BaL 25.02.12 - Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F

[amateur51]

I had the great pleasure of playing on Previn's 2nd recording of the Pno Concerto in about 1971-2 ( oh dear, the 'little grey cells')
and can honestly say that those sessions were hugely enjoyable and - for the LSO - relatively stress-free, everybody simply pulling together and responding to Andrè's infectious enthusiasm and stylish mastery of the idiom, not to mention his superb piano playing and of course his ability to conduct and play simultaneously.
Memories such as this stay with you all your life.

Triffic stuff, Waldhorn! - many thanks

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Triffic stuff, Waldhorn! - many thanks

... and from me, too!

[Barbirollians]

Well waldhorn great to hear and it all comes across in the recording !!!

[VodkaDilc]

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.

The Tritt recording was not even mentioned, unless I missed it. It's an excellent and well-regarded performance, so I wonder why it was omitted.
Recording quality did not seem to be an issue which received much attention. My perception was that the chosen Previn had pretty unremarkable sound. Can anyone comment? (I was struck by a xylophone which appeared out of nowhere at one point and suddenly dominated the right centre of the sound-stage.)

[Nick Armstrong]

I had the great pleasure of playing on Previn's 2nd recording of the Pno Concerto in about 1971-2 ( oh dear, the 'little grey cells')
and can honestly say that those sessions were hugely enjoyable and - for the LSO - relatively stress-free, everybody simply pulling together and responding to Andrè's infectious enthusiasm and stylish mastery of the idiom, not to mention his superb piano playing and of course his ability to conduct and play simultaneously.
Memories such as this stay with you all your life.

I've delayed reading this thread until today, as I have only recently caught up with BAL this week.... and your splendid reminiscence only adds to what I was going to say! So great to hear that the sessions were such fun for that LSO / Previn recording, because I ended BAL thinking that nothing need replace that in my affections.

It was an interesting and enjoyable analysis, some fascinating extracts (Beiderbecke!! Toscanini!!!)... but I didn't always agree with what GS said about what we heard. He criticised the trumpeter for being too fruity at the start of the slow movement in the Nakamatsu / Rochester Philharmonic performance: but I couldn't hear anything wrong with it. I didn't particularly like the sound of the chosen Previn reading (I'll try and listen tomorrow morning); the Leipzig recording sounded slick but unidiomatic. And I heard Wayne Marshall's performance on the radio a few weeks back: sounded great to me.

I found myself admiring the fact that Joanna MacGregor was rightly well rated in the last two BALs - not many artists who could achieve that in works as disparate as the Goldbergs and the Gershwin PC

The piece is one I got to know very early in my music 'career' - the Szidon/Downes recording on DG is the one we had at home... It seemed great to me for years... And then I discovered the Previn / LSO version, and love it. I don't feel the need for others.

Especially since I now know that our esteemed Waldhorn is part of the mix

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I found myself admiring the fact that Joanna MacGregor was rightly well rated in the last two BALs - not many artists who could achieve that in works as disparate as the Goldbergs and the Gershwin PC

[Nick Armstrong]

Recorded the Previn / Kostellanetz this morning, and just listened. It's a very odd recording - the orchestra sounds great, but the piano sounds as if it's been recorded somewhere else (and in fact in an earlier decade) and edited in...

Most odd. Good to hear, but....

[Sir Monty Golfear]

I think the Kostellanitz version is a extremley poor recording. Typical CBS . Whereas the Previn/LSO remaster on EMI is just as good as a performance, and is a far superior recording.
How can a recording be the top recommendation when it is so poor?.
I expect a BAL recommendation to strike the correct balance between recording quality and performance.

[BBMmk2]

I think the Kostellanitz version is a extremley poor recording. Typical CBS . Whereas the Previn/LSO remaster on EMI is just as good as a performance, and is a far superior recording.
How can a recording be the top recommendation when it is so poor?.
I expect a BAL recommendation to strike the correct balance between recording quality and performance.

Too rite SirMonty! The Previn?LSOisby far the better, that review was not one of the best.

[Sir Monty Golfear]

Thanks BrassbandMaestro .

I often wonder about some of the comments on BAL about their assessment of recording quality .

In a review of Rachmaninov's Symphony no.2 the reviewer mentioned that the Gergiev LSO version was well recorded. And in fact I also remember a reviewer Gramophone magazine using it as a bench mark recording for its recording quality too.
i find it very dry and far to thin and forward in regards to the 1st violins . Especially when going full tilt!.

Does anyone else find this ?

Cheers

SMG

[BBMmk2]

Thanks BrassbandMaestro .

I often wonder about some of the comments on BAL about their assessment of recording quality .

In a review of Rachmaninov's Symphony no.2 the reviewer mentioned that the Gergiev LSO version was well recorded. And in fact I also remember a reviewer Gramophone magazine using it as a bench mark recording for its recording quality too.
i find it very dry and far to thin and forward in regards to the 1st violins . Especially when going full tilt!.

Does anyone else find this ?

Cheers

SMG

Again, the Previn/LSO, imo is by far the greater recording. A classic even! re The Rach2.

[Sir Monty Golfear]

Definately!...........The Previn / LSO EMI Remaster is still my favourite version.
In fact all the 3 Symphonies he recorded on EMI are my benchmarks.

[Barbirollians]

I am utterly bowled over by the new Freddy Kempf version on BIS - sweeps the board for me not least because the sound is so much better than Previn.

[Sir Monty Golfear]

I am utterly bowled over by the new Freddy Kempf version on BIS - sweeps the board for me not least because the sound is so much better than Previn.

I will give the Kempff version a try. Have heard lots of good reports.
Have you heard Benjamin Grossvenor's new recording of Rhapsody in Blue?.

[Barbirollians]

I will give the Kempff version a try. Have heard lots of good reports.
Have you heard Benjamin Grossvenor's new recording of Rhapsody in Blue?.

No I haven't- do you recommend it ? . I must admit to having been rather underwhelmed by his Proms performances though others evidently rate him very highly and Rob Cowan was in raptures over his recital disc .