Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Mal]

William Mival's selection of 5 Strauss recordings was quite interesting:
Elektra (Solti)
Till Eulenspiegel (Kempe)
Eine Alpensinfonie (Karajan)
Metamorphosen (Furtwangler)
Der Rosenkavelier (Philharmonia/Karajan)

Somehow, I knew before he even began that he'd choose the Karajan Alpine Symphony, as it was his BaL recommendation some years ago. To be fair, he did choose the best bit from HvK's version (The Summit) to back his choice - the post-thunderstorm bits show up DG's opaque recorded sound. But I did agree with his Der Rosenkavalier choice, which, despite being much older than his much later DG Vienna remake, is better in nearly every way.

Yes, that DG sound is a problem, the Philharmonia (EMI) sound did seem much better to me as well. I also thought Kempe sounded rather good... I might get his (Warner) box set to replace/supplement my Karajan DG Strauss CDs... give me a break from the intensity with added mush/glare.

[Ian_of_glos]

William Mival's selection of 5 Strauss recordings was quite interesting:
Elektra (Solti)
Till Eulenspiegel (Kempe)
Eine Alpensinfonie (Karajan)
Metamorphosen (Furtwangler)
Der Rosenkavelier (Philharmonia/Karajan)

Somehow, I knew before he even began that he'd choose the Karajan Alpine Symphony, as it was his BaL recommendation some years ago. To be fair, he did choose the best bit from HvK's version (The Summit) to back his choice - the post-thunderstorm bits show up DG's opaque recorded sound. But I did agree with his Der Rosenkavaler choice, which, despite being much older than his much later DG Vienna remake, is better in nearly every way.

I found this a very interesting and agreeable 45 mins. Just a shame that he was only allowed to choose 5 works - I had the feeling that there were many more pieces he wanted to play.

[edashtav]

O

I found this a very interesting and agreeable 45 mins. Just a shame that he was only allowed to choose 5 works - I had the feeling that there were many more pieces he wanted to play.

Agreed! There's nothing like a deeply knowledgeable enthusiast. I had forgotten how brilliant Kempe was in R.Strauss's tone poems: absolutely wonderful - so full of insights. As for Furtwangler in Metamorphosen: I understood the piece as never before.

Brilliant radio!

[Ian_of_glos]

O
Agreed! There's nothing like a deeply knowledgeable enthusiast. I had forgotten how brilliant Kempe was in R.Strauss's tone poems: absolutely wonderful - so full of insights. As for Furtwangler in Metamorphosen: I understood the piece as never before.

Brilliant radio!

It seemed to me that the presented had been through my collection and picked out my favourites.
The only recording I do not have is the Furtwangler Metamorphosen. Of course the performance was excellent, but there was a lot of background noise and I am not sure that I would really want to listen to it repeatedly.

[Mal]

The only recording I do not have is the Furtwangler Metamorphosen. Of course the performance was excellent, but there was a lot of background noise and I am not sure that I would really want to listen to it repeatedly.

Yes, I also found the background noise off putting. But is there anything in good sound with that excellence of intensity and unfolding? Karajan DG 1983?

[HighlandDougie]

O
Agreed! There's nothing like a deeply knowledgeable enthusiast. I had forgotten how brilliant Kempe was in R.Strauss's tone poems: absolutely wonderful - so full of insights. As for Furtwangler in Metamorphosen: I understood the piece as never before.

Brilliant radio!

I like to think that I dislike Richard Strauss's orchestral oeuvre but, in truth, when confronted with Rudolf Kempe, the Dresden Staatskapelle and a glorious recording (the Japanese website comment that the Tower Records SACD, "didn't actually sound any better than the 2013 remastered CDs", being the clincher in spending €22,00 rather than €180,00 for the 8 CD set), I just give in and enjoy what I am hearing. For the money, is there any more enjoyable set of orchestral recordings?

[Richard Tarleton]

Is it the case that Ian Bostridge just overthinks things? I could only stand about a minute of his rendition of The Crow this morning - I found the usual self-conscious, mannered, rather strangulated performance I've come to expect, only more so- I certainly couldn't cope with a whole cycle of this. I had a look at his book (which I find fascinating) to remind myself what he has to say about this song - actually it's a load of cultural references to crows in painting and literature, coupled with inexpert pontificating on the crow family, not a lot of light shed on the song itself....

Roderick Williams' English version reminds us how simple and unaffected the songs are [my German almost non-existent] - and he sings them accordingly, straight to the heart. In places the English almost descends to doggerel. They certainly don't benefit from the sort of overwrought, solipsistic angst Bostridge brings to them.

[Nick Armstrong]

I thought the Brahms segment this morning (Katy Hamilton’s five choices) was the most interesting of its kind I’ve heard. Whereas the Seckerson choice of Strauss recordings (for instance) taught me nothing, the five being familiar though unarguably excellent, I knew none of the Brahms recordings chosen, and two of the pieces were completely new to me... and I’ve listened to at least as much Brahms as Strauss over the years.

All five of her choices are now waiting on Qobuz for a proper listen, and the vocal quartets are playing as I type: gorgeous.

Very much appreciated, all the more so being the sort of intelligent exploration of the less-familiar that seems increasingly lacking on R3 these days

[Bert Coules]

Richard, I missed that. Has Bostridge recorded the entire cycle in English?

[Richard Tarleton]

Richard, I missed that. Has Bostridge recorded the entire cycle in English?

No - German - the point I was trying to make is that the actual poems (I have to rely on translations, and e.g. Roderick W's fine performances) suggest how overwrought IB's performances are..... Others I know admire him greatly - he can do no wrong as far as Record Review is concerned, but everyone can only listen with the auditory equipment (ears) that they have, and bring their own unique exerience to bear... and I find him....as above ...learnt, somehow...

(Have heard him live just once)

[jayne lee wilson]

I thought the Brahms segment this morning (Katy Hamilton’s five choices) was the most interesting of its kind I’ve heard. Whereas the Seckerson choice of Strauss recordings (for instance) taught me nothing, the five being familiar though unarguably excellent, I knew none of the Brahms recordings chosen, and two of the pieces were completely new to me... and I’ve listened to at least as much Brahms as Strauss over the years.

All five of her choices are now waiting on Qobuz for a proper listen, and the vocal quartets are playing as I type: gorgeous.

Very much appreciated, all the more so being the sort of intelligent exploration of the less-familiar that seems increasingly lacking on R3 these days

Quick list of the Brahms choices anyone, please...? I do love Brahms...

[Bert Coules]

Ah, right, thanks Richard for clearing up my misunderstanding. I did hear Bostridge perform a Schubert song in English once, on a TV documentary the details of which I've forgotten, and I recall it as being wonderful: very simple and direct, the very opposite of what you're talking about. It was a good few years ago, though.

The Roderick Williams & Christopher Glynn Winter Journey does sound superb, I agree, helped of course by the quality of the text. I didn't at all like Jeremy Sams' English Ring for ENO but his version of the Schubert strikes a much more successful and appropriate note for me.
.

[Nick Armstrong]

Quick list of the Brahms choices anyone, please...? I do love Brahms...

Recommended Recordings:


Variations on an original theme, Op.21 no.1

Jonathan Plowright (piano)

BIS BIS2117 (Hybrid SACD)



‘An die Heimat’ Op.64 no. 1 for vocal quartet and piano

Marlis Petersen (soprano)

Stella Doufexis (alto)

Werner Güra (tenor)

Konrad Jarnot (baritone)

Christoph Berner (piano)

Harmonia Mundi HMC901945



Violin Concerto, Op.77

Isabelle Faust (violin)

Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Daniel Harding (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMC902075



Piano Quartet in A Major, Op. 26

Adolf Busch (violin)

Karl Doktor (viola)

Hermann Busch (cello)

Rudolf Serkin (piano)

Warner Classics 7647022



Waltzes Op.39 for piano duet

Dinu Lipatti (piano)

Nadia Boulanger (piano)

Regis RRC1370

[jayne lee wilson]

Thanks Cal.... I'd have the Op.26 in there perhaps (Faust/Han etc), otherwise a very different five....

I actually have a Top 1 right now: Ironwood, in the Op.25/34 Coupling....
Oh wait a minute - that recent Clarinet Concerto I did a new release piece on - Reta Bieri and Meta 4 on ECM a few months back....very special....
And also this year, the Schultsz/Schayegh Violin Sonatas....

Soon get to 5 on chamber music alone!

[Edgy 2]

I’ve been listening to the Leonidas Kavakos,Yuja Wang Brahms Violin Sonatas a lot lately,certainly would be a top 5 choice for me right now.