BaL 3.10.20 - Schumann: Symphony no. 3 "Rhenish"

[Richard Barrett]

I am not aware of any period performances of Borodin or Balakirev, for example, and there appear to be hardly any of Tchaikovsky or Rimsky-Korsakov.

Jos van Immerseel has a CD of Scheherazade and Polovtsian Dances, and has also done the Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures and Tchaikovsky 4. All of these are very much worth hearing in my opinion, and use (see above!) a smaller gut-strung string section which makes the whole orchestra more transparently colourful.

[ostuni]

However, failure to mention HIPP may be due to the lack of interest in period performance in Russia...

Marina F-W has been living in this country for over a quarter of a century now, and teaching in universities for most of that time - I suggest she's had plenty of time to get familiar with our HIPP music scene...

[Bryn]

Marina F-W has been living in this country for over a quarter of a century now, and teaching in universities for most of that time - I suggest she's had plenty of time to get familiar with our HIPP music scene...

Not to mention such musicians as Alexander Melnikov, Alexei Lubimov or Teodor Currentzis (whose work on HIPP has been mainly in Russia).

[MickyD]

This recording appears to have escaped the list, but it has recently been praised on France Musique.

[teamsaint]

This recording appears to have escaped the list, but it has recently been praised on France Musique.

Thanks for that.
Any idea why the disc has the third symphony first on the running order?

[MickyD]

Sorry, no idea at all. And on the reverse side of the CD, the Third doesn't even get the nomenclature "Rhenish"!

[Leinster Lass]

Thanks for that.
Any idea why the disc has the third symphony first on the running order?

I recently purchased 2 CDs of Dvorak String Quartets on which, respectively, Opus 96 precedes Opus 51 and Opus 106 precedes Opus 105.

[cloughie]

Thanks for that.
Any idea why the disc has the third symphony first on the running order?

I often wonder about juxtaposition of works on CDs. Why are overtures so often placed after symphonies - if I’m burning CDRs from dowloads I’ll usually place them first - also so often there is an inappropriate work tacked on at the end of a long work which I just want to bask in the beauty or glory and don’t want another work immediately.

[jayne lee wilson]

I often wonder about juxtaposition of works on CDs. Why are overtures so often placed after symphonies - if I’m burning CDRs from dowloads I’ll usually place them first - also so often there is an inappropriate work tacked on at the end of a long work which I just want to bask in the beauty or glory and don’t want another work immediately.

I think that's why the Silver Gods invented track programming........but would you really play two Schumann Symphonies back-to-back? Or a substantial Concerto after a Symphony? I don't think I ever did that to this day.....

As you say, one needs time to reflect... but how one actually listens always fascinates me....

Incidentally, Bosch set down an intriguing Bruckner cycle in Aachen a while back, out of left field but well received, and the Schumann 2&4 with the Cappella came out earlier..... Not heard them though.

[Goon525]

Even in the days when I was buying music on CD, I never listened to a whole multi-work CD through in one go. So it never bothered me whether an overture preceded a symphony or t’other way about. Now, of course, when the pressure is off having to deliver perceived value by filling a CD, DG can issue Mirga’s new Sinfonia da Requiem all on its little ownsome, for streaming or download only.

[Goon525]

My reply crossed with Jayne’s; but I think we’re saying similar things.

[teamsaint]

Even in the days when I was buying music on CD, I never listened to a whole multi-work CD through in one go. So it never bothered me whether an overture preceded a symphony or t’other way about. Now, of course, when the pressure is off having to deliver perceived value by filling a CD, DG can tissue Mirga’s new Sinfonia da Requiem all on its little ownsome, for streaming or download only.

Well they can do such things, ,but CDs are still being issued in large numbers.

Sometimes with the works in a funny order.....

[Darloboy]

I think this was explained by her comment about the recordings that she was sent, I have a horrible suspicion that AMcG or a producer now decides which versions are reviewed.

I’ve just listened to the beginning of the podcast of this programme & Andrew McGregor introduction indicates that it is now the practice for every programme that the reviewer draws up a shortlist and brings it in to discuss.

[BBMmk2]

I have ORR/Gardiner. A very good set indeed, imo. Included is a barnstorming performance of his Konzertstücke fur 4 Horns!

[Goon525]

I have ORR/Gardiner. A very good set indeed, imo. Included is a barnstorming performance of his Konzertstücke fur 4 Horns!

Agreed on all counts. That was the set that weaned me off the classic Sawallisch, which maybe remains classic despite second rate sound. But the Sawallisch set was amongst my first ever classical LP purchases, around 1973, so I still have a soft spot for it.