Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[silvestrione]

For all the negative discussion of the Strauss Ein Heldenleben BAL (which I have not listened to, because I do not like the work), I thought the review of the new Horowitz book-with-CDs, very good in every way. Almost like a little documentary about Horowitz's breakdown and return, and the centrality of Carnegie Hall, while also giving you a very good idea of the contents, through generous examples, some very striking. And, at the end, some serious consideration about who, and for what reasons, would want to buy this (expensive) publication. The two reviewers approach worked fine: it has a longer history in this part of the programme, of course. Erica Jeal mind sounded nervous and in need of support, which she got, tactfully, I thought.

ps: I am not an enthusiast for 'twofer' BALs, however!

[Alison]

I found last weeks review of the Nelsons Beethoven symphony set a shade odd. Did Laura Tunbridge recommend them?

She seemed more comfortable with facts than performance issues.

[doversoul1]

I very much enjoyed Elin Manahan Thomas’s Baroque section; well prepared and almost too detailed for the current standard of R3 and for a change Andrew McGregor’s ‘contribution’ seems to have made it livelier. Most of all wonderful music and excellent performance.

[Stanfordian]

The new release of Beethoven 9th 'Choral' - I couldn't get on at all with that account by Suzuki. I think the Jordan account from Vienna is terrific.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The new release of Beethoven 9th 'Choral' - I couldn't get on at all with that account by Suzuki. I think the Jordan account from Vienna is terrific.

Ah! I had exactly the opposite response, Stanf: I found the extracts from Suzuki genuinely joyful (shimmying around the kitchen as it played, if you'll pardon my putting you off your lunch with such an image), whereas the Jordan I found much more "prosaic" (in the sense that it was a performance style that I've heard many, many times before, without it bringing anything particularly special - less exciting than Toscanini or Szell, less powerful than Karajan). The singing in the Suzuki was much better, too - on its own terms, I might have picked up the Jordan if I'd seen it in a charity shop for a couple of quid - but I shall instead avoid it completely because of (what I found to be) the screechy singing. I am going to treat myself to the Suzuki, though - from a "proper" shop, too!

Chacun son goût, and all that!

[Stanfordian]

Ah! I had exactly the opposite response, Stanf: I found the extracts from Suzuki genuinely joyful (shimmying around the kitchen as it played, if you'll pardon my putting you off your lunch with such an image), whereas the Jordan I found much more "prosaic" (in the sense that it was a performance style that I've heard many, many times before, without it bringing anything particularly special - less exciting than Toscanini or Szell, less powerful than Karajan). The singing in the Suzuki was much better, too - on its own terms, I might have picked up the Jordan if I'd seen it in a charity shop for a couple of quid - but I shall instead avoid it completely because of (what I found to be) the screechy singing. I am going to treat myself to the Suzuki, though - from a "proper" shop, too!

Chacun son goût, and all that!

Hiya ferneyhoughgeliebte,

Each to their own as they say. Suzuki for me robbed the work of its weight, power and drama. I do like Suzuki very much but mainly in J.S. Bach.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Each to their own as they say. Suzuki for me robbed the work of its weight, power and drama. I do like Suzuki very much but mainly in J.S. Bach.

Yes - I can understand anybody feeling that way, even though it struck me differently. Some terrific orchestral playing from the VSO - and the reviewer was right about the piccolist! (Or should that be "plautist" - well-deserving of the plaudits, whichever.)

[jayne lee wilson]

Ah! I had exactly the opposite response, Stanf: I found the extracts from Suzuki genuinely joyful (shimmying around the kitchen as it played, if you'll pardon my putting you off your lunch with such an image), whereas the Jordan I found much more "prosaic" (in the sense that it was a performance style that I've heard many, many times before, without it bringing anything particularly special - less exciting than Toscanini or Szell, less powerful than Karajan). The singing in the Suzuki was much better, too - on its own terms, I might have picked up the Jordan if I'd seen it in a charity shop for a couple of quid - but I shall instead avoid it completely because of (what I found to be) the screechy singing. I am going to treat myself to the Suzuki, though - from a "proper" shop, too! :big grin:

Chacun son goût, and all that!

Pretty good summary fhg.... I've been sampling the Suzuki on Qobuz, just trying to find time and energy in these grey days to hear it complete.... it does sound both intriguing and compelling....lovely spacious sound.
(I rather enjoy a kitchen-shimmy myself, most recently to Monteverdi...)

I guess it's the third recent 9th to truly grab the attention, after the KO Basle/Antonini and the DCO/Adam Fischer....
LvB is very lucky these days with all this refreshing attention...and great, uptodate sound doesn't hurt in this of all sonically demanding pieces.
(But now back to that Rattle Bruckner 6...)

[Stanfordian]

Yes - I can understand anybody feeling that way, even though it struck me differently. Some terrific orchestral playing from the VSO - and the reviewer was right about the piccolist! (Or should that be "plautist" - well-deserving of the plaudits, whichever.)

Strange that in this massive work the reviewer should single out a piccolo player.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(But now back to that Rattle Bruckner 6...)

I'd been avoiding that, after being put off by Rattle's BPO Bruckner performances, but was muchly impressed by the excerpt played this morning - urgent & lithe, with a good sense of pace. I shall certainly investigate this further - wasn't entirely sure if the semiquavers in the opening driving rhythm was short enough: some sounded the same duration as each of the subsequent triplets - but that's something for me to iron out in future hearings. If it's all as good as this, then it'll be Rattle's best record in many a long year for me.

Strange that in this massive work the reviewer should single out a piccolo player.

- it was splendidly dexterous playing, though its prominence as much to do with the Balance Engineer as with the conductor?

[jayne lee wilson]

More on the Bruckner (in a new Urtext edition, see listening thread) later, but I meant to link to the extraordinary BIS notes on the Suzuki LvB 9th....

https://www.eclassical.com/shop/17115/art98/5041698-39b826-BIS-2451_booklet.pdf

...by Ernst Herttrich.... All sorts of fascinating ideas and detailed histories in there.....!

[Alison]

Any views on Stephen Hough’s Emperor this morning?

Certain I was going to order this set, not so sure now.

It felt very sectional, a beefy orchestral sound and a rather weedy piano one.

As a sweeping generalisation I prefer Houghy in solo recitals.

[Bryn]

Any views on Stephen Hough’s Emperor this morning?

Certain I was going to order this set, not so sure now.

It felt very sectional, a beefy orchestral sound and a rather weedy piano one.

As a sweeping generalisation I prefer Houghy in solo recitals.

After hearing this morning's sample, I am in no great hurry, either. There again, I am not exactly wanting for recordings of these works. However, I do rather hope that Angela Hewitt eventually records them. She, at least, recognises the long-standing misreading of the tempo of the 'slow' movement of the 5th.

[Barbirollians]

Any views on Stephen Hough’s Emperor this morning?

Certain I was going to order this set, not so sure now.

It felt very sectional, a beefy orchestral sound and a rather weedy piano one.



As a sweeping generalisation I prefer Houghy in solo recitals.

I tend to agree with you though I have enjoyed his Tchaikovsky set. I am rather more tempted by the Uchida/Rattle set.

[jayne lee wilson]

You can download the Hough/Lintu Op.15 finale for free....here....

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_HYP202005A

I'll try this later....maybe compare to the new CPO Wallisch/Haselbock (in medias res, going well, terrific Op.15 & 19...)