BaL 14.02.15 - Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

[Nick Armstrong]

Martha Argerich, Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Jacek Kaspszyk , Bbm

Heard this BaL on the day for once - yes, as ever from JS a great listen...

...not least as he called a number of things dead right imho! ... especially re: Samson François

He keeps you guessing, Mr Swain, doesn't he - most often tells you who's playing AFTER the extract... Adds to the interest, where it's a piece one knows well; and means that a second listen to the programme is also rewarding. I was glad I spotted the dull mechanistic mf of Michaelangeli in the 3rd movement....

Delighted to have a new version to investigate! Tempted to hear Grosvenor too, and that idiosyncratic reading by Pletnev with his pupil soloist too.

[edashtav]

The result was was almost inevitable and the breadth of Swain's informed survey was admirable, although, occasionally, his choice of versions to highlight ( e.g. playing an excerpt from the lesser of two conducted by Boulez) was perverse. Samson was the man for all live performances but too extreme to be the solo CD on one's shelf.

[HighlandDougie]

A splendid BaL - but an expensive one: I want Samson, Boulez and Monica Haas. Anyone catch which of her two recordings was illustrated?

The later one - with Paul Paray conducting the Orchestre Nationale de l'ORTF. See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravel-Concertos-Sonatine-Valses-Originals/dp/B0006ZFQOO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1423914560&sr=1-1&keywords=ravel+piano+concerto+in+g+monique+haas

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The later one - with Paul Paray conducting the Orchestre Nationale de l'ORTF. See:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravel-Concer...g+monique+haas

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

ooh dear i seem to have all the wrong versions! enjoyed the half of the discussion that i woke to but did not become too excited by the finale of his preferred Argerich version ....
were Vinnitskaya or Bavouzet mentioned at all favourably?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Another example of Radio 3 at its best.

And a wonderful concerto.

[edashtav]

Another example of Radio 3 at its best.

And a wonderful concerto.

Spot on,EA!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I heard the work performed live just once - in 1971 in the RAH, with Bernstein as soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic playing conductorless (apparently quite challenging, as there was some fairly vigorous foot tapping by some of the woodwind players).

[visualnickmos]

Talking Haas - does anyone know the Werner Haas recording? It's with (I think the Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra - or Philharmonic - whichever...)

A friend of mine mentioned it last week, and seems, by all accounts to laud it very highly..... any thoughts? I don't think it got a mention this morning.

A superb BaL, by the way.

And what about JP Collard with Maazel? Wasn't this a one-time Gramophone winner?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Talking Haas - does anyone know the Werner Haas recording? It's with (I think the Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra - or Philharmonic - whichever...)

Perhaps the Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra?

[visualnickmos]

Perhaps the Monte Carlo Opera Orchestra?

You are the man who 'knows these things!' but do you know if they are, or it is, any good? - putting it bluntly...

I should phone my friend..... but I prefer the 'open debate' approach of these boards.....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

All I know is that they play on the Haas set of Tchaikovsky piano concertos and were slated by Gramophone when first released. Nevertheless, I bought that set and have never been able to see the problem.

[HighlandDougie]

You are the man who 'knows these things!' but do you know if they are, or it is, any good? - putting it bluntly...

I should phone my friend..... but I prefer the 'open debate' approach of these boards.....

It's the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo - and my "local" orchestra. The much-lamented late Yakov Kreizberg persuaded the great and good of Monaco to up the budget and increase the orchestra's size. It's a good orchestra, which attracts excellent soloists and often features young conductors. In fact the last time I heard the Ravel G major concerto was in Monte Carlo with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet a couple of years ago. So less of the sniffy remarks about it, Nick! Decidedly better than that band in Montpellier.

[edashtav]

Another example of Radio 3 at its best.

And a wonderful concerto.

I've been drawn back to expand a little on EA's wise words: "wonderful concerto". I think it's an extraordinary masterpiece in so many ways. Just take the bitter-sweet "slow" movement. What a risk Ravel took through leaving its exposition to the solo piano. And.. look at the length of that sinuous theme - perhaps 30% of the whole movement. Note the Mozartian simplicity of its materials : a vamp-like waltz accompaniment under a tune that's constantly in tension with the triteness of waltz rhythm. It's a theme without end, it tries to resolve but always fails. I'm afraid it always bring tears to my eyes, it's akin to mourning - a state that has no finite end and no resolution. I feel that it's another in that series of pieces that Ravel wrote recollecting the losses that he and his friends suffered during, and due to, the first World War. It's so intimate, I feel that Ravel is speaking of experiences shared with the piece's dedicatee. And... what a tribute to her! Do note the return of the main theme, now on cor anglais - an instrument deeply associated with grieving- with the accompaniment provided by Mme Long and written to show off the "jewel in her pianistic crown", her "jeu perlé",pure even skeins of demisemiquavers (or 32nds) that she practised so often, with resting fingers only just clear of the keyboard below. Maurice Ravel rarely wore his heart on his sleeve - in many ways he should have been a buttoned-up Englishman- but in this movement for all its restraint, one feels that Mr Cool has a warm heart that is full of empathy. I could go on, and on, but I'll just note the whiplash that snaps this mood and plunges us back into the hot jazz of the finale.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

were Vinnitskaya or Bavouzet mentioned at all favourably?

The Bavouzet was illustrated towards the end - the astonishing fingerwork from the finale rightly admired, but the orchestra (particularly the bassoons) not keeping up with the soloist's giddy virtuosity (and, it sounded from my radio, some very close mic-ing on the piano; the orchestra very distant). Mind you, the chosen illustration came straight after Boulez & the Cleveland bassoons, who make everybody else sound under-powered!