Bal 8.02.20/13.6.20 - Mozart: Symphony no. 39 in E flat K.543

[pastoralguy]

...other than slavish adherence to a misguided managerial diktat).

Exactly! I've always thought that Andrew is an innocent victim in this scenario.

Management: 'We want a new format where you will be an enabler of discussion'.

Andrew McGregor: 'But that's a ridiculous idea. Building a Library has an established format which doesn't need tampering with. I refuse to do it!'

Management: 'We're going to need a new presenter for a Record Review...!'

[Cockney Sparrow]

Exactly! I've always thought that Andrew is an innocent victim in this scenario.

Management: 'We want a new format where you will be an enabler of discussion'.

Andrew McGregor: 'But that's a ridiculous idea. Building a Library has an established format which doesn't need tampering with. I refuse to do it!'

Management: 'We're going to need a new presenter for a Record Review...!'

In the absence of inside information, I very much agree with your view.

[jayne lee wilson]

I thought that Andrew was fine in the dialoguing with NK, a nice sense of friendly interchange with the critic in the foreground; but then I rarely have a problem with AMcG, only with the quality & awareness of some of the individual reviewers....I would mention again the excellent survey of No.38 (12/2017 IIRC) with Tom Service, a very good coverage with some truly close listening (especially to.... René Jacobs, who does something unique in the intro to 38...)

But anyway - about this minuet! The final choice for the 39th, René Jacobs (a terrific recording all-round), certainly has a quick minuet, one of the fastest I know - for me it sounds great, really goes with a swing - the rhythmic relation to the trio seems just right too with a lovely flow to it..... is this one of the so-called "athletic feats" objected to above...?

The glorious 2010 Bruggen seems positively sedate alongside this one....

(Last night I discovered a Japanese UHQCD set of the Jacobs 38-41.... & didn't need telling twice....hope it finds its way here...2ndhand from Kelindo...)

[Barbirollians]

I thought someone had posted some inside information from a friend who knows Alan Davey and has challenged him on this and that Mr Davey’s reply was that he also liked the scripted BAL but that AMcG likes talking and the children seem to like it .

[HighlandDougie]

I thought someone had posted some inside information from a friend who knows Alan Davey and has challenged him on this and that Mr Davey’s reply was that he also liked the scripted BAL but that AMcG likes talking and the children seem to like it .

Yup. That was me. "Children" being the production team. Maybe it's because the invitees over the past three BaLs have been confident broadcasters or possibly because AMcG has been told to cut back on the chat (that might be wishful thinking on my part) but I've rather enjoyed them.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I thought that Andrew was fine in the dialoguing with NK, a nice sense of friendly interchange with the critic in the foreground...

Until this extra verbosity hit, A McG was generally regarded by forumists as one of the good guys. I still think so, and in this BaL, he was more restrained and left the real reviewer to speak freely for most of the time. A small step, but one in the right direction.

[jayne lee wilson]

I'm still hoping that someone will rush to hear the Jacobs' Prague, just to find out the unique thing he does there, unable to bear not knowing...!....
But I would say that wouldn't I? (Thanks again, Mandy).

My hopes are sadly fading as presentation takes centre-stage...

Just like before
Its yesterday once more

[Pianoman]

I'm still hoping that someone will rush to hear the Jacobs' Prague, just to find out the unique thing he does there, unable to bear not knowing...!....
But I would say that wouldn't I? (Thanks again, Mandy).

My hopes are sadly fading as presentation takes centre-stage...

Just like before
Its yesterday once more

Do you mean the figuration that starts around 1'04'' - he turns what is normally a 4-note semiquaver 'turn' into a grace note and 2 semi-quavers. The score is a bit ambiguous on this so I guess if that's how he reads it....sounds odd at first but easy to adjust.

[jayne lee wilson]

Do you mean the figuration that starts around 1'04'' - he turns what is normally a 4-note semiquaver 'turn' into a grace note and 2 semi-quavers. The score is a bit ambiguous on this so I guess if that's how he reads it....sounds odd at first but easy to adjust.

You win the Mozart Spotters' Badge!

Without a score it always sounds like one long and three short notes to me...and works fine.
I think it is unique in the recorded history, but if anyone knows better....

[Pianoman]

Nope, it brought me up short the first time I heard it, so investigated - can't find any recording up to press that does this, including Pinnock, Norrington, Gardiner, Harnoncourt, so maybe one to debate with the Mozart scholars...

[akiralx]

It’s a pity that so many of Bryden’s BBC radio recordings are not available - he just brought music to life - he did a great Job, and there was a Dvorak Symphony cycle in the 80s which was really good. I saw him conduct Rach S2 with the CBSO at Birmingham Town Hall - as good as any I’ve heard!

Not a radio recording - but having listened many times to most available recordings of RVW's "A London Symphony" Bryden Thomson's Chandos CD is still the finest for me.

[underthecountertenor]

I thought someone had posted some inside information from a friend who knows Alan Davey and has challenged him on this and that Mr Davey’s reply was that he also liked the scripted BAL but that AMcG likes talking and the children seem to like it .

He does seem to like talking. And I don't quite get why so many people are so keen to speculate in a way that exonerates him and puts the blame on 'the management.'

In the discussion of the big Bruno Walter box later in the programme, he made a point of referring to the Serkin/Walter recording of the Emperor (which had not been selected for comment by the reviewer, Katy Hamilton), apparently solely in order to say that the pianist was Peter Serkin who had died the previous Saturday aged 72. A crass and crashingly obvious mistake, and one which seems inexplicable coming from someone with the knowledge of classical recording history that he professes. I am still at a loss as to how he could have thought it was Peter and not Rudolf.

[Master Jacques]

In the discussion of the big Bruno Walter box later in the programme, he made a point of referring to the Serkin/Walter recording of the Emperor (which had not been selected for comment by the reviewer, Katy Hamilton), apparently solely in order to say that the pianist was Peter Serkin who had died the previous Saturday aged 72. A crass and crashingly obvious mistake, and one which seems inexplicable coming from someone with the knowledge of classical recording history that he professes. I am still at a loss as to how he could have thought it was Peter and not Rudolf.

Oh dear me. That's nothing, though, compared with this delicious blooper I received from '@Sony Classical' before the weekend:

"Happy 88th birthday to John Williams! He is most well-known for his numerous, legendary soundtracks but he is also a talented guitarist and has arranged several pieces for the instrument. Listen to 'Classical Guitar' on Spotify to hear the stunning result..."

Stunning indeed, as are the other 58 discs in the Columbia Complete Edition the company released in 2016. Not bad for a part-timer, eh? while moonlighting from his plagiaristic work on so many famous film scores!

(For the record, the real John Williams [guitarist] is a mere 78 - it was the cinematic one who was enjoying his 88th birthday.)

[jayne lee wilson]

Not much listening going on here is there? Anyone for Mozart?

Might be time for me to join Roerhe and fhg and Beef/Felix/Sid aka soon..... a feeling of living on borrowed time here....

[teamsaint]

Not much listening going on here is there? Anyone for Mozart?

Might be time for me to join Roerhe and fhg and Beef/Felix/Sid aka soon..... a feeling of living on borrowed time here....

Which movement of the Prague ?...............