Much (re)enjoying the RLPO/Mackerras; the Liverpool bells in Saturn are particularly fine.
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The test of a very good BaL (thank you Nigel) is for me whether I add to the groaning shelves. As I have the Boult recordings already, I’ve ordered the Mackerras and, having swithered about it for ages, the Japanese MQA version of the Previn. I had forgotten how fine it is as a performance.Comment
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Oh, Ok. I ran a classical CD shop (Pulcinella worked there on occasion) and one wet Wednesday afternoon I was leaning on the counter reading the latest Gramophone when the door opened and a chap in a black mac came in, I acknowledged him with an 'afternoon' without looking up and continued reading. He proceeded to browse...Orchestral and New Releases...he then shouted over his shoulder 'you don't have the new 'Planets' on Virgin do you?', I replied that I didn't, and what was more I might not get it in until it had had a favourable review as there had been a glut of 'Planets' recently - this was the late 80s/early 90s...the Classic FM/Pavarotti effect was kicking in! He continued browsing and eventually came up to the counter with two (Hyperion Brahms chamber works) CDs. He then proffered his credit card, looking at it I saw immediately the name Sir Charles Mackerras.....for a moment I smiled and was just about to tell him what a pleasure it was to meet him, and that I had tickets for Rosencavalier that evening (WNO).....but then the full horror of what I'd said hit home, as I realised that the new Virgin 'Planets' was RLPO conducted by Sir Charles!! He was very pleasant and complimented me on my Janacek opera stock (incl. The Makropulos Case!), I kept all of his Decca recordings and just about all the Supraphon sets too.Originally posted by makropulos View Post
It was a superb Rosencav that night with Felicity Lott, Susan Graham and Amanda Roocroft....a wonderful trio of soloists.
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I compared the Boult LPO with the VPO, streaming while taking public transport, so not ideal listening circumstances. In general the LPO account is a little better rhythmic in Mars and Jupiter and the Magician music while Venus and the aging Saturn come off a bit more opulently from Vienna, somewhat the opposite of what was expected given chronological age. I would give the nod to the winner hereComment
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That's a great story!Originally posted by Roger Webb View Post
A propos the same recording,I was in contact with Andrew Keener yesterday. He produced the Mackerras recording and told me how he managed to get such a wonderful balance with the women's choir in Neptune. He put them in the balcony facing away from the orchestra (with a TV monitor to watch Sir Charles). And – in spite of what I said yesterday – the fade at the end was absolutely real: the singers processed out of the balcony into the corridors of Philharmonic Hall until nothing more could be heard of them.Comment
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Andrew used to come into my shop quite often for a chat when he was recording at St. Georges, Brandon Hill....haven't seen hill for ages.....I had forgotten he engineered (Edit: produced...he'd never forgive me!!) the recording....I'm sure this story would amuse him!Originally posted by makropulos View PostLast edited by Roger Webb; 12-01-25, 23:12.Comment
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I'm having dinner with him quite soon and will be sure to share it!Originally posted by Roger Webb View Post
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In Suvi Raj Grubb's memoirs he recalls Boult's New Philharmonia Planets, where they also had the choir in the balcony, but he and Boult agreed that one voice was clearly too loud in the final bars, so Grubb headed up to sort out the issue. Boult said 'My dear chap, I'd better come up with you, old chap, in case there are ructions'. Grubb asked one small group, including the culprit to hum rather than sing during the work's close, which solved the problem perfectly.Originally posted by makropulos View Post
During their return to the hall Boult told him 'You would have a wonderful career in the Diplomatic Service, if ever you decide to apply, let me know - I shall give you a splendid reference'.Last edited by akiralx; 13-01-25, 02:54.Comment
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And give him my regards would you.....and let me know what he says! (send a personal message if you like)Originally posted by makropulos View Post
BTW. An amusing follow-up to the story is that when Sir Charles gave an interview to Gramophone a couple of years later he misremembered where it had occured - he put it down to Bath Compact Discs...my (friendly) competitor! I got all the fun, they all the blame!Last edited by Roger Webb; 13-01-25, 09:37.Comment
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Not quite in Roger’s class, but some fifty years ago, I bought most of my classical LPs in a shop called Hampstead HiFi in the High Street. They also sold Gramophone and Records & Recording (long since RIP), and one afternoon I picked up and paid for their last copy of the latter. Before I left the shop, the guy who ran it (David?) asked me if I’d sell it back to them. Puzzled, I asked why. Someone who had entered the shop was desperate to see it. I didn’t recognise him - it was early in my classical listening days - but it was Stephen Bishop (as he then was), who lived locally, keen to read a review of his latest release. I was reluctant to give up my purchase, but I did at least let him read the review.Comment
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Congratulations for standing up for your rights!
When one of my sons was about seven years old he was waiting to have ago on the digger at a church fete when the vicar's wife came up and said 'd'you mind if I push in in front of you?'. He said 'Yes I do mind. Wait your turn'.
A chip off the old block, clearly.Comment
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