BaL 5.03.16 - Delius: Sea Drift

[EdgeleyRob]

Please do, Barbi. I'm listening to it again and, no, it's not flawless but the musicality is pouring out my speakers. In fact, I'm overwhelmed by it! The word 'love' is what I think applies to Menuhin's playing even when it's not always perfect.

This is the effect I get too with the Delius/Menuhin violin concerto !
Unswitchoffable despite the imperfections.

[Barbirollians]

I listened again to the Menuhin recording of the Delius concerto last night and perhaps I was too hard on it and I understand what PG means - when Menuhin is in tune he plays very beautifully - the slow movement and conclusion of the finale for example . The first half of the first movement and the Allegretto in the finale are very hard work though.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sea Drift

Having now heard the CHANDOS Terfel/Hickox recording (many thanks, Cali ) I think the reviewer was completely wrong in dismissing this on the grounds that he did (along the lines of Terfel having too "big"/Wagnerian a voice for the work): it is quite superb - some of us remember and prefer Terfel as a Mozart singer, and this recording from 1992 was made before he moved onto those "heavier" roles. The prevailing characteristic is one of gentleness, but with tremendous power in reserve for those anguished outbursts (the uselessly defiant repeated "Lovéd"s at the end - ruined in the Holten performance by the singer's pronunciation "Ler-vid" - got me blubbing). The orchestral sound has great presence (it's even better if anything in the coupling of the Songs of Farewell) and Hornspieler's old band play magnificently; the choir balance is spot on (for me - perhaps a little [a very little] less prominent than some listeners might wish in a recording) and the texts (Whitman's and Delius') admirably delivered.

I'm tempted to say that this would be my own top recommendation - except, to nitpick, the studio conditions do encourage Hickox and the engineers to dwell perhaps a little lovingly on details at times to the very very slight detriment of the momentum of the Music. In this respect, Hickox Live on the BBCMM cover disc show what might be considered as missing from the studio - a miniscule but telling increase in pace that gives these tides that extra frisson of urgency and "purpose". Thomas Hampson is at least as fine as Terfel (and his accent arguably closer to how Whitman - and Delius - imagined the words should sound) and if the detail of the Choir and Orchestra isn't as clean as the CHANDOS studio recording, that slight increase in pulse rate more than compensates.

Between these two recordings, Hickox produces a near-ideal performance of the work; for those of us (select few, it seems) to whom Delius' Music "speaks" directly, these are essential acquisitions.

[ahinton]

Having now heard the CHANDOS Terfel/Hickox recording (many thanks, Cali ) I think the reviewer was completely wrong in dismissing this on the grounds that he did (along the lines of Terfel having too "big"/Wagnerian a voice for the work): it is quite superb - some of us remember and prefer Terfel as a Mozart singer, and this recording from 1992 was made before he moved onto those "heavier" roles. The prevailing characteristic is one of gentleness, but with tremendous power in reserve for those anguished outbursts (the uselessly defiant repeated "Lovéd"s at the end - ruined in the Holten performance by the singer's pronunciation "Ler-vid" - got me blubbing). The orchestral sound has great presence (it's even better if anything in the coupling of the Songs of Farewell) and Hornspieler's old band play magnificently; the choir balance is spot on (for me - perhaps a little [a very little] less prominent than some listeners might wish in a recording) and the texts (Whitman's and Delius') admirably delivered.

I'm tempted to say that this would be my own top recommendation - except, to nitpick, the studio conditions do encourage Hickox and the engineers to dwell perhaps a little lovingly on details at times to the very very slight detriment of the momentum of the Music. In this respect, Hickox Live on the BBCMM cover disc show what might be considered as missing from the studio - a miniscule but telling increase in pace that gives these tides that extra frisson of urgency and "purpose". Thomas Hampson is at least as fine as Terfel (and his accent arguably closer to how Whitman - and Delius - imagined the words should sound) and if the detail of the Choir and Orchestra isn't as clean as the CHANDOS studio recording, that slight increase in pulse rate more than compensates.

Between these two recordings, Hickox produces a near-ideal performance of the work; for those of us (select few, it seems) to whom Delius' Music "speaks" directly, these are essential acquisitions.

I reckon that Delius himself would have been very moved by the thoughtul, considered and sensitive ways in which you write about this.

[Barbirollians]

Having now heard the CHANDOS Terfel/Hickox recording (many thanks, Cali ) I think the reviewer was completely wrong in dismissing this on the grounds that he did (along the lines of Terfel having too "big"/Wagnerian a voice for the work): it is quite superb - some of us remember and prefer Terfel as a Mozart singer, and this recording from 1992 was made before he moved onto those "heavier" roles. The prevailing characteristic is one of gentleness, but with tremendous power in reserve for those anguished outbursts (the uselessly defiant repeated "Lovéd"s at the end - ruined in the Holten performance by the singer's pronunciation "Ler-vid" - got me blubbing). The orchestral sound has great presence (it's even better if anything in the coupling of the Songs of Farewell) and Hornspieler's old band play magnificently; the choir balance is spot on (for me - perhaps a little [a very little] less prominent than some listeners might wish in a recording) and the texts (Whitman's and Delius') admirably delivered.

I'm tempted to say that this would be my own top recommendation - except, to nitpick, the studio conditions do encourage Hickox and the engineers to dwell perhaps a little lovingly on details at times to the very very slight detriment of the momentum of the Music. In this respect, Hickox Live on the BBCMM cover disc show what might be considered as missing from the studio - a miniscule but telling increase in pace that gives these tides that extra frisson of urgency and "purpose". Thomas Hampson is at least as fine as Terfel (and his accent arguably closer to how Whitman - and Delius - imagined the words should sound) and if the detail of the Choir and Orchestra isn't as clean as the CHANDOS studio recording, that slight increase in pulse rate more than compensates.

Between these two recordings, Hickox produces a near-ideal performance of the work; for those of us (select few, it seems) to whom Delius' Music "speaks" directly, these are essential acquisitions.

My two recordings of the piece too and I agree with every word you have so eloquently written fhgl !

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

My two recordings of the piece too and I agree with every word you have so eloquently written fhgl !

[BBMmk2]

Our Summer BaL: 52: Delius Sea Drift

I hope this has not been done before. this is one of my favourite Delius works. He's not performed very often at the Proms, so I thought be a good idea as to favourite recordings(not many) or perhaps concerts people have been to.

My favourite is the Sir Andrew Davis Chandos recording, which also has Songs of Farewell and Songs of sunset on, with Bryn Terfel etc. IMO, hard to beat!But tell me more!! :)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

My favourite is the Sir Andrew Davis Chandos recording, which also has Songs of Farewell and Songs of sunset on, with Bryn Terfel etc. IMO, hard to beat!But tell me more!! :)

My own nominations would include exactly the same set of works with the same soloist (with the Bournemouth SO & Chorus, and Sally Burgess) on the same label, but conducted by Richard Hickox, Bbm ( ) - a very generous fellow Forumista gave me his copy as he doesn't like the works.

Hickox is rivalled by himself on a splendid Live recorded BBCMusMag cover CD (with Thomas Hampson and the BBCNO&CW).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In fact, said fellow Forumista's said generosity followed the "real" BaL on Sea Drift broadcast last March, and subject to the usual erudite discussion on the Forum:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?14789-BaL-5-03-16-Delius-Sea-Drift/page12&highlight=drift

[BBMmk2]

Ah yes Ferney! Richard Hickox thank you! Bastion for British music! I also have the Sir Andrew Davis version on Teldec.

[BBMmk2]

Ah yes, I have the sir Andrew Davis Teldec version too. That's where the confusion lies!

[BBMmk2]

In fact, said fellow Forumista's said generosity followed the "real" BaL on Sea Drift broadcast last March, and subject to the usual erudite discussion on the Forum:

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?14789-BaL-5-03-16-Delius-Sea-Drift/page12&highlight=drift

Thanks for bringing this up. Will listen to this!