Elgar "Introduction and Allegro" recommendations

[vibratoforever]

the river people seem to have two other JB recordings, a very expensive BBC Legends from the King's Lynn Festival and one by "The JB Chamber Orchestra", I don't know when that dates from

1929 and riddled with wibbly-wobbly modern accretions

[Bryn]

1929 and riddled with wibbly-wobbly modern accretions

Some 24 years after its composition and premier, and by which time the new French penchant for finger wobbling at the drop of a hat had begun to spread over La Manche, but was still being held back from the Austrian border.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In photos that I have seen of pre WW 1 recordings, the violinists are playing some weird looking contraption that has what looks like a blunderbuss hanging off the instrument where the bridge and body meet. I think it was called a "Stroh Violin" or something like that, and supposedly enhanced string frequencies
for early electrical recording technology. I am not sure that I could base judgements of performance practice regarding violin playing when the musicians had to adjust to playing that kind of a Rube Goldberg contraption, but I would appreciate the insight of more informed forumites than myself.

Failing that, there's always WIKI (which I think is quite reliable here):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin

[richardfinegold]

Failing that, there's always WIKI (which I think is quite reliable here):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin

Thanks ferney, very interesting. Again, since these instruments produced such a thin tone, I wonder if musicians were encouraged to play with more vibrato than they would have otherwise used on early recordings.

[PJPJ]

......and one high resolution choice (as this work would seem to almost require a detailed recording with a deep soundstage).

There's Wordsworth/RPO on Membran - a good performance.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000BRY5GW/?tag=sacdinfocom08-21

Early pressings like mine have very short gaps between pieces; actually non-existent would be a better description. Good sound (unless you're a fully-paid-up member of the "DSD is the only medium for me" club) though not up to that of the best modern recordings. I'm pleased to have a copy even though I prefer Barbirolli/Halle and Marriner or Britten.

Colin Davis on LSO Live is also impressive:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000Q7ZI9U/?tag=sacdinfocom08-21

though I understand the quartet varied from evening to evening, so personnel may change between takes. LSO Live sounds very good indeed on my system; others find these too close-up. The intensity of the live performance makes me prefer Davis to Wordsworth. No nice big, fat organ in E.D.U., though.

And that's it for High Res recordings - I can't tell whether LSO Live will provide the deep soundstage you're after.

[LaurieWatt]

Laurie, after I hit the send button on my post, I had the same thought and checked Amazon to see if there was a Haitink recording. I downloaded the recording that you mentioned to my phone and listened to it today on my drive to work. I am now considering whether I should add one of the Barbirolli CDs

wouldn't be a bad idea, they are quite different and much more indulgent. I hope you liked the BH/LPO one?

[PJPJ]

..... and one high resolution choice (as this work would seem to almost require a detailed recording with a deep soundstage).

And if you are happy downloading and don't require surround sound, there's a 24/96 stereo recording on Chandos:

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%2010709S

also on special offer at qobuz. This another fine performance of the I and A (you can buy it on its own if you like); a very good Cello Concerto is on the programme, too, though a couple of bum notes needed re-taking, possibly unwanted resonances from a stand or a bridge, irritating on repeated listening. Even in stereo the sound-stage depth is impressive in the I and A. Certainly worth sampling the short excerpts on the website, I think.

[richardfinegold]

And if you are happy downloading and don't require surround sound, there's a 24/96 stereo recording on Chandos:

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%2010709S

also on special offer at qobuz. This another fine performance of the I and A (you can buy it on its own if you like); a very good Cello Concerto is on the programme, too, though a couple of bum notes needed re-taking, possibly unwanted resonances from a stand or a bridge, irritating on repeated listening. Even in stereo the sound-stage depth is impressive in the I and A. Certainly worth sampling the short excerpts on the website, I think.

Thanks PJ I might try to download this. I've never downloaded from Chandos and it would be a good into to the site. I will do this from work on Monday because I have a more reliable connection there.
The Haitink is a nice performance although inevitably it doesn't compete with my memories of 30 years ago. Also, as an I tunes download , the string quartet tends to blend with the orchestra.

[richardfinegold]

On further inspection of the Chandos site, it doesn't appear that the Introduction can not be ordered separately; I would have to purchase the entire disc. If I am correct, this is very frustrating. One of the advantages of DL is supposed to be the ability to pick and choose.

[Exonian]

My thanks to all for a very interesting thread - from favourite recordings of a small masterpiece to French finger-wobbling from the 1920s!!

For what it's worth I would strongly agree with the Barbirolli and Marriner recommendations first heard on lovely old HMV and Argo lps. The sound was good - may I say a better introduction to the music than a download? I also like the Boult and Handley versions very much. For a slightly more modern recording - and a very good one too - I would suggest Andrew Davis with the BBCSO in a great Teldec recording from 1991.

[PJPJ]

On further inspection of the Chandos site, it doesn't appear that the Introduction can not be ordered separately; I would have to purchase the entire disc. If I am correct, this is very frustrating. One of the advantages of DL is supposed to be the ability to pick and choose.

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%2010709S

Select Studio 24/96 at the top.

Click "add" next to each of Introduction and Allegro - total cost £4.80

You can buy separate tracks from theclassicalshop but they cost more per minute.

[akiralx]

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Deta...=CHAN%2010709S

Select Studio 24/96 at the top.

Click "add" next to each of Introduction and Allegro - total cost £4.80

You can buy separate tracks from theclassicalshop but they cost more per minute.

Not impressed - both tracks failed to download, each twice - the first at 90% and the second at 99% - and the cover art is missing. Now attempting track 1 for a third time...

[richardfinegold]

Not impressed - both tracks failed to download, each twice - the first at 90% and the second at 99% - and the cover art is missing. Now attempting track 1 for a third time...

Same here. I'm sorry that you are also having trouble--and perhaps wasted money, as I have--but misery loves company. grrr....It's so much easier to pop in a CD and hit play...

[PJPJ]

Same here. I'm sorry that you are also having trouble--and perhaps wasted money, as I have--but misery loves company. grrr....It's so much easier to pop in a CD and hit play...

I'm sorry you two are having problems; on the only occasion I had one, the tech people were very helpful and sorted things out quickly.

Cover art can be downloaded separately - toppish right, click on "ARTWORK" and "BOOKLET".

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/contacttech.aspx

[Barbirollians]

Surely it’s Barbirolli or Barbirolli - I tend by a whisker to agree with the preference for the earlier Halle recording.