BaL 15.09.12 - Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante in B flat

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Abbado must be top conductor in BaL recommendations.

[aeolium]

I think Barenboim has a few, but you're very probably right (perhaps Karajan has picked up quite a number).

I very rarely come away from listening to BaL thinking "I would never have thought of X" as the top recommendation - perhaps Roy Goodman's choice for the Beethoven Violin Concerto was the last time I was really surprised. Possibly the reviewer has a brief not to pick especially idiosyncratic or 'left-field' versions as the library choice as the objective presumably is to come up with a recording that will satisfy as many people as possible. It's one reason why I preferred the old Interpretations on Record where it was possible to discuss and admire quite unusual recordings.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's one reason why I preferred the old Interpretations on Record where it was possible to discuss and admire quite unusual recordings.

I do like that format. The problem has been (when tried on BaL) is that it ends up as a conversation between the reviewer and Andrew McGregor in which they agree about absolutely everything, and is therefore utter pointless.

[Bryn]

I'm not worried: if somebody does not like the word Voldemort — sorry, N*rr*ngt*n — , then that's his/her problem, not mine; I take the freedom to express my opinion, but if somebody starts arguing, I'm unlikely to enter that argument: I don't feel like educating people ...

Since the topic of this thread is a Haydn work, I will not go on about the glories of Sir Roger Norrington's Mahler 9 but instead will enquire whether you are familiar with his Londons with the Stuttgarters? If not, I strongly recommend you seek them out. Oh, and his Vaughan Williams London (on Decca) too.

By the way, the Sinfonia Concertante in B flat was new to me too when it came on the recommended Norrington directed CD which I bought principally for the cello concertos.

[rkyburz]

Since the topic of this thread is a Haydn work, I will not go on about the glories of Sir Roger Norrington's Mahler 9 but instead will enquire whether you are familiar with his Londons with the Stuttgarters? If not, I strongly recommend you seek them out. Oh, and his Vaughan Williams London (on Decca) too.

Bryn: haven's checked / heard those yet — thanks for the tip! 2 - 3 years ago I just listened through the entire Dorati / DRDavies collections — I may start over again with Fay / Heidelberger, and *if* I do so, I should include Norrington's Londons ...

The Sinfonia concertante is in my shopping cart — especially as if includes the cello concerts (as I'm not entirely happy with Truls Mørk) — I may add in Maisky for the concerts ...

[pilamenon]

Abbado must be top conductor in BaL recommendations.

Indeed - almost every time he has a contender, it wins. It's becoming a bit safe and boring!

Slightly disappointed that Bruggen/OC18th version didn't get an outing, as this is often a winning combination for me, and I was keen to hear it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Indeed - almost every time he has a contender, it wins. It's becoming a bit safe and boring!

It's not Abbado who's becoming boring. It's the ever-repeated excuses to promote Voldemort that are increasingly wearing.

[Barbirollians]

Bryn: haven's checked / heard those yet — thanks for the tip! 2 - 3 years ago I just listened through the entire Dorati / DRDavies collections — I may start over again with Fay / Heidelberger, and *if* I do so, I should include Norrington's Londons ...

The Sinfonia concertante is in my shopping cart — especially as if includes the cello concerts (as I'm not entirely happy with Truls Mørk) — I may add in Maisky for the concerts ...

I have to admit to having forgotten that the SC was coupled with Isserlis in the Haydn Cello Concertos . They are marvellous performances though I retain a great affection for the du Pre recordings . Her finale of the Concerto in C is thrilling.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I'm not worried: if somebody does not like the word Voldemort — sorry, N*rr*ngt*n — , then that's his/her problem, not mine; I take the freedom to express my opinion, but if somebody starts arguing, I'm unlikely to enter that argument: I don't feel like educating people ...

(...though some of us do come to these boards to get educated, so do feel free to break your own rule...)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's not Abbado who's becoming boring. It's the ever-repeated excuses to promote Voldemort that are increasingly wearing.

I'm sorry, Alpie, but in the nearly forty years that I've been listening to BaL, there has never once been an attempt to "promote" Andrew Lloyd Banker.

[Dave2002]

I missed the start of this BAL. I was disappointed at the end where there was a brief mention of an authentic/HIPP performance - said to be - good, and then we settled back to the "usual" versions. Maybe there really aren't any good HIPP contenders, or the "usual suspects" really do show more insights, but I didn't get that impression.

it was, however, an interesting BAL, with the comments about Pleyel etc., and how the SC format came into being.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Curiously, during the discussion of the recordings, I got the impression that he was going to choose the OAE version, with the Rattle as "modern instrument" preference. Towards the end, I thought he was going to award Norrington the laurels as a compromise (modern instrument band, HIPP-aware conductor) - and I thought of Alpie ! The choice of Abbado slightly surprised me - not that it wasn't/isn't a fine performance, but the discussion didn't seem to be heading in that direction. A bit like an Agatha Christie!

[vinteuil]

... yes; odd. But I did enjoy it. The Norrington struck me as pertick'ly interesting: I may have to invest...

Sad that Colin didn't touch at all on the Brüggen - which, given his background, I thought our reviewer wd have been sympathetic to.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Towards the end, I thought he was going to award Norrington the laurels as a compromise (modern instrument band, HIPP-aware conductor) - and I thought of Alpie !

I wonder whether the reviewer was thinking of me too , as I was coming to the same conclusion.

[Barbirollians]

It's not Abbado who's becoming boring. It's the ever-repeated excuses to promote Voldemort that are increasingly wearing.

I do hope Voldemort steers clear of Richard Strauss . Our EA might spontaneously combust at a vibrato free version !