BaL 28.06.14 - Ravel's La Valse

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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"

I would mind some of these, but the one I dread is Vivaldi's Four Seasons. It'd take a week to compile the list.

[Dave2002]

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....

Is this the version? - http://open.spotify.com/track/4hxoXDVcIavvXmY9wsH94Q

I caught the end of the broadcast with Dutoit this morning - very similar to his recent performance with the RPO at the RFH.
I'd have to listen again, but the live concert was even better I think, particularly in the closing bars.

[Ferretfancy]

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! :)

It was certainly a very good BAL. but as so often is the case the balance between William Mivel's voice and the excerpts bordered on the absurd. Listening on wide range equipment, with the voice at a generous level in my room, the music often sounded so laid back that it might have been heard as background while travelling in a lift. This particularly afflicted the quieter music in the early part of the work. There he was, discussing the exquisite scoring as we heard a vague impression in the middle distance.

By the end of the examples, things had improved a bit, but I wonder, does the presenter record his views separately, with the music mixed in elsewhere? Between examples, there should at least be an attempt to ensure that we hear each section at approximately the same relative level as its companions, otherwise how are we to judge?

Luckily, I have Haitink, Monteux, Boulez and Immerseel, so back to the shelves ! ( After a decent interval! )

[amateur51]

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.

Many thanks MickyD

[Rolmill]

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

Yes, I already have that recording bbm, it's very good imo.

[mikealdren]

It was certainly a very good BAL. but as so often is the case the balance between William Mivel's voice and the excerpts bordered on the absurd. Listening on wide range equipment, with the voice at a generous level in my room, the music often sounded so laid back that it might have been heard as background while travelling in a lift. This particularly afflicted the quieter music in the early part of the work. There he was, discussing the exquisite scoring as we heard a vague impression in the middle distance.

By the end of the examples, things had improved a bit, but I wonder, does the presenter record his views separately, with the music mixed in elsewhere? Between examples, there should at least be an attempt to ensure that we hear each section at approximately the same relative level as its companions, otherwise how are we to judge?

Luckily, I have Haitink, Monteux, Boulez and Immerseel, so back to the shelves ! ( After a decent interval! )

How I agree, it's an old issue but they have never got the balance right on CD review. Yes we want to hear the reviewer but we really want to hear the music too!

Mike

[LaurieWatt]

It was certainly a very good BAL.....

Having been vehemently critical of William Mival's lazy BAL for Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony, I was totally immersed in this one which I thought he did very well indeed with a fascinating and well chosen selection of comparative recordings, with an fine and almost inevitable conclusion. I can only assume that Rachmaninov was duty and the Ravel was love!