Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #47)

Robin L · Jun 27, 2013

jukes said: ↑

A day is good, when one learns something.

Thank you Robin L and drh for telling about mr. Haggin. It's his kind of critics that we also need.

"(M)ost famously he considered Brahms mostly a pompous bore."

So did I - my explanation is that I was still under 20 years old by then. And I still do feel that most of the Tchaikovsky recordings are emphasizing the sniveling or sniffling aspects of his music. Yet there is murky, dark things going on, too. I think the Russian Soviet-era recordings do have some of that...
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Mravinsky/Leningrad Philharmonic in the last 3 Tchaikovsky Symphonies is essential listening.

john greenwood · Jun 27, 2013

John S said: ↑

Happy Birthday Maestro Abbado!

Prokofiev
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1, Op. 19
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2, Op. 63
Shlomo Mintz, violin
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Claudio Abbado

There seems to be some symmetry in the fact that Prokofiev composed the first violin concerto before moving to the West, while the second was his last completed score some 18 years later before moving back to Russia. Prokofiev’s personal stamp is on both although they are not surprisingly, different. The first concerto, written the same year as the “Classical” symphony (1917), has the same appeal and exuberance as Prokofiev’s exciting first symphonic masterpiece. The first movement begins and ends quietly, in between is some of Prokofiev’s most beautiful music interspersed with some exotic virtuoso violin episodes. The second movement’s Scherzo seems borne out of the “Classical” symphony’s finale. It’s Vivacissimo clip is full of Prokofiev’s early infant terrible acerbic wit and invention, and ends way too quickly. A lush third movement rounds out a very satisfying piece. Interestingly, the premiere of this work a few years later in Paris (by Koussevitsky and his concert master) also showcased first time conductor Igor Stravinsky with his new Octet for Wind Instruments.

The second concerto has always been considered the more important of the two, although I must admit to it being a tough nut to crack. It happens to be the last work completed before Prokofiev migrated back to his Motherland. The reality is that Prokofiev, after spending almost two decades in the West, was homesick. He felt under-appreciated in the West, particularly in view of his losing battle of popularity with Stravinsky. Prokofiev knew he would have fragile immunity from the Kremlin’s musical judgments, provided he toned it down a little. As Prokofiev wrote a couple years after moving back to the USSR:

Not surprisingly, Prokofiev’s migration back to an artistically repressive régime was viewed with skepticism by the West. Musicologist Gerald Abraham wrote “Prokofiev’s formula for turning himself into a Soviet composer has been to emphasize the lyric side of his nature at the expense of the witty and grotesque and brilliant sides. The returned emigre has not been cramped by the artistic policy of the Soviet government to anything like the same extent as Shostakovich, who has grown up with the Soviet State, and might be expected to adapt himself easier to its requirements. But that is perhaps because Prokofiev is a much better composer than Shostakovich.”

For me, the problem with this second concerto is that it’s the Soviet Prokofiev we hear, a composer walking a fine line between being a relevant artist while being careful not to offend sensitive proletariat ears. The whole work, from the sonata-based first movement on a rather ordinary subject announced by the solo violin, to the mostly uninspired second movement, to a rondo that offers some metric interest but little else, is not memorable. There are multiple key changes throughout the concerto which may have sounded daring at the time, but just do not make up for the ultimate blandness of this piece, however brilliantly crafted it is.

The violin, played here by a 27-year old rising star, seems perfectly fine, as well as the fine Chicago ensemble led by Abbado, who is clearly sympathetic to this music. This 1984 DG recording seems to have escaped the early digital recording problems experienced by that label, although I will leave that judgment to ears far more golden than mine. Finally, I welcome suggestions of other recordings of these works from all on this board, should anyone el inclined.
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I actually have two recordings of each. Here is the recording I've listened to the most.

http://www.amazon.com/Heifetz-Sibelius-Prokofiev-Glazunov-Concertos/dp/B0006PV5U8

I also have a recently purchased 3fer of Prokofiev Concertos, which has both and Julia Fischer's traversal of the first. I think I enjoyed the Khatchaturian on that disc more, but it deserves further listening.

john greenwood · Jun 27, 2013

jukes said: ↑

I'd add Plasson when considering more broadly French orchestral music ( Chausson, d'Indy, Magnard etc.). Unfortunately, the orchestras aren't the toppermost ones, and recording does have more often some problems when compared to Dutch, English and German recordings. I'm talking about the 1960's to 1980's recordings that we have as LP's. Yet, very listenable stuff. Still I do like Abbado's Debussy conducting very much.

Boulez was a revelation on Debussy, analytic, revealing (I have in mind "Boulez dirige Debussy" LP box: Boulez & Cleveland Orch.) - after that, no more blurred and shapeless "undulating", so to speak. I never been through the Debussy partitures, so I just had to figure out the music by listening to the recordings.
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Sony recently release a 5 disc set of Boulez conducting Debussy. I'm pretty sure it includes the contents of the LP box (which I owned years ago) plus Pelleas.

john greenwood · Jun 27, 2013

Tangledupinblue said: ↑

Is that on the piano or harpsichord? If the former, I'd love to hear it!
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I don't think Murray does harpsichord.

John S · Jun 27, 2013

john greenwood said: ↑

I actually have two recordings of each. Here is the recording I've listened to the most.

http://www.amazon.com/Heifetz-Sibelius-Prokofiev-Glazunov-Concertos/dp/B0006PV5U8

I also have a recently purchased 3fer of Prokofiev Concertos, which has both and Julia Fischer's traversal of the first. I think I enjoyed the Khatchaturian on that disc more, but it deserves further listening.
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I have that Heifetz SACD.....I completely forgot about it. Understandable -- look what's on it.

WorldB3 · Jun 27, 2013

Rose River Bear said: ↑

Great disc.
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Speaking of, the Bach - Angela Hewitt disc you sent me arrived, only got through the first four tracks but very good, thanks. How is her Goldberg Variations?

George P · Jun 27, 2013

We're out of space. Let's continue this discussion here, please.

Rose River Bear · Jun 27, 2013

WorldB3 said: ↑

Speaking of, the Bach - Angela Hewitt disc you sent me arrived, only got through the first four tracks but very good, thanks. How is her Goldberg Variations?
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I like them very much. I like her Bach very much. Anyone else?

George P · Jun 27, 2013

We're out of space. Let's continue this discussion here, please.

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Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #47)

Robin L Musical Omnivore

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Classical Corner Classical Music Corner (thread #47)

Robin L Musical Omnivore

john greenwood Senior Member

john greenwood Senior Member

john greenwood Senior Member

John S Forum Resident

WorldB3 Forum Resident

George P Notable Member Thread Starter

Rose River Bear Senior Member

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