Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Pulcinella]

...as did his pronunciation of Val Kyrie.

Wasn't listening but surely not as Val Kyrie Eleison?

[Bert Coules]

...Val Kyrie Eleison?

If the 'e is Siegfried, wouldn't that be Brünnhilde?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If the 'e is Siegfried, wouldn't that be Brünnhilde?

Didn't Siegfried have a Valkyrie Liaison?

[Darkbloom]

Wasn't listening but surely not as Val Kyrie Eleison?

That's exactly how he pronounced it. I don't know where they get these people from. Maybe Richard Osborne is retired these days, but surely they could find someone to talk about Karajan who actually knows what they're talking about. This was shoddy and embarrassing.

[underthecountertenor]

Didn't Siegfried have a Valkyrie Liaison?

[underthecountertenor]

That's exactly how he pronounced it. I don't know where they get these people from. Maybe Richard Osborne is retired these days, but surely they could find someone to talk about Karajan who actually knows what they're talking about. This was shoddy and embarrassing.

Thanks for the confirmation, Darkbloom, as I was beginning to doubt myself.
He actually did it twice. Andrew McGregor did one of his trademark ever so slightly emphatic correct pronunciations after the extract was played. A skill which he has no doubt had to learn perforce during his time in the chair.

[gradus]

Pronunciation and Vicker's gaffe apart I quite enjoyed it and thought he described HvK's approach to the music pretty well.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Just enjoyed the discussion of the Icon box set for Louis Fremaux at the CBSO. I grew up with the Saint Saens 3rd Sypnphony and the Pulenc Gloria for two recordings. But there is obviously much more to explore (and elsewhere - Chandos?). And just to say if anyone has access to the Naxos Music Library (see thread of that name) then it can be found - this time using the "Artist" heading from the Grey ring menu at the top of the page - initial "F" - then its listed under his name, as "FRÉMAUX, Louis: CBSO Recordings (Complete)" - with a PDF booklet. If of any interest, try before you buy?

[Conchis]

Is the Nicholas referred to the Telegraph hack who wrote a series on 'getting into....' classical music a while back?

The programme sounds horrendous. Thanks for your warnings - I shall not be listening!

And didn't the BBC used to have dedicated Pronunciation Unit? I'm very grateful to it, for saving me from potential embarrassment on several occasions. It's thanks to R3 that I know how to pronounce 'gesamkunstwerk'!

[Richard Tarleton]

And didn't the BBC used to have dedicated Pronunciation Unit? I'm very grateful to it, for saving me from potential embarrassment on several occasions. It's thanks to R3 that I know how to pronounce 'gesamkunstwerk'!

It still does. I have history with it. The trouble is, it is not proactive. It responds to requests from BBC staff/depts, and prioritises (eg) difficult names that are "trending" in the news. So if (eg) R3 announcers do not think to ask, the PU does not tell them. It does not act on complaints from listeners, and correct presenters accordingly. As my particular bête noir has been resolved (no thanks to them), I'll not be specific.

[cloughie]

Just enjoyed the discussion of the Icon box set for Louis Fremaux at the CBSO. I grew up with the Saint Saens 3rd Sypnphony and the Pulenc Gloria for two recordings. But there is obviously much more to explore (and elsewhere - Chandos?). And just to say if anyone has access to the Naxos Music Library (see thread of that name) then it can be found - this time using the "Artist" heading from the Grey ring menu at the top of the page - initial "F" - then its listed under his name, as "FRÉMAUX, Louis: CBSO Recordings (Complete)" - with a PDF booklet. If of any interest, try before you buy?

Your reference to Chandos was this for poulenc or Fremaux as I was not aware that Fremaux recorded for Chandos. Pretre was a conductor worth exploring for a bit of Poulenc!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Fremaux made a quartet of recordings for Collins Classics when that short-lived label first appeared - the Symphonie Fantastique, Rimsky's Scheherazade, Walton's First, and a Ravel collection, all with London orchestras.

[Nick Armstrong]

The recent survey of works by Josef Suk really caught my ear - the Fantastic Scherzo (esp when conducted by Mackerras, whose touch makes its repetitions seem magical rather than merely ... repetitive, as in a couple of other performances I've heard). AMcG's review made me want to explore Pohadka, Asrael and the chamber works with piano. And - the delight of a CD collection to which I haven't returned for a while due to streaming and downloads - I found I already have on the shelf the Piano Quartet & Quintet by the Nash Ensemble on Hyperion (as featured on RR), and Asrael by the Czech Phil under Mackerras. Never got round to listening to them - now's the time!

[Nick Armstrong]

Did anyone listen to Faust/Melnikov yesterday? -
1130
Franck
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Isabelle Faust (violin)
Alexander Melnikov (piano).

I bought the cd the day it came out and it's well worth hearing including, as it does, Chausson's oddly titled 'Concerto for Violin, piano and string quartet'. A wonderful piece that's only recently getting the exposure it deserves.

There are 4 Amazon reviews, 3 of which are 5* reviews. The 4th is some numpty saying the disc doesn't play so he's given the recording, which he's not heard, 1*!

I'd certainly recommend it and I've played it a few times. The Franck is a good performance which avoids the somewhat overwrought interpretations that have been foisted on it over the years. I'd certainly recommend it.

Just wondering whether the great restraint by both artists (in the Franck) was for the benefit of Faust's gut-string Stradivarius. Some magnificent playing, but all a bit too sotto voce for my taste.

I'd certainly agree it's not a big 'heart on sleeve' performance but it has the virtue, imho, of subtlety. (And speaking as a violinist who has shed much Bow hair, rosin and splinters in this piece it's a virtue not to be ignored!)

Quoting all the above to get those posts (in a Prom thread) to this thread. Did hear the Franck, sounded very good, not least as I increasingly love the sound of turn-of-the-century non-Steinways.... but it was the introduction by AMcG that sent me straight to Qobuz for the Chausson, for a proper listen this week. The Concert has long been a favourite piece - been listening a lot recently to the performance by Tom Poster et al. broadcast on R3 on 21 July, which I downloaded.

But the sound of the instruments in this new recording is more appealing, on a quick listen. That 'sotto voce' quality is a big plus, to my ears

[Nick Armstrong]

Have now listened properly to the Chausson Concert, further to previous post.

Some magnificent playing, but all a bit too sotto voce for my taste.

I'm also in two minds. I didn't mind the sotto voce aspect throughout most of it - it enhanced, along with the instrumental colours, the slow movement as never before for me - and all beautifully played. But...

But... the final climax of the last movement goes for almost naught... That mounting tension then release just before the chase-away little coda - well, it's one of the great 30 seconds in all chamber music, for me. Alas, it's just tame here, I'm afraid. What a pity.