BaL 14.05.11 - Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 17

[verismissimo]

Pires and Bilson then. I've always loved Pires in Mozart, though I don't have this one.

[amateur51]

I thought that this was an exemplary BAL, with Robert Philip managing to cover a potentially huge number of recordings with skill and erudition, without lapsing into Richard Osborne's latterday tiefernst approach. He managed to cover all the bases re historical recordings, HIPP, modern Steinway performances etc without being condescending.

An excellent piece of informative professional modern broadcasting - bravo Robert Philip & Radio 3!!

[aeolium]

Yes, I enjoyed this review, and I thought the Pires/COE/Abbado recording sounded very good indeed. I have the Ashkenazy/Philharmonia recording (among others) and I don't recall the relatively slow tempo of the Andante sounding too drawn-out but part of the problem of the BaL format is that it is of course impossible to hear the whole movement where a chosen tempo can make sense if you do hear that whole movement. There weren't that many older recordings reviewed (Barenboim/ECO the oldest?) - an hour long BaL might have allowed RP the chance to play excerpts from one or two of the older ones.

[amateur51]

Yes, I enjoyed this review, and I thought the Pires/COE/Abbado recording sounded very good indeed. I have the Ashkenazy/Philharmonia recording (among others) and I don't recall the relatively slow tempo of the Andante sounding too drawn-out but part of the problem of the BaL format is that it is of course impossible to hear the whole movement where a chosen tempo can make sense if you do hear that whole movement. There weren't that many older recordings reviewed (Barenboim/ECO the oldest?) - an hour long BaL might have allowed RP the chance to play excerpts from one or two of the older ones.

It's always worth making a note of ones that you're interested in hearing more of, aeolium and then seeing if they're available for low-cost listening on itunes, Spotify, Naxos, etc

[MickyD]

Interesting that of all the HIP performances, Robert Philip ranked the Levin/Hogwood version as the top one - just a pity its not in the catalogue, though it can be found on Amazon. I must dig out my copy and give it another listen.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought that this was an exemplary BAL, with Robert Philip managing to cover a potentially huge number of recordings with skill and erudition, without lapsing into Richard Osborne's latterday tiefernst approach. He managed to cover all the bases re historical recordings, HIPP, modern Steinway performances etc without being condescending.

An excellent piece of informative professional modern broadcasting - bravo Robert Philip & Radio 3!!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

[Ventilhorn]

Ivan Drennikov with the Sofia Chamber Orchestra is especially good (as is the bassoon player on same). Also plays K.467 on Disk one.

Nicolai Evrov with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra plays K.491 and K.537 on disk two.

RON CD 205, if you can find it.

vh

[ardcarp]

I'd like to concur with the view that this was a first-rate BAL. It certainly ticked all the message-boarders' boxes: no faux dialogue, no restricting the field except (in one case regrettably) for unavailable recordings, and no personal prejudices...just reasoned argument. We even had patrician vowel sounds worthy of 20 years ago!!! I liked the Pires very much. I'm just sorry Perahia's version was flawed (in RP's view) by engineering problems. I've always loved his Mozaert playing.

It's amazing that any BAL thread...at least when it involves the classics....runs to several pages even before the broadcast happens.

[amateur51]

I'd like to concur with the view that this was a first-rate BAL. It certainly ticked all the message-boarders' boxes: no faux dialogue, no restricting the field except (in one case regrettably) for unavailable recordings, and no personal prejudices...just reasoned argument. We even had patrician vowel sounds worthy of 20 years ago!!!

I loved RP's patrician vowel sounds too - À la recherche du bruits de voyelle perdu in fact

[Nick Armstrong]

I'd like to concur with the view that this was a first-rate BAL. ... I'm just sorry Perahia's version was flawed (in RP's view) by engineering problems.

Yes, I enjoyed it too - old-style in the best sense of the phrase. I dozed off half way through - not the broadcast's fault - so missed if Christian Zacharias was mentioned? I shall listen again to the bit I missed, maybe the whole thing for another dose of Unirritating Vowel Syndrome

Funny about the Perahia. I must have listened to it more than 100 times over the years (this concerto is one of my favourites, as is MP's performance of it) on all kinds of equipment inc. headphones, super duper stereo system etc. I have never ever noticed the flaws that worried the reviewer

Caliban's cloth ears, perhaps. Or perhaps undue emphasis placed on the issue?

[vinteuil]

like others, I agree that this was first class. More time wd, of course, have allowed for more performers to be considered - Zacharias I wd have liked to have had his views on, and Anda; and perhaps the new HIP Sofronitzky was too recent an issue to have reached him: and this whole 'what is currently available' thing irks - tho' he was very deft in expressing his preference for Levin (I agree!) even if it's not in the shops... But I s'pose in a way I yearn for the whole 'interpretations on record' epoch, where the critic cd really expand... But yes, this was Radio 3 at its best...

[amateur51]

Yes, I enjoyed it too - old-style in the best sense of the phrase. I dozed off half way through - not the broadcast's fault - so missed if Christian Zacharias was mentioned? I shall listen again to the bit I missed, maybe the whole thing for another dose of Unirritating Bowel Syndrome

Funny about the Perahia. I must have listened to it more than 100 times over the years (this concerto is one of my favourites, as is MP's performance of it) on all kinds of equipment inc. headphones, super duper stereo system etc. I have never ever noticed the flaws that worried the reviewer

Caliban's cloth ears, perhaps. Or perhaps undue emphasis placed on the issue?

The Case of The Reviewer's Back - or Vulnerability Covered, perhaps

"If I don't mention it, someone will haul me up in front of the beak for being slack; if I do mention it I'll be hauled up for being 'picky'."

Best to say I liked it a lot, except for the recording flaw, I reckon

[Gordon]

Caliban's cloth ears, perhaps. Or perhaps undue emphasis placed on the issue?

'Fraid its yer ears Cal!! Those MP/ECO recordings, splendid though they are musically, have always been a bit under-produced and there are many variations of levels and a few poor edits. They were made over a period of time in different venues - 17 was an Abbey Road job along with No 18.

The same problems mar the Uchida set with poor edits and level variations. There is some hum in a few of these too which makes the edits obvious. St Johns Smith Square for no 17 in her set but also other venues for the rest.

[amateur51]

'Fraid its yer ears Cal!! Those MP/ECO recordings, splendid though they are musically, have always been a bit under-produced and there are many variations of levels and a few poor edits. They were made over a period of time in different venues - 17 was an Abbey Road job along with No 18.

The same problems mar the Uchida set with poor edits and level variations. There is some hum in a few of these too which makes the edits obvious. St Johns Smith Square for no 17 in her set but also other venues for the rest.

Not wanting to diss your expertise in these matters for one moment Gordon but .... hooray for my cloth ears!