BaL 13.11.21 - Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie

[jayne lee wilson]

Interesting. Where can one find all this info? Thanks.

There's a pdf 1999 - 2015.....

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/radio4/transcripts/BAL_1999-2015.pdf

Scroll down here to "Related Links" for the Excel 1999-2021...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06w2121

[Ein Heldenleben]

Couldn't agree more - although it's not quite as bad as when they managed to cover Die Meistersinger 4 times in 20 years.

I appreciate that BaL needs to cover major works fairly regularly for new listeners but I do wish they'd be a bit more imaginative in their programming. The programme's title is "Building a Library", not "Collecting multiple versions of the same works".

I'd suggest that the producers look back at past programmes to see what hasn't been covered recently before deciding to wheel out the old favourites.

Just looking at Strauss, Tod und Verklarung has only ever been covered once on BaL - and that was in 1977; as has Sinfonia Domestica (in 1992); and Elektra (in 1993); and Arabella (in 1995). Salome was last covered in 1995 and Don Juan in 1998. Neither Capriccio nor Die Frau ohne Schatten have ever been covered by BaL. There's some pretty major works in there that BaL has neglected for a quarter of a century or more. Elektra and Salome are surely core works for any self-respecting Strauss library.

Even Elgar (whose work I think BaL covers far too often anyway) has some works which the programme has a blind spot for, notably Sea Pictures and Serenade for Strings, neither of which I think have ever been covered by BaL. And surprisingly, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches only appear to have been covered once - in 1977 (note to any BBC producers reading this - I am not requesting a programme on the Pomp and Circumstance Marches).

Rant over, apologies.

Quality rant though - evidence based for a start .Astonishing there’s never been a BAL on Die Frau or Capriccio. The former must contain some of his greatest music and there’s now a reasonable selection on CD and Dvd to make such a BAL worthwhile . I wonder if the reason they don’t bother with Tod und Verklarung is because its usually bundled in with other more “popular” tone poems - Don Juan and Also Sprach Zarathustra?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wonder if the reason they don’t bother with Tod und Verklarung is because its usually bundled in with other more “popular” tone poems - Don Juan and Also Sprach Zarathustra?

That's hardly an excuse. It may be "bundled" with other works, but this has little effect on the merits of the individual interpretations.

[cloughie]

That's hardly an excuse. It may be "bundled" with other works, but this has little effect on the merits of the individual interpretations.

No excuse at all - many a work of shorter length has been done and it is of similar duration to La Mer!

[Ein Heldenleben]

That's hardly an excuse. It may be "bundled" with other works, but this has little effect on the merits of the individual interpretations.

I wasn’t endorsing it nor do I know whether it’s the case. It’s just that for some reason like Metamorphosen it’s not one of the more “Popular “ ones .

[LHC]

No excuse at all - many a work of shorter length has been done and it is of similar duration to La Mer!

Indeed, if they can devote a BAL to Syrinx, which last slightly less than 3 minutes and will inevitably be bundled with other pieces in any recording, they should be able to find time for Tod und Verklarung.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Indeed, if they can devote a BAL to Syrinx, which last slightly less than 3 minutes and will inevitably be bundled with other pieces in any recording, they should be able to find time for Tod und Verklarung.

Have they done one on 4.33?

[LHC]

Have they done one on 4.33?

No, but a programme about it was broadcast on Hear and Now Modern Classics in 2011, including its first 'radio realisation'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio3/2011/11/433-words-about-john-cages-433-and-the-first-ever-radio-realisation.shtml

[pastoralguy]

Indeed, if they can devote a BAL to Syrinx, which last slightly less than 3 minutes and will inevitably be bundled with other pieces in any recording, they should be able to find time for Tod und Verklarung.

I think Syrinx has been done! I remember the reviewer saying that is was unique in the history of BaL in that every version could be played in full!

[LHC]

I think Syrinx has been done! I remember the reviewer saying that is was unique in the history of BaL in that every version could be played in full!

Yes, in 2006, which is why I made the comparison.

[Darloboy]

I wonder if the reason they don’t bother with Tod und Verklarung is because its usually bundled in with other more “popular” tone poems - Don Juan and Also Sprach Zarathustra?

Till Eulenspiegel is shorter than Tod und Verklarung & has been covered in 1957, 1979, 1984, 1996 and 2018. So they've definitely got it in for Tod und Verklarung.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Karajan's DG version:

Oppressively recorded, especially the violins.
Some poor tuning from the BPO.
An offstage band that's apparently slap-bang in the middle of the orchestra.

But if you like his interpretation, there's a DVD version with HvK conducting live. Far superior to the studio version imo.

Just listened to Night and Dawn . I think there is a sterile , almost synthetic quality to the recording. There is no real sense of instrument placement . I didn’t stick with it . Now listening to Kempe Staatskappelle on EMI . Real sense of orchestral placement . Bassoons and lower wind sounding like a snake slithering through the woods at the opening . Absolutely wonderful performance .
Oh yes and the string sound is superb…

[cloughie]

Till Eulenspiegel is shorter than Tod und Verklarung & has been covered in 1957, 1979, 1984, 1996 and 2018. So they've definitely got it in for Tod und Verklarung.

I think the reason they haven’t done Tod is because after the VPO Reiner it has never been surpassed!
In truth there are loads of versions which are good - it has fared well in the studio!

[Cockney Sparrow]

We went to Bernard Haitink conducting the Alpine Symphony with the Royal College orchestra in February 2018, deftly accommodating the students and I think a memorable occasion for all, although I'm no expert on R Strauss.

I wondered whether they would make available their You Tube recording of that concert which I see they replayed on 6 August 2020 - lockdown (or loosening) times. They have made available a YT recording of Daphnis et Chloé

https://www.rcm.ac.uk/about/news/all/2021-10-22bernardhaitink.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q30TBF0H7fQ

p.s.- for the Alpine performance, the organ was, of course open to view. (I have a half memory it had been undergoing some work, but I might be wrong.)

[Darloboy]

Richard Osborne, if I remember correctly.

As Alpie's pointed out, Bill Mival was the reviewer who chose Karajan last time out. Richard Osborne was the reviewer back in April 1988 - did he choose Karajan as well? I know Michael Kennedy chose the LAPO/Mehta recording in March 81.