BaL 14.01.12 - Elgar: Violin Concerto

[Stanley Stewart]

It's time to give yourself a bleak midwinter treat, saly! A few days ago, I received the 5CD set, Boult conducts Elgar, from Amazon. £11 63, post free. In addition to the Campoli recording, the set includes the two Symphonies, Nursery Suite, Wand of Youth Suite, No 1, In the South, Enigma Variations, Falstaff Sym. Suite, Cockaigne, Cello Concerto (Pablo Casals). Froissart, Pomp & Circ 1-5 Marches and Dream Children. A consummation devoutly to be wished.

[salymap]

Thanks Stanley, I'll think about it but I have most of those works as 'Elgar conducts Elgar'CDs.



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[Barbirollians]

It is odd that Michael Kennedy does not mention JB refusing to record the work with anyone but Kreisler in his biography but I have seen it mentioned elsewhere. The Beulah sleevenote for the Campoli/Boult strangely suggests that JB refused to record it for EMI as he never forgave them for not asking Kreisler to record it . That seems to be plainly wrong as of course Kreisler was asked and refused and also if that was the case why did he not record it with Pye ?

Apparently, he did play it in concert the same sleevenote mentions a performance with Campoli at the RFH.

I like the Zehetmair a great deal , I wasn't inspired by the Little/Davis and my feelings about the Ehnes were reflected by Mr Cotton . The Menuhin/Boult sounded so right as ever to me . It was my first recording of the work and it caused me to fall in love with it and if i had to take one performance to a desert island it would be that one warts and all . Good to be reminded of a what a first rate recording the Kennedy/Handley is too .

By the way , used copies of the excellent Bean/Groves CD on CfP are available cheaply

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elgar-Works-for-Violin/dp/B000057A87/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327259115&sr=8-3

[Barbirollians]

There are a considerable number of Tales from the Stave on iplayer and I was pleased this morning to come across one on this concerto with Michael Kennedy and an excitable Tasmin Little - well worth a listen .

[AmpH]

An enjoyable programme indeed, on one of my personal favourite works.

Available episodes link ( including the Elgar ) here :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007050r/episodes/player

[Barbirollians]

Lovely to hear the late Michael Kennedy too - a bit of a hero of mine .

I bought the Little/Davis recording in the end very cheaply . I agree it is much better conducted than the Ehnes - Davis seems much more involved in this recording . It still falls into the very good but not great category for me .

I think Alison's comment above nails it .

[gradus]

Many thanks for the link to an engrossing programme.

[Barbirollians]

Yes; but one of those "sneeze and you miss it" dismissals.




One of those "excerpt suggests reviewer didn't know what s/he was talking about" moments!


I now want to hear both (and the Davis/Ehnes)far more than I do either of the "top recommendations"!


Campoli is a lovely performance, the insights revealed in the performance far outweighing the limited recorded sound.

Best Wishes.

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

Re the Menuhin/Boult I think fhgl's comment is spot on . Menuhin did have technical problems by 1966 and they are well documented but they pale into insignificance compared to the extraordinarily moving interpretation . As much as I enjoyed playing the Little the other day the Menuhin/Boult to my ears gets to the heart of the music and exposes that intense emotional frailty under the notes in a very special way .

Very cheaply available now in that marvellous Boult Elgar box and you get the very dreamy perhaps too dreamy Ida H version too

[Barbirollians]

I see a new version is coming from Rachel Barton Pine .

I have recently bought cheaply the Shaham/Zinman version . Some very lovely playing from Shaham but the accompaniment is not the most inspiring .

[pastoralguy]

I see a new version is coming from Rachel Barton Pine .

A very fine player.

[Barbirollians]

I wonder what others think of the Benedetti/LPO/Jurowski version ? When I first heard it on Amazon music I was impressed . It struck me although disconcerted by its early accelerando as a sensitive and musical interpretation . I find on further listening now the CD has arrived impressed but rather unmoved . Which is not what I would ever say of Menuhin, Simmons, Kennedy , Perlman or Ida H.

[Edgy 2]

I wonder what others think of the Benedetti/LPO/Jurowski version ? When I first heard it on Amazon music I was impressed . It struck me although disconcerted by its early accelerando as a sensitive and musical interpretation . I find on further listening now the CD has arrived impressed but rather unmoved . Which is not what I would ever say of Menuhin, Simmons, Kennedy , Perlman or Ida H.

Oooh yes.
It's undoubtedly a fabulous performance but not one that gave me that 'must listen again' feeling

[Alison]

Oooh yes.
It's undoubtedly a fabulous performance but not one that gave me that 'must listen again' feeling

I listened three or four times upon release and agree with the two previous comments. Nicola’s live Barbican performance was really exciting with BBCSO/Oramo without the same degree of accuracy as on disc.

[ARBurton]

I wonder what others think of the Benedetti/LPO/Jurowski version ? When I first heard it on Amazon music I was impressed . It struck me although disconcerted by its early accelerando as a sensitive and musical interpretation . I find on further listening now the CD has arrived impressed but rather unmoved . Which is not what I would ever say of Menuhin, Simmons, Kennedy , Perlman or Ida H.

Initial thoughts after a couple of playings are that Ms Benedetti`s playing is excellent but the orchestral accompaniment is not a worthy partner. No sure whether it`s the conducting itself. The playing of the orchestral is excellent but there`s no emotional heft to it. I shall hang onto it and see how it settles in.

[Alison]

Initial thoughts after a couple of playings are that Ms Benedetti`s playing is excellent but the orchestral accompaniment is not a worthy partner. No sure whether it`s the conducting itself. The playing of the orchestral is excellent but there`s no emotional heft to it. I shall hang onto it and see how it settles in.

Yes I agree with that too, Jurowski an unexpected partner really.