BaL 14.05.22 - Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 4 in F minor

[Pulcinella]

Why is it [this BaL, not the symphony set!] being described as a special edition?

[Goon525]

Good question. It’s a perfectly normal BaL, just happens to coincide with the 150 anniversary. But it could have turned up any time, not remotely ‘special’.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Special or ordinary this is a good BAL. Thing is though is there a bad (or even less than good) recording of this work? Only conductors really committed to RVW aware going to prepare it for performance or recording. Not because it’s not a great work but because promoters / record companies won’t be that keen.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Brass in that Wrigglesworth / LPO recording are tremendous

[Bryn]

Special or ordinary this is a good BAL. Thing is though is there a bad (or even less than good) recording of this work? Only conductors really committed to RVW aware going to prepare it for performance or recording. Not because it’s not a great work but because promoters / record companies won’t be that keen.

On what do you base that final assertion? As to Mark Lowrher's approach to the review, I have nowt but praise.

[Ein Heldenleben]

On what do you base that final assertion? As to Mark Lowrher's approach to the review, I have nowt but praise.

If you look at Alpies list it’s about a third the length of one say for Mahler 5 .Live Mahler symphony performances are common - RVW symphonies relatively rare (outside anniversary years) . That’s not for artistic reasons it’s because Mahler sells and RVW outside the Lark and Tallis doesn’t . Also suspect Pastoral and 5 get performed more than any of the others.

Ooh I’ve got the winner Haitink / LPO .

[Goon525]

It was an excellent BaL, as usual from Mark Lowther, too short of course, but his reasoning always made clear. And a great winner.

[Pulcinella]

...
Ooh I’ve got the winner Haitink / LPO .

Me too, but not listened to in a while, and certainly not in the run up to this BaL, as I hadn't thought that it would be in contention, and I focused on the Berglund and then new versions if I found that I could stream them: more fool me!
Situation to be remedied soon.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Me too, but not listened to in a while, and certainly not in the run up to this BaL, as I hadn't thought that it would be in contention, and I focused on the Berglund and then new versions if I found that I could stream them: more fool me!
Situation to be remedied soon.

I thought he might go for Pappano which is absolutely superb as well. Resplendent on Qobuz hi-res

[Bryn]

If you look at Alpies list it’s about a third the length of one say for Mahler 5 .Live Mahler symphony performances are common - RVW symphonies relatively rare (outside anniversary years) . That’s not for artistic reasons it’s because Mahler sells and RVW outside the Lark and Tallis doesn’t . Also suspect Pastoral and 5 get performed more than any of the others.

Ooh I’ve got the winner Haitink / LPO .

25 (and more) currently available commercial recordings does not indicate any kind of reticence on the part of records companies, to me.

[Alison]

Good old Bernard!

[Goon525]

Although I have the winner, and think it’s terrific, my money would have been on Pappano - a tremendous disc which I’d have as a Record of the Year candidate.

[ardcarp]

It was an excellent BaL, as usual from Mark Lowther, too short of course, but his reasoning always made clear. And a great winner.

Yes and there was only one 'ABSOLUTELY' in this edition....that word always a marker for unnecessary comments.

Mark Lowther mentioned the close friendship between RVW and Holst. Listening to the IVth today, I did sense occasional snatches of Holstian harmony in RVW's essay in modernism. Not many.

[Keraulophone]

Mark Lowther mentioned the close friendship between RVW and Holst.

Enjoying the Malvern hills.

[Pianoman]

Although I have the winner, and think it’s terrific, my money would have been on Pappano - a tremendous disc which I’d have as a Record of the Year candidate.

Same here. I think the Pappano is really terrific and for me is a logical successor to the Berglund, which has been my benchmark for years. But the Pappano is in better sound and is better played, whilst maintaining all the energy and excitement that made the Berglund special. I'll have to re-visit Haitink, which has been gathering dust for some time now....