New releases

[cloughie]

My rather laboured point was that if Mr Rieu now qualifies as a 'Symphonic Maestro', we need to find another accolade for the likes of Kubelik rather urgently!

AM I bothered?

However if anyone is interested the Kubelik Icon box is currently £23 or so inc pp, preorder for release on Oct 7 on amazon.it Amazon uk is £37.99!

[LeMartinPecheur]

Just had a heads-up from Amazon on a presumably new 4-CD Lyrita set rebundling many of their classic English String Concerto recordings: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...381_em_1p_8_ti

What caught my eye was some of the credited string soloists. Many familiar names have unsuspected depths, like Lorraine McAslan and Erich Gruenberg on cello, or heights like Raphael Wallfisch on violin (I'll assume Rodney Friend could fill in on viola if needed...) And then there's Alexander Baillie playing two violins!

Track listing:
Disc: 1
1. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Violin Concerto In G Minor - Lorraine McAslan
2. Gustav Holst, Invocation Op.19 No.2 For Cello And Orchestra - Lorraine McAslan
3. Gerald Finzi, Introit For Small Orchestra And Solo Violin - Lorraine McAslan
4. Gustav Holst, Double Concerto For Two Violins & Orchestra - Alexander Baillie
5. Gustav Holst, Lyric Movement For Viola And Small Orchestra - Rodney Friend
Disc: 2
1. William Busch, Cello Concerto - Raphael Wallfisch
2. E J Moeran, Concerto For Violin And Orchestra - Raphael Wallfisch
3. Edmund Rubbra, Soliloquy For Cello And Orchestra - Raphael Wallfisch
Disc: 3
1. Roberto Gerhard, Violin Concerto - Yfrah Neaman
2. Peter Racine Fricker, Concerto For Violin And Small Orchestra - Yfrah Neaman
3. Elizabeth Maconchy, Serenata Concertante For Violin And Orchestra - Yfrah Neaman
Disc: 4
1. David Morgan, Concerto For Violin And Orchestra - Erich Gruenberg
2. Don Banks, Concerto For Violin And Orchestra - Erich Gruenberg
3. Alun Hoddinott, Nocturnes And Cadenzas For Cello & Orchestra - Erich Gruenberg

You read it here first

[Barbirollians]

Keep listening. It improves on every hearing. Diapason, not known for rave reviews (except for Sir John Barbirolli!) loves it. A joy from start to finish. I know what you mean about Bach to Chopin (which phased me a bit on first hearing) but it does eventually all fall into place. One of the most joyful piano recital CDs I've heard.

I am warming to it - some very lovely playing -albeit it seems like a meal without a main course .

[Sir Velo]

After all the encomiums I have bought Benjamin Grosvenor's Dances recital - I am finding the more from Bach straight to Chopin a bit jarring . Very good but not quite sure it deserves such rave reviews .

You have to realise that the reviewers are in cahoots with the industry to shift product. No record sales means no records to review means no reviewers.

Basically, all of the core repertoire has already been recorded multiple times in highly recommendable performances. There is literally no need for 90% of new recordings, unless they are in rare or poorly recorded repertoire.

[HighlandDougie]

What nonsense. Where is your evidence to justify such a sweeping statement? The frequently unenthusiastic reviews in 'Diapason' might bear out your point about repertoire being over-recorded but not the implication that publishers and reviewers are in the pockets of record companies. And as for 'Dances', there is surely always going to be a place for performances of such quality. If you don't believe, try listening to it.

[Roehre]

....Basically, all of the core repertoire has already been recorded multiple times in highly recommendable performances. There is literally no need for 90% of new recordings, unless they are in rare or poorly recorded repertoire.

[Barbirollians]

Is there ever a question of " need " in music being the only arbiter as in the rest of life ?

Could not the same have been said just before Carlos Kleiber recorded Beethoven 5 ?

[Barbirollians]

New releases - FOR 3 reviewed

I think it was JLW who commented recently that it was difficult to know where to put reviews of recent discs or even just our responses to them .

So I wondered whether it would be a good idea to have a thread devoted to them ?

In which case I will start with Dances - from Benjamin Grosvenor . Although I do think that in leaping from Bach to Chopin the programmme has somewhat of a hole in the middle this is a record that is really growing on me. There is nothing showy about his playing it reveals more every time you hear it .

I think I like his playing of the Chopin and Granados pieces best of all . The Bach is very fine too but the Morton Gould encore I just felt could have gone with a little more of a swing - very highly recommended though .

This weekend I cannot wait to hear this live 1959 Halle/barbirolli Mahler 2 just released by the barbirolli Society

[Roehre]

Is there ever a question of " need " in music being the only arbiter as in the rest of life ?

Could not the same have been said just before Carlos Kleiber recorded Beethoven 5 ?

so what? does that justify the means spilled on the other appoximately 1000 recordings made of that work before and after Kleiber's take if these are not markedly different, like HIPP versus "traditional"?

[Bryn]

Is there ever a question of " need " in music being the only arbiter as in the rest of life ?

Could not the same have been said just before Carlos Kleiber recorded Beethoven 5 ?

Indeed, or before,for instance, Schoonderwoerd recorded the Beethoven keyboard concertos with forces of the of the order of those used for the premiers of the works.

[Roehre]

For a take on a new Beethoven Biography see here

[Ferretfancy]

Benjamin Grosvenor was excellent again at the Proms, even though he played the Chopin Second Piano Concerto, which is not on my favourites list. I've just booked for his Barbican recital in January, which includes the Granados pieces. Signed copies after the concert ?

[Rolmill]

Benjamin Grosvenor was excellent again at the Proms, even though he played the Chopin Second Piano Concerto...

Agree that he was excellent, but I think he played the 1st concerto (E minor) not the 2nd (F minor) - though as Chopin actually composed them in reverse order (if you see what I mean) I suppose we're both right!

[Petrushka]

This weekend I cannot wait to hear this live 1959 Halle/barbirolli Mahler 2 just released by the Barbirolli Society

Look forward to having your thoughts on this as soon as you have heard it.

Edit: Just seen the Amazon review and have ordered it anyway. I think this is my 52nd Resurrection but need to count them!

[Ferretfancy]

Agree that he was excellent, but I think he played the 1st concerto (E minor) not the 2nd (F minor) - though as Chopin actually composed them in reverse order (if you see what I mean) I suppose we're both right!

Yes, you are quite correct, it was the first concerto. Forgive my error, but I'm afraid I find them both completely unmemorable!