Forthcoming Releases
Tue, May 15 2012, 6:47PM
#2
RE: Forthcoming Releases
From the latest information I managed to get from Orfeo, it seems that we may not see this "Lohengrin" soon, since Bayreuth asks for some kind of an exorbitant amount for giving Orfeo the rights to release the respective CD.
It is not clear to me whether a possible solution might be found, sometime in the future.
It would be pity. It seemed as a kind of "ideal" Lohengrin.
Parla
Tue, May 15 2012, 7:04PM
#3
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Parla, if you look at my posts above you will see some information about this performance and recording (The Kempe Bayreuth Lohengrin).
Tue, May 15 2012, 7:23PM
#4
RE: Forthcoming Releases
I read them, Chris. The one I mentioned was with Konya. The one with King has been released, but, as you mentioned, was not the "perfect" one and it was withdrawn quite soon after its release. I wonder how Konya would sound, if he was not in full voice.
Anyway, we'll see.
Parla
Tue, May 15 2012, 7:30PM
#5
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Hi Parla: I was in Germany at the time of the first night and recorded the broadcast. It was obvious that Konya was not in good voice, though no announcement was made (The Bavarian Radio announcements at Bayreuth were (are) very formal).
Golden Melodram have issued an unofficial CD set, obviously 'off-air' in not very good sound, but it does confirm what I knew already. The 1958 and 1959 Bayreuth performances both find Konya in fine form however.
Wed, May 16 2012, 7:53AM
#6
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Fair enough on that, Chris.
Going back to the forthcoming releases, I already received the latest release of Praga Digitals with the newest achievement of Prazak Quartet and their "friends", embarking on the extraordinary task to perform two pilar works of Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire & Septet in E flat, op. 29.
Despite I almost detest this music, the performances are again in the highest possible form and at the most profound level. For those who love, appreciate, enjoy etc. this music, look for it. It should arrive in UK early June.
Parla
Wed, May 16 2012, 12:43PM
#7
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Parla: All the discussion about Konya's Lohengrin had the inevitable effect; I had to listen to Lohengrin. This morning I heard Konya in 1958 (Cluytens). He is simply superb, the voice a wonderful combination of warmth and brilliance, and perfect characterization. Penelope Turing in her book New Bayreuth, described him as the finest Lohengrin she had ever heard or seen, and it is hard to disagree.
But now something different. Your mentioning again your favourite Prazak Quartet reminded me that I have collected most of the great quartets of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert etc. over many years in recordings by my own favourite groups, among them the Italian, Vegh, Alban Berg, Hungarian, Takacs Quartets. But until now I have to admit to not having heard the Prazak. So your task is to suggest to me one or two CDs that you think represent their finest recordings! I don't have SACD and the performances are more important to me than exceptional sound recording.
Wed, May 16 2012, 6:31PM
#8
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Before answering the Prazak Quartet question, since we had this rather extensive exchanges on "Lohengrin", how do you find Leinsdorf's with Konya too (in the good sound of RCA)?
As for the Prazak's recordings, it's practically impossible for me to choose only one or two. The more I listen to their recordings, the more I find them all great, superb, etc. Most of their recordings are in SACD, so you have the superlative recordings too. One suggestion is to go to the website of Praga Digitals and see which composer or which work from the ones they have recorded sound as the most challenging to you and order them. For me, whatever they have done is a sort of reference recording.
If, however, I had to mentioned two of their recordings I visite more often, I would refer to their amazing Brahms (three individual SACDs, including the Piano and Clarinet Quintets and the String Quintet in G, op. 111) and their Schubert (the last String Quartet or the String Quintet), apart from their Beethoven, anyway.
In Praga Digitals, you may find three more superb String quartets, the Parkanyi (they have recorded the modern Bartok's String Quartets and a reference recording of Ravel and Debussy's Quartets), the Kocian (some excellent Haydn) and the Zemlinsky Quartets (Mendelssohn, Zemlinsky).
Parla
Wed, May 16 2012, 9:01PM
#9
RE: Forthcoming Releases
OK, First Lohengrin. I have that set too! (God knows how many Lohengrin recordings I have. Too many!). Well, the two things you mention are the main virtues, Konya and the recording. Leinsdorf is very disappointing (after his fine Walkure). I wonder whether the Boston Symphony plays much for opera. There seems to be no sense of theatre in their playing. Lucine Amara is a disaster as Elsa, and apart from Konya none of the other singers (all well known Wagnerians) seem involved with their roles. Well that's how it seems to me. But Konya in fine voice and excellent sound is not to be sniffed at. And he sings the extended version of In fernen Land. I must admit the Grail narration is all I listen to regularly from this set.
Thanks for your suggestions for the Prazak quartet. I'm afraid your comment (in another thread) about the unavailability of many of their recordings is all too right. No sign of the Schubert Quintet alas, but the G major Quartet and the A minor and D minor (a nice coupling) are available and I've ordered those, and noted the Brahms Clarinet Quintet (with the Quartet, Op.51). So thanks again!
Fri, May 18 2012, 7:02PM
#10
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Parla, now I've found the Schubert Quintet too. Looking forward to all these. Thanks again for your advice. I didn't ask before whether you too know the RCA/Leinsdorf Lohengrin?
Sat, May 19 2012, 5:01AM
#11
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Of course, I got it. I am a Wagner loyal admirer, so I miss very few of the "well recorded" commercial recordings (my system cannot allow the very compromised ones).
I found Leinsdorf more acceptable in his way to express the Wagnerian score, while the other soloists, with the exception of Amara, could serve somehow well the score. It's pity a "not first choice" recording to have a "very first choice" Lohengrin (in good sound).
Speaking of some new quite promising Chamber Music, the very fine Manderling Quartet has launched its Mendelssohn cycle, in very good SACD recordings of the excellent German label Audite. The first volume contains the three quartets of youth, op. 12 in E-flat, the glorious a minor (influenced, to a great degree, by the sublime Beethoven's Quartet op. 132, in the same tonality) and the very first op. "O", in E-flat too. In UK, it is expected early June.
Parla
Sun, May 27 2012, 3:44PM
#12
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Another release that I am looking forward to hearing:
Hans Rott Symphony from Paavo Jarvi and his Frankfurt Orchestra
No UK release date yet... but should be around July/August
Sun, May 27 2012, 5:10PM
#13
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Naupilus, If you want to listen to the work and not necessarily to the performance itself (though it seems interesting: P. Jarvi is always solid and effective), there are about 5 other recordings on rather marginal or obscure labels. However, I think the one on the quite good German label CPO with the Vienna Radio S. O. under Dennis Russell Davies can do enough justice to this quite intriguing romantic Symphony.
Parla
Sun, May 27 2012, 6:16PM
#14
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Parla
Thanks for the tip but think I will wait. The various reviews of the concert in Frankfurt and consequently in the US, together with some very positive comments from a few sources that have already received copies form Japan, make this hopefully worth the wait. Jarvi gave a very interesting interview on US radio about the symphony.
Mon, Jun 11 2012, 6:20PM
#15
RE: Forthcoming Releases
Parla, I don't know what to make of this, but the Kempe Bayreuth Lohengrin (1967) with James King, on Orfeo, has just been reviewed in the latest (July) issue of Gramophone. Puzzling!
Chris
PS: Haydn Quartets have arrived. Report soon!
Tagalie, You asked about the Orfeo Lohengrin (Kempe, Bayreuth 1967):
It is a fine performance, more dynamic than the Vienna studio recording. Other than Kempe's conducting its greatest strength is the superb choral singing (under Wilhelm Pitz), not insignificant in this opera. Almost all the principal singers though are finer in the Vienna set. Neither has a perfect Lohengrin. Konya in full voice would have been different. Hard to choose between James King and Jess Thomas. (The Kempe Vienna recording did not have the first-choice Lohengrin either: Jon Vickers had been the planned singer, but he withdrew apparently).
If you already have the Vienna set, you could consider the 1958 Bayreuth recording (with Konya and Rysanek, Cluytens conducting a warm romantic reading), or 1959 with Lovro von Matacic and Konya and Grümmer. Both are available in quite reasonable sound, though not as good as the stereo 1967 recording. If you don't have Kempe in either recording, then I must say I listen to the Vienna recording more often than the Bayreuth. One can only imagine how Kempe and the Bayreuth cast had to cope with five different Lohengrins in seven performances (Konya, King, Jean Cox, Hermin Esser and Jess Thomas).
[Full cast in case you don't have it: King, Heather Harper, Grace Hoffman, Donald McIntyre, Karl Ridderbusch]
Chris A.Gnostic