BaL 13.04.19 - Brahms: Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor, Op.38

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Bit ot, but is that the Arditti or Kreutzer disc ?

Kreuzer - astonishing works, especially the Second.

[Edgy 2]

So do I. I switched on, endured a couple of minutes of Noddy McGregor's chirruppings and then switched off, playing a recently-acquired CD of Gerhard's String 4tets instead - a much more satisfying way to spend the time.

Yet again, R3 is doing everything it can to stop me from bothering to listen to what they have on offer - sometimes it seems almost personal!

Same here,another chunk of Radio 3 programming that at one time would have been unmissable for me but which I now rarely tune in to listen to.
Not sure what or who the programme is for anymore.

[BBMmk2]

Why oh why?!?!?

[pastoralguy]

I found the Truls Mørk / Juhani Lagerspetz disc in the Lancaster Oxfam shop today. Really looking forward to hearing it.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have an ancient mono World Record Club LP (CMP 43) of the Brahms sonatas played by Janos Starker and György Sebok. Is this the same as the Mercury(?) recording that featured on the programme?

[gurnemanz]

Also Mork/Grimaud are played extensively, and is a fine example of "lyrical" playing.

Only just listened to this BaL. I probably won't get another recording. Sol Gabeta/Grimaud would tempt me but I might be deterred because I already have the Grimaud/Mørk version you mention which as far as I'm concerned would could make a good double recommendation being coupled with Schumann Piano Concerto which is next week's BaL (Staatskapelle Dresden/Esa-Pekka Salonen). A well-packed 80 min disc which also interestingly includes some Clara Schumann songs with Anne Sofie von Otter.

Reading around a bit just now, I found a Gramophone review from 1977 which compared a couple of older versions I like - Piatigorski/Rubinstein and Du Pré/Barenboim. It concluded with a nice cop-out: "As so often, it's a roundabouts and swings situation when it comes to making a clear-cut recommendation. The best way out, of course, is to buy both versions."

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Why oh why?!?!?

Well, I have a suggestion. You may remember that an orchestra had a dispute on the premise that string players had to play more notes, and therefore should be paid more.

Maybe the BBC has applied that to its presenters, and pays them according to how much they say. Andrew McGregor only does Record Review, so he doesn't get as big a bite of the apple, so twofers are a cash spinner for him. Tom Service must be able to afford a castle by now. Also, it might explain the breathlessness of Petroc Trelawny and others.

[BBMmk2]

Well, I have a suggestion. You may remember that an orchestra had a dispute on the premise that string players had to play more notes, and therefore should be paid more.

Maybe the BBC has applied that to its presenters, and pays them according to how much they say. Andrew McGregor only does Record Review, so he doesn't get as big a bite of the apple, so twofers are a cash spinner for him. Tom Service must be able to afford a castle by now. Also, it might explain the breathlessness of Petroc Trelawny and others.

Good assumptions there EA! I can quite see your coming from here!

[gurnemanz]

Maybe the BBC has applied that to its presenters, and pays them according to how much they say. Andrew McGregor only does Record Review, so he doesn't get as big a bite of the apple, so twofers are a cash spinner for him.

Presumably A McG isn't on equal pay with his interlocutor for a twofer BaL, since I'm sure he doesn't put in the same amount of preparatory spadework and only comes in on the last lap having listened to a shortlist provided by the main reviewer.

[rauschwerk]

I have an ancient mono World Record Club LP (CMP 43) of the Brahms sonatas played by Janos Starker and György Sebok. Is this the same as the Mercury(?) recording that featured on the programme?

I would think it likely. WRC was part of EMI, who at one time distributed Mercury recordings in the UK.

[HighlandDougie]

I would think it likely. WRC was part of EMI, who at one time distributed Mercury recordings in the UK.

An anorak writes:

Starker and Sebök recorded the Brahms sonatas twice: firstly on 1 December 1959 in the Salle Adyar in Paris (for Erato) and secondly in June 1964 in Watford Town Hall for Mercury. It was the 1964 recording which was featured in the BaL (reference was made to it having been recorded in that year). EMI took over the WRC in 1965 and, from the appearance/catalogue number of CMP 43 (and the fact that WRC licensed recordings made by, inter alia, Erato but not in the early 1960s, as far as I know, by Mercury) I would suggest that the LP is pre-EMI by a few years and it's therefore the earlier 1959 recording on it. That 1959 recording is the one which was issued on CD on the budget Apex label. Just to add to the confusion, Starker recorded the sonatas in the early 1950s for the US-based Period Records (but with Abba Bogin, not Sebök) - that is the version which was issued in the UK by Saga Records.

[LeMartinPecheur]

An anorak writes:

Starker and Sebök recorded the Brahms sonatas twice: firstly on 1 December 1959 in the Salle Adyar in Paris (for Erato) and secondly in June 1964 in Watford Town Hall for Mercury. It was the 1964 recording which was featured in the BaL (reference was made to it having been recorded in that year). EMI took over the WRC in 1965 and, from the appearance/catalogue number of CMP 43 (and the fact that WRC licensed recordings made by, inter alia, Erato but not in the early 1960s, as far as I know, by Mercury) I would suggest that the LP is pre-EMI by a few years and it's therefore the earlier 1959 recording on it. That 1959 recording is the one which was issued on CD on the budget Apex label. Just to add to the confusion, Starker recorded the sonatas in the early 1950s for the US-based Period Records (but with Abba Bogin, not Sebök) - that is the version which was issued in the UK by Saga Records.

Thanks HD and rauschwerk: all is now clear...

...I think!

(Nice anorak HD)

[gurnemanz]

Another anorak writes. I noticed that a BBC mag review of the 1959 Starker/Sebök version referred to a preferable 1992 stereo recording (when he was aged 68) with Rudolf Buchbinder on RCA. Five star reviews on Amazon suggest it would be worth hearing - seemingly only available used or as a US import.

[pastoralguy]

Andrew McGregor only does Record Review...

Sorry, Alpie but Andrew often presents concerts from all over the country including recently from Glasgow. Yesterday, he presented a whole afternoon of concerts from around Europe. He also writes a column for the BBC Music Magazine.

In fact, last year he surrendered Record Review for a week so he could present the final weekend of the Leeds Piano Competition with Lucy Parham. I think the BBC get value for money from him!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sorry, Alpie but Andrew often presents concerts from all over the country including recently from Glasgow. Yesterday, he presented a whole afternoon of concerts from around Europe. He also writes a column for the BBC Music Magazine.

In fact, last year he surrendered Record Review for a week so he could present the final weekend of the Leeds Piano Competition with Lucy Parham. I think the BBC get value for money from him!

I wasn't being serious.