Louis Frémaux RIP

[mahlerei]

Pride of place in the new ICON box, Mahlerei - which costs a tenth of that!

Thanks, Ferney! One of those life-altering records.

[Barbirollians]

Thanks, Ferney! One of those life-altering records.

A very fine conductor who opened my ears to Poulenc in particular .

[cloughie]

Pride of place in the new ICON box, Mahlerei - which costs a tenth of that!

Looks very tempting - some duplicates, but that is to be expected but enough new to me to be worth the price.

[HighlandDougie]

His earlier recordings in Monte Carlo for DG make more difficult listening now because of the poor audio quality

As I had forgotten all about them - and pace RM's comments about the sound quality - the 97 cents I splashed out on this CD:

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B00004VE6V/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

was money well spent. Certainly worth the 1p which it costs in the UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00004VE6V/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1491061898&sr=8-1&keywords=ASIN+%3A+B00004VE6V

OK, so the acoustic is a bit big and bathroomy, but it has great warmth and good definition. The gallic charm amusingly recounted by RM also seemed to work on the orchestra as the performances really are very good indeed. Positively Beecham-esque.

[Colonel Danby]

A sad passing. Louis Fremaux produced some recordings of note, especially in the French repertoire and some British stuff (I got to know Walton's Gloria and Te Deum through his LPs) but his tenure with the CBSO in the Town Hall Birmingham was not a happy one: the orchestra couldn't stand him, and there were rumours of strike action by the rank and file. Those were dark days before the advent of Rattle.

[bluestateprommer]

I have some enjoyable Ibert pieces on EMI. I see an Icon box is upcoming, coincidentally very well timed.

Here's a review from Christopher Morley in the B'ham Post on this boxed set:

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/recordings-cbso-1970s-something-treasure-13280626

[Once Was 4]

Here's a review from Christopher Morley in the B'ham Post on this boxed set:

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/what...asure-13280626

Which reminds me that the 3rd horn in this period was Kenneth ('Red Ken') Cordingley. Ken left the CBSO to become the Regional Organiser of the South West area of the Musicians Union from where he moved to be Assistant General Secretary with responsibility for live music. Bullish, forthright, afraid of nothing and nobody (he was originally a Yorkshire man - enough said!), he really cared about professional orchestral musicians in a way that few do (I would have loved to set him onto some of the more poncy critics!). I can tell some tales of meetings I attended with him (but must not). On retirement he moved to the West Country where sadly he died earlier this year. RIP

[cloughie]

M

Which reminds me that the 3rd horn in this period was Kenneth ('Red Ken') Cordingley. Ken left the CBSO to become the Regional Organiser of the South West area of the Musicians Union from where he moved to be Assistant General Secretary with responsibility for live music. Bullish, forthright, afraid of nothing and nobody (he was originally a Yorkshire man - enough said!), he really cared about professional orchestral musicians in a way that few do (I would have loved to set him onto some of the more poncy critics!). I can tell some tales of meetings I attended with him (but must not). On retirement he moved to the West Country where sadly he died earlier this year. RIP

What do you mean enough said? The Yorkshireman in Cornwall asks!

[Once Was 4]

MWhat do you mean enough said? The Yorkshireman in Cornwall asks!

Straight talking - no flannel and no crocodile smiles if somebody is hacking you off. Real Yorkshire qualities: the others being of course generosity, an ability to see the other person's point of view, lack of any chips on the shoulders, supreme politeness and a love of keg beer.

[cloughie]

Straight talking - no flannel and no crocodile smiles if somebody is hacking you off. Real Yorkshire qualities: the others being of course generosity, an ability to see the other person's point of view, lack of any chips on the shoulders, supreme politeness and a love of keg beer.

Keg beer! - Go and wash your mouth out with soap! All this has strayed away from Louis Fremaux - His ICON box is indeed a gem!

[MickyD]

His recording of Walton's "Wise Virgins" suite was the first time I ever heard the piece, and I have loved it ever since.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Keg beer! - Go and wash your mouth out with soap!

The latter much more pleasant on the palate than the former.

[Roslynmuse]

Today would have been Louis Frémaux's 100th birthday. I'm raising a glass in his memory.

[Pianophile]

Today would have been Louis Frémaux's 100th birthday. I'm raising a glass in his memory.

Lovely to hear an extract from his recording of Poulenc’ Gloria on today’s Composer of the Week.