A spirited performance of Beethoven’s 7th last night by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Worcester prompted me to play this spirited performance:
IMHO, Neville Marriner and Colin Davis both did excellent jobs with the Elgar Enigma Variations and I have a few of their recordings of this work. OTOH, Bernstein probably was not all that great but Previn and Slatkin may be fine ...
Now listening on my networkplayer. Alphons Diepenbrock (1862–1921) De Vogels Overture Marsyas Concert Suite I Prelude. Marsyas’ awakening in spring II Entr’acte. Wandering through the forest III Marsyas and the nymphs IV Prelude to Act III. A summer’s night V Finale. Dance of the nymphs and Apollo’s epilogue Hymne for violin and orchestra Elektra Symphonic Suite arranged by Eduard Reeser I Andante agitato – Adagio II Presto – Andantino moderato – Presto III Lento – Sostenuto e agitato – Largamente IV Allegro agitato – Maestoso Hans Vonk - conductor Residentie Orchestra The Hague CD 1 from:
I have often thought I would like much more repertoire and more composers if their works were presented in better recorded sound. I know, just dreaming. This recording makes me think the Symphony-Concerto is a better piece than I knew. Prokofiev Symphony-Concerto, Op. 125, for cello and orchestra. Truls Mork City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Paavo Jarvi Erato, 2013 recorded 1997 The original cover: The box set separates out the Prokofiev piece onto one disc, but adding on a premiere recording of an alternative last movement which was edited by Rostropovich.
From shellac era. Decca thanked some people at the British library for their help in finding and transcribing the 78 recordings used on this CD. The Franck was a test pressing which was located.
from 1962 and a beautiful sounding harpsichord, these violin sonatas are well recorded and fun to hear. There have been a lot of issues. I would guess that it first came out on Telefunken. Bach Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord Nos. 1-6 Gustav Leonhardt Lars Fryden Das Alte Werk, 2 CD The New Gustav Leonhardt Edition box, Warner, 35 CDs, 2022 [what is with not putting an box issue date anywhere in or on the box?]
another fine performance from Richard Bonynge: Delibes Sylvia: ballet in 3 acts New Philharmonia Richard Bonynge 2 CDs Decca box, 2020 recorded 1974
Rachmaninoff-pianist. Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. 1929 performances. Lp issued 1950.
No I am not. I do have Colin Davis and the LSO on SACD though and it is fantastic. I am spinning the Chandos Two fer as I type.
I have his LSO Live SACD as well. Apparently, he also made a recording of Enigma Variations on Philips ...
I prefer this version of Coppelia over the 1970 one by Bonynge with the Suisse Romande Orchestra which had sonic problems etc. Delibes Coppelia National Philharmonic Orchestra Richard Bonynge recorded 1969, 2 discs, balance engineer: Kenneth Wilkinson Decca, 2020
For me tonight has been given over to Dvorak, the Symphonic Variations (Zdenek Kosler and the Slovak PO, MHS LP from Opus masters) and the Quintet in E-Flat, op. 97 (Prague Qtt and Richard Kosderka, viola, a 1937 Victor 78 set). That follows on a mini-quintet-fest last night, all Boccherini played by Quinteto Boccherini, taken from a two-record set on Fidelio that I'm pretty sure started off life on some other label. Thus, examples from both sides of The Great String Quintet Divide: Dvorak, like Mozart, opts for an extra viola; like Schubert, Boccherini adds a second cello. Not really surprising, I suppose, considering that Dvorak played the viola and Boccherini was a celebrated cellist. For all that I rather prefer the two-cello approach, the Dvorak work is one of my favorite chamber pieces, and although it's hardly obscure I'm not quite sure why it isn't heard more frequently. I definitely like this lively performance. According to the Shellackophile blog, after the Germans occupied Czechoslovakia and forbade "nationalistic" names for performing ensembles, the Prague Quartet adopted the name Černý Quartet, after its violist, Ladislav Černý. Its other members were Alexander Plocik and Herbert Berger, violins, and either Iwan Vectomov or Josef Simandl, cellist. In 1943 the group made the first recording of Janacek's 2d (and last) qtt., the one known as "Intimate Letters." Note that Dvorak wrote another quintet, his op. 77, that takes the unusual approach of adding a double bass. Also a lovely piece, but I like the catchy op. 97 better.
And now this wonderful Lp. Epic LC-3689, Mono. 1960. Edit: the Szell box set includes the stereo versions of these performances.
Handel SAUL English Chamber Orchestra Charles Mackerras Archiv, 2004 recorded 1973 3 CDs It was hard to track down a reasonably priced set. I enjoyed it, and will again. I admire Mackerras.
Bach: Violin Concertos Isabelle Faust (violin), Bernhard Forck, (violin), Xenia Loeffler (oboe) Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
