New releases

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Can anybody shed light on the new issue on 3 (that's not a typo - it's on three discs) Decca Vinyl LPs of the 1929 recording of Delius' Sea Drift, conducted by Beecham, with Roy Henderson.

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/142866/Delius_-_Sea_Drift_(Vinyl_LP).htm

As I read the blurb - the single, 24-minute work is spread over the three discs (no fillers), with sides one of each disc a "straight" transfer of the recording, and sides two a modern "clean-up" of the sound. So I presume that the discs cut the work into three sections (?as on the original 78s?) of around eight minutes? Or is there a different "straight" transfer/clean-up on each disc? (Are the "vinyl LPs" actually meant to be played at 78 rpm - and on shellac???)

Is this a very late April Fool from DECCA/Europadisc? Or just snake oil to get £44 (and six pence) each from "a strictly limited edition of 900" gullible idiots?? Or have I missed an essential detail???

[Andrew Slater]

Can anybody shed light on the new issue on 3 (that's not a typo - it's on three discs) Decca Vinyl LPs of the 1929 recording of Delius' Sea Drift, conducted by Beecham, with Roy Henderson.

https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/142866/Delius_-_Sea_Drift_(Vinyl_LP).htm

As I read the blurb - the single, 24-minute work is spread over the three discs (no fillers), with sides one of each disc a "straight" transfer of the recording, and sides two a modern "clean-up" of the sound. So I presume that the discs cut the work into three sections (?as on the original 78s?) of around eight minutes? Or is there a different "straight" transfer/clean-up on each disc? (Are the "vinyl LPs" actually meant to be played at 78 rpm - and on shellac???)

Is this a very late April Fool from DECCA/Europadisc? Or just snake oil to get £44 (and six pence) each from "a strictly limited edition of 900" gullible idiots?? Or have I missed an essential detail???

It certainly seems a bit odd.

"Sea Drift is housed in a beautiful, gold-and-black embossed 10” circular tin..."

So presumably on 10" discs: 8 minutes per side is still a bit short.

Common sense would suggest putting the original and cleaned recordings on each side of a 12" LP and avoid the side changes and reduce the vinyl and the price. A more authentic (and wasteful and expensive) option would be to preserve the side changes of the original by using 3 discs for the original and another for the clean-up. But then this seems to be aimed at a certain clientele.....I would prefer it on a CD!

[bluestateprommer]

It certainly seems a bit odd.

"Sea Drift is housed in a beautiful, gold-and-black embossed 10” circular tin..."

So presumably on 10" discs: 8 minutes per side is still a bit short.

Common sense would suggest putting the original and cleaned recordings on each side of a 12" LP and avoid the side changes and reduce the vinyl and the price. A more authentic (and wasteful and expensive) option would be to preserve the side changes of the original by using 3 discs for the original and another for the clean-up. But then this seems to be aimed at a certain clientele.....I would prefer it on a CD!

Here's a link from the Presto Music page on this issue, which may or may not be any clearer (FWIW, the Europa Disc page failed for me):

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8642505--delius-sea-drift-vinyl-edition

"With the latest technology at Abbey Road, we present this historic recording to you twice: a ‘needle drop’ flat transfer of the original 1929 recording on the A sides of the 3 discs, and then a cleaned up as much as possible version on the B sides. Both sides will be available to you digitally on a download card. Sea Drift is housed in a beautiful, gold and black embossed 10” circular tin, which replicates the majesty of that early label – a bust of Beethoven presiding over the bold claim ‘THE SUPREME RECORD’. Each set has a numbered fact sheet, and the records themselves are protected by die cut foam discs."

Of course, from remembering foam inserts in LP boxes, at least those old "foamies" become problematic with time, unless technology on foam discs has evolved a great deal since then.

[jayne lee wilson]

Schumann: The Violin Sonatas.
https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/sc.../uwgjtg9t9820a

At last! A new release of these marvellous, complex, haunting late works on period instruments... here, an 1862 Erard and c1770 Bellosio/Gagliano.....
Glowingly reviewed by the ever-reliable David Threasher in the new Gramophone 8/2019.....

Just started to listen on Qobuz, very moved by the sensitivity of their response....unusually thoughtful scherzo to No.2 (which begins the album)........ ordered the CD immediately....as I listen on to the slow movement (the sudden explosion of the scherzo into it!).... this is outstanding....if you love this music don't miss this one!

(Previous favourite was Widman/Varjon on ECM.... modern instruments,.... but agile, very light, bar-to-bar responsive not too far from this newcomer in approach...for me, a rich sound doesn't serve this music at all...I've sent more than one recording back because of it...)

But there's warmth and power here where needed, absolutely....For a quick sample try Track 3 - the leise, einfach of No.2.... gives you a very good idea of the qualities herein...

[jayne lee wilson]

Schumann: The Violin Sonatas.
https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/sc.../uwgjtg9t9820a

At last! A new release of these marvellous, complex, haunting late works on period instruments... here, an 1862 Erard and c1770 Bellosio/Gagliano.....
Glowingly reviewed by the ever-reliable David Threasher in the new Gramophone 8/2019.....

Just started to listen on Qobuz, very moved by the sensitivity of their response....unusually thoughtful scherzo to No.2 (which begins the album)........ ordered the CD immediately....as I listen on to the slow movement (the sudden explosion of the scherzo into it!).... this is outstanding....if you love this music don't miss this one!

(Previous favourite was Widman/Varjon on ECM.... modern instruments,.... but agile, very light, bar-to-bar responsive not too far from this newcomer in approach...for me, a rich sound doesn't serve this music at all...I've sent more than one recording back because of it...)

But there's warmth and power here where needed, absolutely....For a quick sample try Track 3 - the leise, einfach of No.2.... gives you a very good idea of the qualities herein...

Know it well now, love it to pieces, my record of the year so far, shamelessly replugging, hope someone else gets a listen soon....
Album reveals (again, to all Schumann lovers) that the 2nd Violin Sonata is one of his very greatest achievements...a late masterpiece indeed.

[jayne lee wilson]

BIG Birtwistle premiere, took a long time to appear on disc/file....(not heard yet... Proms.... etc...)

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/harrison-birtwistle-responses-sweet-disorder-gawains-journey-stefan-asbury-pierre-laurent-aimard-bavarian-radio-symphony-orchestra/n2pqf1r7pqazb

(This recording is the 2014 World Prem itself...)

[Richard Barrett]

BIG Birtwistle premiere, took a long time to appear on disc/file....(not heard yet... Proms.... etc...)

How did I forget to look at their new releases yesterday??? Thanks for the reminder. Quite a lot more this week than for a while...

So, for me it comes down to:
Harrison Birtwistle, Responses (Sweet Disorder) & Gawain's Journey. The first piece doesn't so far have for me the appeal of his previous piano concerto Antiphonies, seeming a bit soft-centred in comparison, but I will give it a few more plays before deciding.
Johann Rosenmüller, Sacred Concertos with Ensemble 1684. On the strength of the first track I'm going to like this a lot.
Schubert, Music for Violin vol.1 with Ariadne Daskalakis. This sounds promising from its first track (the Rondo for violin and strings).
Kurtág, The Edge of Silence, chamber music for voice with Susan Narucki, a wonderful singer and I don't know any of the repertoire, should be worth hearing.

[sgjames]

British Tone Poems - Volume 2
BBC Philharmonic Orch, Gamba
Chandos CD 2019

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8658344--british-tone-poems-volume-2

Release date of 30 August 2019 - about 2.5 years after the release of Volume 1.

[Jonathan]

The brilliant pianist Mark Viner's second CD of The Complete piano music of Alkan is now out. Time to order...

[Bryn]

Hmm. For some reason, I cannot manage to reply to #2079 with a quote. It just goes into an endless loop. So, can you offer any further details, Jonathan? There seems to be no mention of a new Alkan disc on Mark's FB page and I find no mention of one elsewhere, either. I recall when, on the basis of hearing Mark play some Alkan in a Schott Music recital organised by the redoubtable Jonathan Powell, I praised his playing here, I was castigated on the supposed basis that he was too young to properly grasp Alkan's muse. This following his winning a major Alkan competition.

[Sir Velo]

I'm guessing this is it.

[Jonathan]

Hi Bryn, just off out now so can't reply properly! He posted on the Facebook yesterday the front cover of the disc so I assume it's out later in September. I'll investigate later on when we get back home! Apologies ☺ But here's a link: https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classic...udes_op.31.htm

[Bryn]

Hi Bryn, just off out now so can't reply properly! He posted on the Facebook yesterday the front cover of the disc so I assume it's out later in September. I'll investigate later on when we get back home! Apologies ☺ But here's a link: https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classic...udes_op.31.htm

Thanks, Jonathan. For some reason, when I looked at his FB page just before I posted, that image of the Op. 31 release was not there. I might wait to see if it turns up on QOBUZ. Op. 35 is there, so it probably will appear. [Ah. It was released as a QOBUZ download yesterday (replete with booklet pdf).]

[Edgy 2]

Hi Bryn, just off out now so can't reply properly! He posted on the Facebook yesterday the front cover of the disc so I assume it's out later in September. I'll investigate later on when we get back home! Apologies ☺ But here's a link: https://www.europadisc.co.uk/classic...udes_op.31.htm

Also available to listen to free via the Naxos library if you have access,it’s fantastic !

[Jonathan]

I ordered this earlier on from Europadisc as it's on special offer until the end of October.