Elgar- In the South

[Alain Maréchal]

Good to have you still with us, Alain!

Hmm. It occurs to me that it is you who are still with us, but let us turn gratefully aside from that path.

[Pulcinella]

Hmm. It occurs to me that it is you who are still with us, but let us turn gratefully aside from that path.

It was in response to your comment on the Bargains thread!

(I'm surprised to find myself still on the forum on All Saints' Day - I had expected to withdraw overnight as gracefully as you all withdrew from a certain other entity).

[Barbirollians]

I have been listening to Sinopoli’s Elgar 2 - I love its grandeur and sweep but heavens it is slow and sometimes it does seem to place the Symphony slap back in the European tradition and diminish its Englishness . Which it might be said is not a bad thing .

I have enjoyed it but can’t help feeling that Barbirolli in his expansive 1964 recording gives one that sweep but much more idiomatically and with greater emotion and poignancy.

[akiralx]

I have been listening to Sinopoli’s Elgar 2 - I love its grandeur and sweep but heavens it is slow and sometimes it does seem to place the Symphony slap back in the European tradition and diminish its Englishness . Which it might be said is not a bad thing .

I have enjoyed it but can’t help feeling that Barbirolli in his expansive 1964 recording gives one that sweep but much more idiomatically and with greater emotion and poignancy.

Yes it is disappointing as his recording of the First is so good. I would recommend trying Tate for the Second for grandeur and expansiveness but with impetus - a recording which was well received by the Gramophone on its release (though not by all other reviewers).

[LeMartinPecheur]

Bournemouth SO/ Silvestri In the South - roots

As I may have said somewhere up-thread, this recording was one of the first two LPs I bought on leaving school and earning a little money, and the BSO was for many years my local band. I've been reading this excellent book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oh-My-Horses-Elgar-Great/dp/0954630157/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lewis+foreman+elgar&qid=1586783294&s=books&sr=1-1

In Stephen Lloyd's paper "Bournemouth - A Microcosm of Musical Engand" I was delighted to read this about Sir Dan Godfrey and his orchestra, "In 1905 came the first of many hearings of Elgar's expansive In the South overture..." (my emphasis).

Something that merited a mention in the LP sleeve-note surely?

[LeMartinPecheur]

As I may have said somewhere up-thread, this recording was one of the first two LPs I bought on leaving school and earning a little money, and the BSO was for many years my local band. I've been reading this excellent book

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oh-My-Horses-Elgar-Great/dp/0954630157/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lewis+foreman+elgar&qid=1586783294&s=books&sr=1-1

In Stephen Lloyd's paper "Bournemouth - A Microcosm of Musical Engand" I was delighted to read this about Sir Dan Godfrey and his orchestra, "In 1905 came the first of many hearings of Elgar's expansive In the South overture..." (my emphasis).

Something that merited a mention in the LP sleeve-note surely?

To be more precise, 16 performances between 1905 and 1933! "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive," as long as you managed to stay that way, and preferably in Bournemouth!

[silvestrione]

When I first heard it in Bournemouth in the 60s, I had the impression it was unfamiliar repertoire by then (as were certainly the two symphonies at that time?)

[LMcD]

When I first heard it in Bournemouth in the 60s, I had the impression it was unfamiliar repertoire by then (as were certainly the two symphonies at that time?)

I think a revival of interest in Elgar and his music probably followed the airing of Ken Russell's 'Monitor' film in 1962.

[hmvman]

Having just heard, and very much enjoyed, Kirill Petrenko's performance of the 2nd symphony on the Berlin Phil's concert archive site, I would love to hear his take on In the South. Maybe that will be a pleasure (hopefully) to come!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Having just heard, and very much enjoyed, Kirill Petrenko's performance of the 2nd symphony on the Berlin Phil's concert archive site, I would love to hear his take on In the South. Maybe that will be a pleasure (hopefully) to come!

The first thing I watched when I got access. I have to say, my reaction was different. Similar to The Dream of Gerontius live with the VPO and Rattle. Played with ease, perfectly, but something missing, for me. It just seems too easy - obviously the players have completely mastered their part - it would be unfair to say professional but not very engaged.
Trying to put it into words the best I can do is suggest the performance lacked a sense of struggle.

(BTW I enjoyed the N Jarvi Taneyev 3rd, but I only found out he can smile by watching a 7 minute piece from a summer open air concert.).

[akiralx]

The first thing I watched when I got access. I have to say, my reaction was different. Similar to The Dream of Gerontius live with the VPO and Rattle. Played with ease, perfectly, but something missing, for me. It just seems too easy - obviously the players have completely mastered their part - it would be unfair to say professional but not very engaged.
Trying to put it into words the best I can do is suggest the performance lacked a sense is struggle.

(BTW I enjoyed the N Jarvi Taneyev 3rd, but I only found out he can smile by watching a7 minute piece from a summer open air concert.).

I quite enjoyed Petrenko's E2 though I thought he took it too fast so that its profundities were slightly underplayed. Karajan studied this work in his later years but decided against conducting it, mainly because the BPO maybe wouldn't have wanted to play it. Runnicles' performance of E1 with the same orchestra is worth seeing, in that archive.

Muti's take on In the South is very good - there is a good youtube performance with the La Scala Orchestra, and he has done it in Philadelphia.