Sunday 22 May: Korngold's violin concerto

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  • french frank
    Administrator/Moderator
    • Feb 2007
    • 30456

    Sunday 22 May: Korngold's violin concerto

    DM, 22 May, 5pm:

    "From the Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, Stephen Johnson is joined by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Rumon Gamba & soloist Matthew Trusler for an in-depth look at Korngold's colourful post-war Violin Concerto. Having escaped the Anschluss in his native Vienna, Korngold finally settled in Hollywood in 1938 and began writing music for film scores such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood", which won him his second Oscar. Once the war was over, Korngold set about composing music for the concert platform once again, and this concerto was one of the first to be put before the public in a performance by Jascha Heifetz."
    It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
  • Nick Armstrong
    Host
    • Nov 2010
    • 26572

    #2
    Originally posted by french frank View Post
    DM, 22 May, 5pm:

    "From the Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, Stephen Johnson is joined by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Rumon Gamba & soloist Matthew Trusler for an in-depth look at Korngold's colourful post-war Violin Concerto. Having escaped the Anschluss in his native Vienna, Korngold finally settled in Hollywood in 1938 and began writing music for film scores such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood", which won him his second Oscar. Once the war was over, Korngold set about composing music for the concert platform once again, and this concerto was one of the first to be put before the public in a performance by Jascha Heifetz."
    ta for the head's up
    "...the isle is full of noises,
    Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
    Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
    Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

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    • salymap
      Late member
      • Nov 2010
      • 5969

      #3
      There was an attractive performance from Hilary Hahn and the BBCSO under Andrew Davis with the BBCMM some time ago. It's a feel-good work I think, like it a lot.

      Comment

      • Roehre

        #4
        Originally posted by salymap View Post
        There was an attractive performance from Hilary Hahn and the BBCSO under Andrew Davis with the BBCMM some time ago. It's a feel-good work I think, like it a lot.
        It certainly is a feel-good work, hardly any dark clouds. It is also nice to compare some stretches of the concerto with the film-music with which it is related. Korngold knew how to develop themes symphonically.

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        • Tapiola
          Full Member
          • Jan 2011
          • 1690

          #5
          By happy coicidence I have recently re-purchased Heifetz's classic account of this sunny work, having worn out my old RCA lp. And as salymap and Roehre have intimated, it always brings a smile to my face.

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          • salymap
            Late member
            • Nov 2010
            • 5969

            #6
            A reminder that the 'sunny work' is on 'Discovering Music' at 5pm today.

            Probably needed on this windy cold day too.

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            • Nick Armstrong
              Host
              • Nov 2010
              • 26572

              #7
              Good day on R3 today - the 2pm concert is a great programme, I'm going to be interested to hear what Lang Lang makes of them ... mincemeat, or newly-minted... Then the Korngold programme. Then Words and Music on 'The Gothic' looks tasty. All 3 are going to get recorded and put on the iPod...



              Originally posted by salymap View Post
              the 'sunny work' is on 'Discovering Music'
              Spot on saly - last year, I had a business week in Los Angeles: I was staying on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, and stepping out to the ocean front and on the pier, I had the Korngold Violin Concerto on a loop on my iPod - it seemed to sum up precisely the sunny, Californian scene and feeling (the Hollywood themes only adding to the impression, of course) :cool2:
              "...the isle is full of noises,
              Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
              Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
              Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

              Comment

              • Pianorak
                Full Member
                • Nov 2010
                • 3128

                #8
                Originally posted by Caliban View Post
                I'm going to be interested to hear what Lang Lang makes of them ...
                Glued to the radio as well!
                My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)

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                • DracoM
                  Host
                  • Mar 2007
                  • 12986

                  #9
                  Count the number of times SJ says 'extraordinary'.

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                  • mercia
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 8920

                    #10
                    I didn't quite catch the technical word SJ used for modally sharpening the fourth note of the scale - does anyone know it please?

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                    • Serial_Apologist
                      Full Member
                      • Dec 2010
                      • 37814

                      #11
                      Didn't hear this, but could it have been "augmentation"... or "pencil sharpening"?

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                      • mercia
                        Full Member
                        • Nov 2010
                        • 8920

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
                        "augmentation"
                        yes of course

                        thanks

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                        • Serial_Apologist
                          Full Member
                          • Dec 2010
                          • 37814

                          #13
                          Interesting that the last questioner before the actual performance asked if Walton might have been influenced by this concerto. I feel however that there are one or two passages in its first movement which sound as if Korngold had heard Walton's violin concerto - composed in 1939.

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                          • Pianorak
                            Full Member
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 3128

                            #14
                            Originally posted by mercia View Post
                            I didn't quite catch the technical word SJ used for modally sharpening the fourth note of the scale - does anyone know it please?
                            Lydian mode
                            My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)

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                            • Roehre

                              #15
                              Nice programme, and by chance two interesting questions from the public as well.

                              Enjoyed it. Perhaps it would have been nice to play some other fragments from the film scores. Especially those which were now mentioned only, though providing material for the Violin concerto. But Robin Hood was nice too :)

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