Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Barbirollians]

Aus Italien is far from a wasp much more a lazy butterfly - very pretty but could sometimes do with getting a move on

[Nick Armstrong]

Aus Italien is far from a wasp much more a lazy butterfly - very pretty but could sometimes do with getting a move on

When did it feature on CD Review, Barb? Not today, I think. Which recording was it?

[HighlandDougie]

Definitely no 'Aus Italien' this morning (the quote from 'Funiculi, Funicula' would have given it away, even had I lapsed into the torpor which Strauss tone poems usually induce in me). But I did enjoy hearing the Henry Cowell half-hour slot, despite the - at-times somewhat sub-fusc - performances. Most informative - and has me wanting to hear more.

[teamsaint]

Definitely no 'Aus Italien' this morning (the quote from 'Funiculi, Funicula' would have given it away, even had I lapsed into the torpor which Strauss tone poems usually induce in me). But I did enjoy hearing the Henry Cowell half-hour slot, despite the - at-times somewhat sub-fusc - performances. Most informative - and has me wanting to hear more.

Thanks for flagging up the Cowell slot, HD.

of course, his first ever Proms performance does require the BBC hype machine to start bigging up the previously much neglected ( by daytime R3)composer, but I guess we have to be grateful for small mercies.

[Black Swan]

I really enjoyed the Henry Cowell slot. I have some recordings of his music but do not do it well. I was a bit surprised that AMcG had to continually bring up his stint in prison which has nothing to do with his music. No debate of course because it is true. But not necessary IMHO.

[Nick Armstrong]

Cowell slot recorded on the bedside for a lazy bank holiday listen

[mercia]

are we supposed to remember everything that Andrew McG tells us ? information overload for my poor brain

[Nick Armstrong]

are we supposed to remember everything that Andrew McG tells us ? information overload for my poor brain

what brought on that cri de coeur, mercs (or rather, cri de cerveau?)

[mercia]

what brought on that cri de coeur, mercs (or rather, cri de cerveau?)

well, before that Sibelius discussion started he seemed to be imparting a huge amount of information [as always] in a very short space of time (I know he's a quick talker) and I thought to myself - should I be taking notes or just sitting back in astonished admiration ?

I suppose I'm meant to listen again later, periodically pressing the pause button

[Nick Armstrong]

well, before that Sibelius discussion started he seemed to be imparting a huge amount of information [as always] in a very short space of time (I know he's a quick talker) and I thought to myself - should I be taking notes or just sitting back in astonished admiration ?

I suppose I'm meant to listen again later, periodically pressing the pause button

Didn't strike me, but I know what you mean - I frequently have to spool back and check, though not specially with AMcG.

I was more struck (not in a good way) by his interlocutor prefacing just about every gobbet of Sibelius expertise with "Yeah"...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yeah - that annoyed me thoroughly, too.

Not impressed by much of the subsequent gobbeting, either. Tectonic twit.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yeah - that annoyed me thoroughly, too.

Not impressed by much of the subsequent gobbeting, either. Tectonic twit.

... indeed. It was very interesting to hear the two versions of Tapiola to which that 'tectonic' comment related: in contrast to him, I found the cooler Rosbaud/BPO version held my attention far more than the lurid 'can't sleep with the light on after that' van Beinum/Concertgebouw performance. The latter did indeed sound like the score to a Hammer horror flick, which the two of them seemed to think was a good thing.

Did you hear the Matsuev/Gergiev Stravinsky extract?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... indeed. It was very interesting to hear the two versions of Tapiola to which that 'tectonic' comment related: in contrast to him, I found the cooler Rosbaud/BPO version held my attention far more than the lurid 'can't sleep with the light on after that' van Beinum/Concertgebouw performance. The latter did indeed sound like the score to a Hammer horror flick, which the two of them seemed to think was a good thing.

Did you hear the Matsuev/Gergiev Stravinsky extract?

Yes - and I recognised neither the work nor the composer (I was thinking perhaps somebody like Weill or Krenek in the '20s ) An interesting mixture of fascination and irritation in my response to the Music. (Can't imagine how playing that work in close proximity to the Rach #3rd Symph will feel!)

[teamsaint]

Who fancies a BaL type natter about the Schoenberg PC ?

[Nick Armstrong]

Who fancies a BaL type natter about the Schoenberg PC ?

This chap would if he could!




The Schoenberg concerto was among Clive Dunn's 8 discs on Desert Island Discs! The Brendel recording, it seems.

He went with Dionne Warwick as the 'if you could only take one' choice though... !


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Clive Dunn’s Desert Island Choices in Full:

1. The Beatles - Something (George Harrison)
2. Peter Sellers - Common Entrance
3. Doretta Morrow / Alfred Drake / Richard Kiley / Henry Calvin – And This is My Beloved (From “Kismet”) (Borodin/ Wright & Forrest)
4. Alfred Brendel/ South West Germany Radio Symphony/ Gielen – Schönberg, Piano Concerto (opus 42)
5. Clive Dunn – Grandad
6. Dionne Warwick – Little Green Apples
7. Joan Sutherland / Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra / Bonynge – Delibes “Bell Song” (from Lakmé).
8. New Philharmonia Orchestra /Giulini – Mozart, Symphony No.40 in G Minor (K.550)