BaL 21.06.14 - Elgar's Cello Concerto

[Bryn]

Thank you Bryn. Much appreciated.

Enough to keep me busy investigating. I love the Beethoven cello sonatas.... those with Immerseel are calling me to search further

They appear in several boxed set. The best bet at the moment is probably the12 disc set with the amazon.co.uk ASIN: B00GH1X1CU . That can be had (New) for as little as £14.35 including p&p from a Canadian marketplace vendor.

[ostuni]

I only know the 'Servais' Strad., and one other on baroque instruments.

Yes, it was this Servais recording I was thinking of: the instrument has been modernized. See http://smithsonianchambermusic.org/c...o-1701-servais And I'm pretty sure he uses a Tourte bow as well - but the overall approach is still very similar to his earlier baroque recording. Indeed, his sleeve note says something along these lines.

[Barbirollians]

The longer I listened to it the more that the du Pre/Barbirolli stood out as much the best in every respect .

[BBMmk2]

The longer I listened to it the more that the du Pre/Barbirolli stood out as much the best in every respect .

Perhaps the best ever? Wasn't too sure about Truls Mork though?

[amateur51]

Perhaps the best ever? Wasn't too sure about Truls Mork though?

There'll be an opportunity to listen to the whole performance this morning Bbm - do let us know what you think when you've had a chance to listen to it

[Bryn]

Re. the spiffed up SACD remastering of the Du Pre/LSO/Barbirolli recording, I note that one of the customer reviews on Amazon finds that the improved aural definition of that release has the drawback of showing up the young cellist's insecure intonation. I suppose such matters were covered up by the wow and flutter of mid-sixties vinyl spinning kit.

[Barbirollians]

Re. the spiffed up SACD remastering of the Du Pre/LSO/Barbirolli recording, I note that one of the customer reviews on Amazon finds that the improved aural definition of that release has the drawback of showing up the young cellist's insecure intonation. I suppose such matters were covered up by the wow and flutter of mid-sixties vinyl spinning kit.

The reviewer in question , who is also an august member of this forum - rightly adds " Who cares " !

I have just listened to the Mork/Rattle . Rather relentlessly gloomy in my opinion . Some lovely playing especially in quieter passages but some rather grainy unattractive tone in the louder music .

Not my idea of a library performance indeed I could see it putting newcomers off the work.

[Bryn]

Yes, it was this Servais recording I was thinking of: the instrument has been modernized. See http://smithsonianchambermusic.org/c...o-1701-servais And I'm pretty sure he uses a Tourte bow as well - but the overall approach is still very similar to his earlier baroque recording. Indeed, his sleeve note says something along these lines.

Fair point. I note that the same instrument can be heard, played by Bylsma, but with all gut strings, in a rather later work, the Schubert Quintet D 956, which prompts me to remind those interested in Bylsma that he features quite heavily in the bargain Vivarte 60CD box, amazon.co.uk ASIN: B00AOTZ156. The Servais Bach Suite, the Schubert String Quntet and the Beethoven complete Cello and keyboard works with Immerseel, are among the many works featuring him to be found there.

[Bryn]

The reviewer in question , who is also an august member of this forum - rightly adds " Who cares " !

For some, intonation seems the be all and end all of music. I am by no means of their number.

Re. the Mørk/CBSO/Rattle, I would expect newcomers to listen to it with ears unprejudiced by years of repeated auditions of the Du Pre/LSO/Barbirolli version of the work. Indeed, their first encounter with the work being the Mørk might well put them off Du Pre for life, which would be a pity, for sure.

[Nick Armstrong]

There'll be an opportunity to listen to the whole performance this morning Bbm - do let us know what you think when you've had a chance to listen to it

So what do you think? I thought that the Mork sounded to strip away the sort of performance style that's put me off this work for years.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The reviewer in question , who is also an august member of this forum - rightly adds " Who cares " !

Ah! Just during the school holidays, then?

I have just listened to the Mork/Rattle . Rather relentlessly gloomy in my opinion .

Yes - this was my impression from Saturday's excerpts. I missed this morning's broadcast - I'll consult the i-Player later.

[Nick Armstrong]

I agree this was exemplary. So many fine accounts played and you knew why they were fine...Towards the end I was thinking, well, there can be no one winner here. It was the same with Kenneth Hamilton on Schumann's Kreisleriana. Nevertheless the BAL format is justified because it produces such wonderful, insightful and informative programmes.

Having only this morning been able to listen properly to the BAL, I do agree completely - what a beautifully put together analysis it was, precisely and articulately written and presented. I very much hope there'll be more soon from Helen Wallace!

[Barbirollians]

It was a very good BAL but not a very good winner IMO. Somehow despite Bryn's strictures and Caliban's view the sales of the du Pre recording and its pre-eminence for nearly 50 years tend to suggest her performance turned on far more people to the work than turned them off .

[BBMmk2]

There'll be an opportunity to listen to the whole performance this morning Bbm - do let us know what you think when you've had a chance to listen to it

I listened to the whole programme, as it was rather a good one. Especially as it has WW1 as it's theme. Back on topic. I can see why the reviewer chose this one, of Truls Mork/CBSO/Rattle. It just does give that impression of saying that this is how the piece should be played. I did feel that, in some ways this was Elgar's Requiem, here, perhaps even more so than the Du Pre version.

I can see this work alongside Frank Bridge's Oration for cello and orchestra(which I rate quite highly), in some respects.

I will most certainly be acquiring this version, at somepoint.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suppose such matters were covered up by the wow and flutter of mid-sixties vinyl spinning kit.

No, that's just vibrato, Bryn.