BaL 27.01.24 - Mozart: String Quintet no. 3 in C (K.515)

[smittims]

Thanks, Mandryka. I've heard and admired their Italian concertos (Manfredini, perhaps) so I'll give it a go.

[RobP]

I’d have thought the recent Ebene, a Gramophone award winner, might be favourite to overtake the now ancient Gramiaux.

Hi, being 'ancient' doesn't alter it's quality. Alas being a Gramophone winner now says nothing about performance quality, although the Ebene's Beethoven cycle was excellent. There might be an issue with the transfers that have appeared from the Philips tapes from which the LPs appeared in 1974, which, having them on first label LP, I hadn't heard, but a quick stream of the Complete Mozart Edition box indicated the sound is still excellent (it is a pity that Pentatone didn't issue these on SACD, but I might be wrong).

[HighlandDougie]

Not sure about Roger Parker's rather world-weary sounding delivery but an interesting BaL. Nash Ensemble, Alban Bergs and the Ébènes (with Heifetz et al as RP's personal desert island luxury, as it were) toughing it out with the Ébènes just pipping the others at the post. Van Kuijks as a close fourth. I very much liked the Nash Ensemble so will seek that out to add to the winner, which I bought as a CD quite recently, spurred on by PG's enthusiasm for it. Wonderful music.

[Barbirollians]

This quintet has never been covered specifically on BaL before, although there was a programme on all 6 quintets back in 1983, for which I don’t know what the recommendation was. There was then a programme on K515 and 516 in November 1988 when Christopher Headington chose the Grumiaux complete set with the Smetana Quartet as a single disc choice. Incidentally the 4th, 5th & 6th quintets have all been covered since then and on each occasion the Grumiaux set was first choice.

But today it was dismissed from the start - BAL becoming so predictable . I thought Roger Parker was a Verdi expert and I thought his criticism of the work was misplaced.

[Mandryka]

Doesn't Ebène take the first movement a bit slowly? Did they talk about Hagen, Ibragimova, Caussé, Capuçon on DVD? That's another "original" one. I listened to L’Archibudelli last night, and I thought it was excellent.

[jonfan]

Shockingly this work is new to me. I’m excited to investigate more by, IMHO, an excellent BAL. Roger Parker sold his enthusiasm for the piece, both for its beauty and originality and at the same time showing respect for all performances.

[Master Jacques]

I thought Roger Parker was a Verdi expert and I thought his criticism of the work was misplaced.

Just because Roger Parker's a Verdi specialist doesn't mean that he lacks expertise when it comes to Mozart: quite the reverse, in my opinion. His knowledge of Mozart rather informs his insights on Verdi. And personally I'd rather listen to his opinions on this than ... [the task of filling up the blanks, I'd rather leave to you!]

[pastoralguy]

Shockingly this work is new to me. I’m excited to investigate more by, IMHO, an excellent BAL. Roger Parker sold his enthusiasm for the piece, both for its beauty and originality and at the same time showing respect for all performances.

The g minor Quintet is, imho, one of Mozart’s most sublime works. Sometimes, I listen to the first movement over and over…. It’s the other work on the Ebene’s disc.

[kernelbogey]

Just because Roger Parker's a Verdi specialist doesn't mean that he lacks expertise when it comes to Mozart: quite the reverse, in my opinion. His knowledge of Mozart rather informs his insights on Verdi. And personally I'd rather listen to his opinions on this than ... [the task of filling up the blanks, I'd rather leave to you!]

[DoctorT]

But today it was dismissed from the start - BAL becoming so predictable . I thought Roger Parker was a Verdi expert and I thought his criticism of the work was misplaced.

It wasn’t dismissed from the start. Grumiaux was described as ‘a great violinist’ and the recording ideal for repeated listening. It just wasn’t among RP’s favourites

[Barbirollians]

It was quite clearly treated as old fashioned and damned with faint praise Doctor T . It also received the common oh I liked it when I was young and before I knew better dismissal from Mr McGregor .

Master Jacques perhaps you should read this forum’s house rules - sneering ad hominem abuse of other members is as I understood it frowned upon.

my point was I thought the description of Mozart descending into baroque knitting misplaced .

Maybe time to take a break from here .

[DoctorT]

No offence intended from me, Barbirollians: your knowledge of recordings is much superior to mine. The Grumiaux has been my only recording for years and I’m very fond of it but yesterday afternoon I streamed the Ebene recording and it just sounds…fresher (I think that’s the word I’m looking).

[Alison]

No break needed Barbs, it is good to have someone who rarely follows current fads. I also winced at ‘baroque knitting’ while being amused at Dougie’s ‘world weary’.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It was quite clearly treated as old fashioned and damned with faint praise Doctor T . It also received the common oh I liked it when I was young and before I knew better dismissal from Mr McGregor .

Master Jacques perhaps you should read this forum’s house rules - sneering ad hominem abuse of other members is as I understood it frowned upon.

my point was I thought the description of Mozart descending into baroque knitting misplaced .

Maybe time to take a break from here .

I hope you don’t . As an independent reader I think MJ’s final comments were not directed at you but at other unnamed BAL reviewers, As it happens I find your opinions just as valuable as most of those on BAL , if not more so , but that could just be because I usually agree with them. On the wider question I find the whole question of changing performance styles so well worn it’s become boring. What matters is the musical integrity of the performance not whether it’s faster than a sixties performance or played with less vibrato.

[french frank]

I think MJ’s final comments were not directed at you but at other unnamed BAL reviewers,

I thought so too. No house rules about criticising presenters, reviewers, Radio 3 in general for its multiple sins.