BaL 30.10.21 - Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor

[ardcarp]

Here's a quote from the Epilogue of James Hamilton-Paterson's book Gerontius:

At the end of May [1932] he [Elgar] flew to France to conduct the Paris première of his Violin Concerto with Yehudi Menuhin, combining this trip with a visit to the dying Delius at Gres-sur-Loing.

Not relevant to BAL, but the above may be of interest. But might we get an excerpt from this?
Yehudi Menuhin, London Symphony Orchestra & Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Sir Edward Elgar

[jayne lee wilson]

I wasn’t taken with this performance either . Nigel K and Handley for me in this. A work I rate much higher than the cello concerto . Indeed I wonder if it isn’t the very greatest violin concerto of them all…?

Just a brief digression to say it has remarkably diverse competition for such an accolade.....

Gubaidulina's Offertorium; the Bartok 2nd, of course. The Berg has to be in there too.
But there's another English one: the astounding 40-minute continuous 15-part meditation by Robin Holloway. It could amaze anyone on a first hearing....yes, even from the first few bars...there is nothing quite like it.
One of those 20thC "hidden masterpieces"...do seek it out.

Personally, it would have to be both Gubaidulina and Holloway. They have that especial characteristic of the Greatest Art in eluding your grasp even as they compel, always leaving the mystery each time you revisit; compelling you to return.
Like Sculpture, I think the Violin Concerto as a genre only really came of age during the 20th Century. Striking how very individual the greatest examples always seem to be, in their inspirations, expressions and in their materials.

I don't listen to Elgar much now, but retain some affection and admiration for this Concerto, in memory at least... an unusual blend of the epic and the intimate.

[Goon525]

Like several others here, it took me a while to ‘get’ this concerto. It was Nicola Benedetti’s last year which provided my lightbulb moment, more so than Capuçon, though I did enjoy that. I’ve tried with the Berg many times, but the lightbulb moment still proves elusive…

[jayne lee wilson]

Like several others here, it took me a while to ‘get’ this concerto. It was Nicola Benedetti’s last year which provided my lightbulb moment, more so than Capuçon, though I did enjoy that. I’ve tried with the Berg many times, but the lightbulb moment still proves elusive…

Have you heard Faust/OM/Abbado in the Berg? "Revelatory" doesn't begin to describe it. I played it last night and was again astounded...one of those recordings that changes the frame, the context of all previous.

Somewhat abashed at the thought of listening to any Elgar, but I hope to try the Capuçon later....brief samples last night began to draw me in...

[cloughie]

Have you heard Faust/OM/Abbado in the Berg? "Revelatory" doesn't begin to describe it. I played it last night and was again astounded...one of those recordings that changes the frame, the context of all previous.

Somewhat abashed at the thought of listening to any Elgar, but I hope to try the Capuçon later....brief samples last night began to draw me in...

Not keen on Elgar then Jayne?

[jayne lee wilson]

Not keen on Elgar then Jayne?

It isn't straightforward - about culture or weltanshauung as much as music.....this isn't really the thread for such a personal listening history...."the truth is rarely pure and never simple"....etc...

On the very first separates hifi system I ever cobbled together, one of the first things I heard was a Prom including the Elgar. I recall Tony Scotland saying "a performance to live long in the memory" (giving the lie to the strange much-repeated criticism around here, that only recent presenters have commented on the performance itself)....
I walked out under the trees on a lovely Summer evening afterward. But I can't recall the performers. Probably 1990 or 1991.
So a soft spot for it.

But I'll try this concerto again later.... off to more medical appointments now.

[Goon525]

Have you heard Faust/OM/Abbado in the Berg? "Revelatory" doesn't begin to describe it. I played it last night and was again astounded...one of those recordings that changes the frame, the context of all previous.

Somewhat abashed at the thought of listening to any Elgar, but I hope to try the Capuçon later....brief samples last night began to draw me in...

Yes, I’ve got the Faust, coupled with an excellent Beethoven concerto. But as I listen, my mind starts to wander - I don’t find it disagreeable but I just don’t click into it. By no means the fault of this version - I’ve had the same experience with several others. Maybe one day…

[Wolfram]

Just listened to the Menuhin/Elgar recording which we are all supposed not to like now. Admittedly there were a couple of places where Menuhin's intonation put my teeth on edge, but the young tyro and the old trooper really knocked sparks off each other - they lived every note of it together. I've heard it described as indulgent, but one person's indulgence is another's inspired rubato - and he was the composer after all. In comparison the well regarded Salmons sounded a bit straight to me. The modern recordings that took my ear were Zukerman and Barenboim and Kennedy with Rattle. Both seem to be played in the spirit of Menuhin with the composer rather than Salmons and Wood.

[Wolfram]

The modern recordings that took my ear were Zukerman and Barenboim and Kennedy with Rattle.

You can add Tasmin Little to that list.

[pastoralguy]

IMHO, the only ‘duff’ recording of the Elgar concerto is Hilary Hahn’s with Sir Colin Davis and the LSO where she plays it absolutely straight with no rubato. I heard her play it in London at the Barbican where her vanilla interpretation was given a rather muted response.

My favourites used to be Nige’s two recordings but I think Nicola Benedetti is just as convincing and with better violinistic ability. Nige’s sound quality isn’t quite good enough when when the going gets really tough.

Of course, Ida Haendel is wonderful although her recording with Boult is a little leisurely. The Testament disc with Rattle is terrific.

[Ein Heldenleben]

IMHO, the only ‘duff’ recording of the Elgar concerto is Hilary Hahn’s with Sir Colin Davis and the LSO where she plays it absolutely straight with no rubato. I heard her play it in London at the Barbican where her vanilla interpretation was given a rather muted response.

My favourites used to be Nige’s two recordings but I think Nicola Benedetti is just as convincing and with better violinistic ability. Nige’s sound quality isn’t quite good enough when when the going gets really tough.

Of course, Ida Haendel is wonderful although her recording with Boult is a little leisurely. The Testament disc with Rattle is terrific.

Nicola Benedetti must rank as one of the most improved instrumentalists around . All the (not Many ) problems she seemed to have at Young Musician finalist level she appears to have ironed out. I believe she is a phenomenal practicer …

[pastoralguy]

Nicola Benedetti must rank as one of the most improved instrumentalists around . All the (not Many ) problems she seemed to have at Young Musician finalist level she appears to have ironed out. I believe she is a phenomenal practicer …

Yes. She told me! She just stays home and practices in a corner.

[LHC]

Although probably not in the running as a final BAL choice, Nikolai Znaider’s recording with Colin Davis is still very good.

It also has an extra frisson as Znaider is playing the same violin that Fritz Kreisler used for the concerto’s premiere, the 1741 Guarnerius del Gesu that once belonged to Kreisler.

[Barbirollians]

Although probably not in the running as a final BAL choice, Nikolai Znaider’s recording with Colin Davis is still very good.

It also has an extra frisson as Znaider is playing the same violin that Fritz Kreisler used for the concerto’s premiere, the 1741 Guarnerius del Gesu that once belonged to Kreisler.

This is a bit quick - Takezawa is as Michael Kennedy said -very good.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes. She told me! She just stays home and practices in a corner.

Really ? I suppose that might be lockdown as well . But having seen the documentary about performing the Marsalis concerto I doubt if there is a more committed instrumentalist around . She really is dedicated.