Honegger symphonies

[Barbirollians]

I was very impressed by the recent Jurowski recording of the 4th.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Since the beginning of 2009 S-A there have been less than 70 works in total by Honegger broadcast on R3, and in 2011 none of his symphonies were broadcast at all, and we've only so far had 2 of them broadcast in total this year. Which is fairly similar to Hindemith, who has had less than 100 broadcasts in almost 4 years. Clearly neither composer is appreciated by the Dear Leader. Compare it to another member of Les Six whose music is more in favour with the Dear Leader, Poulenc (infact the only member of Les Six whose music is in favour with the current regime), whose total over 4 years will probably be around 600 by the end of the year or another composer of roughly the same period Ravel (c1600-1700 over the same period by the year's end).

[mercia]

600 broadcasts of Poulenc. That sounds a lot. Will the majority of those be the Flute Sonata [or Berkeley's arrangement of it] ?

70 different works by Honegger ?

[cloughie]

600 broadcasts of Poulenc. That sounds a lot. Will the majority of those be the Flute Sonata [or Berkeley's arrangement of it] ?

70 different works by Honegger ?

Let's face it the short Poulenc pieces are tailor-made for the short concentration span and giving talkative presenters time to talkatively present - actually I uite like Poulenc - less keen on the talkative presenters.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Just less than 70 broadcasts in total, a good number of them are Pacific 231, his symphonies are real rarities, which was never the case 20-30 years ago. Poulenc's total for this year's so far has already comfortably passed his totals over the previous 3 years. Yes a lot are shorter works reflecting the commands of the Dear Leader to increase broadcasts of BCs and short pieces.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

eh? - the chorale not played ?

Isn't the Trumpet part ad lib - only used in the Chorale to double (and add colour to) the First Violin line?

I have Karajan 2 & 3

As have I - fantastic performances and still excellent sound.

[Thomas Roth]

The Karajan is marvellous and no other recording comes close to it. Karajan captures the different aspects of the music perfectly and the orchestra is a marvel. I listened to the new CD of nos 1 & 3 with Russel-Davies and was very disappointed. Rushed and insensitive. I recommend Baudo in 1 & 5, Karajan in 2 & 3 and Ansermet in no 4. Great music.

[Roslynmuse]

There are some wonderful vocal/choral pieces by Honegger that I suspect haven't been broadcast for years either - Cantate de Noel, Jeanne d'Arc, even Le Roi David (which used to be a staple of the repertoire).

Re Poulenc - there are plenty of fine works of his that are never heard (or, at least, broadcast) - Sept répons de ténèbre, Sécheresses, Stabat mater; and of the dozens of songs, piano and chamber works, it tends to be the same few over and over again. Caligrammes? Le travail du peintre? Soirées de Nazelles? When were they last heard on R3 (unless DMcL included them in CotW).

While we are on neglected French composers, I'd be interested to see the broadcasting figures for Roussel - it's the 75th anniversary of his death this year, and as far as I'm aware there has been no recognition of that on R3. Back in 1987, the 50th anniversary was marked with several concerts and other contributions. What do we hear of him now besides the 3rd Symphony, Bacchus et Ariane and Le festin de l'araignée?

[mercia]

Isn't the Trumpet part ad lib - only used in the Chorale to double (and add colour to) the First Violin line?

apologies - I didn't know that - I can't imagine it without the trumpet - such a joyous moment

[jayne lee wilson]

Surprised nobody's mentioned the latest and best-recorded integrale of the Honegger Cycle, Fabio Luisi with the Suisse Romande Orchestra, recorded in Victoria Hall (state-of-the art sound for those with sensitive ears) by Cascavelle/Espace Deux in 1999. We recently discussed this on "what are you listening to..." so q.v. Too tired to go into detail about it's interpretative approach again now - do see my earlier post if it appeals (which it DEFINITELY should, musically & technically).

Munch made some excellent Honegger recordings, the mono Boston SO versions (1952-3) of 2 and 5 are stunning, almost unsurpassable! Munch's later stereo No.2 made in Paris is slower than the intense Boston one, but very good too.
His 4th with the Lamoureux is another benchmark, my personal favourite for 4, try to find the coupling with Dutilleux 2 on Erato...

Jansons recorded 2&3 in Oslo, also to great effect...

I have 2 versions of the Dutoit, Japanese Erato and that white thing... Ultima! Yes it's OK, an enjoyable cycle, but after hearing Munch, Jansons etc., it seems a little low-key. I'd place Baudo above it musically, but the earlier recordings in that set do betray their age a little.

Ansermet's a whole other paragraph, but I'm too shattered for more now.
Oh, and those of you who think HvK is shattering at the end of No.3 - he is, yes, but wait till you hear Luisi... your ears will be crying out dona nobis pacem!
Or as Dante almost said, "and that day we listened no further..."

[cloughie]

Surprised nobody's mentioned the latest and best-recorded integrale of the Honegger Cycle, Fabio Luisi with the Suisse Romande Orchestra, recorded in Victoria Hall (state-of-the art sound for those with sensitive ears) by Cascavelle/Espace Deux in 1999. We recently discussed this on "what are you listening to..." so q.v. Too tired to go into detail about it's interpretative approach again now - do see my earlier post if it appeals (which it DEFINITELY should, musically & technically).

Munch made some excellent Honegger recordings, the mono Boston SO versions (1952-3) of 2 and 5 are stunning, almost unsurpassable! Munch's later stereo No.2 made in Paris is slower than the intense Boston one, but very good too.
His 4th with the Lamoureux is another benchmark, my personal favourite for 4, try to find the coupling with Dutilleux 2 on Erato...

Jansons recorded 2&3 in Oslo, also to great effect...

I have 2 versions of the Dutoit, Japanese Erato and that white thing... Ultima! Yes it's OK, an enjoyable cycle, but after hearing Munch, Jansons etc., it seems a little low-key. I'd place Baudo above it musically, but the earlier recordings in that set do betray their age a little.

Ansermet's a whole other paragraph, but I'm too shattered for more now.
Oh, and those of you who think HvK is shattering at the end of No.3 - he is, yes, but wait till you hear Luisi... your ears will be crying out dona nobis pacem!
Or as Dante almost said, "and that day we listened no further..."

Miaou

[mathias broucek]

Surprised nobody's mentioned the latest and best-recorded integrale of the Honegger Cycle, Fabio Luisi with the Suisse Romande Orchestra, recorded in Victoria Hall (state-of-the art sound for those with sensitive ears) by Cascavelle/Espace Deux in 1999. We recently discussed this on "what are you listening to..." so q.v. Too tired to go into detail about it's interpretative approach again now - do see my earlier post if it appeals (which it DEFINITELY should, musically & technically).

....

but wait till you hear Luisi... your ears will be crying out dona nobis pacem!
Or as Dante almost said, "and that day we listened no further..."

A compelling post but it's £35 !!!!!!!

I can afford it but that's a lot by modern standards so I'm reluctant!

Edit - didn't realise it was 3 rathee than 2 discs. Still fairly dear.

[mercia]

great photos here of Honegger + oil-can and Honegger + lawn mower

http://www.arthur-honegger.com/anglais/biographie.php

[HighlandDougie]

[QUOTE=mathias broucek;222394]A compelling post but it's £35 !!!!!!!

I can afford it but that's a lot by modern standards so I'm reluctant![/QUOTSee

See

http://boutique.rts.ch/-p-10194/arthur-honegger-symphonies-mouvements-symphoniques.html

but the postage is 14 CHF. I'm more benignly inclined towards the Denis Russell Davies, well at least in the 1st - rather more lively than the just a touch dull Dutoit

[Petrushka]

There's also a fine Honneger 3 from both Jansons and Mravinsky out there. The sound on the 1960's Melodiya isn't exactly top drawer stuff but the Leningrad PO for Mravinsky live in Moscow is in a class of it's own. There is also a live Honneger 5 from the Concertgebouw and Bernard Haitink in the radio recordings box devoted to the maestro. I recall a tremendous No 3 from Jansons and the Oslo PO at the Proms and it remains the only Honneger I've heard in the concert hall.

I also have the Karajan.