Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Nick Armstrong]

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C ‘Elvira Madigan’ K.467; Piano Concerto No. 22 in Eb K.482
Christian Ihle Hadland (piano), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Arvid Engegard (conductor)
SIMAX PSC1323 (CD)

I only heard the first 20 minutes of this programme so far, that disc really caught my ear! Looking forward to a proper listen now the weekend has begun...

[Flosshilde]

I have never seen "Elvira Madigan", but the famous slow movement was successfully used in the 1970s as a British TV advertisement for real coal fires, featuring, if I remember rightly, a cat and dog in front of glowing embers. That's when I first heard the piece as a teenager and I suspect many others too.

I remember the advert - I think a mouse appeared, too. Perhaps we should call it the 'Coal Board concerto' - not quite as poetic as 'Elvira Madigan'

I wonder how many people who hear it called that now assume that she was the dedicatee, or the first person to play it?

[Nick Armstrong]

I wish you hadn't said that - I'm sorely tempted! (especially at the price at which it is being offered)

I think the DG set is the earlier of his two Schumann sets(?)

Please see my post on the other thread where this was discussed!! http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...282#post254282

[Nick Armstrong]

And I also enjoyed this, too:

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C ‘Elvira Madigan’ K.467; Piano Concerto No. 22 in Eb K.482
Christian Ihle Hadland (piano), Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Arvid Engegard (conductor)
SIMAX PSC1323 (CD)

I only heard the first 20 minutes of this programme so far, that disc really caught my ear! Looking forward to a proper listen now the weekend has begun...

Now had a proper listen to the extract from that recording: WHAT A JOY!! Possibly my favourite Mozart PC movement, wonderfully performed... And an extra treat to hear the Britten cadenza. I have shivers of pleasure just thinking about it. Also, the woodwind parts are delectably played and brought out...

I wonder if the rest of the disc is as magical...? Only one way to find out

(btw strange that I'd never heard of Mr Hadland, despite him being a BBC Young Generation artist... usually, one's aware of the names, having heard them being namechecked regularly on R3...)

[Thropplenoggin]

Now had a proper listen to the extract from that recording: WHAT A JOY!! Possibly my favourite Mozart PC movement, wonderfully performed... And an extra treat to hear the Britten cadenza. I have shivers of pleasure just thinking about it. Also, the woodwind parts are delectably played and brought out...

I wonder if the rest of the disc is as magical...? Only one way to find out

(btw strange that I'd never heard of Mr Hadland, despite him being a BBC Young Generation artist... usually, one's aware of the names, having heard them being namechecked regularly on R3...)

Yes, my ears pricked up to this. It sounded so fresh, dare I say "vibrant", to use an AMcG buzzword. Shame it's not on Qobuz for further investigation. I'd never heard of the label until today.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, my ears pricked up to this. It sounded so fresh, dare I say "vibrant", to use an AMcG buzzword. Shame it's not on Qobuz for further investigation. I'd never heard of the label until today.

I couldn't resist, and purchased it instantly on iTunes. I've listened to K.482 in its entirety. I'd go so far as to say it's a great performance - hope I'm not just dazzled by the light-fingered brilliance on display. Gorgeous warbling clarinets and nimble bassoons complementing the soloist ideally. Going to listen again now!

[Thropplenoggin]

I couldn't resist, and purchased it instantly on iTunes. I've listened to K.482 in its entirety. I'd go so far as to say it's a great performance - hope I'm not just dazzled by the light-fingered brilliance on display. Gorgeous warbling clarinets and nimble bassoons complementing the soloist ideally. Going to listen again now!

Wow! Impulse buy, eh? Do let me know if the shine wears off on repeat listening or if it really is just that good.

I see there's an article on Hadland on the Gramophone website here: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features...the-main-stage He must be the portliest young pianist on the circuit. A bit too partial to reindeer burgers, I'll bet.

[Nick Armstrong]

Wow! Impulse buy, eh? Do let me know if the shine wears off on repeat listening or if it really is just that good.

I see there's an article on Hadland on the Gramophone website here: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features...the-main-stage He must be the portliest young pianist on the circuit. A bit too partial to reindeer burgers, I'll bet.

Sleigh, lad!! (as opposed to Neigh, lad!!)

[amateur51]

He must be the portliest young pianist on the circuit. A bit too partial to reindeer burgers, I'll bet.

I'd rather concentrate on his musicianship, which we all can tomorrow ...

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...8-January-2013

[Thropplenoggin]

I'd rather concentrate on his musicianship, which we all can tomorrow ...

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...8-January-2013

No malice intended, Ams.

[Nick Armstrong]

I am amazed that record companies continue to saddle K467 with Elvira Madigan ! A film I doubt anyone under 60 has ever seen .

Couldn't agree more, Barb! Particularly idiotic in this instance, as having now heard the performance, the relevant slow movement being worlds away from the slow dreamy Geza Anda performance used in the film. It trips along at a wonderful, light andante.

I imagine it's some marketing 'suit' wanting to maximise sales - why not, indeed? - but as you say Barb, it's no longer really relevant. It would be like labelling Mahler 5 the "Death in Venice" Symphony...

(Btw I am under 60 and I have seen the film, I watched a few of Bo Widerberg's films in the 80s. Very soft focus late 60s stylised stuff. Shifted a lot of Mozart records since then, though!)

[amateur51]

No malice intended, Ams.

Being on the portly side myself, Throppers

[amateur51]

Couldn't agree more, Barb! Particularly idiotic in this instance, as having now heard the performance, the relevant slow movement being worlds away from the slow dreamy Geza Anda performance used in the film. It trips along at a wonderful, light andante.

[....} Shifted a lot of Mozart records since then, though!)

Sadly the association has always rather stupidly put me off Anda's rather fine performances

[Thropplenoggin]

I have to say, I wasn't impressed by either of the versions of Britten's Cello Suites that AMcG played yesterday: Philip Higham and Alban Gerhardt.

I know Rostropovich didn't record the 3rd, but just listen to the start of the first Suite and you realise the Russian is simply in another league.

[vinteuil]

... And an extra treat to hear the Britten cadenza. I have shivers of pleasure just thinking about it.

... to my ears the Britten cadenza didn't work. The rest of the time (ie the stuff wot Mozart wrote) the pianist lives within the five octaves or so that wd have been available to a pianist of the time - then we reach the cadenza - and suddenly we're swirling away way outside the reach of everything else we've heard so far - totally out of proportion. Like a gothic cathedral with suddenly a Palladian portico glued on.