Prom 56: Henry Wood Tribute - 31.08.19

[seabright]

I know what you mean, but actually I'm rather taken with this (IMO) extraordinary version from Isao Tomita.

(And no prizes for guessing that there's a Stokowski orchestration.)

And here is the Stokowski version conducted by Geoffrey Simon ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFuhWLenTA

And here is a wind band version arranged by Merlin Patterson and conducted by Robert Casteels ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKom2YzKauw

And here is Colin Matthews' arrangement conducted by Vladimir Jurowski ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwpLeh5cW7g

And here is Henri Busser's version conducted by JoAnn Falletta ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMPlah1SuuQ

And finally here again is the Wood transcription conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite ... Mr Tovey dragged his performance out interminably, adding several minutes to Braithwaite's timing ... They engaged the wrong conductor! ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UyUCbqcId0

[cloughie]

I know what you mean, but actually I'm rather taken with this (IMO) extraordinary version from Isao Tomita.

(And no prizes for guessing that there's a Stokowski orchestration.)

The Tomita is wonderful as is the whole of his Debussy CD!

[Master Jacques]

Thanks for posting the piano piece which is new to me but a lovely find. Baffling that it and presumably his other piano pieces very rarely appear in recital.

Lovely indeed. In fact, both Bax's and Ireland's piano music is pretty often programmed - not by the "international" brigade in the big city venues, of course - but a quick look at the John Ireland site usually points us towards good, live performances happening somewhere around the country. I agree though, that it is really baffling (and sad) that more non-British pianists don't pick up on this gorgeous treasure trove.

(On the Bax front, I hear that Mark Bebbington is set to record a complete set of the sonatas for SOMM, following his superb disc of the "Symphony-Sonata" a few months ago, which received glowing reviews. His Ireland cycle (also for SOMM) is consistently excellent, the best around I think.)

[Stanfordian]

Lovely indeed. In fact, both Bax's and Ireland's piano music is pretty often programmed - not by the "international" brigade in the big city venues, of course - but a quick look at the John Ireland site usually points us towards good, live performances happening somewhere around the country. I agree though, that it is really baffling (and sad) that more non-British pianists don't pick up on this gorgeous treasure trove.

(On the Bax front, I hear that Mark Bebbington is set to record a complete set of the sonatas for SOMM, following his superb disc of the "Symphony-Sonata" a few months ago, which received glowing reviews. His Ireland cycle (also for SOMM) is consistently excellent, the best around I think.)

Don't forget Frank Bridge's excellent output for solo piano.

[seabright]

The Tomita is wonderful as is the whole of his Debussy CD!

Indeed it is! ... Someone's added some very atmospheric visuals in this video ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjSHXopRpJY

[Nick Armstrong]

I thought Leon McCawley made a strong case for the Ireland concerto.

Oh dear, I thought even he couldn’t conceal what a dreadful piece it is!

Enjoyed the Grainger and final Ravel particularly.

Had to be pretty nifty with the remote to avoid that oaf Service blustering in nanoseconds after the final chord has died away though

[BBMmk2]

Tom Service should be banned! Apart from him, that other guy wasn’t too bad, when he could get a word in edge ways!