BaL 24.12.16/10.12.22 - Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 21 in C, K467

[Master Jacques]

I do take your point - I saw the film at the time (aged 18) and can barely remember it. However, it may not be a masterpiece but, 55 years later, I don't recall it being "terrible", though I was somewhat surprised to see doyen critic, Roger Ebert, gave it four stars, his top rating. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/elvira-madigan-1967

It was a shocker. The kind of thing that gives art a bad name. At the time, and at a similar age, I remember a great deal of laughter rippling through our little Manchester international cinema at the po-faced somnolence of the thing, and one or two isolated cries of "shoot her" (not from myself, I add) a good half hour before that blessed relief actually came. I'm glad, for your sake, that you can barely remember it!

I can only think it was the kind of "European Art Movie" with subtitles, that equally American po-faced critics thought they ought to acclaim as masterpieces - they rarely seemed to get transatlantic imports right, either one way or the other.

[Darloboy]

I've got no idea why they're doing this again after only 6 years; Mozart wrote plenty of other concertos they could have chosen - and BaL has never covered either 25 or 26 before.

Previous choices:
Colin Lawson (April 99): Pires/COE/Abbado + Brendel/Marriner 1981 as mid-price choice. My note says that Mr Lawson also chose Fischer/Sawallisch as a full orchestra version + Bilson/Gardiner as period choice.

As is clear from Alpie's list, DON chose Bilson/Gardiner in December 2016; Brautigam/Willens + Perahia/COE + Lupu/Segal were "Other recommended recordings"

[Alison]

Somewhere in my memory banks Roger Nichols chose Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia.

[Darloboy]

Somewhere in my memory banks Roger Nichols chose Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia.

That would have been in November 1985

[richardfinegold]

Another recycling job when there are so many other Mozart piano concertos and thousands of other works to consider.

At least you didn't label it "Elvira Madigan" in the head note
OOps, as i read on I see I spoke to soon

[richardfinegold]

Very strong new contender......

V


Mozart Momentum - 1785
Leif Ove Andsnes

• Released on 28/05/2021 by Sony Classical
• QOBUZ 24/96//CD

I will be bet that is a keeper

[CallMePaul]

Another recycling job when there are so many other Mozart piano concertos and thousands of other works to consider.

Is R3 trying to turn off people who would like to expand their collections to include less well-known works?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Just bumping this thread in preparation for today’s broadcast.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Despite my reservations about having a BaL about a work that was reviewed here under 6 years ago, this was a most interesting summary. Some interesting and refreshing observations that challenged fashionable thinking.

[ucanseetheend]

no time for any of these "New Reviewers" at all. They dont tell me anything about the music I didnt know. And the choices.. for example today.. all about promoting "New" . New performances trying to get and keep a "new" audience . As r3 continues its downward spiral.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Despite my reservations about having a BaL about a work that was reviewed here under 6 years ago, this was a most interesting summary. Some interesting and refreshing observations that challenged fashionable thinking.

I agree - some interesting analysis. I could have done with more on the slow movement- one of Mozarts greatest achievements and , for an easy apparently piece , so full of musical challenges in terms of ornamentation, gradation etc. I enjoyed the cadenza digressions - even the chamber version. No problems with the winner either!

[Bryn]

All three recommendations played on instruments, the technology of which did not exist during the composer's lifetime. Turns out that I have the Uchida/Tate boxed set, though I was not much taken with the performances, from what I remember of its content.

[richardfinegold]

How do listeners view the purpose of the BAL show? Are they truly looking to be told which recorded version is truly “The Best”?
Surely this is a hopeless task when there are dozens of potential recordings. Or is it more to have the presenters focus on a few aspects of note, play examples of works that provide that illustration, and present them for appreciation, rather than as contestants in a sporting even?

[smittims]

In former years ,when there were only a few available versions of a work and one was considering only LPs commercially available in Britain , it was practicable to compare them all, and I suppose most listeners looked for the 'best buy'. But today that's simply not possible for the popular works usually featured , so I reckon many listen as entertainment, to hear assessment of various versions they're unlikely to own.

[Alison]

Re Uchida/Tate, I don't want to rain on your parade, but I've always been puzzled by my own inability to appreciate the performances in that set. There seemed to be slight characteristics of each aspect - Uchida's way with the solo parts, the orchestral phrasing, and the sound/balance of the recordings - which felt 'wrong' to me. I took the set back years ago, but I recall feeling that soloist and accompaniment didn't 'match' - and that Uchida's style was too trim, clipped, miniaturised ("bonsai" Mozart) and not lyrical enough.

Each to his own, pg, each to his own...

Interesting comments on todays winner from 2016.