BaL requests

[Pulcinella]

As the episode scheduled for 16.11.24 is currently listed as a repeat (or the second part of a cliffhanger?) of the broadcast on 2.11.24 (Prokofiev PC2), I thought it might be fun to ask for suggestions (obviously far too late for consideration for that episode, which will surely be updated/corrected soon) for future episodes, which the powers that be, should they ever look at this thread, might like to consider.

Composer, work, and short rationale for each suggestion welcome.
Obviously some of our Summer BaLs might well qualify.

[Retune]

Is there in one place a list of previous BaLs, so we can find things that haven't been reviewed for a long time, or maybe never? I've seen documents like this that run from late 1999 to late 2013:

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio3/classical/cdreview/bal1214.pdf

Episodes since late 2010 are online as podcasts and you can view the titles in an RSS reader:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrtty/episodes/downloads

https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nrtty.rss

e.g., to get all the podcasts listed on one page, enter the .rss URL here:

https://www.joydeepdeb.com/misc/rss-feed-reader.html

Is there anything better or more comprehensive than these?

[LMcD]

BBC Genome lists what looks like hundreds, going back many years, under 'Building A Library, 'CD Review' and 'Record Review'.
Peter Sculthorpe was CoTW back in 2004, but I don't know whether anybody has compared and recommended recordings of his works.
It was Natalie Wheen (remember her?) who introduced me to his music one teatime a few decades ago when she concluded her introduction to 'Port Essington' with the ominous word 'the bush wins...'

[Pulcinella]

Is there in one place a list of previous BaLs, so we can find things that haven't been reviewed for a long time, or maybe never?
....

Darloboy might be able to help here.

[Retune]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101.

One of the greatest of all piano sonatos, with a very rich discography, and I don't see it in the links above covering the last 25 years of BaL.

[richardfinegold]

Ives Concord Sonata. It’s an interesting piece, straddling the currents of twentieth century musical divides with Ives unique voice. There aren’t 3000 to choose from and the reviewer could spend a brief time discussing the various editions

[Pulcinella]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101.

One of the greatest of all piano sonatos, with a very rich discography, and I don't see it in the links above covering the last 25 years of BaL.

If you filter the Presto listings to get Award winners that can sometimes help, but in many cases (especially of compilations) it's not clear which particular piece was the BaL subject.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/23773--beethoven-piano-sonata-no-28-in-a-major-op-101/browse?award_winner=true&size=10&view=large&sort=relevance

[Retune]

If you filter the Presto listings to get Award winners that can sometimes help, but in many cases (especially of compilations) it's not clear which particular piece was the BaL subject.

Yes, those compilations are tricky, especially the complete sonata boxes! As far as I can make out, they have done the 'Grand Sonata' (Op.7), the Pathetique, Moonlight, Appassionata, Waldstein, Tempest, and Les Adieux, and the late sonatas from the Hammerklavier onwards (Op.106,109,110,111) in the last 25 years. The formatting is a bit inconsistent in the PDF files and the RSS feed (I ended up searching for 'piano sonata', as well as '101') so I might have missed something.

[Retune]

Ives Concord Sonata. It’s an interesting piece, straddling the currents of twentieth century musical divides with Ives unique voice. There aren’t 3000 to choose from and the reviewer could spend a brief time discussing the various editions

Sarah Walker picked Marc-Andre Hamelin in 2004, with Steven Mayer the budget-price choice.

[Belgrove]

I don’t recall Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks Chamber Concerto being done. It has the advantage of being relatively short, so an in depth comparison between available versions can be made. It’s a colourfully scored example of Stravinsky’s neo-classical style which invites a variety of approaches. And there’s a refreshingly tart new version by the joint student ensembles of the Juilliard School and Royal Academy conducted by Barbara Hannigan just released.

[Darloboy]

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101.

One of the greatest of all piano sonatos, with a very rich discography, and I don't see it in the links above covering the last 25 years of BaL.

Good choice! I don't think it's ever been covered by the programme.

But then neither have sonatas 1-3; 5-7; 9-13; 16; 18-20; 22; 24-25; or 27 - which suggests to me that they could do a BaL on complete sonata cycles.

[Pulcinella]

I don’t recall Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks Chamber Concerto being done. It has the advantage of being relatively short, so an in depth comparison between available versions can be made. It’s a colourfully scored example of Stravinsky’s neo-classical style which invites a variety of approaches. And there’s a refreshingly tart new version by the joint student ensembles of the Juilliard School and Royal Academy conducted by Barbara Hannigan just released.

Though there's a suspect wrong note in the third movement (mentioned in New releases) that Linn have been investigating for me! Two bars after figure 34. This is their latest response.

You're quite right, there is a D flat in the Flute, but the Clarinet and Horn are in unison / octaves with the Flute at this point and the reason it sounds consonant is they are also playing a D flat here. There is no way this could happen by accident which means it must be in the orchestral parts used on the sessions. So it's either always been there (in this set at least) or at some previous time it's been changed deliberately.

We've been in touch with the publishers to see if they can shed any light on the matter and are awaiting a response. If we get one, we'll let you know!

So a bit of a musical mystery, but your ears were 100% correct.

[Belgrove]

Though there's a suspect wrong note in the third movement (mentioned in New releases) that Linn have been investigating for me! Two bars after figure 34. This is their latest response.

Fascinating, do let us know if Linn get back to you with further information.

[Retune]

Good choice! I don't think it's ever been covered by the programme.

But then neither have sonatas 1-3; 5-7; 9-13; 16; 18-20; 22; 24-25; or 27 - which suggests to me that they could do a BaL on complete sonata cycles.

I'd love to hear a complete cycle comparison, as some sort of special edition with more than 45 minutes to talk about the versions...

[LMcD]

I'd love to hear a complete cycle comparison, as some sort of special edition with more than 45 minutes to talk about the versions...

I wonder how long the 'short list' would be!
Wikipedia shamefully fails to mention John Lill.