Record Review: non-BaL discs reviewed, etc.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As a fan of Trifonov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini recording I was rather underwhelmed by the opening movement of the Second Piano Concerto recording played this morning . It was perfectly fine but nowhere near as exciting as the Rhapsody recording and lacking in the wow factor of the Richter/Wislocki for example which has an opening to pin you back by the ears .

Liked the Blomstedt Mozart the reviewers seemed lukewarm on - thought the Chineke Sibelius 2 was OK but not worthy of the encomiums heaped upon it and as for the Rachmaninov 3 the pianist was indeed impressive but again it lacked excitement. Perhaps Argerich and Berman have spoiled me .

Yes - difficult to make a proper judgement based on extracts overheard (rather than paying full attention) and on less-than-ideal equipment, but I won't let that stop me ...

I was more impressed with the Rachmaninoff than you were, Barbs, and want to hear more of it. I was distinctly underwhelmed by Blomstedt's Mozza #40 (I prefer a "grainier", more urgent approach - but for those who prefer a smoother, more lyrical performance I can see that this would have its appeal), and was more involved in #42, though not to the extent that I would wish to buy the disc. (If I'd heard this in concert, I'd've thought it a very good performance, without getting anything particularly "special" from it.)

Good to hear Chineke playing something more substantial than the "Classical Pops" I'd only heard them in before - I agree, a very good Sibelius #2, but not quite the overwhelming experience that Ms Molleson's enthusiasm led me to expect (perhaps the whole work creates more of an impact) - and I enjoyed the bit of the Rachmaninoff #3 we heard, without it matching memories of the best recordings, broadcasts, and performances I've experienced. I'd be keener to buy this disc than the Blomstedt, though.

On the whole, I think I'll save my money for bringing my Gibbons collection up-to-date, and seeing what's on offer next week after the Purcell BaL.

[Alison]

The Schubert symphonies from CBSO/Gardner sounded excellent and I have been streaming these today.

Some of my favourite music in performances of distinction.

The Mozart 40 from Manze was also arresting, sounding unusually G minor-ish.

The historically informed approach on modern instruments is of course the unifying feature of these two releases.

Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?

[mathias broucek]

Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?

No!!! I can't see it selling well outside France given the level of competition...

[visualnickmos]

No!!! I can't see it selling well outside France given the level of competition...

Do you have more details about orchestra/conductor/label - just out of curiosity.

Thanks.....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Do you have more details about orchestra/conductor/label - just out of curiosity.
Thanks.....

This one, I think:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8538074--sibelius-symphonies-nos-1-7

(difficult to tell from the RR website, but some vigorous digging underneath AMcG's photo eventually got me there).

[visualnickmos]

Thanks, ferney. It does rather get my attention... I will have to try and hear samples....

Something tells me by instinct, that it will be 'good'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

- I'm intrigued, too - just to hear how a French orchestra performs Sibelius: and how Sibelius sounds from a French orchestra.

But not at that price! (Which might be part of what mathias was referring to.)

[Nick Armstrong]

Anyone tempted by the Sibelius cycle from Paris?

Yes!! Based on what I heard listening to the RR segment this morning, I want to hear more. A lot of the extracts were intriguing, beautifully played and detailed - perhaps most in the 'lesser known' symphonies: as William Mival said, the performers really seemed to 'get' No 3, and No 4 sounded more vivid than normal (it often seems to have a veiled, muted kind of power - this seemed different). No 6 which I love sounded equally vibrant. Wasn't so persuaded by the tempo changes in the extract from No 5 (the end of the second movement) but that's so difficult to judge out of context. Also wasn't sure I liked the sound picture, the acoustic, generally but again, I shall listen again on decent equipment.

Happily the set is streamable on Qobuz so just added it as a favourite and shall make my way through it.

[HighlandDougie]

Thanks, ferney. It does rather get my attention... I will have to try and hear samples....

Something tells me by instinct, that it will be 'good'

There is a thoughtful - and interesting - review on French Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.fr/Sibelius-Paavo-Jarvi-Orchestre-Paris/product-reviews/B07KZHVHXL/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

which might give some idea of what to expect

[visualnickmos]

There is a thoughtful - and interesting - review on French Amazon at:

https://www.amazon.fr/Sibelius-Paavo-Jarvi-Orchestre-Paris/product-reviews/B07KZHVHXL/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

which might give some idea of what to expect

Thank you. About to read it.......

[Alison]

Yes!! Based on what I heard listening to the RR segment this morning, I want to hear more. A lot of the extracts were intriguing, beautifully played and detailed - perhaps most in the 'lesser known' symphonies: as William Mival said, the performers really seemed to 'get' No 3, and No 4 sounded more vivid than normal (it often seems to have a veiled, muted kind of power - this seemed different). No 6 which I love sounded equally vibrant. Wasn't so persuaded by the tempo changes in the extract from No 5 (the end of the second movement) but that's so difficult to judge out of context. Also wasn't sure I liked the sound picture, the acoustic, generally but again, I shall listen again on decent equipment.

Happily the set is streamable on Qobuz so just added it as a favourite and shall make my way through it.

Very much agree. The extracts played seemed unusually fresh and compelling: just a nagging doubt that snippets of Jarvi (P) can sound that way without then delivering in their entirety as I recall you once pointing out!

[Nick Armstrong]

Very much agree. The extracts played seemed unusually fresh and compelling: just a nagging doubt that snippets of Jarvi (P) can sound that way without then delivering in their entirety as I recall you once pointing out!

Well do you know, Alison, that rings a bell! Beethoven, wasn't it?

[jayne lee wilson]

Full-page review in the latest Gramophone from all-around Scandinavian musicophile Andrew Mellor - very detailed and thoughtful and.... not terribly enthusiastic I'm afraid. I first heard of this via the Guardian's (equally underwhelmed) Andrew Clements some weeks back, but after listening to - or rather, dutifully sitting through - No.3, I didn't venture much further apart from some brief excerpts.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/17/sibelius-the-seven-symphonies-cd-review-jarvi-cant-quite-convince

OK, it's not terrible; it isn't without interest given the source and the conductor (whose Frankfurt RSO Nielsen I much admire & prefer to his Dad's various attempts) but....what a shame this cycle wasn't made with the Estonian NSO, recalling their fire-and-ice Arvo Pärt 3rd at last year's Proms...
(BTW, Google via Firefox might allow you to view the Mellor review without a G-sub)....

Much more compelling single release, also on Qobuz, is this.....

https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/sibelius-symphony-no-1-en-saga-gothenburg-symphony-santtu-matias-rouvali/lb5uyotrkakza

Not sure if I'd take this over another listen to Sanderling or the startling, stunning Vanska (Lahti SO or the startling Minnesota hi-res), but it is both fresh and very exciting. That sense of Nature, the phenomenal world is there, which is what seems absent from the Parisians, at least the little I've heard of them....

[jayne lee wilson]

This might work....https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/...ies-j%C3%A4rvi

But in Firefox, not Safari etc... maybe others, dunno....

[Stanfordian]

A few points on what I've just been hearing on Recorded Review with Andrew McGregor. I didn't hear 'Building a Library':

In the cello concerto by Esa‐Pekka Salonen I was struck by the similarity of the movement played to the late Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra). Of course they are both Finnish composers.

The Thomas Haigh Fantaisie played by Rebecca Maurer I couldn't take to the sound of her fortepiano. I'm generally keen to hear period performances but the fortepiano just doesn't do it for me.

Vladimir Jurowski conducting LPO in Rachmaninov's Symphony No.1 seemed lacking in the excitement I wanted, in what felt a very moderate performance. Strings lacking in richness.