Elgar's Cello Concerto: Non-du Pré Recordings

[gurnemanz]

Don't forget the Beatrice Harrison/ New SO/ Elgar version! It may be historic but it's a great performance.

It's also authentic & on original instruments...

I have Harrison/Elgar as part of the EMI "Composers in Person" box. It is great value at £36 for 22CD and includes a large selection of fascinating historic recordings. Full contents and review here.

[Wensleydale Blue]

..... what took so long?

Hung around in the background for a while, like you do, trying to decide if this was an on-line community that I wanted to belong to. And, after six months the verdict has come in and I've decided that there's just about the right balance of passion and cynicism that means I should fit right in...........

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Hung around in the background for a while, like you do, trying to decide if this was an on-line community that I wanted to belong to. And, after six months the verdict has come in and I've decided that there's just about the right balance of passion and cynicism that means I should fit right in...........

[pastoralguy]

I've always had a liking for a cheapie cd by Felix Schmidt which was released on the LSO's own label about 1990. (A kind of pre LSO Live label). It's a very honest account and IMHO, has something special to say. I think the conductor is Rapheal Frubeck de Bourges.

I think he was the LSO's principal at that time.

[johnn10]

Sticking my neck out here, but I have to say that I have never heard a really poor version of the concerto. Perhaps its one of those works which is so good that we do not notice any imperfections in the performance? Incidentally, how typical of the rigid divisions which still exist within the BBC that the item about the new recording on the Today programme did not include any reference at all to the fact that 40 minutes later listeners could enjoy longer extracts "over on Radio 3".

[Thropplenoggin]

Sticking my neck out here, but I have to say that I have never heard a really poor version of the concerto. Perhaps its one of those works which is so good that we do not notice any imperfections in the performance? Incidentally, how typical of the rigid divisions which still exist within the BBC that the item about the new recording on the Today programme did not include any reference at all to the fact that 40 minutes later listeners could enjoy longer extracts "over on Radio 3".

well spotted! Whereas AMcG did acknowledge the interview and its source!

[akiralx]

Not a huge fan of Elgar but the cello concerto does get an airing occassionally. My version is the Wispelway one that is coupled with Lutoslwski's concerto, which I bought for the latter and not the former. I quite like his version of the Elgar though because it doesn't go in for the overly passionate appraoch that is associated with Du Pre and seemingly almost all cellists since. I am I allowed to be controversial in my fifth post?

No - not controversial as Wispelwey's version is superb, my favourite for the work. More powerful than du Pre IMHO.

[amateur51]

Hung around in the background for a while, like you do, trying to decide if this was an on-line community that I wanted to belong to. And, after six months the verdict has come in and I've decided that there's just about the right balance of passion and cynicism that means I should fit right in...........

You'll fit in nicely, I'm sure Wensleydale Blue

[johnb]

I don't actually have the famous Barbirolli/du Pre version on CD but do have the same partnership (with the BBCSO) in a live performance given in Prague in 1967 and available on Testament.

I prefer the Prague performance to the studio recording. (Incidentally you can reconstruct the entire Prague concert by getting the Barbirolli Mahler 4/Berlioz Corsair on BBC Legends. Some concert!)

[Mahler's3rd]

Hi Ive got the Beatrice Harrison and The Du Pre/Barbirolli, was interested in getting the new one with Alisa Weilerstein, has anyone got it yet & if so what's it like?, It sounded great on CD Review the other morning while i was on my way to London, think it's quite an interesting idea coupling it with the Eliot Carter, any thought's anyone?

[Petrushka]

I prefer the Prague performance to the studio recording. (Incidentally you can reconstruct the entire Prague concert by getting the Barbirolli Mahler 4/Berlioz Corsair on BBC Legends. Some concert!)

Done that! Noticeable difference in sound, though, between the Testament issue and that from BBC Legends.

[Nick Armstrong]

Hung around in the background for a while, like you do, trying to decide if this was an on-line community that I wanted to belong to. And, after six months the verdict has come in and I've decided that there's just about the right balance of passion and cynicism that means I should fit right in...........

Sounds about right!

Looking forward to more from you, Mr Wensleydale!

Or should we call you Henry?



"The Scene: An Edwardian-style shop which carries the signs

'Ye Olde Cheese Emporium'

'Henry Wensleydale, Purveyor of Fine Cheese to the Gentry and the Poverty Stricken Too'

'Licensed for Public Dancing'

Two men dressed as city gents are Greek dancing in the corner to the music of a bouzouki.

Mousebender enters.

....


MOUSEBENDER: You do have some cheese, do you?

WENSLEYDALE: Of course, sir. It's a cheese shop, sir. We've got .....

MOUSEBENDER: No, no, don't tell me. I'm keen to guess.

WENSLEYDALE: Fair enough.

MOUSEBENDER: Er, Wensleydale?

WENSLEYDALE: Yes?

MOUSEBENDER: Ah, well, I'll have some of that.

WENSLEYDALE: Oh, I thought you were talking to me, sir. Mr Wensleydale, that's my name."

[Nick Armstrong]

was interested in getting the new one with Alisa Weilerstein

Have only heard the extracts on CD Review...

Sister of Josh, whom we heard (and ammy51 saw) last week live in his first concert conducting the BBCSO.

Talented family or what...

[Mahler's3rd]

Very talented indeed, I saw her play the Elgar Concerto on Television with Daniel Barenboim, she really is quite something. I went to a recital she did at Wigmore Hall a couple of years ago where she played Bach's 1st Cello suite & works by Golijov & Kodaly, she really is compelling to watch. It's great there are so many young vituoso soloist's around, I have'nt got anything by Elliott Carter either Caliban, so it might be a good starting point

[gurnemanz]

We saw her impressive Proms debut in First Shostakovich Concerto at the Proms a couple of years ago. Standing not too far away in the Arena, I remember being intensely moved by her very hushed rendering of the slow movement ... and also chatting to a member of the Minnesota Orchestra the Queen's Arms afterwards.