Surpassing My Expectations

The current edition of BBC Music magazine is their dedicated Proms issue but curiously, the cover disk bears no relation to any of the themes or performers at this years Proms, nor is it taken from a Proms broadcast though it is a live BBC orchestra performance. It is the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir adrian Boult playing Walton's Symphony No 1 from a 1975 concert, so almost considered vintage these days. Some have suggested that this isn't a particularly recommendable performance of the work but since it is a piece that I didn't previously know, I found the playing to be perfectly acceptable. Walton is not a composer for whom I have had much time, perhaps his biography shows a not particularly attractive character. But I was surprised to be very impressed with the first movement of this symphony in particular. Expressive, emotional, atmospheric with what seemed to me slightly Spanish flavours, it was a most compelling start. The work continues with an edgy presto and a fine slow movement. It was only in the finale that I felt things being written more for effect than from the heart. Walton famously took a long time over the gestation of this work, wanting to make an impact with his first foray into the symphonic world, and he struggled for a suitably triumphant resolution, seeming to me to fall back into ceremonial pomp in parts. All in all though, a fine symphony and memorable first movement that I wil look out for again.

Father Of The Symphony ?

The BBC is really going overboard this year with the anniversary concept. Of the four composers they have targeted, we have now had the BBC music magazine cover disk offerings for Handel and Mendelssohn and this month it is the turn of Haydn with Purcell no doubt due to make an appearance in the autumn. The Haydn disk has four symphonies, numbers 22, 26, 67 and 80. The performers are the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Nicholas Kraemer. These happen to be the only recordings of Haydn symphonies that I have, I suspect that the mere concept of someone having written over a hundred has put me off even attempting to get a perspective on their ouevre. So on that basis I was pleased to have the disk. I have read some criticism of the playing from other sources but to my inexpert ears it sounds perfectly acceptable, veering towards the historically informed end of modern instrument performances. The two earlier symphonies show a Bachian church influence with chorale developments while the sleeve notes eliablyy inform me that the later two symphonies owe something to the world of opera buffa and are edging towards the mature style shown in Paris and London. If I get the opportunity I shall progress to investigating these even later works, I'm pretty sure the upcoming Proms may provide chances for that !

It's Those Anniversaries Again

The BBC is now in full swing with its' "celebrations" of the composers it has deemed to be Composers of the Year based on death / birth anniversaries. This month's BBC Music magazine cover disk plays a part, featuring Mendelssohn. The work is one that I wasn't familiar with and this is the first recording that I have. It is his Symphony No 2, subtitled Lobgesang or Hymn of Praise. It also serves as a further nod towards the late Richard Hickox who is the conductor here of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. Soloists are Veronique Gens, soprano, Pamela Helen Stephen, mezzo and the tenor Robert Tear. As can be seen from the presence of chorus and soloists, this is a choral symphony taking the form of a substantial sinfonia as introduction and then an almost oratorio like final two thirds. There are both forward and backward influences apparent. It is clear that Mendelssohn had been influenced by exposure to the oratorio heritage of Handel. But the work also looks forward to the oratorio style that he pioneered himself with Elijah and which lead on to a genre in England pursued by Elgar and even Walton among others. This is not an area of mussic of which I am particularly fond but I found the disk more amenable on second hearing and am glad to have it. I was also struck by the use of leitmotif recurring throughout the work and ponder on who that may have influenced ( though such an influence would never have been admitted ! )

Youthful Take On Core Repertoire

The current monthly cover disk from BBC Music magazine features the young Czech players of the Pavel Haas Quartet, members of the BBC new Generation Artists scheme. They have already released commercial recordings of Czech repertoire which have been very well received and on this disk they play three Beethoven quartets, one each from his early, middle and late periods. The booklet notes make clear that in some ways these distinctions are arbitrary but the PHQ seem comfortable in each of them. These are not performances in aspic, they take some liberties with tempo and dynamics and these might not be "library" choices for the pieces performed ( Op 18 no 4, Op 135 and Op 95 Quartetto Serioso ) But since I already own a complete cycle of the quartets by the Takacs Quartet, I am happy to have these as an addition and look forward to hearing what repertoire they tackle next.

Enjoyed This More Than I Thought I Would

A complete opera offered as the BBC music magazine cover disk this month, albeit a one act opera that is part of a trilogy. The work in question is Il Tabarro by Puccini. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Singers are conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and the soloists are Barbara Frittoli, Miro Dvorsky, Lado Ataneli, Jane Henschel, Barry Banks, Alastair Miles, Allan Clayton, Katherine Broderick and Edgaras Montvidas. It is a live recording taken from a preformance at the 2008 Proms. Puccini's not really my thing but I find the three one act operas of Il Trittico, of which this is one, easier to take than the famous cornerstones of the repertoire that get staged so much more frequently. The plot of Il Tabarro is straightforward; love gone bad, sexual betrayal, vengeful murder. The music doesn't really involve seperate scenes and isn't an aria, recitative, aria type structure. Instead it is built on a single span rather like a tone poem or lyric symphony in many ways. This suits the concert presentation here at the Proms. There are city sounds and car horn effects in some of the orchestration to remind that Puccini is a 20th century composer not immune to influences from the early decades of that century. There are fine performances from the main protaganists and if it is a cliche to assume that being Italian Noseda has an ear for opera, it is nevertheless born out by the conducting here.

A Souvenir But No More

This month's BBC Music magazine cover disk features vintage performances by Clifford Curzon of Mozart Piano Concertos Nos 21 and 23. No 21 is from 1976 and the accompaniment is provided by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Bernhard Klee, while No 23 is from 1963 with the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Hurst. To be honest, this is not really a major rediscovery of long lost electrifying performances. Curzon's playing is fine enough without being at his very best and it would be a perfectly fine radio broadcast or evening in the concert hall but it is not an essential document for posterity. These are probably the two most familiar of Mozart's piano concertos and the slow movements still show their magic despite the somewhat routine run throughs from the BBC orchestras. And it is churlish to be too critical of these free cover disks, rather be grateful for the occasional gems they throw up.

A Fitting Tribute

This month sees an excellent BBC Music magazine cover disk of music by Janacek. I already have recordings of the pieces featured ( multiple recordings in the case of the Sinfonietta ) but this is still a worthwhile addition. The disk is otherwise notable for the two conductors featured. The Sinfonietta is conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras with the BBC Philharmonic. A renowned specialist in Czech repertoire, this is a full blooded and spirited performance despite a few split notes from the brass in the most exposed parts of the fanfare. Both pieces were recorded live and so it is possible to live with the odd imperfection. The second piece on the disk is the Glagolitic Mass, played by the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales with the Bristol Choral Society and conducted by the late Richard Hickox. The disk has the subtitle "a tribute to Richard Hickox" and it is a fine performance that is entirely fitting to be viewed in that light Following his unexpected and untimely death. It certainly outshines a recent Prom performance under Boulez, although the latter was undermined by one notably appalling solo contribution and Hickox is much better served by his soprano Susan Bullock, together with mezzo Ameral Gunson, tenor Kim Begley and bass Matthew Best. Not to forget the important organ part played here by Adrian Partington.