BaL 31.01.15 - Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 in E flat "Eroica"

**MickyD** · 23-01-15, 09:13

I wonder just how much time it takes a reviewer to listen and select a winner from such a daunting list?

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 23-01-15, 09:22

Originally posted by MickyD View Post

I wonder just how much time it takes a reviewer to listen and select a winner from such a daunting list?

Yes - an impossible task: one of those works that no individual performance can "cover". Either you whittle it down to about a dozen recordings, or you plump for a "safe" performance that ticks the majority of the boxes.

I have little regard for Kenyon, but this is a hell I wouldn't wish upon anybody. I suspect that this is a BaL that's bound to raise hackles.

Can't wait!

**MLF** · 23-01-15, 09:40

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

I suspect that this is a BaL that's bound to raise hackles.

Can't wait!

You bad boy!

**Nick Armstrong** · 23-01-15, 10:11

Originally posted by MickyD View Post

I wonder just how much time it takes a reviewer to listen and select a winner from such a daunting list?

I wonder how long it takes just to make the list ... !

Bon courage, mon brave Alpie !!

**Nick Armstrong** · 23-01-15, 10:12

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

....hackles.

Can't wait!

**makropulos** · 23-01-15, 10:15

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

Yes - an impossible task: one of those works that no individual performance can "cover". Either you whittle it down to about a dozen recordings, or you plump for a "safe" performance that ticks the majority of the boxes.

I have little regard for Kenyon, but this is a hell I wouldn't wish upon anybody. I suspect that this is a BaL that's bound to raise hackles.

Can't wait!

By contrast, I have plenty of regard for Kenyon, and given his interests (and preferences), it's likely to be an intriguing BaL that might well provoke explosions of outrage. As a former editor of Early Music, and editor of the symposium "Authenticity and Early Music" (1988) he may well choose something historically-informed - or he may surprise us. But I'll certainly be listening.
Since people probably already have their favourite Eroicas, I don't think there's anything wrong with something that shakes things up a bit, maybe pointing the way to interesting alternatives.

For what it's worth, and in no particular order, the ones I'd never want to be without include Erich Kleiber/VPO (Decca, mono), Frans Brüggen (Philips/Decca), Charles Mackerras/SCO (Hyperion), Karl Böhm/VPO (DG), Eugen Jochum/BPO (DG, mono), and Riccardo Chailly (Decca) - among plenty of others. Which to choose as one?? Pretty much impossible to say... So yes, NK has a daunting task.

**Barbirollians** · 23-01-15, 10:27

It is bound to be something HIPP like Krivine or HIPPite like Chailly

If I was allowed to keep only one of my Eroicas it would be VPO/Kleiber although the 1955 mono Klemperer , the 1960s Karajan and Cluytens and the awesome Furtwangler live recording in a Tahra set described as legendary concerts would have to be dragged from me and most recently the Philips Bruggen too .

**visualnickmos** · 23-01-15, 12:03

Originally posted by Caliban View Post

I wonder how long it takes just to make the list ... !

Bon courage, mon brave Alpie !!

I think Alpie well-deserves a break from this one! He must have been dreading this day

Maybe we should allow him a sabbatical, and just let nature take it's course, and see what comes up tomorrow morning! Lots of dark horses, here, I feel.....

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 23-01-15, 12:15

Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post

I think Alpie well-deserves a break from this one! He must have been dreading this day

Maybe we should allow him a sabbatical, and just let nature take it's course, and see what comes up tomorrow morning! Lots of dark horses, here, I feel.....

Too late - I've done it.

**makropulos** · 23-01-15, 12:21

Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post

I think Alpie well-deserves a break from this one! He must have been dreading this day

Maybe we should allow him a sabbatical, and just let nature take it's course, and see what comes up tomorrow morning! Lots of dark horses, here, I feel.....

It's a terrific list - thanks Eine Alpensinfonie.

And it's a reminder that I have an old Vanguard CD set of Boult conducting Beethoven, including a good Eroica which I'm listening to at this moment (Vanguard Classics ATMCD 1191, incl. Symphs 3 and 5, Coriolan and Leonore No. 3; also ATMCD 1192 with Symphs 6 and 7, Fidelio and Egmont - all with the "Philharmonic Promenade Orchestra"). I'm very happy to see that it's still available. Another one I like very much is Matacic and the Czech PO on Supraphon - very glad that is still around too.

**visualnickmos** · 23-01-15, 12:27

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

Too late - I've done it.

What can I say? You are a genius, Alpie...... This must surely be the longest list you've done, to date on BaL?

Just seeing the piano version by Liszt, has reminded me that many, many, years ago, I had this on LP...... I no longer have it; for the life of me, I can't think how I 'lost' it........ shame really, as I seem now to remember liking it a lot

**visualnickmos** · 23-01-15, 12:35

I kind of hope it's not a HIPP version that takes the laurels. Unless the changes will be rung, with 2 recommendations - HIPP, and a proper version.....

Now I've lit the fire!

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 23-01-15, 12:42

You can hardly dismiss VPO/Kleiber when you talk HIPP. He takes the 1st movement at a real lick...

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 23-01-15, 12:46

Originally posted by visualnickmos View Post

What can I say? You are a genius, Alpie...... This must surely be the longest list you've done, to date on BaL?

The longest by some margin - 178 versions, not counting the extras.

BaL 31.01.15 - Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 in E flat "Eroica"

BaL 31.01.15 - Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 in E flat "Eroica"

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