BaL 14.01.12 - Elgar: Violin Concerto

[PJPJ]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]
Is this an 'unofficial' off-air recording?

No, it's an RCA one.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.110939

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heifetz-plays-Walton-Elgar-Concertos/dp/B00004SNG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326546514&sr=8-1

[Nick Armstrong]

No, it's an RCA one.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.110939

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heifetz-play...6546514&sr=8-1

Oh yes, thanks PJ²

I recognise those covers.

In which case - did I hear wrongly that Heifetz had never recorded it??!

Confused...

[EdgeleyRob]

As well as one or two of the classics already discussed I have Dong-Suk Kang, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Leaper on Naxos.
Does anyone on here rate this performance ?.

BTW Isn't this the BEST EVER violin concerto bar none ?

[umslopogaas]

Caliban, its more likely, I think, that you heard correctly but the information was incorrect. That Heifetz recording of the Elgar concerto, conducted by Sargent with the LSO, was originally issued by HMV as a mono LP, code ALP 1014: only the fourteenth LP they ever put on sale. It came out in their high imperial style 'gatefold' sleeve, red, yellow and gold livery, two 'By Appointment' royal crests and a nice reproduction of the famous painting of Nipper the dog. Its not dated, but would have gone on sale in the early 1950s, possibly even the late 1940s. About the same vintage as me. I know all this because I've got a copy. I didnt know that HMV had a deal with RCA, but the various tie-ins between record companies down the years do get very complicated!

[amateur51]

I think Martin Cotton said that Kreisler did not record the Elgar violin concerto, rather than Heifetz, Calibs

[amateur51]

(PS: Ammie, have you read Pab's comments on RVW's family tree? )

Cheers, ferney! - I read the RVW info from Pabs with great interest, the stuff you read on this Board, marvellous!

[Pabmusic]

I think Martin Cotton said that Kreisler did not record the Elgar violin concerto, rather than Heifetz, Calibs

I didn't hear it, but this would be true. It was because EMI couldn't persuade Kreisler (after years of trying) that the young Menuhin was engaged to make the recording with Elgar.

[amateur51]

I didn't hear it, but this would be true. It was because EMI couldn't persuade Kreisler (after years of trying) that the young Menuhin was engaged to make the recording with Elgar.

That was it, Pabs - Martin Cotton even mentioned that Kreisler was unpersuaded even by the interventions of Fred Gaisberg

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes; MC mentioned that there was a rumour that Kreisler din't trust Elgar's conducting abilities!

[Nick Armstrong]

I think Martin Cotton said that Kreisler did not record the Elgar violin concerto, rather than Heifetz, Calibs

OH WHOOPS! You are absolutely right, Ams! I always get them muddled up What an amateur, eh? And anyway, I'm never at my acute best at 10am on a Saturday

Thank you

While I'm on, I can recall exactly when I "got into" this concerto... (I think I've mentioned this before on these or the previous message boards). It was thanks to a wonderful BBC2 "Screen Two" film in the mid 1980s called "Lent" by Michael Wilcox: an orphaned lad has to spend the holidays at the prep school owned by his uncle (I think) and forges a friendship with the elderly caretaker. One of the things that happens is that the boy finds the 78s of the Menuhin/Elgar version of the VC and it provides the music for the film, the relationship between soloist and conductor mirroring that between the two unlikely friends (15yo Graham McGrath and 75yo Harry Andrews both marvellous in the roles, with cracking turns by David Langton as the stuck-up guardian, and Fabia Drake as his wise old owl of a mother). The last movement is a particularly memorable accompaniment to the end of the film, beautifully photographed, and symbolising how the boy emerges from the summer a happier and wiser person....

[hafod]

The wonderful Campoli recording is included in the Regis box of Boult's Elgar recordings from the 1950's.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boult-conducts-Elgar-Sir-Adrian/dp/B005EVV612/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1326563759&sr=1-1

[salymap]

Would that be the same recording as my Deccca Eclipse LP - ECS 675 Campoli/Boult/LPO, electronically reprocessed to give stereo effect? A present in 1976.

[Chris Newman]

Apropos the Kreisler never recorded it officially story, Barbirolli refused to record it with anyone else hence the fact that Sir John does not get a look in. I hope my bank manager is not a user of this board as I fear Thomas Zehetmair and Tasmin Little are tempting me: despite my fear that TL must have recorded the work in a swimming pool. I hope ariosto will forgive me but there are some works she does very well indeed. I was pleased that Alf Camp and Adie Bee's mono recording still received such positive appreciation amongst such stereo illuminati.

Thanks, hafod. Oh, must I get more Boult Elgar recordings? You bad thing, you!!!!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Would that be the same recording as my Deccca Eclipse LP - ECS 675 Campoli/Boult/LPO, electronically reprocessed to give stereo effect? A present in 1976.

Same performance, sals; I'm not sure the CD is "Electrickery Stereo".

EDIT: Having said that, one of the Amazon reviewers complains that the recording of the Vln Conc sounds as if it's been transferred from an LP, so maybe ...

[Paul N]

Glad he liked the Little/A Davis recording, which has given me great pleasure,

Yes, I think it's a terrific recording and much prefer it to the Ehnes/Davis. The Zehetmair/Elder also sounded very good and I could easily be tempted by it.