BaL 12.1.19 - Prokofiev: Violin concerto 1 in D

[Pulcinella]

No, I don't, Barbirollians: I had intended to order one but found issues with availability and / or cost. Spurred on by your question, I discovered that I had unnecessarily limited the scope of my search. I've thrown my net wider and landed a cost efficient package through Presto.

Many thanks for reactivating me: I look forward both to engaging in some comparative work on the Profofiev, but also listening to the various 'spin-off' works which come packaged with it.

This thread is developing a life of its own.

More like Interpretations on record.


I have suggested in a PM to ferney that we might launch our own Interpretations on record subforum, not necessarily replacing our Summer BaLs (which veer in that direction, if only because they tend not to be so exhaustive as a real BaL but more reflections on members' own collections) but allowing us to do some in-depth comparisons of our own.

Any takers, and any suggestions of works, and how often we'd launch a new thread?

[visualnickmos]

More like Interpretations on record.


I have suggested in a PM to ferney that we might launch our own Interpretations on record subforum, not necessarily replacing our Summer BaLs (which veer in that direction, if only because they tend not to be so exhaustive as a real BaL but more reflections on members' own collections) but allowing us to do some in-depth comparisons of our own.

Any takers, and any suggestions of works, and how often we'd launch a new thread?

Excellent idea. I am a 'taker'.....
Suggestion for study: Schubert, Piano trio in E flat, D.929
New thread every three weeks

[Barbirollians]

Excellent idea. I am a 'taker'.....
Suggestion for study: Schubert, Piano trio in E flat, D.929
New thread every three weeks

Excellent idea.

[Barbirollians]

The Stern/Ormandy coupling has arrived - typically widescreen and “big” performances from this pair especially of the Second Concerto. Very exciting though and one can hear why they are considered classic accounts - pretty hard to displace if they were the first recordings known and owned.

[Maclintick]

The Stern/Ormandy coupling has arrived - typically widescreen and “big” performances from this pair especially of the Second Concerto. Very exciting though and one can hear why they are considered classic accounts - pretty hard to displace if they were the first recordings known and owned.

Yes, this was the "go to" version in the stereo LP era, & had no real rival until Chung/Previn in the early 70s, Oistrakh's classic LSO/Matacic being hampered by less-than-lustrous mono sound. As you say, the account of the second concerto is equally exceptional -- that moment in the slow movement, just after the soloist's first statement of the main theme, where the Philadelphia violins, pp con sord, slide into B major with almost indecent sensuousness, is still unrivalled in terms of spine-tingling-ness.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

More like Interpretations on record.


I have suggested in a PM to ferney that we might launch our own Interpretations on record subforum, not necessarily replacing our Summer BaLs (which veer in that direction, if only because they tend not to be so exhaustive as a real BaL but more reflections on members' own collections) but allowing us to do some in-depth comparisons of our own.

Any takers, and any suggestions of works, and how often we'd launch a new thread?

Excellent idea. I am a 'taker'.....
Suggestion for study: Schubert, Piano trio in E flat, D.929
New thread every three weeks

Excellent idea.

I've been pondering how we might do this since Pulcie made the suggestion. Interpretations on Record was a series devoted to changing performance practices as demonstrated on recordings from the 1920s onwards. I can see that we can do our own BaLs - name which recordings we have in our collections, call out our favourites, and read the opinions of other Forumistas. But how we follow/adapt the old R3 format of surveying performance practices seems rather less clear to me ... I could have made a start with the Schubert Bb Piano Trio, as I have a copy of the Cortot, Thibault, & Casals Trio's first ever (I think) recording of the work, which they made in 1926/7 - but no other recording until the 1980s. I'm not sure if this is what's being suggested here.

Perhaps if someone started the New SubForum (Just post a new Thread, and I'll do the honours) to get things started ... ?

[Pulcinella]

I've been pondering how we might do this since Pulcie made the suggestion. Interpretations on Record was a series devoted to changing performance practices as demonstrated on recordings from the 1920s onwards. I can see that we can do our own BaLs - name which recordings we have in our collections, call out our favourites, and read the opinions of other Forumistas. But how we follow/adapt the old R3 format of surveying performance practices seems rather less clear to me ... I could have made a start with the Schubert Bb Piano Trio, as I have a copy of the Cortot, Thibault, & Casals Trio's first ever (I think) recording of the work, which they made in 1926/7 - but no other recording until the 1980s. I'm not sure if this is what's being suggested here.

Perhaps if someone started the New SubForum (Just post a new Thread, and I'll do the honours) to get things started ... ?

As I should have expected (and apologies if yet again I've jumped the gun), you've put more thought into this than I did in my original suggestion!
Maybe we see how the thread develops before deciding on a subforum name (unless that could easily be altered).
Interpretations on record may not be ideal: something like Forum Favourites, perhaps?

[edashtav]

As I should have expected (and apologies if yet again I've jumped the gun), you've put more thought into this than I did in my original suggestion!
Maybe we see how the thread develops before deciding on a subforum name (unless that could easily be altered).
Interpretations on record may not be ideal: something like Forum Favourites, perhaps?

I'm sorry not to have contributed more...I have five local deadlines looming plus the usual round of practices and meetings. I'm certainly keen to contribute. My record collection has great width, but shallow depth but I own a good collection of scores so am keen to compare interpretations against what the composer wrote. I suspect an open, experimental approach may be best: organic growth rather than tightly defined at he outset.

[edashtav]

Subsequent thoughts:

Why only ' Interpretations on Record'?
Let's cast the net wider:important to include R.3 broadcasts which can be shared for 1 month.
I'm booked fir the BBCSO/ Chorus under Hippnotic John Butt in a few days.Bach B Minor Mass
The Chorus has not sung the B minor in decades. Can HIPP surivive large chorus?

That should make a great Back-drop to an Interpretations thread.

Another point: announce the topic one week early to encourage folk to listen before pronouncing.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As I should have expected (and apologies if yet again I've jumped the gun), you've put more thought into this than I did in my original suggestion!
Maybe we see how the thread develops before deciding on a subforum name (unless that could easily be altered).
Interpretations on record may not be ideal: something like Forum Favourites, perhaps?

That's easily sorted - I'll get something started later today.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Subsequent thoughts:
Why only ' Interpretations on Record'?
Let's cast the net wider:important to include R.3 broadcasts which can be shared for 1 month.
I'm booked fir the BBCSO/ Chorus under Hippnotic John Butt in a few days.Bach B Minor MassThe Chorus has not sung the B minor in decades. Can HIPP surivive large chorus?
That should make a great Back-drop to an Interpretations thread.
Another point: announce the topic one week early to encourage folk to listen before pronouncing.

I think it's a very good idea, ed, to gather interested Forumistas together to hear a broadcast Live performance (either as it is broadcast or on the i-Player in the 30-day period which follows) - BUT, this does not need an individual sub-Forum, and could and should occur within the existing "Performance" Forums. You (or any Forumista who wishes to start such an open discussion) could announce any upcoming broadcast as you suggest, a week in advance, so that discussions could begin, followed by reactions to the actual performances - just as we do with each edition of BaL.

[edashtav]

I apologise if the interpretation I'm about to recommend has been covered earlier in this extended thread. A friend told me to view this:

https://youtu.be/SyFQwiAqDS4

It's a live performance by Hilary Hahn and the RTVE SO recorded in Madrid. The conductor is unknown but he has a resemblance to a young Herbert Blomstedt.

Technically and poetically, Hahn's performance is astonishingly good. The orchestra provides some sympathetic support decorated with fine solos although it, and its conductor, do limp behind Hahn on a few occasions.

The photography is superb, and, if you are interested in violin technique, this is a must-see.

[DoctorT]

Thanks, edashtav
The conductor seems to be Víctor Pablo Pérez:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Víctor_Pablo_Pérez

[edashtav]

Ta. Well spotted DrT!

[verismissimo]

I've invested in the Chung/Previn recording on CD. Both Prokofiev concertos seem excellent to me, and the Stravinsky 'filler', which I've had on LP for decades, equally so.