davis and the Philharmonia.

*Heaven knows how they cope - I can't in the audience, due to my health (I don't have enough of it).

[Chris Newman]

Originally Posted by Alison

Sir Andrew is incapable of dullness.

That may well be live but, unfortunately, he is far too often on disc.

I find that Sir Andrew often plays things very fast without much sense of colour. I agree that it is rare for AC to give five stars in The Grauniad.