What new releases are you looking forward to?

ATB from George

In the EMI Sibelius album is contained a glowing performance of the Andante Festivo. Controversy surrounds this recording. done on New Year’s Day 1939. Certainly it was broadcast all over the civilised World that day, but the recording issued is done immediately afterwards on 78s rather than a transcription of the actual broadcast, which may or may not itself have been conducted by Sibelius. The recording almost certainly was not though the evidence is not and cannot ever be considered conclusive by now. Warner continue the incorrect assumption that Sibelius was definitely conducting! What is certain is that Sibelius did rehearse the performance in the morning, so it is just about as close as we shall ever get to actually having a recording of Sibelius himself. A fascinating enigma, which in no way diminishes the warmth and strength of the music as presented. 

ATB from George

George Fredrik Fiske posted:

ATB from George

Arrived today! A day early, but after Christmas, tomorrow was booked off to receive them! Left with a neighbour today. My neighbours are all friends ...

Modern remastering is not always finer [to say the least] than the old raw version, but the music making remains for my appreciation.

The EMI Sibelius set is as remastered not a patch on the old Finlandia issues on CD from AC Griffith’s EMI transfer-tapes done in the early 1970s, but this is complete, and so I remain grateful - so many unheard jewels. The Decca set is quite reminiscent of the old orange label LPs, but without clicks and pops!

I have not yet got into the Adolf Busch recordings, but my main interest is once again in those fabulous jewels that have not been issued on CD since the days of 78s, except from Pearl on fairly uncomfortable transfers from shellac ...

ATB from George

PS: The Tuxen [Decca] recording of Sibelius Fifth Symphony is as fabulous as I remember as music making! simply the best and worth the price of the Decca set on its own!

With interesting guest artists as well...

George Fredrik Fiske posted:

In the EMI Sibelius album is contained a glowing performance of the Andante Festivo. Controversy surrounds this recording. done on New Year’s Day 1939. Certainly it was broadcast all over the civilised World that day, but the recording issued is done immediately afterwards on 78s rather than a transcription of the actual broadcast, which may or may not itself have been conducted by Sibelius. The recording almost certainly was not though the evidence is not and cannot ever be considered conclusive by now. Warner continue the incorrect assumption that Sibelius was definitely conducting! What is certain is that Sibelius did rehearse the performance in the morning, so it is just about as close as we shall ever get to actually having a recording of Sibelius himself. A fascinating enigma, which in no way diminishes the warmth and strength of the music as presented. 

Andante Festivo:
This was my first exposure to Sibelius' work and my favourite. It was a CSO premier. I only have young Mariss Janson's EMI recording.

So who conducted the 1939 Andante Festivo?

Dear Kuma,

I do not know, but probably the permanent conductor of the orchestra. Sibelius was an extremely unwilling conductor in his later years. 

But it does not detract from the performance in my view. Sibelius was there, He had rehearsed the music with them earlier in the day. It was a gala event and everyone was on top form. 

The story of the recording is no less interesting for being mysterious! The time was portentous, and it was obvious that War was not far off, even if most people had no idea what the trip-wire would be. The music making itself is magnificent.

From the same set come the 1933 recording of the March of the Finnish Jaeger Battalion, played by the Helsinki Philharmonic under Robert Kajanus.  This makes me glad that Kajanus recorded the rest of his Sibelius performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, really ... 

______________

These three sets have collected the remaining recordings that I actually want to own, except for the Klemperer issue from a few years ago of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. I have the performance in the complete “Klemperer EMI Legacy” now on Warner, but the separate issue has something priceless to add. About an hour and half of rehearsal. One can learn a lot from a rehearsal recording. Or attending a rehearsal prior to a concert. In this specific case, it amazing to discover how detailed was Klemperer’s approach though it is about getting things right without eccentricity. Listening to the finished recording one would hardly guess it. Also it staggering how fast Klemperer worked through details. Play it, stop, A few words, play it again, possibly a few more words ... Finally play it again. If it is right, maybe not even play further than the detail in question. Klemperer was a master of the minimal. Frequently his comment was as limited as “Good, Very good!” And then move onto the next thing to sort out ... When a mistake occurred or a wrong balance, he could pin-point the issue like a magician, and manage this without ever being unkind the the player concerned. Consequently the orchestra was confident in Klemperer, and would really start to work “for the old man,” as they called him, even when in ear-shot - Klemperer enjoyed the collaboration with the Philharmonia, and they enjoyed playing for him, even though he made huge demands of concentration from them.

ATB from George

PS: Here is a tape of Sibelius rehearsing earlier in t he day of Andante Festivo!

The action starts at about four minutes in!

And the later performance:

And even this is not the recording contained in the Warner/EMI set!

At six minutes, fifty seven seconds long, the Finnish Radio/EMI/Warner recording of it has even greater intensity and was recorded later on in the day on 78 sides rather than large transcription discs. I have this recording from a BBC broadcast of the early 1980s. This BBC transfer is easily finer than any of the commercial releases, and is entirely done without any attempt to quieten the very good shellac. And at seven minutes, four secondslong the transfer is at a fractionally lower pitch. 

But the 78s were directed by someone other than Sibelius! He was elsewhere by then,

ATB from George

Middle of this month..

15th of January - young talented pianist..

Next installment

She is something else, should be exciting..

Interesting pair...

There is a new Joe Bonamassa album Blues and Desperation coming out 25th March. 

ewemon posted:

There is a new Joe Bonamassa album Blues and Desperation coming out 25th March. 

The info available so far says it needs to be played LOUD!

Sounds promising. 

Alex Harvey 14cd set entitled The Last of the Teenage Idols.

Jethro Tull.

Original album series Vol 2

Original album series Al Stewart

Cilla Black original album series.

5cd set