BaL 28.06.14 - Ravel's La Valse

[Black Swan]

The Dutoit just happens to be the only version of La Valse I have on CD, bought when it first came out in 1983 (and on a single CD). I would have been surprised if it had not been a contender.

I agree, it is the only recording I have as well. I purchased the box set several years ago and have enjoyed it immensely.

[MickyD]

This was a curate's egg for me; I just couldn't take listening to that much La Valse & I think I need to lie down in a darkened and silent room for a while ...

There were plenty of recordings that I expected to hear and didn't (Cluytens, Rattle, Monteux in San Fransisco, Haitink in Boston etc) but time limits what can be demonstrated and on balance I think that William Mival did a pretty good job.

Perhaps it is because I heard them very early on but I was very taken with the recordings by Ansermet, Martinon and Albert Wolf. The Barenboim was hilarious but not in a good way and I didn't like the Cantelli either. I wish there had been a HIPP-approach recording to hear from say Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth but perhaps I'm counselling perfection.

Am....try the Anima Eterna/Immerseel CD on ZigZag for an HIPP approach...it got good notices on its release. It comes with the Left Hand Piano Concerto and Boléro, if I remember rightly.

[Barbirollians]

I have also had the Dutoit since then . I was 16 and loved the record of La Valse , The rhapsodie espagnole , alborada and bolero .

30 years on I agree it us unmatched as much. Despite the great enjoyment I have obtained recently from the Monteux

[BBMmk2]

A most excellent BaL, I thought and a good result, imo. I have this recording so it turns out to be a cheap result as well! :)

[Rolmill]

Yes, a well-presented, thoughtful BAL, and it is interesting to read how many boarders already have the Dutoit. I don't, but coincidentally Europadisc just started a sale of twofers which includes the relevant Double Decca, so I was able to rectify the omission immediately .

[visualnickmos]

....Haitink in Boston....

I have to say, that I did rather the Haitink extract that was played - the Concertgebouw; but then I do generally like Haitink's recordings - well, those that I have at least!

A very good BaL; the examples and narrative were excellently woven together. I agree with you that it was rather a 'La Valse' overload, such is the potency of the piece... but that is all part of the territory, I suppose, when making comparisons.

[BBMmk2]

Yes, a well-presented, thoughtful BAL, and it is interesting to read how many boarders already have the Dutoit. I don't, but coincidentally Europadisc just started a sale of twofers which includes the relevant Double Decca, so I was able to rectify the omission immediately .

A top class set that. Try and purchase the full Daphnis recording as well, Rolmill.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

grew up on the Ansermet OSR in the family radiogram, bless Ace of Clubs eh

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm always a sucker for Grainger!

You and me both. Sounds like I need this Saba disc...!

[Nick Armstrong]

Jos van Immerseel and Anima Eterna ..... not that I expect it to feature on Saturday morning.

Too right, HD! Have Roth/Siècles recorded it? I suspect not, I don't see it in EA's list.

Love this piece and enjoyed hearing a number of versions unknown to me in WM's survey. As so often, some surprising (as opposed to unsurprising) omissions - above all, no reference at all to Abbado, unless I nodded off?! (Is that the disc with the 'winning' Alborada, EA?).

Barenboim and Maazel in their different ways utterly ludicrous... (as I would have expected)

Haitink from the first notes (just after the Barenboim) so right... and the Monteux/LSO wonderful. I must get the latter! (I already have Dutoit, Haitink, Abbado)

Most revelatory of all, that extract from the old Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra, Albert Wolff - apparently with Ravel's 'approval', sounding as the reviewer said, such fun in the early sections of the piece in the courtois, galant, slightly camp manner of the French acting style in old films like the Sacha Guitry works... I wish someone would record it now in that style - seems just right for that mannered world to collapse into the horror of the end of the piece. It would be great if Roth and Les Siècles could give it plenty of the old schmaltz like that when they record it !

The other revelation was the Karajan / Orchestre de Paris (can't see that in the OP, incidentally) - also rather camped-up, to a fault perhaps, but it sounded to me the closest to the Wolff/Lamoureux style... Wm. Mival said it doesn't get dark enough later on in the piece, but I really want to hear it!

So a BAL where I have long owned and loved the 'winner' ... but still potentially expensive!!

[Lento]

After playing La Valse I nearly always take out Mahler 7 and listen to its Scherzo.
For me these two works are interwined, if not thematically, in terms of atmosphere and Angst.

Give me the Mahler any day!

[verismissimo]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]... It would be great if Roth and Les Siècles could give it plenty of the old schmaltz like that when they record it !...

There's a technical term for that 'old schmaltz', Cali. Portamento. And it's not really schmaltz at all. It's the way they played (as we heard in the Harrison recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto last week).

[Nick Armstrong]

There's a technical term for that 'old schmaltz', Cali. Portamento. And it's not really schmaltz at all. It's the way they played (as we heard in the Harrison recording of Elgar's Cello Concerto last week).

Yes I know ... but it was more than that in the Lamoureux version - there was a particular style to the portamento and everything else, I thought....

[verismissimo]

Yes I know ... but it was more than that in the Lamoureux version - there was a particular style to the portamento and everything else, I thought....

I've been looking out for a nice cheap copy, Clai, but without success.

[Sir Velo]

This a very short work for BaL. It isn't long since BaL reviewed an even shorter work: Alborada del gracioso. I wonder whether the BaL winner for La Valse will be on the same CD.

Not sure why Ravel, alone, qualifies for this treatment from the BAL boys. Would have been far better to have lumped this with Bolero, Alborada and the Rapsodie and do them all together.

I'm looking forward to future BALs on the following (not):

Overture "Guillaume Tell"
"Till Eulenspiegel"
"In the South"
"Fingal's Cave"
"Le carnaval romain"
"Les preludes"
"Taras Bulba"
"Four Sea Interludes"