Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 1:35AM
For the second time in a month CD Review's Building a Library has recommended a recording of Dvorak's 8th with the LSO on its own label!
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 8:46AM
#2
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Hi Doc Brod. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say, with every post, we like and admire your worthwhile insights into music all the more.
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 9:53AM
#3
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
I'm going out on a limb here, but I suppose there is just a chance that the reviewer felt it the best choice available. But then I'm rubbish at spotting conspiracies, so who knows?
Vic.
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 11:26AM
#4
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
It's not the X-Files Vic, it's just good old corruption, money passing hands between friends over drinks after the concert. A lot of money can be made by record companies on the back of a Radio 3 recommendation. French Radio probably swear by a version conducted by Pierre ..... with Le Orchestra .....On Un Music Label. But of course we are paying for this corruption. Never mind the X-Files, If the BBC continue as they are it will be the X-Factor on Radio 3 soon and they will decide the best choice by a phone-in poll.
......and we all know how corrupt the uncorruptable BBC's phone in polls are. How much did they have to pay back ... ummmm.
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 12:18PM
#5
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
As an outsider (I am an international reader of Gramophone), I can say with strong conviction that the Davis/LSO version on LSO live is as good as it gets, despite it is not my first preference. I enjoy more the late Kreizberg on Pentatone, in a very impressive sound. Also, Fischer on Channel Classics has better sound and a very exciting drive.
The last thing I have to say to Dr. Br. and his followers is that for a man of the spirit, level of music knowledge and authority in music along with an Orchestra of the quality of LSO, even a "conspiracy" (or "corruption") may make some sense. (By the way in France, some "authorities" in music opted for a non french recording, artist, orchestra, etc. : they endorsed the Fischer/Channel recording. Are they less corrupted or do we have an EU scheme?).
Focus on music.
Parla
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 12:19PM
#6
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
There's disturbing degree of disproportion in your attitude to this subject "Dr"B. Have you thought of seeking help for it?
Vic.
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 12:26PM
#7
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
... for a man of the spirit, level of music knowledge and authority in music along with an Orchestra of the quality of LSO, even a "conspiracy" (or "corruption") may make some sense.
Parla
Sorry Parla, whatever do you mean by this?
Now, "Focus on the music" - that makes full sense.
Vic.
Mon, Oct 31 2011, 12:36PM
#8
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Clearly, few heard the broadcast but it was by Rob Cowan who apologised for not mentioning a whole swathe of recordings, including Ancerl.
He preferred the '54 to the '35 Talich, the latter re-engineered in very good sound, by the way.
He didn't like the Fischer overmuch because of the saccharine sound he gets from his orchestra. He did not like Kertesz' "false" excitement (my words).
He had good things to say about Kubelik in Munich and Mackerras.
Oh, just to annoy the Brodskysaurus, Beecham on BBC Legends!
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 11:59AM
#9
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
The last thing I have to say to Dr. Br. and his followers.....
They should be easy to contact, Parla - a very small band, I'd have thought.
".. for a man of the spirit, level of music knowledge and authority in music along with an Orchestra of the quality of LSO, even a "conspiracy" (or "corruption") may make some sense.
Just like some budget opera CDs, a translation would be helpful.
Focus on music.
Hear, hear - and hopefully with a minimum of didacticism.
JKH
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 4:42PM
#10
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Listen, not hear, JKH, and, then, you will learn more, in one or the other way (didacticism or not).
As for the "translation": Dr. Brodsky implied, or maybe directly claimed, that there is "conspiracy" and "corruption" behind the choice of Dvorak's 8th with C. Davis (see his posts). So, I said that for a man and artist of this level and an orchestra of the quality of LSO, it wouldn't matter "a little help from some friends" (which, of course is a form of "friendly" corruption, for...a good cause).
Anyway, too much fuss for good or even very good performances. Very little to be said about the 8th, one of the masterworks of Dvorak. A work of such beauty, joy, spirit and inspiration speaks by itself, even in inadequate performances. So, focus on music.
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 4:54PM
#11
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
As for Sir Colin Davis, those knighthoods don't come cheap you know, even when Labour are in power!
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 5:33PM
#12
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Very little to be said about the 8th, one of the masterworks of Dvorak. A work of such beauty, joy, spirit and inspiration speaks by itself, even in inadequate performances. So, focus on music.
Well, let’s just settle on saying Amen to that.
As for Sir Colin Davis, those knighthoods don't come cheap you know, even when Labour are in power!
Labour? He was knighted at least 25 or 30 years ago under Mrs T, wasn’t he? I seem to remember hearing it on the BBC. Ah, but perhaps that explains it. The fiends.
JKH
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 8:52PM
#13
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
Corruption, buying knighthoods? Parla wrote a work of beauty, spirit and inspiration....so focus on the music: quite, for me Dvorak's finest work.
However having said that I am utterly mystified at Rob Cowan's choice. I decided years ago from excerpts on Gramophone CDs that LSO live discs were just not for me as I found the sound less than pleasant since the Barbican is simply acoustically unsuitable as a recording venue. Add a rather uninspiring performance and I thought his choice of Davis a dead loss. I first tried to listen to the Davis recording on the I player from yesterday morning but with the low bit rate sound (128kbps?) it sounded awful and I soon gave up. I then listened to the actual Building a Library on the I player and I must admit that most of the recordings sounded pretty poor at that bit rate.
For years I lived with Kertesz's brilliant and exciting LSO recording which I still enjoy but it was apparently too brash for Mr Cowan. Some years ago I got a CD of Barbirolli's Halle recording made in Manchester (a town some distance from London Dr Brodsky) in 1957. Fabulous: what marvellous joie de vivre, players obviously inspired by their conductor I was simply swept along. For me it simply wipes the floor with the Davis both as a performance and recording.
I would apply similar comments to the Symphonie Fantastique as again the Halle's Manchester recording is great (and I have several other versions all preferable to Davis). I guess however these superb (originally Pye, now EMI) recordings are not currently available.
Tue, Nov 1 2011, 11:28PM
#14
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
At the risk of causing more smart-aleck (look that one up if you don't know its meaning) comments that seem to be filling up these forums to nobody's credit I would like to suggest Sir Thomas Beecham and his RPO from an RFH concert in 1959. You can (or could) get it on a BBC Legends CD with the Sibelius 2nd. The Sibelius I find greatly overrated, but the Dvorak is one of the best ever.
Sorry Troyen 1, I see you already mentioned the Beecham but I'll second your motion. And, besides, I had already typed the above when I saw it.
Wed, Nov 2 2011, 1:53AM
#15
RE: Let's hear it for Sir Colin
I think Rob Cowan may have hedged his bets somewhat and plumped for the cheapest in the end.
Having said that I haven't heard Kubelik's Munich recording and own the Kertesz which remains undimmed as a recorded performance for me and in typical Decca sound.
I must say that I also find the LSO/Barbican recordings difficult to listen too and Iprefer Davis' old Philips recording which is coupled with an even finer 7th.
I always found Barbirolli's old Pye/Halle recordings a tad foggy but perhaps the sound has been improved since I last heard them on LP, sorry, vinyl. That is not a comment on the performances which are fine, typical of Sir John.
Yes the good old BBC once again picking a British conductor, with a British Orchestra, On a British Label. What would we ever do without them.
You can probably substitute London for British as that is really what the BBC think Britain is.