Our Summer BAL 2: Elgar Cello Concerto

[verismissimo]

Is Du Pre/Barbirolli still the benchmark here? Or has the world moved on?

[Roehre]

Is Du Pre/Barbirolli still the benchmark here? Or has the world moved on?

Though the world has moved on, IMO DuPre/Barbirolli is still the benchmark.

[makropulos]

Without taking anything away from Du Pré/Barbirolli - a magical record - I'd add a couple of others: the earlier Navarra/Barbirolli (EMI or Testament) and the later Tortelier/Boult recording (EMI). I don't know about "benchmarks", but I find them both eloquent and moving in their different ways.

[Barbirollians]

Du Pre/Barbirolli remains at the top of the list for me . I recognise it is not the only way to play it by any means and Isserlis in particular has made a very good case for a more restrained approach .

Restrained is one thing - coolness another and I have never been able to get on with the Tortelier/Boult which seems almost like an overreaction to du Pre . I much prefer Tortelier's earlier recording with Sargent . I liked the Clein/Handley record very much too .

[johnb]

When de Pre/Barbirolli is mentioned please don't forget there are two recordings: the justifiably famous EMI studio recording and the Prague performance with the BBC SO which is, and has the feel of, a live performance. Both recordings are special but I prefer the Prague.

(Incidentally, the Prague performance seems to have been taken from a concert which included the Berlioz Le Corsaire Overture and Mahler 4, with Heather Harper, which are on a separate BBC Legends CD.

What a concert that must have been!)

[aeolium]

What about Elgar's own recording with Beatrice Harrison? It is always interesting to be able to hear how the composer himself thought it should sound (though the recording quality not the best).

[umslopogaas]

One that no-one else has mentioned yet, so I will, is Pierre Fournier and the BPO conducted by Alfred Wallenstein, on a 1967 DG LP (SLPM 139 128). It is one of the more unusual mixtures I've come across, the B side has Ernest Bloch's Schelomo. Well, OK, they both feature solo cello, but Elgar and Bloch arent two composers I normally associate.

Another is Lynn Harrell with the Cleveland O. cond. by Lorin Maazel (Decca LP 1980, SXL 6965). This one is on CD, according to the 2010 Penguin Guide, I dont know about Fournier.

I think I'd still go for du Pre as first choice.

[Gordon]

Surely the duPre with Barbirolli [studio] is in a class of its own, a recording made at just the right time. Barbirolli was a cellist and it is clear from his accompaniment that he has sympathy with duPre's approach. The Beatrice Harrison with Elgar is an important historcal document.

I find Tortelier too cool but you should try the Casals from 1945 with Boult/BBCSO for an insight or two. For those with curiosity try the Viola version - Tertis made the transcription.

[verismissimo]

I have more versions of this work on record than I imagined - Du Pre/Barbirolli/EMI the most recently recorded, and Casals/Boult before that in 1945.

But it's the much earlier recordings that I'll be focusing my listening on this week - WH Squire/Halle/Harty from 1930, Beatrice Harrison/New SO/Elgar from 1928 (previously mentioned by aeolium), and a now little-known previous (acoustic) recording by Harrison with Elgar conducting from 1919 (the year of its premiere, which was given by Felix Salmond with the LSO, conducted by the composer).

The latter I've yet to hear. I've been saving it up for some reason.

[Dave2002]

Not suggesting as top choices, but could try Lloyd Webber with Menuhin conducting.

Also Robert Cohen with Del Mar, but not sure if that one got transferred to CD.

The Lynn Harrell version mentioned is very good.

Maybe DuPre Barbirolli is still tops, but there are others which are worth hearing. I have yet to unwrap and listen to Natalie Clein, but her version is reputed to be excellent.

What is Isserlis/Hickox like?

[Pabmusic]

Barbirolli was a cellist and it is clear from his accompaniment that he has sympathy with duPre's approach.

Not only was Barbirolli a cellist, he played in the first performance, with the LSO and Elgar conducting. It was apparently a poor show because Albert Coates (who was conducting the rest of the concert) took up most of the rehearsal time with Borodin 2, leaving Elgar barely 30 minutes for the concerto rehearsal.

[Dave2002]

Not only was Barbirolli a cellist, he played in the first performance, with the LSO and Elgar conducting. It was apparently a poor show because Albert Coates (who was conducting the rest of the concert) took up most of the rehearsal time with Borodin 2, leaving Elgar barely 30 minutes for the concerto rehearsal.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto_%28Elgar%29
The cellist at the first performance was Felix Salmond (edited!)

[PJPJ]

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cello_Concerto_%28Elgar%29
The cellist at the first performance was Alex Salmond.

He's worn really well.....

[Dave2002]

He's worn really well.....

Oops ... Felix Salmond I think! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Salmond

[Chris Newman]

I think Pabmusic meant to point out that Barbirolli was in the orchestra at the premiere. His second sentence deals with Barbirolli's own playing of the concerto under Albert Coates. Subsequent messages seem to confuse what Pabmusic says and thus the performances.

Coming back to Jackie Du Pre's recording. It is a highly individual performance and worthy of high esteem. Yes, it is way over the top but JB acknowledged that and surely expected Du Pre to continue playing in a long career when he said "Sometimes she's accused of excessive emotions, but I love it. When you're young you should have an excess of everything. If you haven't an excess, what are you going to pare off as the years go by?" He expected mellowness to follow but fate robbed us of that.