BaL 2.11.13 - Brahms Piano Concerto no. 1 in D minor

[rauschwerk]

What I admire about Serkin/Szell (one of three versions I have) is they way they get a move on in the outer movements. However, they are extremely crudely recorded! Serkin's foot-stamping (or is it emphatic pedalling?) is more faithfully recorded than the piano. I have downloaded Freire/Chailly which is much better recorded, the only defect being rather too much bass resonance from the orchestra. To my mind, the performance is near ideal. No doubt some would prefer slower outer movements.

Some of the above comments about Ms Smith are frankly sickening. She was asked to make a personal choice, for God's sake. (I wonder how many hours' work the BBC fee pays for?) She's therefore perfectly entitled to air a personal view on the best approach to this piece. I cannot see how anyone could make a recommendation which would satisfy all listeners, and especially not the unbelievably picky lot who post on these BaL threads!

[Barbirollians]

What I admire about Serkin/Szell (one of three versions I have) is they way they get a move on in the outer movements. However, they are extremely crudely recorded! Serkin's foot-stamping (or is it emphatic pedalling?) is more faithfully recorded than the piano. I have downloaded Freire/Chailly which is much better recorded, the only defect being rather too much bass resonance from the orchestra. To my mind, the performance is near ideal. No doubt some would prefer slower outer movements.

Some of the above comments about Ms Smith are frankly sickening. She was asked to make a personal choice, for God's sake. (I wonder how many hours' work the BBC fee pays for?) She's therefore perfectly entitled to air a personal view on the best approach to this piece. I cannot see how anyone could make a recommendation which would satisfy all listeners, and especially not the unbelievably picky lot who post on these BaL threads!

Rauschwerk - I have no problem with BAL being an expression of personal opinion. What I dislike from reviewers are unreasoned dismissals of classic recordings.

[Hornspieler]

Rauschwerk - I have no problem with BAL being an expression of personal opinion. What I dislike from reviewers are unreasoned dismissals of classic recordings.

Disagree by all means, but I would suggest that any person who is not prepared to respect the personal opinion of others should not listen to the programme (BAL)

.... and that goes for all of the topics on these message boards.

HS

[Sir Velo]

Rauschwerk - I have no problem with BAL being an expression of personal opinion. What I dislike from reviewers are unreasoned dismissals of classic recordings.

The key point to bear in mind is that the programme is called "Building a Library"; not, "Augmenting An Already Massive Collection"; i.e. it is aimed at the novice collector. Therefore, a straight down the line, middle of the road recording preferably in good, modern sound is likely to be the choice.

Nonetheless, a programme entitled "Collection", which examined the recording history of a work, not unlike the monographs which used to appear in Gramophone would be most welcome.

[Nick Armstrong]

The key point to bear in mind is that the programme is called "Building a Library"; not, "Augmenting An Already Massive Collection"; i.e. it is aimed at the novice collector. Therefore, a straight down the line, middle of the road recording preferably in good, modern sound is likely to be the choice.

Nonetheless, a programme entitled "Collection", which examined the recording history of a work, not unlike the monographs which used to appear in Gramophone would be most welcome.

I couldn't have put it better! It's frustrating sometimes as an 'old-timer'.. but you're right.

[Barbirollians]

The key point to bear in mind is that the programme is called "Building a Library"; not, "Augmenting An Already Massive Collection"; i.e. it is aimed at the novice collector. Therefore, a straight down the line, middle of the road recording preferably in good, modern sound is likely to be the choice.

Nonetheless, a programme entitled "Collection", which examined the recording history of a work, not unlike the monographs which used to appear in Gramophone would be most welcome.

There was one - it was called Interpretations on Record.

[vinteuil]

There was one - it was called Interpretations on Record.

... Eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume
labuntur anni, nec pietas moram
rugis et instanti senectae
adferet indomitaeque morti


O how I miss Interpretations on Record ! And what an insipid, inadequate succedaneum Building a Library has proved to be!!

[Sir Velo]

Ah! Good old Horace eh?

[silvestrione]

Nonetheless, a programme entitled "Collection", which examined the recording history of a work, not unlike the monographs which used to appear in Gramophone would be most welcome.

Still do! An excellent one by Phillip Clark on Beethoven's 1st Symphony, erudite, thorough, fair, historically informed, in the last issue (the current issue has something similar on a Handel ode which i have not read yet)

[ostuni]

Count me in as another who would love to see the return of Interpretations on Record (but thinks it highly unlikely in the present climate...). Nevertheless, from the point of view of one whose Library hardly needs Building any more (not that that will stop me), I found last week's BaL interesting and enjoyable. It probably helps that my tastes fit in with Ms Smith's - a preference for tempi which keep things moving - and that I already owned (and very much like) her eventual first choice (Freire/Chailly).

But I'd never heard two of her runners-up, Fleisher/Szell and Kovacevich/Davis - and, liking the excerpts, spent an agreeable couple of evenings on Spotify listening to them and enjoying them a lot, in their very different ways. I did also listen to Gilels/Jochum and Barenboim/Barbirolli, and will no doubt incur the wrath of those round here who don't 'respect the personal opinion of others' by finding them (as Ms Smith did) not as compelling as the ones I've mentioned.

[Barbirollians]

With respect , disagreeing vehemently with Ms Smith is not the same as not respecting her opinion .

What tends to lead to most disquiet with BAL is the cursory dismissal of what have been regarded as " benchmark " versions - indeed she used that word herself re the Gilels/Jochum and Curzon/Szell without substantive reasons being given .

I think that Freire/Chailly was very much a library choice - modern recording, well played and accompanied - just a bit safe .

[Beef Oven!]

The key point to bear in mind is that the programme is called "Building a Library"; not, "Augmenting An Already Massive Collection"; i.e. it is aimed at the novice collector. Therefore, a straight down the line, middle of the road recording preferably in good, modern sound is likely to be the choice.

Nonetheless, a programme entitled "Collection", which examined the recording history of a work, not unlike the monographs which used to appear in Gramophone would be most welcome.

Surely the key point is that Bal needs to be re-named 'Building A Museum'.

There's fresher fayre on Miss Haversham's wedding breakfast table.

[Sir Velo]

Surely the key point is that Bal needs to be re-named 'Building A Museum'.

There's fresher fayre on Miss Haversham's wedding breakfast table.

Not so sure about that Beefy. Miss Haversham croaked in 1860 while, by my reckoning, the first Brahms Pc1 recording dates back to 1932.

I'll get me coat.....

[amateur51]

Surely the key point is that Bal needs to be re-named 'Building A Museum'.

There's fresher fayre on Miss Haversham's wedding breakfast table.

You've not been into a decent museum recently then?

The Dickens character is Miss Havisham

[Beef Oven!]

You've not been into a decent museum recently then?

The Dickens character is Miss Havisham

You worry about the wrong things all the time.

Rome is burning and you're fiddling with detail.