Ken Russell's 'Elgar'

[amateur51]

Partly down to the anti-Catholicism of the time, Anna, whereas today... we all love Scottycelt.

We do, We do!

[Serial_Apologist]

We do, We do!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

we do do we?

[Op. XXXIX]

I am tempted to try the recording much promoted by The Elgar Society in German under Hans Swarowsky with the great Julius Patzak. Any thoughts from any of you?

Surely someone has heard it?

[salymap]

Surely someone has heard it?

There was a discussion with smittims on the old boards about the German Gerontius. It may be around somewhere in the archives. I was querying how some of Newman's words would be set. Smittims had apparently heard the recording.

[Pabmusic]

Surely someone has heard it?

Yes, I have it. It's a cleaned-up Austrian radio recording from 1960, so expect the expected. But it's a fine performance, that sounds strange (yet, interestingly, not 'wrong') in the German translation Julius Buths made for the Dusseldorf performances in 1901 and 1902. The chorus is not particularly big (at least, it doesn't sound so) and the semi-chorus has a few intonation problems, but it packs a reasonable punch. All three soloists are good. Gerontius is Julius Patzak, the Angel is Ira Malaniuk and the Priest/Angel of the Agony is Ludwig Welter. Patzak is perhaps the weakest, though that may only so because of the balance, which has him sitting in your lap (not a good place for a deathbed scene!). All three know their Wagner (as does Swarowsky, the conductor), and it shows - but remember that Elgar's preferred tenor was Ludwig Wullner, an equally Wagner-soaked singer. Swarowsky is good, though I'd like to have prodded him a little occasionally.

This could never be a first recommendation, but it is a real performance of a piece that must have been all but unknown to all taking part. This was only 15 years after the end of WW2.

By the way, Novellos included Buths' translation in the engraved full score, which was also used for the miniature score, so it's easy to find.

[amateur51]

Yes, I have it. It's a cleaned-up Austrian radio recording from 1960, so expect the expected. But it's a fine performance, that sounds strange (yet, interestingly, not 'wrong') in the German translation Julius Buths made for the Dusseldorf performances in 1901 and 1902. The chorus is not particularly big (at least, it doesn't sound so) and the semi-chorus has a few intonation problems, but it packs a reasonable punch. All three soloists are good. Gerontius is Julius Patzak, the Angel is Ira Malaniuk and the Priest/Angel of the Agony is Ludwig Welter. Patzak is perhaps the weakest, though that may only so because of the balance, which has him sitting in your lap (not a good place for a deathbed scene!). All three know their Wagner (as does Swarowsky, the conductor), and it shows - but remember that Elgar's preferred tenor was Ludwig Wullner, an equally Wagner-soaked singer. Swarowsky is good, though I'd like to have prodded him a little occasionally.

This could never be a first recommendation, but it is a real performance of a piece that must have been all but unknown to all taking part. This was only 15 years after the end of WW2.

By the way, Novellos included Buths' translation in the engraved full score, which was also used for the miniature score, so it's easy to find.

A very useful review, Pab - many thanks