Prom 10: Britten/Cheryl Frances-Hoad/Elgar, BBC SSO, van der Heijden/R. Wigglesworth

[oliver sudden]

I'm perfectly happy for Elgar to leave the emoting to me.

That is very well put if I may say so. (Not just re Elgar but re the tricky concept of emotion and music in general.)

[jonfan]

With the glorious Bruckner 7 from this partnership still in the memory I was looking forward to the Elgar 2. I was not disappointed, with outstanding playing and conducting at the service of the composer’s inspiration, in fact a performance that I shall treasure. Barbiirolli’s EMI recording of the climax of the second movement transcended every other recording, but RW and BBCSSO matched it. The wandering oboe in the same movement was almost inaudible, the only negative comment I can msjeSeconds on the right of the conductor was exciting to hear, especially in the development section of the finale.
A cd of the symphony in BBC Music Mag a must!!

[Pulcinella]

With the glorious Bruckner 7 from this partnership still in the memory I was looking forward to the Elgar 2. I was not disappointed, with outstanding playing and conducting at the service of the composer’s inspiration, in fact a performance that I shall treasure. Barbiirolli’s EMI recording of the climax of the second movement transcended every other recording, but RW and BBCSSO matched it. The wandering oboe in the same movement was almost inaudible, the only negative comment I can msjeSeconds on the right of the conductor was exciting to hear, especially in the development section of the finale.
A cd of the symphony in BBC Music Mag a must!!

They have already released a performance from Bristol in 1964 with the BBCSO under Sargent.
Volume 15, Number 10.
Doesn't preclude another, of course.

[jonfan]

They have already released a performance from Bristol in 1964 with the BBCSO under Sargent.
Volume 15, Number 10.
Doesn't preclude another, of course.

Slack final sentence from me. I was meaning a cd of this performance.
The 1964 Sargent is amazing as he was not known to have anything to say on the symphonies. The oratories are another matter but only Gerontius on cd I think?
The Huddersfield Choral has master tapes of the Apostles from 1967 waiting for a sponsor to prepare them for issue. A terrific performance with Owen Brannigan as Judas.

[LMcD]

That is very well put if I may say so. (Not just re Elgar but re the tricky concept of emotion and music in general.)

In today's Private Passions, Michael Berkeley offered the opinion, when discussing 'Verklaerte Nacht' with his guest Lemony Snicket, that the listener doesn't need to have things spelled out for him (or her). I've yet to hear a performance of either of Elgar's symphonies that has failed to move me, and it's quite clear to me where the credit ultimately lies.

[Petrushka]

The Huddersfield Choral has master tapes of the Apostles from 1967 waiting for a sponsor to prepare them for issue. A terrific performance with Owen Brannigan as Judas.

Perhaps they should contact ICA Classics.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Huddersfield Choral has master tapes of the Apostles from 1967 waiting for a sponsor to prepare them for issue. A terrific performance with Owen Brannigan as Judas.

That really would be worth hearing.

[jonfan]

That really would be worth hearing.

Other singers include John Cameron, Maureen Lehane, Raimond Herincx and Gerald English (a treasurer’s nightmare). A 1967 recording from the Phil Hall, Liverpool. By the time it was broadcast in 1968 Sargent was dead, but he had by then so little standing at the BBC that the HCS secretary was given the master tapes to do whatever he wanted with them. Pristine Audio has done some digital work on them, but money is the problem I understand that prevents further progress. I’ve heard the whole performance and the final Ascension section is overwhelming.

[smittims]

I had that Apostles on a reel-to-reel tape for years. It is a magnificent performnace, and Brannigan is the best Judas I've ever heard: wonderfully vivid. Elgar wanted vanRooy ( a famous Wotan) for the part but he was afraid the British critics would mock his accent .

[jonfan]

I had that Apostles on a reel-to-reel tape for years. It is a magnificent performnace, and Brannigan is the best Judas I've ever heard: wonderfully vivid. Elgar wanted vanRooy ( a famous Wotan) for the part but he was afraid the British critics would mock his accent .

EMI were approached with a view to a recording of this cast but they had Boult’s early 70s project inked in.
Boult’s reading is magnificent but the project obviously suffered from lack of time. Clifford Grant as Judas is very wooden and gets several bars out in the great bass solo. The semi-chorus of girls anticipates the flow of the music several times.
It would have been good to have Sargent’s view of the piece on record though I accept two recordings of a little known work would have been a commercial risk.

[edashtav]

I rather enjoyed that concerto - rather striking Britten and a touch of Shostakovich in there . Laura van der Heijden is an outstanding cellist as a particularly fine Dvorak with the Halle the other year suggested . Charming rendition of the Song of the Birds too sometimes played rather syrupy but not here.

I've just heard the Concerto for a second time via the BBC afternoon repeat. The work is sturdy enough to bear repetition even if the swifts become ubiquitous.
I agree with your assessment of Laura, Barbirollians .

[edashtav]

I've now heard the Elgar and liked it much more than Barbirollians and edashtav did. I'd like to hear Wigglesworth do more Elgar. There were some lovely details.

I've listened to the Elgar again in the light of your positive remarks, smittims. By golly, the playing of the quicker passages was superb. Now it's Olympics from rue to Boulevard ,I shall award marks out of 10.
1st movement 8
2nd movement 3
3rd movement 9
4th movement (exposition / development) 8
( recapitulation/coda ) 4
I love fast Ryan and brilliant Ryan.
I don't think that he gets Elgar when the music is slow, inward and reflective.

[oliver sudden]

Ouch though, 3 for the Larghetto…

[cloughie]

I've listened to the Elgar again in the light of your positive remarks, smittims. By golly, the playing of the quicker passages was superb. Now it's Olympics from rue to Boulevard ,I shall award marks out of 10.
1st movement 8
2nd movement 3
3rd movement 9
4th movement (exposition / development) 8
( recapitulation/coda ) 4
I love fast Ryan and brilliant Ryan.
I don't think that he gets Elgar when the music is slow, inward and reflective.

Listened this afternoon to the repeat - whilst it need a bit more feeling in Movt 2 - your overall perceptions were in the right direction but a little over unkind in 2 and coda and 5s appropriate.

[Barbirollians]

This old chestnut again. To me if the performers don’t have an emotional response to the music you might as well just read a score ( if you can) .