BaL 17.09.16 - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

[Beef Oven!]

Yes - the programming is what most attracts me to buying this disc - who doesn't love a bit of Tromba Marina?

Sounds like some Cockney rhyming slang, ‘cept it don’t rhyme with nuffin’

[Pulcinella]

Sounds like some Cockney rhyming slang, ‘cept it don’t rhyme with nuffin’

Vacuum cleaner?

[Beef Oven!]

Vacuum cleaner?

Needs to be something saucier than a vacuum cleaner (although some years back, I saw a film where .....nah, leave it)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Needs to be something saucier than a vacuum cleaner (although some years back, I saw a film .....nah, leave it)

Dyson with death there, BeefO.

[Beef Oven!]

Dyson with death there, BeefO.

Dam!

[underthecountertenor]

Seems as if it was the case of ‘inbox full’

An excellent BaL. Mahan E. has come a long way from being the first (and still the last?) harpsichordist on the New Generation Artist.

I was relieved that Andrew McG didn't adopt the R3 mantra by calling him 'Former BBC New Generation Artist Mahan Esfahani'. He'll probably get told off by CB-H for the omission.

[Barbirollians]

One thing I noticed was that the reviewer appeared to be entirely unaware of Kennedy's Berlin Phil version - referring to the recent " version " as his 2nd recording .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

One thing I noticed was that the reviewer appeared to be entirely unaware of Kennedy's Berlin Phil version - referring to the recent " version " as his 2nd recording .

Ah, yes! I hadn't spotted that.

In connection with the first of the Kennedys, I noticed that ME introduced the recording with a comment on the lines of "we need to talk about classic/iconic recordings" - and I immediately thought that he was going to discuss the Loveday/ASMF/Mariner recording. In fact - unless it was mentioned whilst I was moving from one room to another - I don't think Loveday was included at all. Interesting that for a generation of listeners born after 1980, (or for at least one of the most important Musicians of that generation, at any rate) what was the "star" recording for an older generation of listeners (Rosette in the Know Your Penguins and all) doesn't even feature.



Just proves that I'm ahead of my time/young at heart/twenty-five years retarded.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

After yesterday morning's broadcast of the Biondi, I also listened to Drottingholm/Sparf disc (and - with apologies for banging on about this: like many converts who have only recently "seen the light", I want to spread the good news even to those who have known it all along - playing through all four concertos, let alone playing them twice, in one day is something that would have filled me with repulsion only a few years ago). It is superb - a complete joy throughout and quite as successful a presentation of the Music in its own way as any. (And with a couple of extra Concertos featuring Lute as "fillers" - utter )

[BBMmk2]

I heard Tasmin Little's brand new recording yesterday on Chandos, c/w Roxanna Panufnik's new concerto. Very strongly recommended! :)

[Thropplenoggin]

After yesterday morning's broadcast of the Biondi, I also listened to Drottingholm/Sparf disc (and - with apologies for banging on about this: like many converts who have only recently "seen the light", I want to spread the good news even to those who have known it all along - playing through all four concertos, let alone playing them twice, in one day is something that would have filled me with repulsion only a few years ago). It is superb - a complete joy throughout and quite as successful a presentation of the Music in its own way as any. (And with a couple of extra Concertos featuring Lute as "fillers" - utter )

How did you find the Biondi, FHG?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

How did you find the Biondi, FHG?

I really enjoyed it: vigorous and inventive playing, good clear sound, and enough gentle moments to prevent it getting all a bit of a jog. I feel acceleratedly exhilarated after listening to it (and, yes - a little bit shattered; but in a good way. Rather as I imagine people who go jogging or do marathons do - and all from the comfort of my own home and without the expense of treadmills) - exactly the sort of performance that has made me love Vivaldi's Music in the past decade or so, after several years of indifference.

(I know I said all that yesterday morning, but it's still true! I think I prefer the Drottingholm recording - but I have known that for much longer. Biondi's L'Estro Armonico some years ago was one of the very first recordings that made me start to rethink my prejudices against Vivaldi, so I'm especially grateful to him.)

[Thropplenoggin]

I really enjoyed it: vigorous and inventive playing, good clear sound, and enough gentle moments to prevent it getting all a bit of a jog. I feel acceleratedly exhilarated after listening to it (and, yes - a little bit shattered; but in a good way. Rather as I imagine people who go jogging or do marathons do - and all from the comfort of my own home and without the expense of treadmills) - exactly the sort of performance that has made me love Vivaldi's Music in the past decade or so, after several years of indifference.

(I know I said all that yesterday morning, but it's still true! I think I prefer the Drottingholm recording - but I have known that for much longer. Biondi's L'Estro Armonico some years ago was one of the very first recordings that made me start to rethink my prejudices against Vivaldi, so I'm especially grateful to him.)

Thanks, FHG! I have just found the Drottingholm on Qobuz - the little I've heard ('Spring', 'Summer') presents a very pleasing alternate take from the "vigorous" Italian recordings of Biondi, Alessandrini and Antonini ("vigorous", c'est le mot juste !)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks, FHG! I have just found the Drottingholm on Qobuz - the little I've heard ('Spring', 'Summer') presents a very pleasing alternate take from the "vigorous" Italian recordings of Biondi, Alessandrini and Antonini ("vigorous", c'est le mot juste !)

[Nick Armstrong]

Listened this morning - top drawer BAL, I thought: knowledge, musicianship and humour in very good balance, and value given to varying performance styles. It was the Chandler/Serenissima recording that caught my ears, rather than the 'winner' which I've tried in the past and find wearing on repeated listening.

Ferns, I think another reason Harnoncourt was ruled out was excessive edits...

And if the reference to the bizarre extract from the Karajan recording wasn't fair comment, I don't know what is!

I agree that Mahan Esfahani takes his place in a fine tradition of BAL contributors, not least

the late Rodney Milnes

(Esfahani has written elsewhere that he listened to over 150 recordings and gradually narrowed them down over a period of four months. I think that deserves nothing but respect and attention).