BaL 11.06.22 - Debussy: La Mer

[Ein Heldenleben]

Very good. Mind you, given some of the performances I've heard of Les Adieux, LvB was only too right to be worried that his interpreters might not play it musically, unless specifically instructed so to do!

A pedant writes - I think that direction is for the E minor opus 90 . However your point could equally well apply to that !

[underthecountertenor]

A pedant writes - I think that direction is for the E minor opus 90 . However your point could equally well apply to that !

I wasn’t going to mention it, in case Les Adieux had an identical direction that I’d forgotten, but yes!

[Lordgeous]

I have the two Barbirolli recordings, which are very fine, but I put Previn/LSO ahead of any I've heard. Apparently EMI's early digital recording method was a particular good one (though I don't know the details), but it was considered too expensive, so was abandoned (or perhaps modified) after this technically superb recording.

Just ordered the Previn, so I hope you're right!

[Ein Heldenleben]

I wasn’t going to mention it, in case Les Adieux had an identical direction that I’d forgotten, but yes!

Apologies for off piste but Opus 90 first movement is seared in the memory esp the first movement Alberti bass which stretches an octave and a third. I think it was once a grade 8 piece - if so that’s borderline cruelty. The second movement which is much easier is one of the most satisfying pieces to play there is . Also has a German instruction - “in a vocal style” - that should apply to most piano playing !

[underthecountertenor]

Apologies for off piste but Opus 90 first movement is seared in the memory esp the first movement Alberti bass which stretches an octave and a third. I think it was once a grade 8 piece - if so that’s borderline cruelty. The second movement which is much easier is one of the most satisfying pieces to play there is . Also has a German instruction - “in a vocal style” - that should apply to most piano playing !

I recently revisited opus 90 after many years, and the first movement has become more fearsome in the intervening period! But the second is balm.

[Alison]

Just ordered the Previn, so I hope you're right!

He most definitely is. The real deal.

[Keraulophone]

The “en dehors” business...

Now for très en dehors, which we basses enjoy at Christmas, plus a couple more instructions in French within one bar.
Poulenc makes very clear what he's after here...

[Ein Heldenleben]

Now for très en dehors, which we basses enjoy at Christmas, plus a couple more instructions in French within one bar.
Poulenc makes very clear what he's after here...

Thing is Keraul . If the other parts are bouche fermeé there’s no way they can drown out the basses whatever they do can they ?
Bit like the male chorus that used to hum behind Piaf while she belted it out..

[Retune]

Update! I have found this on Amazon at a normal price: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=debussy..._3_12_ts-doa-p
Amazon also claims that it has "more on the way"!

Looks like it was £2.40 cheaper from 2020 until yesterday:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B00B9GZHPM

Surge pricing for BaL listeners?

They had a dozen or so earlier at the higher price, but I suspect they won't be getting any more. I ended up ordering this on ebay (and discovering I had a forgotten copy of the Karajan in the DG Originals box, currently a bargain at £999.95 from an optimistic scalper on Amazon).

[Alison]

And I hate the abbreviation ‘Phil’

[underthecountertenor]

Now for très en dehors, which we basses enjoy at Christmas, plus a couple more instructions in French within one bar.
Poulenc makes very clear what he's after here...

French for, as Frankie Howerd would say, ‘shut yer faces!’

[mahlerfan]

Quite a lot of recordings from that stable seem to remain on CD for only a short while. The Krivine Beethoven Symphonies went the same way, though the download is very cheap. QOBUZ have the CD rate download of the Debussy for £9.49, replete with booklet pdf.

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/de.../3149028023220

Bryn

Strangely, if you opt to buy the Roth from Qobuz via individual tracks, one by one, rather than the album in one go, you get La Mer for £2.47 or the whole album for £5.93. Either way you get the booklet and album art. The other work is the early, charming but hardly essential, first orchestral suite.....

P.S. I bought this album on its release a while ago and would vouch for the performance of La Mer, albeit behind Karajan’s 1964.



.

[Bryn]

Bryn

Strangely, if you opt to buy the Roth from Qobuz via individual tracks, one by one, rather than the album in one go, you get La Mer for £2.47 or the whole album for £5.93. Either way you get the booklet and album art. The other work is the early, charming but hardly essential, first orchestral suite.....

P.S. I bought this album on its release a while ago and would vouch for the performance of La Mer, albeit behind Karajan’s 1964.

Strange indeed. However, I imported, rather than downloaded, so no extra cost on top of the subscription.

[Master Jacques]

A pedant writes - I think that direction is for the E minor opus 90 . However your point could equally well apply to that !

Thank you - a timely reminder to read the score, rather than relying on fallible memory! ("leggi la partitura"?)

[Pulcinella]

And I hate the abbreviation ‘Phil’

I'm sure that Her Majesty's late consort couldn't bear it either.