I too need to have another listen. (Usual Sat morning noises off.) But I was interested in Cook's preference for what he called a 'French voice'. He seems to imply a gentle, warblier sound than the great Italian voices. Have I got that right? I agree they do seen to suit P&M very well.
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Just listened to a the BAL. I only really know the Ansermet - not the 60 year old mono which was given very short shrift - but the 1964 stereo, which I don't think was mentioned. As ferney points out above, it was interesting to hear the different approaches and he made a convincing case for Haitink.
PS Wolfgang Holzmair is very much Austrian not German, as was claimed in the review.Comment
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... I enjoyed this BAL. I think I'll be getting the Boulez and the Abbado.
I do wish the BBC playlists wd list all the CDs under discussion in a BAL. There were various of the 'historical' performances which were very interesting, but of which I missed the details (local distractions, phone calls, etc... ). Does anyone here have details of the historical ones discussed?Comment
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The two main historical ones he dwelt on and illustrated were those conducted byOriginally posted by vinteuil View Post
1. Désiré-Émile Ingelbrecht - this was his 'historical' choice
2. Roger Desormière - this is the one CC thought had a touch of the Charles Trenets about it... I thought it sounded wonderful and different and I want one!
also available from Pristine Classical http://www.pristineclassical.com/Lar...al/PACO063.php
I think the Ansermet may have been mentioned in passing. I fear another listen on iPlayer with paper and pencil at the ready may be the only way of ensuring you have missed nothing, vinrouge!
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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... very many thanks, Caliboon! - yes the Desormiere "Chas Trenet" sounded lovely - and the Ingelbrecht will need further checking up on. Many thanks for the tip off...Comment
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Originally posted by vinteuil View Post
Interesting - I too intend to remain off-pisteOriginally posted by vinteuil View Post
But not in quite the same way....
I'm listening to the Abbado on the 'big HiFi' as I type. It is absolutely magical. I don't know what I was on about up-thread, concerning a murky recording (mind you I've had it for years, I've changed CD players since I last listened to it). It's a lovely-sounding thing, the orchestra and CA's direction are thrilling, and the singing is utterly satisfying to these difficult ears. Ms Ewing does exceptionally well with the French, and Le Roux and Van Dam are gripping too.
I didn't buy Christopher Cook's comparison of Van Dam with Naouri in the Haitink recording, to the former's disadvantage - I thought Naouri sounded less convincing.
Le Roux is an ideal Pelléas I think. What a pleasure to hear the French sung with such lithe, young-sounding excitement.
The absolute No-No for me about the Haitink set, I'm afraid, is Holzmair. I love him in German lieder, but virtually every word of his French had a German edge and inflection that I simply can't be doing with.
It seemed to me to be very strange that Abbado dropped out of the reckoning in this BAL. At one point towards the end, CC said something like "So is the Abbado the ultimate first choice?... Well not quite"... and then it proceeded to hit the wastebin with a clunk, leaving three other readings in the running, and Abbado not even on the podium
Bit odd, I thought.
However, of all the versions I don't know, it was Serge Baudo's that really caught my ears - more very French singing, tasty French orchestral sounds and real passion. That's the one I really want to get hold of (second hand... it's deleted
).
Plus perhaps the Desormière... (though does anyone know whether the EMI 'Groc' or the Pristine is the preferable remastering?)"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Serge Baudo? That's a conductor i have not many recordings of. Pity that set is deleted and if it's available on the off-shore bank account company, then the price would be expensive?Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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Yes.... 85 years old and still going strongOriginally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
He's an occasional member of the 'critics' panel on my favourite French 'blind tasting' CD review programme: very genial and full of wry comments about music and musicians. Love him!
Just bought a good used copy for well under £20 inc. postage
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Ah, tell us what you thought when you have listened, Cali?Don’t cry for me
I go where music was born
J S Bach 1685-1750Comment
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Caliban, I am happy with the Membran Desormiere which I believe is taken straight from the EMI, though the sound is very close. Best singing this side of 1941!Originally posted by Caliban View Post
There is an Andante release which is OOP and expensive to come by and which apparently is cleaner sounding, but also contains the Truc and Coppola excerpts from 1927-8.
Personally speaking, I would avoid Pristine in general. Mr Rose is too interventionist for these ears, though I have not heard what he's done with Desormiere.Comment
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Baudo caught my fancy too, Cali. And I'd buy it if it were less expensive.Originally posted by Caliban View PostHowever, of all the versions I don't know, it was Serge Baudo's that really caught my ears - more very French singing, tasty French orchestral sounds and real passion. That's the one I really want to get hold of (second hand... it's deleted).
Plus perhaps the Desormière..
Desormiere a real pleasure, as reported previously.Comment
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Thanks Taps. Hadn't spotted that 'Membran' release, never heard of them before... The one with a sort of aqueous turquoise cover?Originally posted by Tapiola View Post
Talking of covers, the main battle re the Baudo seems to be to avoid the one-disc highlights issue with one of the worst covers in the history of recorded music, surely....
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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Originally posted by Caliban View PostThanks Taps. Hadn't spotted that 'Membran' release, never heard of them before... The one with a sort of aqueous turquoise cover?
Talking of covers, the main battle re the Baudo seems to be to avoid the one-disc highlights issue with one of the worst covers in the history of recorded music, surely....
Yes Caliban, the aqueous cover... No libretto, few details, but all the glorious music.
Who was thinking what with that highlights disc cover?Comment
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What has been seen cannot be unseen.Originally posted by Stunsworth View PostThat's bad, but I think this is worse...
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