BaL 30.10.21 - Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor

[LeMartinPecheur]

Boult / Haendel 19’52 + 13’49 + 21’39
Rattle / Haendel 17’03 + 11’23 +18’00
.

Thanks Keraulophone. A tiny tad different - think I might just prefer the Rattle

Should have said earlier that IMHO it could well be the disagreement and tension between Sammons and Wood that energises this performance. It was this version (in an HMV Treasury issue, cheaper than both Menuhins) that taught me the work c.1972 when I was a student, so maybe that's why I'm now up for a modern quicker version.

[Goon525]

Good BAL. But I thought Gielgud meant classic and restrained with Olivier a bit hammy and a teensy - weensy bit over the top.?

I rather wondered about this comparison, which DON made no attempt to explain. How many listeners under say 50 would know what he was on about? They’ll have heard of the two actors, but much more than that?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have many versions of this work, and rate Chung’s playing perhaps highest of all. However, there are some brutal moments from Solti that I can do without.

I’ve only heard this work performed once live. That was with Nigel Kennedy and the English Northern Philharmonia (Orchestra of Opera North) in Scarborough in 1988. It was quite superb (and NK wasn’t wearing a bin liner). What a performance! Passionate and technically stunning.

[Barbirollians]

I still hope Vilde Frang and MGT will record it after their dazzling CBSO performance.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I rather wondered about this comparison, which DON made no attempt to explain. How many listeners under say 50 would know what he was on about? They’ll have heard of the two actors, but much more than that?

Yes. I think it’s difficult even if you are over 60 let alone 50 . I never saw Olivier live. I saw Gielgud once - at the Oxford Playhouse in a Julian Mitchell play. He was playing an Oxford Don. He entered through the French windows wearing a red velvet smoking jacket and paused until the effusive applause subsided before impeccably delivering crisp line after line.
My father saw Olivier many times and said he was by some measure the greatest he had ever seen . In the famous double bill of Mr Puff and Oedipus as well as Coriolanus he thought no one could possibly match him . He was less enthusiastic about Gielgud. The sad thing is that their screen work (with the exception of Henry V ) only gives an impression of their impact on stage .

Back on thread I didn’t find it a helpful analogy…

[Barbirollians]

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.

In 1990 that was Sitkovetsky with BBCSO/Andrew Davis

[Barbirollians]

I was quite tempted to add the Graffin but 21 versions is probably enough !

[jayne lee wilson]

In 1990 that was Sitkovetsky with BBCSO/Andrew Davis

Gosh....a young Sitkovetsky! Unexpected...thanks. 31 Years ago....

Sorry to be a bit lazy, haven't heard this yet.... but was there a shortlist of two or three, please?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Gosh....a young Sitkovetsky! Unexpected...thanks. 31 Years ago....

Sorry to be a bit lazy, haven't heard this yet.... but was there a shortlist of two or three, please?

From memory I think it was Rattle Kennedy , Little , Chung ?

[jayne lee wilson]

From memory I think it was Rattle Kennedy , Little , Chung ?

How was Capuçon received...?

[pastoralguy]

I have many versions of this work, and rate Chung’s playing perhaps highest of all. However, there are some brutal moments from Solti that I can do without.

I’ve only heard this work performed once live. That was with Nigel Kennedy and the English Northern Philharmonia (Orchestra of Opera North) in Scarborough in 1988. It was quite superb (and NK wasn’t wearing a bin liner). What a performance! Passionate and technically stunning.

I heard Kennedy play it many years ago with the late Sir Alexander Gibson and the SNO circa 1980. Very fine player indeed. He just had that little something extra.

A guilty secret is Igor Oistrakh which is about as unidiomatic as you could imagine but, boy, does he knock it into the middle of next week?! (A violinists recording, I think).

[pastoralguy]

Has anyone explored the Menuhin NBC Symphony conducted by Sir Malcolm? I saw this advertised by Somm, The company that issues unusual off air performances. I was very excited until I read the fine print and realised it was cut.

[Ein Heldenleben]

How was Capuçon received...?

Pretty swiftly dismissed…

[Barbirollians]

How was Capuçon received...?

From memory I think it was Rattle Kennedy , Little , Chung ?

Top four were Little,Kennedy/Rattle, Graffin/Handley and Sitkovetsky/Menuhin.

[ardcarp]

I was very happy with the Kennedy choice. He's also my favourite for VW's Lark Ascending...but that's not relevant. I thought DON's 'two actors' analogy was a bit weird...it relied on a bit of a caricature of their styles which, as mentioned above, was probably lost on many people. However I enjoyed the rest of DON's review. He is very knowledgeable and authoritative...in a good way. I agree entirely about the Kennedy/Rattle 'on the edge' moments. Or 'reckless', as DON describes them. Fabulous.