BaL 13.11.21 - Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie

[Ein Heldenleben]

Which one ? Dresden or RPO ?

The RPO doesn’t appear on Amazon (save on Vinyl) or Qubuz (despite every conceivable search combination) .
I listened to Karajan (remastered ) today. Super - refined sound. Wonderful legato string playing but to me a slick slightly empty experience . Like going up the Eiger by cable car rather than crampons.

[Cockney Sparrow]

The RPO is on Testament. I've put it aside for listening ..... later - not sure when that will be.

https://testament.co.uk/product/rudolf-kempe-3/

(I'm fairly sure that is a CD. If not, I find, ahem.......I have a duplicate......)

[Keraulophone]

The RPO is on Testament. I've put it aside for listening ..... later - not sure when that will be.
https://testament.co.uk/product/rudolf-kempe-3/

The whole performance can be sampled on YT: https://youtu.be/nAZ7AEnIiZA

One of the YT comments just reads ‘Fantastico!’ - nothing more need be said.

.

[Petrushka]

The RPO doesn’t appear on Amazon (save on Vinyl) or Qubuz (despite every conceivable search combination) .

It's here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horn-Concer...rpt=ABIS_MUSIC

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horn-Concer...rpt=ABIS_MUSIC

This may be a 1966 recording, but the sound is top drawer stuff. The performance is full of zest and a sense of real enjoyment from the players. If there are weakness, they are slight: an occasional split brass note, and perhaps not the most full-throated thunderstorm.

My top recommendation.

[Ein Heldenleben]

It's here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horn-Concer...rpt=ABIS_MUSIC

Thanks - ordered . I hope Alpie is getting a cut…

[Keraulophone]

This may be a 1966 recording, but the sound is top drawer stuff.

.
Not surprising when one reads ‘Balance engineer [Decca’s] Kenneth Wilkinson, Kingsway Hall [1967]’, though this refers to the Horn Concerto. I wouldn’t be surprised if EA was of the same provenance the year before. The RPO’s playing has great character and personality, as good as, if very different from, the refined playing of the superb Dresdeners.

[jayne lee wilson]

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Not surprising when one reads ‘Balance engineer [Decca’s] Kenneth Wilkinson, Kingsway Hall [1967]’, though this refers to the Horn Concerto. I wouldn’t be surprised if EA was of the same provenance the year before. The RPO’s playing has great character and personality, as good as, if very different from, the refined playing of the superb Dresdeners.

Symphony - 27/04/66, Gerhard/Wilkinson/Kingsway....

https://testament.co.uk/product/rudolf-kempe-3/

[Keraulophone]

Symphony - 27/04/66, Gerhard/Wilkinson/Kingsway....
https://testament.co.uk/product/rudolf-kempe-3/

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

.
Not surprising when one reads ‘Balance engineer [Decca’s] Kenneth Wilkinson, Kingsway Hall [1967]’, though this refers to the Horn Concerto. I wouldn’t be surprised if EA was of the same provenance the year before. The RPO’s playing has great character and personality, as good as, if very different from, the refined playing of the superb Dresdeners.

In those days, Decca used to do the actual recordings for the RCA European records, including the Beecham Messiah and the Karajan Tosca (which Decca later reclaimed).

[Barbirollians]

In those days, Decca used to do the actual recordings for the RCA European records, including the Beecham Messiah and the Karajan Tosca (which Decca later reclaimed).

Wasn't that team also behind those Reader's Digest records like the Horenstein and Reiner Brahms and the Barbirolli/RPO Sibelius 2 ?

[cloughie]

In those days, Decca used to do the actual recordings for the RCA European records, including the Beecham Messiah and the Karajan Tosca (which Decca later reclaimed).

Strangely although unfortunately the Kempe Alpine Sym was not claimed back by Decca it has, I think, nor been released on CD other than the Testament release. On LP it was reissued in the 70s on RCA Gold Label.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Wasn't that team also behind those Reader's Digest records like the Horenstein and Reiner Brahms and the Barbirolli/RPO Sibelius 2 ?

Also the EMI VPO/ Karajan Salome, the CBS Bernstein Rosenkavalier, and Lyrita recordings.

[gradus]

Which one ? Dresden or RPO ?

It was Dresden but I'll try the RPO performance too if its on Spotify.

[Nick Armstrong]

This morning it was evident from the first moment Herbert laced up his boots that he would reach the (reviewer’s) “summit” first despite Sir Georg’s cardiac arrest-inducing tempi…

Ah but which Herbert? I’ve long rated Blomstedt’s reading and was pleased to hear extracts, but he appeared to have been blown off the mountain by the end of this insubstantial BAL (Cockney Sparrow’s comments on which I’ve copied to the general BAL thread).

It did provide a salutary reminder to avoid Worsethan-Möst like the plague, so it wasn’t entirely useless