Prom 21: Saturday 30th July at 7.30 p.m. (Strauss, Walton, Prokofiev)

[prokkyshosty]

Who knows how much this testimony will add to the discussion, but I myself was halfway back in the hall (in the arena) and some of her passages were quite surprisingly inaudible -- she would be sawing away furiously and I heard nothing coming out of her instrument. Plus, wasn't there a comment on this board recently about how the soloist/orchestra balance in recordings has skewed us into being confused by the balance in the hall? Anyway, I found myself depressed and thinking that I was never going to hear an enjoyable concerto performance ever again in my life, the end. Because I really do love Walton and didn't love this performance.

Is anyone familiar with Malcolm Arnold's "Chiroptera" (Bats) addition to "Carnival of the Animals"? For a few moments I thought she was playing that instead! :)

[cavatina]

I don't believe I, or any other message boarder was "blasting" anyone for enjoying what they heard. Your final paragraph is unnecessary and insulting. I have no further comment to make except to say that I consider you to be totally out of order.

In the other thread dedicated to this concert, Ariosto accused Katie Derham of "gushing" and said it "Just proves they know nothing and have cloth ears." My latter comments were directed entirely at him and the people merrily bashing away in the other thread, not you at all. I really should have kept these two strands of discussion separate; my apologies.

As for attending all the proms, I couldn't imagine anything worse, and I think it perhaps shows your lack of judgment and taste.

Ha! Well, being a connoisseur has its time and place, but like I said this is an act of pure musical gluttony. It's certainly not defensible on the grounds of judgment or taste at all: I go because experiencing the greatest works of music ever written as performed by the greatest artists in the world sends me into a state of absolute euphoria. It lifts me out of ordinary experience into another world... so often, I come away feeling blissed out and like I'm floating on air...vibrant, open, and truly alive. Experiencing a great performance is almost a religious experience, really.

Why should I deny myself any of that just because somebody else played it better in 1956? What do I have to lose by trying to rid myself of my prejudices and hear old works anew with an open mind? And how could I ever be sure I'm not missing out on experiencing something I'd remember the rest of my life? You're damned right I'm being indiscriminate--I'm on a two-month binge at a glorious feast, and fully intend to greedily gobble up every single note I possibly can, thank you very much!

Oh well, so it goes. Everyone experiences music in a different way...that's my peculiar take in it.

[Ariosto]

My first Walton VC was with Francescatti. Do you know it and if so, what's your opinion about that one ?

I do not have that recording, although I have been a great admirer of Francescatti, so I imagine it would be pretty good and probably wonderful. I'm told by a friend who studied with him that he was larger than life in the flesh and no recording medium could quite capture this.

A note following on Bryn's excellent post to saly, I understand that the Heifetz 1941 recording used the original score which had more percussion than the later (1950's) revision.

[amateur51]

In the other thread dedicated to this concert, Ariosto accused Katie Derham of "gushing" and said it "Just proves they know nothing and have cloth ears." My latter comments were directed entirely at him and the people merrily bashing away in the other thread, not you at all. I really should have kept these two strands of discussion separate; my apologies.



Ha! Well, being a connoisseur has its time and place, but like I said this is an act of pure musical gluttony. It's certainly not defensible on the grounds of judgment or taste at all: I go because experiencing the greatest works of music ever written as performed by the greatest artists in the world sends me into a state of absolute euphoria. It lifts me out of ordinary experience into another world... so often, I come away feeling blissed out and like I'm floating on air...vibrant, open, and truly alive. Experiencing a great performance is almost a religious experience, really.

Why should I deny myself any of that just because somebody else played it better in 1956? What do I have to lose by trying to rid myself of my prejudices and hear old works anew with an open mind? And how could I ever be sure I'm not missing out on experiencing something I'd remember the rest of my life? You're damned right I'm being indiscriminate--I'm on a two-month binge at a glorious feast, and fully intend to greedily gobble up every single note I possibly can, thank you very much!

Oh well, so it goes. Everyone experiences music in a different way...that's my peculiar take in it.

Good response, cavatina!

[amateur51]

... some of her passages were quite surprisingly inaudible -- she would be sawing away furiously and I heard nothing coming out of her instrument. Plus, wasn't there a comment on this board recently about how the soloist/orchestra balance in recordings has skewed us into being confused by the balance in the hall? Anyway, I found myself depressed and thinking that I was never going to hear an enjoyable concerto performance ever again in my life, the end.

I felt much the same when I attended my only Prom so far, when Queyras was performing Dvorak cello concerto. My ears are pretty shot from tinnitus since age 4 plus I wear two digiaids but I could see that Queyras was bowing away & my brain knew what was supposed to be coming out but I heard ... nothing. Twas all orchestral and no soloist.

The seat was pretty well central in the upper before the gallery and I must say I wouldn't sit there again - lots of a blank spots, I guess

[salymap]

He recorded it at least twice, in 1941 with the Cincinnati SO under Goosens, and in 1950 with the Philharmonia Orchestra under the composer. Both are in the quite wonderful "Jascha Heifetz: The Complete Album Collection" (103 CDs + 1 DVD).

Thanks bryn, I've ordered the 1950 with the Philharmonia, plus 2 other Walton concertos on a 2 disc box.

[Bryn]

Thanks bryn, I've ordered the 1950 with the Philharmonia, plus 2 other Walton concertos on a 2 disc box.

Yes, that's a very fine pair of discs, also including Previn conducting the First Symphony, and Tod Handley conducting the Sinfonia Concertante. Not to be missed, indeed.

[Osborn]

Why should I deny myself any of that just because somebody else played it better in 1956? What do I have to lose by trying to rid myself of my prejudices and hear old works anew with an open mind? And how could I ever be sure I'm not missing out on experiencing something I'd remember the rest of my life?

Can't fault that, Cavatina! My attitude exactly.

[Bryn]

I understand that the Heifetz 1941 recording used the original score which had more percussion than the later (1950's) revision.

Well, since Walton did not revise the orchestration until 1943, I guess the 1941 recording would have had to use the original.

Yes, another good reason to hear both the 1941 and 1950 recordings with Heifetz (as if another reason was needed!). I have the Francescatti, (coupled with the Sibelius), on a commercial cassette somewhere. Sadly I don't recall being that impressed by it.

[Ariosto]

Well, since Walton did not revise the orchestration until 1943, I guess the 1941 recording would have had to use the original.

Yes, another good reason to hear both the 1941 and 1950 recordings with Heifetz (as if another reason was needed!). I have the Francescatti, (coupled with the Sibelius), on a commercial cassette somewhere. Sadly I don't recall being that impressed by it.

Point noted!!

I do like Francescatti playing the Beethoven concerto, but I did wonder about the Walton. It does need that certain edge to make it work. Heifetz has that ability, sumptouous one minute and brilliantly edgy and glassy the next.

[Barbirollians]

Of course the finest of all recordings of the Walton is the Ida Haendel !!!

[Ventilhorn]

Of course the finest of all recordings of the Walton is the Ida Haendel !!!

For my money, the finest recordings of most classical concerto's are Ida Haendel's.

VH

[Barbirollians]

Indeed and here she is still going strong ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es68k...eature=related

[Serial_Apologist]

Indeed and here she is still going strong ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es68k...eature=related

Amazing! If only Ida known about her before...

[Nick Armstrong]

Amazing! If only Ida known about her before...

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