BaL 5.10.19 - Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

[silvestrione]

Almost a history of recorded music. I began with CSO/Reiner, one of the very first stereo recordings, came through RACO/Haitink, through various HvKs (less favoured subjectively, despite Japanese transfers)... then the sui generis Kempe, and on to the BPO/Rattle...
Mengelberg a case apart too.
On past form (Bruckner 3, Mozart 38, Brahms D Minor Concerto....) TS should do a good job here...

Torn about the work itself though....
Great start, very moving final sections and ending, but in between...? I was never convinced by the love scene, or those critics....all a bit too self-promotingly Hollywood-Stereotypical to me....

I so want to love it, but.....

Exactly my feeling. Though the earlier of the two live Testament HvK recordings from London did stay on my shelves (and get played!) for a while...

[Petrushka]

Kempe , Beecham , Barbirolli( studio and live) and Previn here .

Barbirolli wins at the Proms despite the thrills and spills.

Isn't there a DVD of Kempe somewhere ?

The live Barbirolli is from an LSO concert given almost exactly 50 years ago, on September 28 1969, at the RFH, so not a Prom.

The Kempe DVD was a Prom, given on August 28 1974, and available on ICA Classics.

[pastoralguy]

The notorious solo violin part is the orchestral leader's Monopoly equivalent of 'Do not pass Go - Do not collect £200!'

If you can't play the violin solo convincingly then don't bother applying! Even today, it's what separates the men from the boys. My own experience was playing no.2 first violin where I had to learn the solo part in case the leader took ill, was arrested or exploded. In the event, none of the above happened but I practiced hard in case I was called on.

A wonderful piece, imho. The climax of the battle scene where the horns are honking fit to bust always makes me tear up!

[Richard Tarleton]

I have a soft spot for the Testament CD of the HvK/BPO performance on 16 May 1972 at the RFH - I failed to get a ticket, it was sold out, but listened on my Hacker radio. Nice pic of Michel Schwalbé (and the no.2 first violin ) on the back of the booklet. Were you at that concert Pet? They were in town for 2 nights, the other concert was Mozart and Stravinsky. I've also got the 1974 EMI HvK, Thielemann, Kempe.....

Another plea for your list Alpie - did Rattle/CBSO record it? I heard them give a stonking performance in Cardiff back in the 1990s.

[Petrushka]

I have a soft spot for the Testament CD of the HvK/BPO performance on 16 May 1972 at the RFH - I failed to get a ticket, it was sold out, but listened on my Hacker radio. Nice pic of Michel Schwalbé (and the no.2 first violin ) on the back of the booklet. Were you at that concert Pet? They were in town for 2 nights, the other concert was Mozart and Stravinsky. I've also got the 1974 EMI HvK, Thielemann, Kempe.....

Another plea for your list Alpie - did Rattle/CBSO record it? I heard them give a stonking performance in Cardiff back in the 1990s.

Sadly not, Richard. I was only 18 and still at college! However, I did listen to it live on R3 and remember it well. As a repeat of your own story, I tried and failed to get a ticket for the 1985 Heldenleben.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

List removed from deep freeze and added to ardcarp's OP.

[Petrushka]

List removed from deep freeze and added to ardcarp's OP.

[Richard Tarleton]

List removed from deep freeze and added to ardcarp's OP.

[mikealdren]

Interesting how many people have recorded it 2 or 3 times, not just HvK this time.

[ardcarp]

List removed from deep freeze and added to ardcarp's OP.

Phew. Thanks Alpie.

[BBMmk2]

Will we get any music played?

[Zucchini]

Will we get any music played?

Hope not

[gurnemanz]

We did a Summer BaL on Heldenleben a few years ago, instigated by Barbirollians.

Both CDs I have are Dresden Staatskapelle - Kempe, Blomstedt (the latter from Denon now seemingly deleted and not on list).

Doubts have been expressed about Tom Service. I usually find him worth listening to and will look forward to what he has to say.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Doubts have been expressed about Tom Service. I usually find him worth listening to and will look forward to what he has to say.

That's fair comment. He's very knowledgeable, though I would question his style of delivery and assumptions.

[ardcarp]

I always liken him to someone trying to enthuse a sixth-form General Studies class. I don't doubt his knowledge and expertise, but to some extent a Radio 3 Record Review audience is self-selecting, so we don't need Music 'sold' to us. We've already bought it. Maybe, come next Saturday, we'll all be surprised by a calmer persona and a well-considered review.