Elgar's Hillside

[DavidRoss]

Now the question, what is the best "Dream of Gerontius" available in good sound?  I am attracted to the idea of the Barbirolli recording, but for I fear the engineering may not be up to the challenge.

Beats me.  The only recording I have is Barbirolli's with Janet Baker.  The sound is not the issue for me, nor the performance. 

[Sergeant Rock]

I can't help either. I own Boult and Britten. But I am a fan of Baker so the Barbirolli recording is probably in my future.

The sound quality of the Barbirolli recording is okay but only okay. Mark Elder's Gerontius on Hallé label is probably the best Gerontius with high sound quality but I haven't heard it yet.

Another version with reputedly excellent sound is Hickox on Chandos.

Sarge

[Scarpia]

I can't help either. I own Boult and Britten. But I am a fan of Baker so the Barbirolli recording is probably in my future.


Another version with reputedly excellent sound is Hickox on Chandos.

Sarge

Hickox is on the radar, certainly.  Anyone have experience with the LSO live recording with Colin Davis?

Also, what of Elgar's 3rd, again, there's Hickox.

[knight66]

I love the Barbirolli Gerontius and it can be had for the price of a bottle of wine. Even if the sound is a little constricted, it is worth it for the performance and Baker has never been bettered as the Angel. The chorus is well drilled and the sound is quite forward, no blurring from a recessed sound picture.

However, with Elder you would be in for a treat. Here is a link to my review.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10121.msg254182.html#msg254182

Buy both!

Mike

[Scarpia]

I love the Barbirolli Gerontius and it can be had for the price of a bottle of wine. Even if the sound is a little constricted, it is worth it for the performance and Baker has never been bettered as the Angel. The chorus is well drilled and the sound is quite forward, no blurring from a recessed sound picture.

However, with Elder you would be in for a treat. Here is a link to my review.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10121.msg254182.html#msg254182

Buy both!

Mike

A bottle of wine?  Not a well defined definition of cost.  But I think I will start with the Barbirolli and go from there.

[Sergeant Rock]

Buy both!

Okay, okay...I will    They're both in stock at JPC and the price of the Elder has been reduced to €17.99...nice.

Sarge

[knight66]

I was thinking of a supermarket basic bottle. Amazon UK are selling the Gerontius with The Music Makers for £6.93.

BTW, I have that wonderful Barbirolli English String Music disc, perfection and therefore very satisfying.

Mike

[71 dB]

Another version with reputedly excellent sound is Hickox on Chandos.

Sarge

I have these Hickox releases:

- The Light of Life
- Caractacus/Severn Suite

Both are very good imo.

[Scarpia]

I was thinking of a supermarket basic bottle. Amazon UK are selling the Gerontius with The Music Makers for £6.93.

BTW, I have that wonderful Barbirolli English String Music disc, perfection and therefore very satisfying.

Mike

Ok, have the Barbirolli on order.  Put off any others until I determine if I can stand the piece at all.

[DavidRoss]

Ok, have the Barbirolli on order.  Put off any others until I determine if I can stand the piece at all.

I keep trying.   

[knight66]

Ok, have the Barbirolli on order.  Put off any others until I determine if I can stand the piece at all.

I will be interested to read what you think. It does tend to move people or bring them out in hives.

My very first choral performance was in Gerontius with Alexander Gibson, Robert Tear and Alfreda Hodgson. That was a London Prom.

Despite all the singing and the soloists and the excitement of the occasion, it was Gibson's way with the two preludes that really moved me. He was very much a hit or miss conductor, that night was one of his best.

Mike

[drogulus]

     The Barbirolli was remastered in the '90s. These are both the remastered version, and I find the sound is good for the era:

     

      

         
     The GROC is coupled with Boult's recording of The Music Makers, which makes it a first choice, especially since Janet Baker sings in this one, too. The picture-in-picture on the GROC cover shows the LP, I think. The CD box with that cover is the original digital master which you should avoid.

[kishnevi]

I have both the Barbirolli (in the GROC incarnation) and the Elder. Overall, I prefer the Elder because of the modern sound; musicality ends up being roughly even.   I just noticed one oddity: Elder's version, going by the timings on the back of the CD covers, is roughly 10 minutes longer. (More precisely, his Part I is 11 1/2 minutes longer, while his Part II is 1 1/2-2 minutes shorter.)  And BTW, Barbirolli's orchestra was also the Halle.

[Sergeant Rock]

     
      

Thanks for the info. I bought the non-GROC. Three reasons: it was in stock at JPC (GROC wasn't); it's cheaper; and I already have the Boult/Baker/Music Makers (it was included in the EMI choral box). Both Elder and Barbirolli arrived today. Sarge is a happy camper.

[karlhenning]

All is now gas & gaiters!

[Scarpia]

Thanks for the info. I bought the non-GROC. Three reasons: it was in stock at JPC (GROC wasn't); it's cheaper; and I already have the Boult/Baker/Music Makers (it was included in the EMI choral box). Both Elder and Barbirolli arrived today. Sarge is a happy camper.

I've put off this purchase due to version uncertainty.  What is the remastering date for the non-GROC version that you have?  (I'm wondering if it is the same as the GROC or the same as the original issue.)

[Sergeant Rock]

I've put off this purchase due to version uncertainty.  What is the remastering date for the non-GROC version that you have?  (I'm wondering if it is the same as the GROC or the same as the original issue.)

My non-GROC version says, "Newly digitally remastered at Abbey Road Studios, 1999."

Sarge

[Scarpia]

My non-GROC version says, "Newly digitally remastered at Abbey Road Studios, 1999."

Sarge

I see, that makes things complicated.  After poking around the EMI web site I discovered that this information is there of you know where to look (under "track listings").  The GROC is a 2007 remaster, the one you have is 1999, and the original box is 1989.  My experience is any EMI master before 1990 is far from optimum, but I don't imagine there is an enormous difference between 1999 and 2007.

[knight66]

The Tate Elgar Symphonies have arrived. I am glad that Sarge convinced me of the value of Tate's approach. The second is now restored to me. I am puzzled at the considerable added timing Tate conjours; as it does not feel one moment overlong. He allows the music to breath as against Solti's driven reading. Tate's journey is much more to my liking and having just listened to it, I am about to replay it.

At some point I will get to Symphony Number 1, but no urgency.

Mike

[karlhenning]

Dig it!