Musical performers to avoid

[Nick Armstrong]

I also can't say I've noticed any odd facial expressions from her on my Mozart Piano Concertos CD, but maybe I just need a better speaker system

Indeed. It is all rather ridiculous isn't it to write off a performer because they do a passable impression of a contestant in the World Gurning Championships.

I don't know about that - I can't get Simon Rattle's face-pantomime out of my mind's eye whenever I catch a radio performance by him (which is rare). My problem, I know, I know....

[Black Swan]

I think for me an irritation more than avoidance is moaning performers. Keith Jarrett, the pianist, is a great moaner while playing as I believe was Glen Gould. It took me awhile to get over the noise but I have come to enjoy Jarrett's recordings moans and all.

[remdataram]

I don't know about that - I can't get Simon Rattle's face-pantomime out of my mind's eye whenever I catch a radio performance by him (which is rare). My problem, I know, I know....

Me too, together with his CD's. That said, his recordings are never my preferred choice; his CBSO Mahler 2 and 10 are probably the closest he gets.

[Hornspieler]

To which musical performer are you referring here, HS?

There's quite a list to choose from - your target should be identified to protect the innocents

They are, on this occasion, all performers.

So I intend to avoid the concert in which they are involved.

Naming performers does not neccesarily refer only to individuals.

I would have thought that was quite obvious in this particular circumstance.

HS

[MrGongGong]

So I intend to avoid the concert in which they are involved.

yeah , but I bet you'll meet them on the dancefloor afterwards

[Ariosto]

They are, on this occasion, all performers.

So I intend to avoid the concert in which they are involved.

Naming performers does not neccesarily refer only to individuals.

I would have thought that was quite obvious in this particular circumstance.

HS

Could you HS, expand on this a bit? Naming performers? Refer only to individuals? It may be obvious but I don't get it.

Please be kind when you answer this as I'm just a brain damaged ex-string player, and not a brilliant brass (sorry, Horn) player ...

[amateur51]

They are, on this occasion, all performers.

So I intend to avoid the concert in which they are involved.

Naming performers does not neccesarily refer only to individuals.

I would have thought that was quite obvious in this particular circumstance.

HS

For one who sets such high standards for others ...

[Dave2002]

He was quite a nice bloke, but boring as a conductor. I used to fall asleep when playing for him.

Groves or Pritchard?

Groves did some good things. He conducted Mahler and Bruckner symphonies outside London in a period when this was not common. He conducted Mahler's 8 at time when there had been very few performances in the UK. Messiaen Turangalila has also been mentioned - did he do that? Did he also conduct premieres of some Peter Maxwell Davies symphonies? He was indeed a very decent person as far as I could tell, and he must have had some vision to put on the performances he did.

[clive heath]

Messiaen, Turangalila Symphony
BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves with John Ogdon (Piano) and Jeanne Loriod (Ondes Martenot)
Broadcast from the Albert Hall, Wednesday 6 August 1969

can be found here

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

[amateur51]

Messiaen, Turangalila Symphony
BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves with John Ogdon (Piano) and Jeanne Loriod (Ondes Martenot)
Broadcast from the Albert Hall, Wednesday 6 August 1969

can be found here

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

Great stuff clive - 'live' music-making caught on the wing, as it were

[Ariosto]

Groves or Pritchard?

Groves did some good things. He conducted Mahler and Bruckner symphonies outside London in a period when this was not common. He conducted Mahler's 8 at time when there had been very few performances in the UK. Messiaen Turangalila has also been mentioned - did he do that? Did he also conduct premieres of some Peter Maxwell Davies symphonies? He was indeed a very decent person as far as I could tell, and he must have had some vision to put on the performances he did.

I think I might have been a bit rough on Groves. He was an extremely nice man and supported Nuclear disarmament. He did well in some things - but never really set people on fire. Good accompanist I'm sure, and probably best in choral works. Pritchard I've never played for and don't really know much about him or his recordings etc.

[Hornspieler]

Could you HS, expand on this a bit? Naming performers? Refer only to individuals? It may be obvious but I don't get it.

Please be kind when you answer this as I'm just a brain damaged ex-string player, and not a brilliant brass (sorry, Horn) player ...

Have a nice day!

(Captain) Hornspieler

[gurnemanz]

Messiaen, Turangalila Symphony
BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves with John Ogdon (Piano) and Jeanne Loriod (Ondes Martenot)
Broadcast from the Albert Hall, Wednesday 6 August 1969

I saw him do it with the same soloists at RFH a few months before + Josephine Veasey in Nuits d'Été. I was only 19 and it made a big impression and I've not heard it live since. Googling around I found an interesting comment by contributor modestchristoff on the old Beeb messageboard archive (a favourite Proms thread):

"And Charles Groves Turangalila~~ oh, wow!! I heard him conduct it three times. First time was on the radio and incredibly fast from Manchester. I learnt from orchestral friends that he was often a very adventurous but nervous man. I loved that first radio Turangalila and have often heard it. The next was the BBCSO at the Festival Hall. He added about 4 minutes to the performance as he relaxed a little. That Prom was ten minutes slower than the first from Manchester. As you said John Ogden and Jeanne Loriod on that weird but wonderful Ondes Martinot."

[Pianorak]

Are we allowed to mention pianists Yuja Wang and Valentina Lisitsa? Possibly just emotional disconnect, but I'm quite unable to respond.

[ahinton]

Are we allowed to mention pianists Yuja Wang and Valentina Lisitsa? Possibly just emotional disconnect, but I'm quite unable to respond.

Agreed with Lisitsa - a highly competent but largely unengaging player who's heavily over-hyped for someone with her ability; not so confident in making such a remark about Wang, though...