Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[Bergonzi]

I was a little "confused" by your reference to a "5th mvt" of the Bartok First Vln Conc.

I think I may have misheard and thought AMacG said 5th mvt - obviously I'm wrong (unless he was!) I don't know the Bartok First so I have no idea how many movements it has.*

*The movement played was very lyrical, I seem to recall. It seems it must have been the first movement as I've just had a look at Wicki, and there are only two movements!

[Bert Coules]

This seems to be the correct thread for this, though it's not the most recently-visited of areas...

What an incredibly patronising woman on Building a Library today (April 28th) talking about the new release of Winterreise in English. Of the translator, Jeremy Sams: "And he even managed to make it rhyme! Well done!". Good grief.

[zola]

What an incredibly patronising woman on Building a Library today (April 28th) talking about the new release of Winterreise in English. Of the translator, Jeremy Sams: "And he even managed to make it rhyme! Well done!". Good grief.

Her remark didn't strike me as being in any way patronising. My suspicion while listening was that she hated the entire concept of a Winterreise in English ( rather like the reviewer in the current BBC Music ) but was under some pressure from AMcG not to rubbish it completely.

[Bert Coules]

She sure as hell sounded patronising to me. I agree that her attitude was clear. Would she really have been under instructions like that, though? What's the point of inviting guest reviewers if they're not allowed to speak their mind?

[teamsaint]

Her remark didn't strike me as being in any way patronising. My suspicion while listening was that she hated the entire concept of a Winterreise in English ( rather like the reviewer in the current BBC Music ) but was under some pressure from AMcG not to rubbish it completely.

If she did hate the idea, then I thought she had a very good stab at giving it a fair review.

I think she was just aware of the substantial body of opinion ( including presumably within the profession) that regards this sort of thing in a rather negative way, and so felt that she had to choose her words carefully.

[Stanfordian]

Her remark didn't strike me as being in any way patronising. My suspicion while listening was that she hated the entire concept of a Winterreise in English ( rather like the reviewer in the current BBC Music ) but was under some pressure from AMcG not to rubbish it completely.

I think there is room for a 'Winterreise' sung in English but it's not really for me.

[vinteuil]

I think there is room for a 'Winterreise' sung in English but it's not really for me.

... this, at least, is magical :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW04f0olXUY

.

[Bert Coules]

Thanks so much for that link: what a wonderful performance.

I'm obviously in a minority regarding the lady reviewer, possibly because for me it makes far more sense to perform Winterreise - and indeed anything else - in English rather than in German. I freely admit that this might have coloured my reaction to her comments.

[Mal]

... she had a very good stab at giving it a fair review...

I don't think she did, her criticism that the translation didn't explicitly state that the crow was going to eat the body seemed rather simplistic. It's obvious what a crow will do to you when you die!

[teamsaint]

I don't think she did, her criticism that the translation didn't explicitly state that the crow was going to eat the body seemed rather simplistic. It's obvious what a crow will do to you when you die!

I missed that bit.

And your quote takes my point out of the context that I gave it.

[Mal]

... this, at least, is magical :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW04f0olXUY

It is! But is there a CD of the full Winter Journey? Roderick Williams & Christopher Glynn also sounded quite magical, worth digging out of the badly indexed online programme. Bert you're not alone, for me, it also makes far more sense to perform Winterreise - and indeed anything else - in English rather than in German. Anyway this "Winter Journey" is now near the top of my "next purchase?" list.

[teamsaint]

It is! But is there a CD of the full Winter Journey? Roderick Williams & Christopher Glynn also sounded quite magical, worth digging out of the badly indexed online programme. Bert you're not alone, for me, it also makes far more sense to perform Winterreise - and indeed anything else - in English rather than in German. Anyway this "Winter Journey" is now near the top of my "next purchase?" list.

Its on spotify.
Just listening, and I’d definitely buy it.

[Mal]

In Tune interviewed Roderick Williams & Christopher Glynn recently, and they perform live, now I want to buy Roderick's Vaughan Williams songs as well! (Fortunately they are on Naxos...)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b0wfdc

Anyone going to the Bath festival? He's performing all three cycles, in English, there next month. Recordings of the other two cycles to come, and he's simultaneously recording them in German! Busy chap...

[Bert Coules]

I have a 1985 privately-issued CD of "Winter Journey" as it's there titled: baritone Peter Allanson and pianist Kenneth Mobbs, translation by Leslie Minchin. It's a good while since I played it but I recall a decent performance if a touch undemonstrative from the singer. The website given in the sleeve notes, www.mobbsearlykeyboard.co.uk, appears no longer to exist.

[Nick Armstrong]

Really marvellous Walton viola concerto from James Ehnes with the BBCSO under Ed Gardner (record of the week, last 25 minutes of the 28.04.18 programme)