BaL 23.02.13 - Mozart's Divertimento for String Trio K563

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Expect to see his little-known First Symphony in C# minor turn up on Suffolkcoastal's symphonic journey some day soon!

[LeMartinPecheur]

A very worthwhile BaL I thought. Salutory demonstrations of how much tiny touches of phrasing convert the earthbound to the magical. Was surprised that the Grumiaux came home so easily in front after some of Donat's earlier strictures, including that missing piano repeat. Such apparently tiny extra touches in their performance as compared with the opposition, yet so much difference in the end result, the wider picture, the feeling and 'afterglow' of the whole performance.

And then the devil nudges me and says, "Are you so-o-o sure those touches are precisely what WAM wanted? Mightn't he say his music was meant to stand on its own feet and speak for itself?"

But I'm happy to stay with the Grumiaux, with the Archibudelli also on the shelves for a change if required!

[amateur51]

What pleasure to get to get to grips again with this neglected masterpiece. The adagio second movement is as good as anything Mozart wrote IMO.

And Grumiaux's trio play it superbly, he with intensity and some touching portamento (though less than they would have used 100 years ago).

I'm going to start a Portamento Restoration Society.

I've heard two 'live' performances recently in which discreet portamenti were employed and they sounded great, adding a real frisson to the moment

Interesting that both performances were conducted by relatively young conductors, Edward Gardner in Bridge The Sea and Joshua Weilerstein in Dvorak symphony no 8. Not being a score reader, I don't know if these portamenti were applied or written into the score but they were certainly played and the 'moments' sounded all the better for them :

May I join PRS too please?

[Sir Velo]

A very worthwhile BaL I thought. Was surprised that the Grumiaux came home so easily in front after some of Donat's earlier strictures, including that missing piano repeat.

Glad to hear it.

At least I won't need to splash the cash for this week at least.

[amateur51]

It occurred to me while listening that if I were young and new to BaL I might be pleasantly surprised that such a long-established performance could still hold the ring; and that BaL might in that way have a broader educational function in an age when (wait for the old-timer) newest is best

As it happens I am new to this work and I shall gladly go with Grumiaux (you know it makes sense )

[Barbirollians]

Hurrah - went for a long walk this week and listened to the Grumiaux on my Ipod and came home thinking they would be hard to beat .

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Well this was one BaL that Claudio Abbado couldn't win.

[Tristan Klingsor]

This one by the Florin Trio is missed off the list - and it's is very good indeed: http://www.florinensemble.co.uk/Listen.html
Sorry, just spotted someone else had posted similarly!

[amateur51]

Well this was one BaL that Claudio Abbado couldn't win.

But still no mention of Ida Haendel

[Karafan]

I must 'fess up, I don't know it either but having listened to the Grumiaux I can feel it rapidly becoming a favourite - how marvellous at 61

Good on ya, Ammy!

[Barbirollians]

But still no mention of Ida Haendel

Sadly not - the fantasy Haendel/Primrose/Casals version does not exist.

[verismissimo]

One of Mozza's finest works and, with the Schoenberg, the greatest String Trio in the Austro-German "Classical" tradition...

For some reason I never heard the Schoenberg until recently, courtesy of the Naxos with Rolf Schulte, Richard O'Neill and Fred Sherry.

It certainly is a masterwork - I've listened to it over and over - and the performance and recording strike me as one of Naxos's best.

[amateur51]

For some reason I never heard the Schoenberg until recently, courtesy of the Naxos with Rolf Schulte, Richard O'Neill and Fred Sherry.

It certainly is a masterwork - I've listened to it over and over - and the performance and recording strike me as one of Naxos's best.

Triffic all of it - thanks for the Naxos tip verismissimo

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

For some reason I never heard the Schoenberg until recently, courtesy of the Naxos with Rolf Schulte, Richard O'Neill and Fred Sherry.

It certainly is a masterwork - I've listened to it over and over - and the performance and recording strike me as one of Naxos's best.

[gamba]

Have heard numerous recordings. The Grumiaux still comes out tops. Although the Zimmermann is quite remarkable.