BaL 21.06.14 - Elgar's Cello Concerto

[Sir Velo]

To call du Pre hysterical calls to mind Tchaikovsky's famous quip about Brahms: "he doesn't know how to exult!"

[VodkaDilc]

A very satisfying survey, with a good variety of extracts and not too much chat. I was quite happy with her conclusions.

I just wondered what prevented the Julian Lloyd Webber/Menuhin recording form being mentioned, in view of its Elgarian credentials.

[BBMmk2]

Another good BaL today. Very exact in what she wanted to say about each recording and no over embellishments and a good result as well.

[Barbirollians]

When being passionate is described as hysterical it would seem that all appreciation of youthful playing has died .

I enjoyed the Wispelwey . I love his tone but I did not get the Mork at all.There was some lovely playing but it was all a bit generalised and rather low voltage to my ears albeit as I said on another thread the recording sounds a bit dull and distant .

[visualnickmos]

This is was an exemplary BaL, as apart from making a recommendation, left the door open for questioning the final choice, and made excellent comparisons with other available recordings. This proves that sometimes one can make a choice based on the recommendation, but which is not the recommendation itself... if you follow me. A bit like the old Penguin Guide where, say, it would praise a Karajan to bits, and for those very plaudits would make me want an alternative. Full marks to her. I hope she is invited more often.

[akiralx]

[Wispelwey] is a very fine cellist indeed. His various recordings of the Bach Suites and Beethoven Piano and Cello sonatas are well worth investigating too. I have his Elgar in a boxed set of concertos etc. That too is worth seeking out.

Yes, as a cello player I have been saying for years that Wispelwey's account of the Elgar is superb, certainly my favourite version. His SACD of the Beethoven sonatas with Lazic is phenomenal too, as well as stunningly recorded.

[silvestrione]

This is was an exemplary BaL, as apart from making a recommendation, left the door open for questioning the final choice, and made excellent comparisons with other available recordings.

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.

[amateur51]

Yes, as a cello player I have been saying for years that Wispelwey's account of the Elgar is superb, certainly my favourite version. His SACD of the Beethoven sonatas with Lazic is phenomenal too, as well as stunningly recorded.

I have and admire all Wispelwey's accounts of Bach cello suites but I have not tried his recording of the Beethoven sonatas - many thanks silvestrione

[Bryn]

I have and admire all Wispelwey's accounts of Bach cello suites but I have not tried his recording of the Beethoven sonatas - many thanks silvestrione

As with the Bach suites, he has recorded using both period and modern(ized) instruments (amazon.co.uk ASINs: B0007Z47YI and B000003UXZ), both times for the Channel Classics label.

[amateur51]

As with the Bach suites, he has recorded using both period and modern(ized) instruments (amazon.co.uk ASINs: B0007Z47YI and B000003UXZ), both times for the Channel Classics label.

Thanks for the tip, Bryn

[ostuni]

As with the Bach suites, he has recorded using both period and modern(ized) instruments (amazon.co.uk ASINs: B0007Z47YI and B000003UXZ), both times for the Channel Classics label.

I know Bylsma has recorded the Bach suites on both period & modernized cellos, but I thought that all of Wispelwey's 3 recordings were on Baroque equipment. But yes, his later recording (modernized cello, Lazic on a Steinway) of the Beethoven sonatas is superb: for my tastes, way ahead of any competition.

[Bryn]

I know Bylsma has recorded the Bach suites on both period & modernized cellos, but I thought that all of Wispelwey's 3 recordings were on Baroque equipment. But yes, his later recording (modernized cello, Lazic on a Steinway) of the Beethoven sonatas is superb: for my tastes, way ahead of any competition.

You are right re. the commercial recordings of the Bach Suites by Wispelwey, but IIRC for those broadcast by Radio 3 from Wigmore Hall a few years back he used a cello with modern reinforcement and wirewound strings. I was not aware that Bylsma has recorded the suites using a modern instrument. I only know the 'Servais' Strad., and one other on baroque instruments.

[visualnickmos]

You are right re. the commercial recordings of the Bach Suites by Wispelwey, but IIRC for those broadcast by Radio 3 from Wigmore Hall a few years back he used a cello with modern reinforcement and wirewound strings. I was not aware that Bylsma has recorded the suites using a modern instrument. I only know the 'Servais' Strad., and one other on baroque instruments.

I realise that my knowledge of cellists is even less than I'd thought! Again, a cellist I know only by name, and not by work. Bylsma, I'm referring to. Apart from Bach, what other of the recorded oeuvre (if any) would be a suitable introduction? BTW I am not flushed enough with spondoolies at the moment to rush out and buy a barrowload! I'm thinking more on the lines of radar for the future...

[Bryn]

I realise that my knowledge of cellists is even less than I'd thought! Again, a cellist I know only by name, and not by work. Bylsma, I'm referring to. Apart from Bach, what other of the recorded oeuvre (if any) would be a suitable introduction? BTW I am not flushed enough with spondoolies at the moment to rush out and buy a barrowload! I'm thinking more on the lines of radar for the future...

Sony brought out an 11 disc boxed set for his 70th birthday year, and most recently have started a series of boxes devoted to those recordings of his they have control over. Just search for "Anner Bylsma" at amazon.co.uk. He too has recorded the Beethoven sonatas twice, though both times using period instruments, with Bilson for Nonesuch, and Immerseel for Sony.

[visualnickmos]

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