Elgar, the BBCSO and Bernstein...

[pastoralguy]

I see this famous ( or notorious) recording of this encounter has finally made it to DVD. I've ordered it but have watched a couple of extracts on YouTube which brought huge whole ghastly memory back!

The expressions on the players faces as Lenny turns the 'Enigma' Variations into Mahler 9 are worth the price of the disc alone! Does anyone remember this?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I see this famous ( or notorious) recording of this encounter has finally made it to DVD. I've ordered it but have watched a couple of extracts on YouTube which brought huge whole ghastly memory back!

The expressions on the players faces as Lenny turns the 'Enigma' Variations into Mahler 9 are worth the price of the disc alone! Does anyone remember this?

"You talk big, but you don't stick!"

[MrGongGong]

The Bernstein Nimrod (in the style of La Monte Young )
is by far the best version IMV........ I (seriously) would like it even slower so that it's almost static
time to get out Pauls Extreme Timestretch and make a 4 hour version ?

I like my Elgar FROZEN

[VodkaDilc]

Despite being told I shouldn't, I like Bernstein's Nimrod as an occasional indulgence. I watched the broadcast at the time - and bought the CD some years ago. I find it sincere and moving - perhaps I'm out of step. (..........and I like Boult, Barbirolli, Mackerras and the rest too. Michael Stern's recent recording proves that American conductors have a good understanding of the work.)

[mercia]

what else was played in the RFH concert ? I've just watched the Elgar on YT and there's a battery of percussion (and a piano) lying around.

the leader and LB were presumably already well acquainted

[slarty]

I remember at the time various members of the orchestra told me that a great deal of the rehearsal footage never made it to the original Omnibus programme, has it been issued on the DVD or is it just what we originally saw?

[pastoralguy]

I remember at the time various members of the orchestra told me that a great deal of the rehearsal footage never made it to the original Omnibus programme, has it been issued on the DVD or is it just what we originally saw?

Not sure but I'll report back.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Bernstein's Enigma Variations was the first to be issued on CD, and for that reason, I bought it. After losing it in a burglary in 1987, I never had any wish to replace it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

what else was played in the RFH concert ? I've just watched the Elgar on YT and there's a battery of percussion (and a piano) lying around.

Wasn't it Bernstein's own Songfest? (Premiere of the version with the revised ending to the First piece.)

the leader and LB were presumably already well acquainted

He'd been in the NYPO when Lennie was in charge - and I think he was largely responsible for getting LB to accept the gig.

[makropulos]

Wasn't it Bernstein's own Songfest? (Premiere of the version with the revised ending to the First piece.).

Yes it was Songfest. I remember enjoying the concert very much –it was an exciting occasion and a friend got superb seats –but the subsequent CD always rather disappointed. I'm looking forward to seeing this DVD.

[mercia]

He'd been in the NYPO

indeed concertmaster ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Friend

in the very very brief extract of the rehearsal on youtube everyone seems quite good-humoured

[slarty]

that is how it began, it became more contentious as it went along.

[MrGongGong]

that is how it began, it became more contentious as it went along.

Do we have to buy the DVD to see ?

[slarty]

Do we have to buy the DVD to see ?

well, I certainly won't be buying it.
Bernstein's interpretations with certain works became more and more strange and sometimes perverse as he got older, Sibelius 2 and Tchaikovsky 6(with the double length last movement) spring to mind, but what he did with "Nimrod" was just "off the wall". it looked like he wanted to shake the BBCSO up as much as possible. he certainly succeeded in that.

[Karafan]

The rehearsal footage was broadcast in the Omnibus series on 18th April 1982. On the DVD the rehearsal footage lasts a mere 25 minutes and includes a chat with Barry Norman at the piano. Was the original Omnibus programme an hour or so?

K.