Schubert on 3

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If the NT or the RSC were to put on 24/7 continuous performances of all of Shakespeare's works, or dramatised readings from all Dickens' novels, they would probably be considered bizarre Guinness Book of Records or charity marathon stunts rather than meaningful cultural events. Yet the continuous transmission of all of a composer's works on R3 for 9 days is thought by its controller to be 'distinctive and engaging broadcasting'

[Roehre]

The article says the Unfinished will be played, "completed by scholar Brian Newbould. The world premiere from Salford will be one of 24 live performances featured." Is this to be a different completion by Brian Newbould from the one recorded by the ASMF and Marriner in 1984? Or has this been written by someone who thinks that a completion of the Unfinished is something nobody's done before?

It seems not to be the Unfinished (b-minor D.759) but the Symphony in D D.708a, which btw is arranged by Newbould as well.

[Pabmusic]

It seems not to be the Unfinished (b-minor D.759) but the Symphony in D D.708a, which btw is arranged by Newbould as well.

Ah! Enlightenment! Thank you, Roehre, I must try to memorise more Deutsch numbers.

[Roehre]

As far as the Unfinished is concerned, Sir George Grove gave the first British performance (in 1867) with the Rosamunde B minor entr'acte as a last movement (but he didn't include a scherzo). There have been ay least 7 reconstructions of the scherzo to my knowledge (which isn't comprehensive), most of which predate Newbould.

My remark was not about the Unfinished, but re the Gülke et al realisations.

In 1928 there was even a much discussed and much maligned competition organised by the (then) International Schubert Society for completions of this b-minor symphony D.759. It eventually was changed into a competition for an orchestral work (preferably a symphony) which approached Schubert's mood. But a couple of completions (most with the 2nd Rosamunde entr'acte as finale) was entered. Btw: An amended such a finale can be found on the recent Naxos recording of Newbould's realization by Mario Venzage, with the (IMO hardly disputable) argument that this Entr'acte in that form cannot have been the work's finale, but needs some restructuring to do so.

Winner was Atterberg's 6th symphony (in C opus 31, "Dollar"-symphony, so nicknamed after the prize-money awarded ), runner up Weingartner's 6th symphony in b-minor opus 74 "Tragica", in which Schubert's scherzo-fragment meant for D.759 was incorporated. Weingartner's arrangement of the E-major symphony (no.7 D.729) certainly was inspired by this competition.

That Weingartner's sixth shares number, key and opus number with Tchaikovsky's is IMHO certainly not a coincidence.

[Pabmusic]

Thank you, Roehre, some fascinating stuff there. I know the Atterberg quite well - it's enjoyable.

[Norfolk Born]

Ah! Enlightenment! Thank you, Roehre, I must try to memorise more Deutsch numbers.

OK, you can start on these:
Eins
Zwei
Drei
Vier
Fünf
Sechs
Sieben

That Schubert, 'e 'ad lots of ideas, it seems (sounds better read out loud)

[vinteuil]

If the NT or the RSC were to put on 24/7 continuous performances of all of Shakespeare's works, or dramatised readings from all Dickens' novels, they would probably be considered bizarre Guinness Book of Records or charity marathon stunts rather than meaningful cultural events. Yet the continuous transmission of all of a composer's works on R3 for 9 days is thought by its controller to be 'distinctive and engaging broadcasting'

Absolutely


I so completely loathe these completefests. All the more so when it's a composer whom I revere - Bach, Schubert. I don't want a radio 3 gavage. I want particular works at particular times.

[Roehre]

I so completely loathe these completefests. All the more so when it's a composer whom I revere - Bach, Schubert. I don't want a radio 3 gavage. I want particular works at particular times.

wholeheartedly seconded.

[JFLL]

Absolutely


I so completely loathe these completefests. All the more so when it's a composer whom I revere - Bach, Schubert. I don't want a radio 3 gavage. I want particular works at particular times.

Well, I share the loathing for 'celebrations' and 'commemorations' generally ('today is the 221st anniversary of Haydn's first arrival in London, so I thought I'd play you his 'London' symphony' -- yet another excuse for a witterfest), but these R3 marathons are, in theory, an opportunity to hear works which are rarely played -- except that you can bet that the works won't be listed individually in Radio Times, and that the piece you particularly want to hear wll be on at 3:51 a.m. (OK, at least we have the iPlayer now to catch up.)

[amateur51]

-- yet another excuse for a witterfest),

Many thanks for this splendid neologism, JFLL - may I starting using 'witterfest' (with suitable attribution, natch!)?

[Suffolkcoastal]

I don't think that Schubert actually needs a Schubertfest, his music is already having an exceptionally good year on R3, this is presumably in preparation for the Schubertfest. That's another 9 days rest I'll have from doing my survey.

Does anyone actually what planet RW is actually on? You think even the most stupid person would have learnt from the mistake of the Mozartfest, obviously RW is now totally out of control. Poor Schubert another great composer ruined by R3s idiotic dictator and his politburo.

[JFLL]

- may I starting using 'witterfest' (with suitable attribution, natch!)?

I shall expect 'tmjfll' in a little circle after every mention .............

[Pabmusic]

OK, you can start on these:
Eins
Zwei
Drei
Vier
Fünf
Sechs
Sieben

That Schubert, 'e 'ad lots of ideas, it seems (sounds better read out loud)

That's difficult. Beyond fünf always has been, whatever the language! But I can do it in Anglo-saxon:

an
twa
þrie
feower
fif

[Norfolk Born]

I don't think that Schubert actually needs a Schubertfest, his music is already having an exceptionally good year on R3, this is presumably in preparation for the Schubertfest. That's another 9 days rest I'll have from doing my survey.

Does anyone actually what planet RW is actually on? You think even the most stupid person would have learnt from the mistake of the Mozartfest, obviously RW is now totally out of control. Poor Schubert another great composer ruined by R3s idiotic dictator and his politburo.

I hope that Britten isn't subjected to this sort of thing in November 2013. I'm quite happy to listen to everything he wrote, but NOT to have it packed into a humungous 'Benjie Bonanza' which would require me to record most if not all of it. By the time I'd got round to listening to it all, the centenary year would be over, which would be a pity and rather beside the point.

[BBMmk2]

I think these programmes give a very good insight into a composer's output. Although in some ways, I know it appears, in another front, that it could be a way of Radio 3 to do one of their economy drives?