BaL 8.11.14 - Stravinsky: Petrushka

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I find to my surprise that I only have the Stravinsky/Columbia version on CD; digitally, I have two 1947 versions

CDs ARE digital.

[Bryn]

I couldn't think of better way of summing myself up. Thanks for the compliment.

(What do the youngsters use? An i-Recorder?) ...

As far as I am aware, the first pocket solid state audio recorder to go on general sale was the M-Audio Microtrack (2006). I bought an early example and very quickly sent it back for a full refund. It was supposed to take Compact Flash cards but would not function with those I tried it with. These days the range of pocket solid state audio recorders available is daunting. Take a look at this page, for instance.

[Nick Armstrong]

CDs ARE digital.

I knew someone would come along with something like that !!

A trifle lazily I was following the categories on Amazon where "Digital Music" (i.e. downloads) is a different category from "CDs and Vinyl". I imagine most people including

YOU KNEW WHAT I MEANT !!!

[ardcarp]

Just to endorse....

Good to see a classic, one-person BAL again.

...and the Rattle choice which, assuming it's this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stravinsky-Petrushka-Sir-Simon-Rattle/dp/B0000CE7FY

...is the one I've got. And Firebird is pretty darn good too.

[Nick Armstrong]

Actually, Caliban might have witnessed an incident of this sort during one of Volodos's encores at the RFH recently. A lady some rows in front of me was clearly trying to make a recording on her 'device'. An attendant was soon onto her and almost snatched it from her. The discussion continued long after the piece ended. The appearance of the lady made me think that she might have claimed, rightly or wrongly, that she did not understand what the attendant was complaining about.

She and her companion were directly next to me !

The bloke to my immediate left was recording the whole first half on a device on his lap - I only realised after the interval when he obviously ballsed something up and failed to activate it: his fiddling made me look at what he was playing at and I saw a small digital machine with two small mikes protruding from one end (cf: a few of the machines in Bryn's link). At that point, I realised what the red light (of which I'd been vaguely aware earlier) had been. It wasn't lit for the second half.

He then left with his 'device' after the final Schumann piece, before the encores; the woman you refer to, on the aisle (and on the other side of the now vacant seat to the right) was then shamelessly recording / videoing the encores using her iPhone (or similar) held up to point at Volodos. The attendant dove at her and swiped the phone down onto her lap, and as you say, there was a (remarkably silent) debate thereafter.

Whether they were together (odd that they left separately in that case); or whether his bungled attempts to record the concert gave her an idea, I don't know.

[ardcarp]

Well Calibs, I should probably have put this in Pedants' (or pssibly Pseuds') Corner, but:

Dove for Americans. Dived for Brits
Whilst there is no clear delineation, dove tends to be used by those following US conventions, and dived tends to be used by those following UK conventions.
Pick the Version That Will Annoy the Most Readers
So, to annoy the most readers possible, you should use dove if those around you follow UK conventions but dived if they follow US conventions.

[Nick Armstrong]

Well Calibs, I should probably have put this in Pedants' (or pssibly Pseuds') Corner, but:

Dove for Americans. Dived for Brits
Whilst there is no clear delineation, dove tends to be used by those following US conventions, and dived tends to be used by those following UK conventions.
Pick the Version That Will Annoy the Most Readers
So, to annoy the most readers possible, you should use dove if those around you follow UK conventions but dived if they follow US conventions.

Yes I was goading someone into coming along with some more size 7 font action!!

[gurnemanz]

Away yesterday and just catching up. It is a favourite piece but it occurred to me that pre-CD I was content with only one recorded version on LP for about 20 years and that, strangely, I couldn't even remember what it was. Just nipped to the garage to find that it was Fricsay with the RIAS Orchestra on cheapo Heliodor. I must have played it a lot and as far as I can remember it was very good. I see it is now listed as download only.
I've got three CD versions. Haitink on Philips Duo was an early CD purchase. I've since acquired the composer's complete box and I also have Monteux. I probably won't buy any more.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I knew someone would come along with something like that !!

A trifle lazily I was following the categories on Amazon where "Digital Music" (i.e. downloads) is a different category from "CDs and Vinyl". I imagine most people including

YOU KNEW WHAT I MEANT !!!

But its usage does suggest that this cheapskate method of selling (i.e. they give you nothing other than permission to rearrange the molecules on your hard drive) is somehow more modern and superior.

An Amazon can be rather arrogant.

[Bryn]

But its usage does suggest that this cheapskate method of selling (i.e. they give you nothing other than permission to rearrange the molecules on your hard drive) is somehow more modern and superior.

An Amazon can be rather arrogant.

Is it not more a case of re-alignment, rather than rearrangement? Anyway, I think you will find that you may also send electrons through 'tunnels' to save your purchases. That's what I do with many of mine, as I do when recording friends' performances on a Zoom handy recorder.

[Barbirollians]

I think the Rattle is a sound choice . I missed the start but it sounded as if Monteux was being cursorily dismissed

[Ferretfancy]

I think that the BAL engineers have cloth ears, this was technically a very poor survey. To start with, Martin Cotton appeared to have been recorded under a blanket, while the music examples were, as is so often the case, played at a dreadfully low level in relation to the voice.

Petrushka must surely have an impact, the whole fairground quality should draw us in irresistibly into the drama. If the music examples do not match each other in level it becomes very difficult to distinguish between them as far as performance is concerned. This is particularly important in this work, where instrumental detail means so much.

Luckily I can rely on my copies of Monteux ( both stereo recordings ) Haitink, Tilson-Thomas, both Dutoit versions, Dorati and others.

[ardcarp]

Good to have the opinion of an audio expert, ferrets. The survey was surely OK, and presumably Mr Cotton heard the music on pretty decent equipment.

The varying volume levels on TV and radio programmes in general are often hard to fathom...though we all know the adverts blare out louder than the rest!

I must say that I enjoyed The Firebird BAL, so perhaps my ears are 'cloth' too. I have Monteux on LP, and it was my yardstick version; all the more so for obvious links with the composer. But I thought Cotton's choice was good; CBSO and Rattle at their best.

[Ferretfancy]

Good to have the opinion of an audio expert, ferrets. The survey was surely OK, and presumably Mr Cotton heard the music on pretty decent equipment.

The varying volume levels on TV and radio programmes in general are often hard to fathom...though we all know the adverts blare out louder than the rest!

I must say that I enjoyed The Firebird BAL, so perhaps my ears are 'cloth' too. I have Monteux on LP, and it was my yardstick version; all the more so for obvious links with the composer. But I thought Cotton's choice was good; CBSO and Rattle at their best.

I would certainly not suggest that you have cloth ears! I spoke to Andrew McGregor at a pre Proms talk in the summer, and he assured me that the reviewer is always present when BAL is put together, after listening to his or her choices beforehand, maybe at home. This makes it even more puzzling to me that the discrepancies are often so obvious on air. You only have to compare the sound quality of Andrew's announcements before and after BAL to hear the difference.

I usually listen on wide range equipment which does reveal aural differences rather acutely, my Roberts radio in the kitchen might be a better choice, and I have to say that possibly my mixing experience makes me critical. Let's just say that there's room for improvement.

Isn't Petrushka wonderful ? I never tire of hearing it, and the last few chords are magic!

[Nick Armstrong]

Isn't Petrushka wonderful ? I never tire of hearing it, and the last few chords are magic!

All told, I think it's my favourite thing by Igor.