Hatto, anyone?
Posted by: David S Robb on 23 February 2007
Has anyone been observing the great Joyce Hatto controversy? For those who don't know about it, the recently deceased Joyce Hatto had been claimed, during the past year or so, as the pianist in a great number of apparently terrific recordings, set down over the years despite her long-term suffering from cancer. They appeared on a private label run by her husband. Rave reviews in the press (especially The Gramophone) resulted in the apparent discovery of the greatest pianist nobody knew about, and 'her'discs have been selling like hot cakes -- partly on account of their touted excellence, and partly because of the astonishing story which, it was claimed, lay behind them. I bought a couple myself.
Now it is all unravelling, during the past ten days or so: a critic discovered that one of the discs he was listening to was being indicated (by his ultra-clever CD player with its whizz-bang display) to be by someone else. The digging started, and the discs began to be compared analytically with previously issued discs by other pianists. It is beginning to look as if every one is a fake, more or less. See the Gramophone website for basic information about all this.
As I say, I bought a couple and was fairly impressed when I listened to them -- only once so far, as life is such that I tend to buy more CDs than I have time to listen to. They seemed pretty good, but I wasn't impelled to keep playing them. Maybe (as someone was suggesting) they'll turn out to be collector's items -- I can only hope! Anyway, one astonishing story is in the process of being replaced by another.
As I say, has anyone else been in on this?
David
Posted on: 23 February 2007 by Todd A
I've been reading about it. I find the whole thing rather amusing. I did buy some of "her" recordings - LvB Op 31 and the Mozart sonata cycle - and while both have some good or very good things in them, I haven't been tripping over myself to buy discs attributed to her in large numbers. It will be interesting to find out who recorded all of the various works, including the 50 or so that were still slated for release, and what the full story is, if it ever comes out.
--
Posted on: 24 February 2007 by ewemon
I read about this on the Steve Hoffman site. It is quite anstonishing however I remember once in the late 70's or early 80's where someone had sent copies of songs by well known artists that had sold a million or more records in the US to UK A&R guys only to have them all rejected.
Posted on: 24 February 2007 by Tam
An interesting, and I suspect rather sad story. But I don't think the full truth is likely to come to light (since the only person who knows is Mr Barrington-Coupe and he has so far not been very forthcoming).
I have only heard a few pieces that were played as part of a segment of Radio 3's CD Review programme last year and I have to say I found 'her' pianism pretty unremarkable.
There was an interesting item of CD review this morning about ten minutes or so in. Rob Cowan suggests they deliberately chose pianists who weren't especially identifiable or mannered. You can listen again here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio3_aod.shtml?radio3/cdreviewPristine Audio's website on the subject is also worth a glance:
www.pristineclassical.com/HattoHoax.html regards, Tam
Posted on: 24 February 2007 by Todd A
I have confirmed myself that Hatto's Beethoven is actually lifted from John O'Conor's cycle, at least for Op 31/1 and 31/3. The sound was altered to be softer and less dynamic, but it's him playing. I already have O'Conor's complete cycle, so if anyone wants just his Op 31 sonatas, let me know, I have a rare collector's item for sale - let's say $50.
Her Mozart is apparently Ingrid Haebler's Denon set. That wraps it up for me in terms of what was lifted, but I'm now curious to find out out 1.) if Ms Hatto as depicted by Concert Artist existed (yes, one did exist, but the one on the covers, is that her?), and 2.) when she actually died.
--
Posted on: 24 February 2007 by Tam
Dear Todd,
Is the Mozart based on your listening or from somewhere else? (The pundits were going out of their way to say it would be very hard to track down the real ones here as there were so many, so it would be amusing if that were unmasked already.)
By 1, the question surely is - are any of the Concert Artist discs genuine. Given that everything that has been checked now seems to have been fake, I will be rather surprised.
I have no reason to doubt her death (and there surely exists a death certificate somewhere, which is a matter of public record). However, the question I want answered is whether she was engaged in the deception or whether it was all down to her husband/producer. Sadly, he is the only person who knows these answers and he does not seem to be too forthcoming about it.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 24 February 2007 by Todd A
quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
Is the Mozart based on your listening or from somewhere else?
It was posted on rmcr - someone did both comparative testing and more technically sophisticated testing (maybe Andrew Rose), so it looks like that has been solved.
--
Posted on: 26 February 2007 by Tam
Posted on: 27 February 2007 by Oldnslow
I think Jane Tennison could squeeze the truth out of old Barrington-Coupe---that he smothered the bed-ridden Hatto about 15years ago when she found out what he was up to....and he has been making a "killing" out of her phony CDS ever since. Yup, the old fart needs to be in handcuffs. OK, maybe that is a bit extreme, but this old con man needs to be punished. All this self serving crap from B-C is just one more con. Of course, I'm a bit biased, since I've been trying to put away con men and killers every day in my real life job for 35 years.....
Posted on: 28 February 2007 by cider glider
According to Front Row on Radio 4 last night, B-C has alread done time for tax evasion.
Some lessons to learn from this episode:
People with double-barreled surnames are no more trustworthy than the rest of us.
The differences between classical performers' interpretations are not as obvious as some would have us believe.
The reviewers' knowledge of the recorded repetoire is not as encyclopediac as they would have us believe.
Mark S
Posted on: 28 February 2007 by Bob McC
And I-tunes joins the tools of the fraud squad!
Posted on: 28 February 2007 by Tam
quote:
Originally posted by cider glider:
The differences between classical performers' interpretations are not as obvious as some would have us believe.
The reviewers' knowledge of the recorded repetoire is not as encyclopediac as they would have us believe.
I think you'll find that actually:
The differences between SOME classical performers' interpretations are not as obvious as some would have us believe.
I would defy anyone to listen to, for example, Furtwangler and Mackerras in Beethoven's 3rd symphony and not notice a substantial difference.
As far as knowledge of the repertoire goes, Mr Barrington-Coupe seems to have gone out of his way to choose less distinctive performances. If, say, he had stolen the Mozart from Uchida people would have been on to him pretty sharply.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 01 March 2007 by Shayman
quote:
The reviewers' knowledge of the recorded repetoire is not as encyclopediac as they would have us believe
Slightly unfair as the Hatto versions are also sped up or slowed down by varying degrees making them sound rather different from the originals (although it shows the reviewers' 'perfect-pitch' ain't up to much perhaps!).
A Hatto CD just went on Ebay for £60 or more. I'm sure they will drop in value once the truths out and she's not in the news anymore.
Jonathan
Posted on: 01 March 2007 by u5227470736789439
quote:
Originally posted by cider glider:
[...].
The differences between classical performers' interpretations are not as obvious as some would have us believe.
The reviewers' knowledge of the recorded repetoire is not as encyclopediac as they would have us believe.
Mark S
Dear Mark,
The opinions of Music Reviewers are frequently as odd as those of Hifi Reviewers! I have no interest in the views of these, at least on the subject of music or its replay! But I can definately say that even the same musician (or group) will get a definably different performance on a different day, let alone a totally different performer (or group) getting a different performance...
Posted on: 02 March 2007 by cider glider
quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
As far as knowledge of the repertoire goes, Mr Barrington-Coupe seems to have gone out of his way to choose less distinctive performances. If, say, he had stolen the Mozart from Uchida people would have been on to him pretty sharply.
regards, Tam
Doesn't that raise the question of how a "less distinctive performance" from Lazslo Simon gets a lukewarm review, and that same performance under the banner of Joyce Hatto gets a glowing review? Can it all be down to B-C's electronic jiggery-pokery?
Perhaps all I need to make my fortune is the Naxos catologue and a wah-wah pedal?
Mark S
Mark S
