BaL 28.03.15 - Elgar: Symphony no. 2 in E flat

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I didn't like RM's comment that Solti made the 3rd movement sound like a Hungarian Dance with elephants. Was he poking fun at Solti's nationality, or was it an another example of the reviewer trying to be clever.

Re metronome markings:

Exactly - Solti follows Elgar's tempo (and metronome) markings scrupulously - and hears that this is a Symphonic Sonata Allegro, revealing a real swagger to the "nobility" - this is a Symphony with fire in its belly! But it's not aggressive (as can be the case with this conductor) - instead (just as the score makes clear) this energy puts into relief the gentler, more reflective Second Group Music - Solti's conducting of the first bar has the last in its sights.

This one again. The point is - Elgar made up his own mind in performance and frequently ignored his own tempo markings. So if he can do so, the rest of us can. How some might argue that he had the right to do this because it was his music. Does that mean the rest of us must be placed mindlessly in a straightjacket? I think not, and it begs the question of the general validity of this particular obsession.

[Barbirollians]

I find the Solti performances fascinating because he did try and go back to Elgar's original recordings but I do not regard that as making them more valid that other interpretations for the reasons EA says .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This one again. The point is - Elgar made up his own mind in performance and frequently ignored his own tempo markings. So if he can do so, the rest of us can. How some might argue that he had the right to do this because it was his music. Does that mean the rest of us must be placed mindlessly in a straightjacket? I think not, and it begs the question of the general validity of this particular obsession.

This one again. The point is that when any interpreter can come up with a work as fine as this Symphony, then they can start buggering around with the score. Those who are particularly obsessed with equating "performing the score" with being "placed mindlessly in a straitjacket" (even the ones who spell that garment correctly) should stick to 50 Shades of Grey and allow the rest of us to listen to Elgar, not to his "interpreters".

[Pianoman]

Well I've had the Barenboim for some time and whilst I do admire aspects of it, there's no way it will replace Solti or Handley for me personally. I have the Hi-res download and even find the much-vaunted sound quality a tad unconvincing. So I quite enjoyed the survey, but it's another case of back to old favourites...

[Lordgeous]

Solti CD duly ordered!

[Pabmusic]

This one again. The point is that when any interpreter can come up with a work as fine as this Symphony, then they can start buggering around with the score. Those who are particularly obsessed with equating "performing the score" with being "placed mindlessly in a straitjacket" (even the ones who spell that garment correctly) should stick to 50 Shades of Grey and allow the rest of us to listen to Elgar, not to his "interpreters".

Wow! (But which side of the bed...? )

[cloughie]

This one again. The point is that when any interpreter can come up with a work as fine as this Symphony, then they can start buggering around with the score. Those who are particularly obsessed with equating "performing the score" with being "placed mindlessly in a straitjacket" (even the ones who spell that garment correctly) should stick to 50 Shades of Grey and allow the rest of us to listen to Elgar, not to his "interpreters".

Perhaps as I enjoy listening to a range of interpretations of Elgar 2, I qualify for a wardrobe of tailored straitjackets -
Ones with a little more room to breathe for the Barbirolli end of the spectrum and tighter ones at the Solti end!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wow! (But which side of the bed...? )

Evidently the wrong one this morning! (Not sure where the 50 Shades reference came from, nor to what it is relevant!)

[Pulcinella]

Evidently the wrong one this morning! (Not sure where the 50 Shades reference came from, nor to what it is relevant!)

With reference to another thread, you can always blame your keyboard!

[vinteuil]

(Not sure where the 50 Shades reference came from... )

... o, I assumed you were referring to Alpie's use of "straitjacket".

Incidentally, the Alpie who uses words like "mindless", "straitjacket", "obsessional" when referring to those who are interested in what can be learnt from Historically Informed Practice is surely not the same Alpie who uses words like "sneering" and "supercilious" when referring to critics with whom he disagrees?





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[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This one again. The point is that when any interpreter can come up with a work as fine as this Symphony, then they can start buggering around with the score. Those who are particularly obsessed with equating "performing the score" with being "placed mindlessly in a straitjacket" (even the ones who spell that garment correctly) should stick to 50 Shades of Grey and allow the rest of us to listen to Elgar, not to his "interpreters".

My point here was that Elgar himself was "buggering around with the score" every bit as much as other interpreters. (I do take your point about my shocking spelling though. )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Incidentally, the Alpie who uses words like "mindless", "straitjacket", "obsessional" when referring to those who are interested in what can be learnt from Historically Informed Practice is surely not the same Alpie who uses words like "sneering" and "supercilious" when referring to critics with whom he disagrees?


.

I did agree with most of what this critic said. However, I did not like his way of expressing his views on the Sinopoli recording.

[verismissimo]

... o, I assumed you were referring to Alpie's use of "straitjacket".

Incidentally, the Alpie who uses words like "mindless", "straitjacket", "obsessional" when referring to those who are interested in what can be learnt from Historically Informed Practice is surely not the same Alpie who uses words like "sneering" and "supercilious" when referring to critics with whom he disagrees?

Man is not truly one, but truly two, vints.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Man is not truly one, but truly two, vints.

You've been reading too much Robert Louis Stephenson.

[Petrushka]

Amazing, the LPO's track record in this work and No 1...

There was a time in the 1970s when the LPO seemed to be recording Elgar 1 or 2 every other week!