BaL 25.02.12 - Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F

[Alf-Prufrock]

Szidon

I'm not sure if download-only versions count but the version with which I grew up - Roberto Szidon, LPO, Edward Downes - seems to be available still from DG. I still like it more than any other.

Ah, Roberto Szidon. We all have favourite 'little-known' artists, and Szidon was one of mine. His Liszt Rhapsodies were unsurpassed IMO. I always hoped to see him play, and never did. He died just before Christmas.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ah, Roberto Szidon. We all have favourite 'little-known' artists, and Szidon was one of mine. His Liszt Rhapsodies were unsurpassed IMO.

A DG boxed set of his recordings would be great: his Scriabin and Ives were also covetable!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Good; your lists are always interesting and useful. Will you include the Bargy and Sanroma recordings, too? (post no. 2)

Certainly, though please could you furnish me with more details (pianist, orchestra and conductor) of each. The first one suggests the composer as pianist on the CD cover...

[Pabmusic]

Certainly, though please could you furnish me with more details (pianist, orchestra and conductor) of each. The first one suggests the composer as pianist on the CD cover...

Details as follows:

Roy Bargy/Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra, with Bix Beiderbecke (cornet) (rec. Sept. & Oct. 1928, Columbia). Re-scored by Ferde Grofe for Whiteman's orchestra. Cuts amounting to about 5 minutes (total timing: 23' 17"). This was, apparently, the first recording of it.

Jesus Maria Sanroma/Boston Promenade Orch./Arthur Fiedler (rec. 1940, Victor). This is said to be the first complete recording using the published orchestration (no cuts, 28' 30"). Orchestra wrongly given as Boston 'Pops', which it wasn't in 1940.

Gershwin's name on the cover of the Bargy recording refers to his (well known) version of Rhapsody in Blue, which is also on the disc.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Thanks for the update. Both recordings now included.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A factor with this choice might, for some people, be the couplings. So which version of Rhapsody in Blue would you like?

[verismissimo]

Don't think I own one. How can this be?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A factor with this choice might, for some people, be the couplings. So which version of Rhapsody in Blue would you like?

I have two splendid recordings: the Earl Wild (with Rhapsody, and Philippe Entremont which ingeniously is coupled with the two Ravel Concerti.

[amateur51]

The Cherkassky/Handley recording comes from a Proms concert. Watching my long-lost VHS of it, I was amazed (but not really surprised) at how often Shura seemed to be taking passages more slowly or more quickly than usual, and by the look on Tod's face, I wasn't the only one

The audience gave Cherkassky rousing applause at the end which led to more Shura mischief. I think Tod had received 'word' from the TV side that the time allotted was running out and that he should try to get Cherkassky to leave the atage. At one point I recall Tod's making a surreptitious lunge at Cherkassky's arm which the diminutive pianist shimmied past (lovely sidestep) and once again presented himself at the front of the platform bowing deeply and soaking up his reward.

Follow that, Lang Lang

[Barbirollians]

Previn for me but why is this work back on BAL after only five years - who makes these decisions at CD REview ?

[VodkaDilc]

Don't think I own one. How can this be?

I discovered that I had a similar gap a few months ago. After a bit of research I bought the Tritt/Kunzel/Cincinnati Jazz Orchestra recording and was delighted with it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Previn for me but why is this work back on BAL after only five years - who makes these decisions at CD REview ?

I don't think "it" is "back", Barbi: five years ago, it was Rhapsody in Blue surveyed by Geoffrey Smith (on 16th June, 2007). Mind you, he awarded the laurels to Previn's EMI recording, which is coupled with the Concerto!

The shortest "gap" between discussions of a work that I can find is six years: The Rite of Spring.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Joanna MacGregor. Who were her musical partners in the concerto?
If it's the LSO/Davis, then I don't think it is available, but I'll leave it on the list until confirmation of its demise is obtained.

[Tony Halstead]

An extract from that MacGregor performance was played a few minutes ago - it sounded excellent.
Smith described Mantovani ( Katchen recording) as an 'American' conductor...! Surely this is wrong? I thought Mantovani was born in Italy and came to live in the UK.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm definitely buying the Toscanini - haven't laughed as much in a long time!