Elgar Violin Concerto - Boult: Which version?

[AmpH]

Or on the cheap 'Boult conducts Elgar' set of 1950s recordings mentioned in post 4, which may be easier to find that the Beulah. Here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...5190512&sr=8-2

Thanks - looks like a good value set.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Chung/Solti mentioned by Petrushka and the Kang/Leaper mentioned by BeefOven are both superb performances, much under-rated: refreshing, virile readings of the score.

[Pabmusic]

The Chung/Solti mentioned by Petrushka and the Kang/Leaper mentioned by BeefOven are both superb performances, much under-rated: refreshing, virile readings of the score.

They are indeed. Both were praised when they were released, so I don't see why their reputation has faded so much.

[clive heath]

...and you can hear the 1932 Menuhin here together with the equally famous recording by Casals of the Dvorak cello concerto.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/transcriptions_07.php

[Ferretfancy]

I still enjoy the first Nigel Kennedy recording with Vernon Handley, much better than his later version with Rattle. This is a work with so many versions it's hard to choose, of course. Has anybody mentioned the Ida Haendel live recording with her marvellous Sibelius on Testament? One other very real contender for me is Albert Sammons in 1929 with the Queen's Hall Orchestra and Henry Wood. This was the first complete version, electrically recorded with a fine performance of the Delius conducted by Sargent and the Liverpool Philharmonic.
OK, it's historic quality, but well balanced, and a Naxos bargain nicely re-mastered by Mark Obert-Thorn

Heifetz is also available on Naxos coupled with the Walton.

[Sir Monty Golfear]

I expect no-one to go with me on this, but I adore Dong-Suk Kang, PRSO, Adrian Leaper Naxos. Light, swift, athletic, breathes so much life into the score.

I agree !....the Naxos version is very good. Adrian Leaper is a very good conductor . I believe he studied with George Hurst.

I do love the way Ida Haendel makes the most of every note ...it's my kind of performance.

The first version of the Elgar I owned was the Bean / Groves version on EMI Classics for pleasure, on record.

[Barbirollians]

Or on the cheap 'Boult conducts Elgar' set of 1950s recordings mentioned in post 4, which may be easier to find that the Beulah. Here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...5190512&sr=8-2

The Beulah does , however, include a delightful Campoli recording of the Mendelssohn Concerto.

[Dave2002]

I heard Menuhin (the only time I heard him play complete pieces) in a concert featuring Mendelssohn's and Elgar's violin concerti at the RAH. The Mendelssohn in the first half was sad, rather slow, and not terribly gripping. In the second half the violinist changed completely! Menuhin's performance of the Elgar (could have been with Boult, too) was superb - one of the best performances of anything I've ever heard. I think he did have some physical problems in later life (arthritis?) and these affected his ability to play.

I also like his recording with Dorati of Bartok's concerto no 2 (EMI), though allegedly some of his recordings required a great many takes. He recorded it three times with Dorati, and also once with Furtwängler. His recording of Mendelssohn's Concerto, also with Furtwängler, is good, and much better than the concert performance I heard.

[Hornspieler]

I heard Menuhin (the only time I heard him play complete pieces) in a concert featuring Mendelssohn's and Elgar's violin concerti at the RAH. The Mendelssohn in the first half was sad, rather slow, and not terribly gripping. In the second half the violinist changed completely! Menuhin's performance of the Elgar (could have been with Boult, too) was superb - one of the best performances of anything I've ever heard. I think he did have some physical problems in later life (arthritis?) and these affected his ability to play.

I was told that Yehudi had damaged his right shoulder doing Yoga. Certainly his downbow used to skid or bounce on the strings and one could see the agony on his face. But he had to keep going, because his Menuhin School was very dependant upon his income as a soloist at that time.

A great violinist - he was the first to play Elgar's concerto and he set the standard for others to follow.

The Menuhin School is a fitting (and I hope lasting) tribute to his memory.

HS

[Dave2002]

IThe Menuhin School is a fitting (and I hope lasting) tribute to his memory.

Indeed, and its concert hall, the Menuhin Hall, is splendid, as are many of its young performers.

http://www.yehudimenuhinschool.co.uk

[salymap]

Thanks - looks like a good value set.

It is very good value. As well as the VC with Campoli,the CC with Casals, the symphonies,Cockaigne, Froissart, In the South, Falstaff, etc,etc, it contains the five P&C marches. So often no 5 is missing and it is one of my favourites.

I also have Ida Haendel on cassette,Dong-Suk Kang on CD and Nige on a Proms video

[makropulos]

I bought that Campoli/ Boult LP - 2nd-hand even then - in about 1961 as a schoolboy.
After school ( Chetham's in Manchester long before it became a specialist music school) I rushed home, played it on my 'Dansette' LP turntable, and then stayed in my room for 2 or 3 hours playing it over and over.
Eventually my mother came into my room to tell me that my 'supper' had gone cold, finding me very tearful, and she simply not understanding 'why'.
To this day, when I want to listen to the Elgar Vln concerto, the recording I turn to 'by default' is that very one by Campoli.

I'm with Waldhorn all the way on this - the Campoli/Boult Elgar Concerto is the disc I turn to more often than any other and the mono sound is pretty good.
Among recent versions, Zehetmair/Elder is pretty special too.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[Menuhin] was the first to play Elgar's concerto

?

[Dave2002]

?

Kreisler in 1910 I think.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Kreisler in 1910 I think.

Quite.
Menuhin was the first to record the concerto in its entirity with the composer (and IMO, still the best performance on record that I've heard)
First (heavily abridged) recording with the composer: Marie Hall.
First complete recording: Albert Sammons.