BaL 21.12.19 - Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I dipped in and out, and heard the Previn-bashing.

My main problem is that the ruddy “Pas de Deux”...

Anyone know of a Suite / selection which omits the PdD?

The Pas de Deux isn’t in the suite, so any of them. That said, I think it’s better than any of the Suite pieces.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...as he is unable to do the job without name-dropping. The review usually ends up being more about him than the recordings.

That’s exactly how it came across to me as well. The sort of person who gives critics a bad name.

[ardcarp]

He described the Previn as "wan" at one point but he pronounced it so as to rhyme with "ban". I've never heard it like that before. It rhymes with "gone"
surely?

Maybe he'd been singing Cornyshe's wonderful Woefully Arrayed? Unlikely I know, but:

My blood, man,
For thee ran,
It may not be nay'd:
My body blo and wan,
Woefully arrayed.

OE experts definitely recommend 'wan' [as in ban] not just because it rhymes with man and ran, but because that was thought to be the correct vowel sound. Not every choir does it though. ['blo' means blue, incidentally.]

PS If anyone hasn't heard this extraordinary piece before, probably written circa 1500, they might be astonished at how 'modern' it sounds.

[gradus]

That’s exactly how it came across to me as well. The sort of person who gives critics a bad name.

I found the whole review enjoyable and I certainly don't find Mr Seckerson irritating, quite the contrary. The Gergiev was certainly spirited but surely dancers don't need excessive speeds either fast or slow pace Lanchbery a ballet conductor's recording. Gergiev's performance reminded me of Beecham's quote, 'that made the b*****s hop.'
I like the big fat symphonic sound of Rattle and the BPO, much less prone to extreme speeds and without those strident Russian brass players.

[Nick Armstrong]

The Pas de Deux isn’t in the suite, so any of them. That said, I think it’s better than any of the Suite pieces.

Just shows how hard I’d looked! Mind you, I suspect the bits I like aren’t in the Suite either.

Thanks, Alpie.

(Don’t tell me you’re a fan of Tatiana’s flipping letter scene as well....? )

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks, Alpie.

(Don’t tell me you’re a fan of Tatiana’s flipping letter scene as well....? )

Okay. I won’t tell you. I’ll keep it a secret.

[cloughie]

The Pas de Deux isn’t in the suite, so any of them. That said, I think it’s better than any of the Suite pieces.

...and it is in Anatole’s Suite 2!

[greenilex]

Did anyone catch the Tom Service programme on the dark subtext?

Poor Klara in any case.

[Pulcinella]

Did I hear correctly that extracts from the 'winner' were going to be played later in the week (on Essential Classics)?
Just a happy coincidence or (dare we wish) a return to former days, when we got to hear the whole thing (was that on Sunday and then moved to Monday)?

[Oakapple]

Maybe he'd been singing Cornyshe's wonderful Woefully Arrayed? Unlikely I know, but:

My blood, man,
For thee ran,
It may not be nay'd:
My body blo and wan,
Woefully arrayed.

OE experts definitely recommend 'wan' [as in ban] not just because it rhymes with man and ran, but because that was thought to be the correct vowel sound. Not every choir does it though. ['blo' means blue, incidentally.]

Agreed, although "wan" was sometimes spelt "won" in Old English so I'm not sure how that works. It also meant black and dark, rather than pale, and that meaning goes better with blue in the fourth line, I think.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...and it is in Anatole’s Suite 2!

Indeed it is, and that's where I first heard it, back in 1960!

[cloughie]

indeed it is, and that's where i first heard it, back in 1960!

acl 40

Capitals typed changed to lower case!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

acl 40

Capitals typed changed to lower case!

Decca trying to be trendy?

[Alison]

Were we all in the mood for the Nutcracker this morning?

[Alison]

Well, for once I actually welcomed AMcG's interruptions, such was the supercilious nature of Edward Seckerson's diatribe. It was quite clear from the start that he was only really interested in two versions, and that the rushed Kirov/Gergiev was going to be the winner.
Recordings of ballet music for pure listening can be more indulgent than in actual ballet performances. I was a ballet school pianist for a while, as soon learnt that dancers can't defy gravity in slow motion, so for much of the time, it has to be brisk.

But to put down slower performances (including Previn), in the smirky way he did, was a little crass in my opinion.

Painful to hear again.