BaL 4.01.20 - Elgar: Enigma Variations

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Anyone know/care to comment on Monteux' IPO recording of the Enigmas?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Symphony-Variations-Daphnis-Monteux/dp/B0052FG8HC

... I'm not prepared to fork out even the Used prices, but it strikes me that, to have Beethoven #4, the Elgar, and D&C second Suite altogether coming in at 76mins, they must be pretty zippy performances!

[Braunschlag]

I’ve just listened to the Monteux on cd through good quality headphones and was aware right at the end of what I would call ‘overload’ in the bass. In fact, there are little hints of it in a couple of earlier variations but definitely there in the final seconds. Mine is the Decca Classic Sound issue with Karajan's Planets. Didn’t spoil my enjoyment of what is a great performance but it is there to my ears. Just my 10 penneth..

Having had yet another go on ‘phones it is definitely present! Overload is a better word than distortion, almost as if they saw the needles fly off momentarily and maybe thought - well, you’ll not notice this on a Garrard with a ceramic cartridge! Which you wouldn’t I suppose. It’s not as apparent on speakers though (PMCs) and I’m more than happy to forgive Wilkie for this momentary indiscretion. On both the Planets/Enigma issue and Eloquence and I also downloaded the last variation from Decca to see if it was there and it is. An ‘if only’ moment and thanks to Pulcinella who also checked his version. Fair to say that our collective ears are getting on a bit between us but it’s there alright!

[silvestrione]

An earlier post of mine got lost in the then current conversation. Would anyone else care to comment on the Rattle/LSO DVD/Blueray version?

[Pianoman]

Having had yet another go on ‘phones it is definitely present! Overload is a better word than distortion, almost as if they saw the needles fly off momentarily and maybe thought - well, you’ll not notice this on a Garrard with a ceramic cartridge! Which you wouldn’t I suppose. It’s not as apparent on speakers though (PMCs) and I’m more than happy to forgive Wilkie for this momentary indiscretion. On both the Planets/Enigma issue and Eloquence and I also downloaded the last variation from Decca to see if it was there and it is. An ‘if only’ moment and thanks to Pulcinella who also checked his version. Fair to say that our collective ears are getting on a bit between us but it’s there alright!

Yep I just swapped cans to another pair (just in case..) but yes, still there. Such a pity, literally just those final few seconds. But still, nothing but admiration for the whole performance, LSO superb collectively and lovely individual contributions.

[Dermot]

The LSO/Boult was 1st choice last time out (July 2001) with Elgar's own 1926 recording as historic choice

The 2001 programme, with Rob Cowan, can be heard on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo-D4FZOvKA

Monteux was the ''runner-up''.

[Nick Armstrong]

The 2001 programme, with Rob Cowan, can be heard on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo-D4FZOvKA

Monteux was the ''runner-up''.

That’s interesting, thanks I had no idea there were old BALs on YouTube. I wonder if it’s a one-off or if there are any more. Must have a hunt around.

[seabright]

I just tapped "Record Review" in the YouTube 'search field' and up popped the entire 2-hour broadcast entitled 'Record Review at 40' of October 1997, introduced by Edward Greenfield ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d53RiTPVX4

EG gets straight down to it with an excerpt from "Tosca" (Price, di Stefano, Karajan) followed by the Klemperer "Eroica" in mono and Sawallisch in the "Rhenish" Symphony. Also contributing are Richard Osborne and Anthony Burton. Is there a BBC archive of old Record Reviews?

[pastoralguy]

I just tapped "Record Review" in the YouTube 'search field' and up popped the entire 2-hour broadcast entitled 'Record Review at 40' of October 1997, introduced by Edward Greenfield ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d53RiTPVX4

EG gets straight down to it with an excerpt from "Tosca" (Price, di Stefano, Karajan) followed by the Klemperer "Eroica" in mono and Sawallisch in the "Rhenish" Symphony. Also contributing are Richard Osborne and Anthony Burton. Is there a BBC archive of old Record Reviews?

Fantastic!

Thanks for that!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is there a BBC archive of old Record Reviews?

Possibly not - the current Beeb might wish to destroy the evidence.

At some point, I must learn how to transfer and upload to youTube my cassette collection of Interpretations on Record, Music Weekly, and Discovering Music.

[Pianoman]

Possibly not - the current Beeb might wish to destroy the evidence.

At some point, I must learn how to transfer and upload to youTube my cassette collection of Interpretations on Record, Music Weekly, and Discovering Music.

Yes do it now !!

[Dave2002]

Anyone know/care to comment on Monteux' IPO recording of the Enigmas?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Symphony-Variations-Daphnis-Monteux/dp/B0052FG8HC

... I'm not prepared to fork out even the Used prices, but it strikes me that, to have Beethoven #4, the Elgar, and D&C second Suite altogether coming in at 76mins, they must be pretty zippy performances!

I don't know, but £!5 or so isn't so bad - if it's really good.

Maybe I should "invest" in this in the interests of investigating.

I realised after the broadcast that I do actually have the BAL LSO Monteux recording in the box set which was pointed out here near the end of last year. Not sure if that's the only one in my collection.

The BAL did encourage me to buy the George Hurst version - partly as I bought another box from Presto, and I wanted a filler to reduce the postage costs. So I've got a few more to listen to in the next week or two.

[seabright]

The 2001 programme, with Rob Cowan, can be heard on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo-D4FZOvKA

Monteux was the ''runner-up''.

Thanks from me too for this link. I haven't yet listened all the way through but at least RC played Elgar's own recording, unlike the BAL we heard the other day. He also played some non-British ones, again all ignored by the BAL chattering duo, so we didn't get the first of them with Toscanini and the NBC SO. But that, of course, was in mono and in case no-one's yet noticed, it's pretty obvious these days that mono recordings on Radio 3 are more or less verboten. After all, listeners - especially youngsters - don't buy stereo radios to listen to a load of old 'historic' mono rubbish, now do they?! ... Anyway, maybe it would be useful to make a list of all the recordings that RC played and see how it compares with the ones played the other Saturday. Also, it looks as if YouTube would be a good place to upload more such BAL's, as that could be the only place we'll ever hear them again!

[cloughie]

Thanks from me too for this link. I haven't yet listened all the way through but at least RC played Elgar's own recording, unlike the BAL we heard the other day. He also played some non-British ones, again all ignored by the BAL chattering duo, so we didn't get the first of them with Toscanini and the NBC SO. But that, of course, was in mono and in case no-one's yet noticed, it's pretty obvious these days that mono recordings on Radio 3 are more or less verboten. After all, listeners - especially youngsters - don't buy stereo radios to listen to a load of old 'historic' mono rubbish, now do they?! ... Anyway, maybe it would be useful to make a list of all the recordings that RC played and see how it compares with the ones played the other Saturday. Also, it looks as if YouTube would be a good place to upload more such BAL's, as that could be the only place we'll ever hear them again!

Would youngsters notice whether mono or stereo when listening on their smart speaker or bluetooth?

[LMcD]

Would youngsters notice whether mono or stereo when listening on their smart speaker or bluetooth?

Youngsters generally don't buy radios these days. Some months ago the BBC broadcast a 'vox pop' in which the reporter asked a group to tune a radio - all but one had no idea, the exception being a lad who said he remembered his dad tuning his years ago - an operation which obviously made an impression on the son.

[Nimrod]

The 2001 programme, with Rob Cowan, can be heard on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo-D4FZOvKA

Monteux was the ''runner-up''.

Just listened to this 2001 BAL and I'd forgotten just how informative and interesting BAL used to sound compared with today's version. Lots of examples here it's sad to think we've lost this format.

"Rarely rarely comest thou, O Spirit of Delight"