BaL 19.11.11. Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

[ardcarp]

It's a great, great piece and I agree it was done more in yesteryear. One of my old singing mates, the late lamented Roger Stalman, earned a good living from the bass solo. One problem about even the best professional performances is, to my mind, getting a very big choir (which you need) to sing with an accuracy and eclat to match the orchestral players. I can't pretend to know all the available versions, but it is certainly the chorus in the Previn which lets it down. Wouldn't it be great to concoct a big choir from the very best chamber/college choirs who could really give it some welly? However, it was designed as choral society fodder, and I know many have done their best to rise to the challenge. IMO the best bit from the whole piece is the "Praise ye the God of gold, iron, brass, etc, etc" Really thrilling stuff.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I find it difficult to be objective about this work. All I can think about was trying to get Walton's autograph after his 1971 (or '72) RLPO performance. He was ushered away in his smelly black coat. Since that day, all I've ever considered when I hear the work is:
"Walton trod on my toe."

[Petrushka]

I adore this work and have 10 versions on my shelves. Must confess, though, that it must be several years since I last heard it.

The ones I have are:

Bell/Philharmonia/Walton (1959)
Hampson/CBSO/Rattle (1998)
Terfel/BSO/Litton (1995)
White/BBCSO/Andrew Davis (BBCMM CD 1999)
Terfel/BBCSO/Andrew Davis (1994 Last Night of Proms)
Roberts/BBCSO/Pritchard (1984 Proms)
Shirley-Quirke/LSO/Previn (1972)
Luxon/RPO/Previn (1986)
Wilson-Johnson/LSO/Hickox (1989)
Luxon/LPO/Solti (1977)

Most of these seem to be nla including my favourite amongst them which is the Solti. Never one to understate drama, Solti obtains a thrilling contribution from all concerned aided by glorious vintage Decca sound.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I do recommend listening to a version with choir(s), largely ignored in the above listings. ;-)

[Nick Armstrong]

I do recommend listening to a version with choir(s), largely ignored in the above listings. ;-)

Very fair point, well made!!

[Barbirollians]

Previn for me.

[Petrushka]

Previn for me.

Which one? LSO (1972) or RPO (1986)?

[MickyD]

To my absolute shame, at 52 years of age I admit to never having heard the piece! But I know how highly regarded it is, so shall be listening with interest this weekend in the hope of finding a good version with which to begin.

[Barbirollians]

LSO

[Nick Armstrong]

Most enjoyable and informative BAL, as with all Jeremy Summerly's contributions to R3

I didn't necessarily agree with everything, though, and the whole exercise was slightly hobbled by deletions (both Previns, it seems - I missed Benjamin Luxon going head-to-head with Terfel, a vocal Big Daddy v Giant Haystacks bout ). But Terfel's reading with Litton was indeed tremendous, and fascinating to hear about the textual changes, and WW's writer's block after "...gold!".

Will listen to the final choice on Monday with interest, though in isolation the tempo choices didn't sound quite right, plus I wasn't as sure as JS about the BBC Singers (I never am)... and...

ANYONE FROM BBC R3 OR BBC4 READING THIS???

That 1994 perfomance (as well as being on a Warner CD) must exist on video in the vaults as it was at a Last Night of the Proms: how about some more joined-up Radio 3 and BBC4 action, and (like the Kullervo last night) brush off the tape and broadcast it again one Friday evening soon? Come on!!

[ardcarp]

Agree with all that Caliban. How odd that the Previn is no longer available. The orchestral playing was, IMO, first rate on that version. I know what you mean about the Beeb Singers, but they did a very professional job. There just isn't a version with their 'professionalism' but without the wobble. Andrew Davis (Davies?) is a great conductor and, of course, at home with voices; but I don't think I could live with a vesrion that had such bad audience noise. I would just be anticipating the coughs, grunts and rustlings every time I played it. But what an assured live performance of a tricky work.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I was interested in the mention of 1972? version from Scottish forces under Gibson (~ clearly a great conductor; too many audible tape edits), but did he ever even name the soloist? This was no less than Sherrill Milnes and I have the LP, though I bought it mainly for the Coronation Te Deum. Did JS say more about this version that I missed?

Apart from the Gibson and the LSO/Previn on LP, the only version on my shelves is a BBCMM CD of BBC forces under Andrew Davis with Willard White. Does anyone here have any view on it?

[amateur51]

A fine BAL and the right result

I'm reliably informed that Mandy is even now trying to buy his copy under plain wrappers from www.amazon.finisterre.com

[Nick Armstrong]

I was interested in the mention of 1972? version from Scottish forces under Gibson (~ clearly a great conductor; too many audible tape edits), but did he ever even name the soloist? This was no less than Sherrill Milnes and I have the LP, though I bought it mainly for the Coronation Te Deum. Did JS say more about this version that I missed?

I'm sure there was no mention of Milnes, LMP!

I'm reliably informed that Mandy is even now trying to buy his copy under plain wrappers from www.amazon.finisterre.com

I'm aching to know that I understand that, Ams... Does our friend have "tastes" involving the Last Night of the Proms? Am I being thick?

It does make me think of the heading for Mandy's obituary posts: maybe he should head them

Firstname Surname: SLAIN!!!!!!!

[LeMartinPecheur]

The smallish number of recordings listed at the top of this thread, and treated in the programme, has made me reconsider this work.

I'd always thought it was a really popular one in rather the same way as next week's BaL choice Mahler 8 - good music plus huge scope for really spectacular recording. Yet looking at Gramophone Classical Record Catalogues - remember them? - back to 1973 and Penguin Guides from c1970 to date usually reveals only five or six versions available at any one time, or in the latter case thought worthy of comment. Deletion of good versions like both Previns and the EMI Rattle points the same way.

And now reaction here to today's programme hardly suggests much passionate interest in the work. I am surprised and disappointed! Do I need to ratchet up my musical taste??