Elgar Violin Concerto - Boult: Which version?

[visualnickmos]

Over the years I've become very attracted to Elgar's violin concerto and have collected 4 versions, but I would like to acquire a version with Boult conducting. I've found one on Testament with Ida Haendel, which I believe was one of Boult's last ever recordings from 1977 (maybe THE last?) and therefore must have something going for it, as it was in his 'Indian summer' and another from 1966 with Menuhin. I would imagine this is also something special. Can anyone enlighten me further with their - what is certainly far superior to mine - knowledge and learned opinions about these two performances?

I have:
Zukerman/Barenboim
Perlman/Barenboim
Kennedy/Handley
Dong-Suk Kang/Leaper (excellent performance)

Many thanks to all.
Nick

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I value the 1966 Menuhin above all others. But not everyone would agree. Boult's official last recording was his Parry disc, though his last performance was of the Elgar ballet "The Sanguin Fan", where he could conduct sitting down.

[Chris Newman]

Hi Nick,
Elgar's VC was a very personal work in its inspiration and is similarly personal in its interpretation. We are coming to see that at its heart lie the various women in EE's life. It is telling that one of the greatest recorded performances is from a woman: Ida Haendel. I do not think I am exaggerating if I say that Ida Haendel (who is still with us) is the most popular violinist on the FoR3 boards. Haendel gives us powerful muscularity, singing tone and wonderfully rich poetic expression. She will probably be one of the two violinists whose recordings are mostly suggested here; the other being Alfredo Campoli also with Boult. I feel confident that those two players will be high. Other players creep into the realms of personal taste: Bean, Ehnes, Heifetz, Kennedy, Menuhin, Zehetmair, Znaider. I believe that Campoli and Haendel soaked in something Elgarian from Boult.

[Pabmusic]

Over the years I've become very attracted to Elgar's violin concerto and have collected 4 versions, but I would like to acquire a version with Boult conducting.

Boult's last recording session was in December 1979, so he had some way still to go when he recorded the Elgar Violin Concerto with Ida Haendel.

He recorded the violin concerto three times – the two you mention and a 1954 performance with Campoli. There’s also a BBC Legends disc of Menuhin at Boult’s 80th birthday concert in 1969. Here are the two you’re missing:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005EVV612/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1335190512&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Violin-Concerto-Introduction-Allegro/dp/B0007XTMGI/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1335190816&sr=1-2

Now, it's not so easy to choose. They all have Boult (of course), which is a plus, and all have fine orchestral playing. Campoli is probably the best soloist, but it's in 1954 mono (Decca) sound. The 1977 Haendel is a beautiful thing, but it is rather drawn out. I’m not sure this was Boult's doing - he was a great accompanist - so I guess it was Ida's interpretation (though she was hardly new to the concerto, either). As for Menuhin... Both performances are from the 1960s, when he wasn't as reliable a player as he had been, and there are a few (minor) blemishes, particularly in the live recording. Having said all this, all these performances are very fine and will grace any shelf.

The question I’d like to pose, though, is why you don’t have Menuhin’s 1932 recording, conducted by Elgar – one of the genuine gramophone classics:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Concerto-Orchestra-Variations-Original/dp/B000023Z0Z/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1335190936&sr=1-1

[visualnickmos]

Thanks - I certainly see that it is not an easy choice to make!
The 1932 recording, would be more than I could stand, the reason being the standard of recording at that time - however brilliant the performnce may be, of which I have no doubt at all about that.
I'm tempted by the 1966 EMI Menuhin studio recording, as well as the Testament Haendel...

[Pabmusic]

The 1932 recording, would be more than I could stand, the reason being the standard of recording at that time...

The 1932 recording is very good. Give it a try one day. Enjoy the ones you buy, anyway - they are good.

[Chris Newman]

Nick,
Although I advocated different recordings to Alpy and Pabmusic I do urge you to get the first Menuhin recording in this boxed set.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Electrical-Recordings-Edward-Edition/dp/B004MSRDK6/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1335191873&sr=1-1

You will be astonished how good the quality of most of Elgar's own electrical recordings is. The quality (like that of many Thomas Beecham recordings) is better than many recordings from the 60s. The cleaning process to get rid of 78 rpm hiss is quite sophisticated nowadays. For £11.50 you will have 9 CDs and most of Elgar's best music and you will discover why he was chief conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

[Barbirollians]

They are all marvellous but I think Haendel plays better with Rattle in 1984 and you get that stupendous Sibelius concerto too .

Menuhin and Boult were my introduction to the work and the record has a very special place in my heart albeit my old Concert Classics tape wore out in the end . I should take that over the Haendel with Boult if you could choose only one .

I agree entirely about the 1932 classic the recording quality is amazing for its day and it has not stayed in the catalogue for 80 years for nothing !

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Boult's last recording session was in December 1979, so he had some way still to go when he recorded the Elgar Violin Concerto with Ida Haendel.

I stand corrected.

He recorded the violin concerto three times – the two you mention and a 1954 performance with Campoli. There’s also a BBC Legends disc of Menuhin at Boult’s 80th birthday concert in 1969.

The last of these I really would not recommend. It does nothing to enhance Menuhin's reputation.

[Pabmusic]

I stand corrected.

No, it's me entirely. Try again... Boult's last recording session was in December 1978. It was the Parry disc, of course!

[umslopogaas]

Interesting comments. I've got the 1932 performance on a mono LP (ALP 1456) wonderful photo on the back of Menuhin in a splendid pair what I take to be knickerbockers - huge baggy trousers that stop half way down his shins - and a beaming Sir Edward standing behind. This record was issued in the days when they didnt have such clever technology for taking out the surface noise, but I always find with these vintage recordings that you soon cease to notice it. And my ears (which are admittedly not very musical) soon adjust to the sound, which as others have said, is really very good.

Apart from Menuhin/Elgar, I've also got:

Heifetz/Sargent
Bean/Groves
Haendel/Boult
Menuhin/Boult

I'd be happy with any of them, but Menuhin/Boult is a bit special. I've heard it said that Menuhin's playing did go off a bit in his later years. It could simply be that he got so involved in so many things, running his school, being a Lord and one of the great and the good, that he simply didnt have enough time to practice. And apparently you have to practice, even if you are Yehudi Menuhin.

[Stanfordian]

Over the years I've become very attracted to Elgar's violin concerto and have collected 4 versions, but I would like to acquire a version with Boult conducting. I've found one on Testament with Ida Haendel, which I believe was one of Boult's last ever recordings from 1977 (maybe THE last?) and therefore must have something going for it, as it was in his 'Indian summer' and another from 1966 with Menuhin. I would imagine this is also something special. Can anyone enlighten me further with their - what is certainly far superior to mine - knowledge and learned opinions about these two performances?

I have:
Zukerman/Barenboim
Perlman/Barenboim
Kennedy/Handley
Dong-Suk Kang/Leaper (excellent performance)

Many thanks to all.
Nick

Over the years I think I have heard most of the recorded performances of the Elgar violin concerto and have a large number in my collection. I keep coming back to the same ones. I greatly admire the account of the Elgar violin concerto by Nigel Kennedy with the CBSO/Simon Rattle and also the account from Nikolaj Znaider and the Dresden Staatskapelle/Colin Davis. If you can bear older recordings a friend of mine swears by the account by Albert Sammons with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Henry Wood on Dutton.

[BBMmk2]

Hugh Bean's is rather good, on EMI Again Kennedy/Handely and Kennedy/Rattle.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The 1932 recording is very good. Give it a try one day. Enjoy the ones you buy, anyway - they are good.

You will be astonished how good the quality of most of Elgar's own electrical recordings is. The quality (like that of many Thomas Beecham recordings) is better than many recordings from the 60s.

I agree entirely about the 1932 classic the recording quality is amazing for its day and it has not stayed in the catalogue for 80 years for nothing!

I can only add my voice to this chorus of approval: it is a fantastic performance in really good sound: a little "boxy", but very warm and remarkably detailed. (And there's quite a good Naxos transfer, too!)

[amateur51]

Over the years I think I have heard all of the recorded performances of the Elgar violin concerto and have a large number in my collection. I keep coming back to the same ones. I greatly admire the account of the Elgar violin concerto by Nigel Kennedy with the CBSO/Simon Rattle and also the account from Nikolaj Znaider and the Dresden Staatskapelle/Colin Davis. If you can bear older recordings a friend of mine swears by the account by Albert Sammons with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Henry Wood on Dutton.

The Sammons/Wood was the one I owned & got to know first, although I'd heard the Meuhin/Boult performance too. The Sammons holds a very special place in my heart