Old warhorses you're still glad to hear clip-clopping by

[amateur51]

Yes, iof popular pieces of classical music are played very well, hen I would always be happy to hear any of them, eg the Dvroak, Elgar, Stravinksy(the 3 main ballets), Holst Planets etc.

Oh the Dvroak for me every time

BBM's trypos are frequent and welcome joys

Stravinksy is pretty good too

[Biffo]

I do occasionally like to hear the warhorses of yesteryear that seem to have gone completely out of fashion. I am thinking of Suppe Overtures or Herold's Zampa Overture. I have a favourite disc from Testament of overtures conducted by Albert Wolff (less enthusiastic about the Massenet Suites on the disc). Decca Eloquence have re-issued a two disc set of Wolff entitled 'Overtures in Hi Fi' - it duplicates the overtures from the Testament disc but is full of old favourites and some relative rarities.

[salymap]

My parents seemed to have a plentiful supply of 78s of the 'Old Warhorses' in the 1930s when I was very small and records of 'Poet and Peasant', 'Zampa' etc seemed to me to be there to be danced to. I realise now how good most of those overtures are.

[BBMmk2]

Yes, Salymap, I quite agree. It's a pity that orchestras do not programme them these days. Let alone record them!

[umslopogaas]

A work that I am sure I have seen described as a warhorse (though I just went looking for a reference and couldnt find one), and which seems to have sunk out of sight, is Cesar Franck's Symphony in D minor. I cant remember when I last heard it on R3.

[Serial_Apologist]

Oh the Dvroak for me every time

BBM's trypos are frequent and welcome joys

Stravinksy is pretty good too

Round these parts, they'd be likely to say "he aksed for it"!

[Barbirollians]

Yes the Franck seems to have been sent to the Radio 3 knackers yard.

Nezet Seguin programmed it this year in London. I am inspired to put the Boult version on the CD player.

[Ferretfancy]

People like Beecham, Ansermet, Barbirolli, and Monteux and Albert Wolff grew up at a time when lovely old war horses were a staple part of concert programmes, whether in the Queens Hall or the end of the pier. By the time they became prolific recording artists they could bring all their experience and affection to bear on these works which are sometimes seen as trifles today.
It's sad that a certain tradition seems lost to our brilliant young conductors. They can be great in Mahler or Stravinsky, but rarely get the opportunity to charm us with Zampa Fra Diavolo, or La Belle Helene, and more's the pity.

[teamsaint]

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - always better than I think it's going to be!

Interesting thought, which I kind of agree with it. I seldom find myself thinking that i must hear any particular track,(although I could listen to a day in the life pretty often without getting bored of it !!) but when I do hear the albumt, I am always rewarded well, and reminded how exciting and creative pop music can be.

[Barbirollians]

People like Beecham, Ansermet, Barbirolli, and Monteux and Albert Wolff grew up at a time when lovely old war horses were a staple part of concert programmes, whether in the Queens Hall or the end of the pier. By the time they became prolific recording artists they could bring all their experience and affection to bear on these works which are sometimes seen as trifles today.
It's sad that a certain tradition seems lost to our brilliant young conductors. They can be great in Mahler or Stravinsky, but rarely get the opportunity to charm us with Zampa Fra Diavolo, or La Belle Helene, and more's the pity.

Indeed, where are the conductors of the Rustic Wedding Symphony or Hiawatha's Wedding Feast today ! In fact I think it would be a fun concert series to play some romantic old warhorses .

[salymap]

Indeed, where are the conductors of the Rustic Wedding Symphony or Hiawatha's Wedding Feast today ! In fact I think it would be a fun concert series to play some romantic old warhorses .

I'm quite glad I'm old enough to remember the Sargent 'Hiawatha' performances and hear Beecham, live, play some of the works you both mention. They communicated their love and enjoyment of the music.

[Barbirollians]

I have just snapped up Sargent's recording of the latter on Amazon for £2.61 ! I look forward to giving it a spin.

I have always loved the Rustic wedding Symphony - it is a delightful work.

[BBMmk2]

I have heard so muc h about ther Sargent 'Hiawatha' performances, Salymap. Were they really that good?

[salymap]

I have heard so muc h about ther Sargent 'Hiawatha' performances, Salymap. Were they really that good?

hello BBM, well the live performances, especially of the complete trilogy, were very enjoyable IMO. The recordings don't wear very well, being very old and probably mono. I only have the Wedding Feast.

[Bryn]

Sargent's Wedding Feast was recorded in the early '60s and is in stereo, IIRC. The whole of the Song of Hiawatha, conducted by Kenneth Alwyn, with the Jones boy as one of he singers, (2 CDs) can be found at the amazon.co.uk marketplace for, um, a song.