Elgar's Hillside

[Mirror Image]

If you allow MI, I gather your statements about The Apostles here.

I'm glad you are enjoying The Apostles. I have always (well, 15 years or so) found it almost annoying how much Gerontius gets attention and love (deserved, no doubt about that), while The Apostles and The Kingdom remain rather neglected.

Hopefully these Elder versions can win more people to appreciate these awesome works more.

I don't understand these works' neglect to be honest. I mean they're just as inspired and moving as Gerontius and Elder mentioned in his acceptance of the BBC Music Recording of the Year award that making this recording for The Apostles was one of the greatest experiences of his life. In this speech, he also mentioned that he'd been wanted to record Elgar for a very long time and he felt that the Halle Orchestra lost their connection with Elgar once Barbirolli passed away. God bless this conductor for bringing Elgar back to Manchester!

http://www.youtube.com/v/PMFeIBXFqys

[kishnevi]

Hopefully these Elder versions can win more people to appreciate these awesome works more.

If nothing else, the sonics of the Elder recordings must help.  My only other recordings of these works are those contained in the 30CD EMI Collector's Edition box--Ledger for Light of Life, Boult for the others (and I already had Boult's Gerontius recording before getting the box).  With the Elder recordings, I can at least understand the text being sung, which is not a given with the Boult recordings.  (The EMI box doesn't help, since it doesn't provide texts.)

[Mirror Image]

If nothing else, the sonics of the Elder recordings must help.  My only other recordings of these works are those contained in the 30CD EMI Collector's Edition box--Ledger for Light of Life, Boult for the others (and I already had Boult's Gerontius recording before getting the box).  With the Elder recordings, I can at least understand the text being sung, which is not a given with the Boult recordings.  (The EMI box doesn't help, since it doesn't provide texts.)

Yes, Elder's recordings do sound fantastic I must say and he handles these large oratorios beautifully. Such a command he has over the soloists, choruses, and orchestra. If you don't own The Apostles or The Kingdom under Elder, do not hesitate, Jeffrey.

[kishnevi]

Yes, Elder's recordings do sound fantastic I must say and he handles these large oratorios beautifully. Such a command he has over the soloists, choruses, and orchestra. If you don't own The Apostles or The Kingdom under Elder, do not hesitate, Jeffrey.

Sorry,  I wasn't clear--I have the whole series of Elder/Halle Elgar.  (Unless he's done something since The Apostles.)

[Mirror Image]

Sorry,  I wasn't clear--I have the whole series of Elder/Halle Elgar.  (Unless he's done something since The Apostles.)

Oh, well excellent! Good to hear!

[Mirror Image]

Forgot to mention that I revisited The Music Makers (Andrew Davis/Jean Rigby/BBC SO) and absolutely loved the work. The ending was especially moving. I have several other performances, but I don't see myself enjoying them as much as I did this Davis performance. Such an endearing performance which conjured up the right atmosphere and Davis provided the most opulent accompaniment for mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby.

[TheGSMoeller]

Forgot to mention that I revisited The Music Makers (Andrew Davis/Jean Rigby/BBC SO) and absolutely loved the work. The ending was especially moving. I have several other performances, but I don't see myself enjoying them as much as I did this Davis performance. Such an endearing performance which conjured up the right atmosphere and Davis provided the most opulent accompaniment for mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby.

Agreed. Great recording and performance. The Music Makers is the first Elgar piece that enticed me to explore his choral works. I love how the ending seems to gently float away, similar to Britten's War Requiem. Such an airy and contemplative moment.

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams.

[Mirror Image]

Agreed. Great recording and performance. The Music Makers is the first Elgar piece that enticed me to explore his choral works. I love how the ending seems to gently float away, similar to Britten's War Requiem. Such an airy and contemplative moment.

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams.

Agreed, absolutely exquisite.

[North Star]

Agreed. Great recording and performance. The Music Makers is the first Elgar piece that enticed me to explore his choral works. I love how the ending seems to gently float away, similar to Britten's War Requiem. Such an airy and contemplative moment.

We are the music-makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams.

+1 to all that.
I'll be continuing listening to Elder's recordings of the oratorios from Spotify until the 10th at least.

[71 dB]

I don't understand these works' neglect to be honest. I mean they're just as inspired and moving as Gerontius and Elder mentioned in his acceptance of the BBC Music Recording of the Year award that making this recording for The Apostles was one of the greatest experiences of his life. In this speech, he also mentioned that he'd been wanted to record Elgar for a very long time and he felt that the Halle Orchestra lost their connection with Elgar once Barbirolli passed away. God bless this conductor for bringing Elgar back to Manchester!

http://www.youtube.com/v/PMFeIBXFqys

I didn't know Elder's The Apostles won that. I don't care much about awards and Finnish media doesn't give a damn about british classical music awards. However, it's great it did.

I am beginning to respect & admire Sir Mark Elder as a great man.

What does "Halle Orchestra lost their connection with Elgar after Barbirolli passed away" mean? They didn't perform Elgar's works?

If nothing else, the sonics of the Elder recordings must help.  My only other recordings of these works are those contained in the 30CD EMI Collector's Edition box--Ledger for Light of Life, Boult for the others (and I already had Boult's Gerontius recording before getting the box).  With the Elder recordings, I can at least understand the text being sung, which is not a given with the Boult recordings.  (The EMI box doesn't help, since it doesn't provide texts.)

I have Boult's The Apostles and The Kingdom individual releases from 1992/1993 (as well as duplicates in the EMI box) which contain the text. The 30 CD EMI box is a joke when it comes to the booklet. 

[Mirror Image]

I didn't know Elder's The Apostles won that. I don't care much about awards and Finnish media doesn't give a damn about british classical music awards. However, it's great it did.

Despite whatever connotations go along with winning an award such as that BBC Music Award, it's still nice to know that recording won something as it damn well should have anyway IMHO. Glad to see somebody recognized this work and performance.

I am beginning to respect & admire Sir Mark Elder as a great man.

+1

What does "Halle Orchestra lost their connection with Elgar after Barbirolli passed away" mean? They didn't perform Elgar's works?

I'm not sure what happened between the gap between Barbirolli and Elder as I never have paid that much attention to this orchestra, but Elder feels strongly about Elgar's music and felt the need to bring his music to a newer generation. I applaud his efforts so far.

[Mirror Image]

+1 to all that.
I'll be continuing listening to Elder's recordings of the oratorios from Spotify until the 10th at least.

This is good to read. Look forward to your comments about The Apostles and The Kingdom. Already know your opinion of The Dream of Gerontius.

[Mirror Image]

Revisited The Kingdom again for the third time and each time I hear this work, I'm even more grateful that Elgar gave his life to music and made it his occupation. The sheer amount of happiness and fulfillment this composer gives me now is beyond reproach.

[Brian]

I'm not sure what happened between the gap between Barbirolli and Elder as I never have paid that much attention to this orchestra

Stanislaw Skrowaczewski is a pretty good thing that happened; their recorded legacy includes some nice Shostakovich.

[Mirror Image]

Stanislaw Skrowaczewski is a pretty good thing that happened; their recorded legacy includes some nice Shostakovich.

Well, I was more or less talking about their history with Elgar not any other composer, but Skrowaczewski did, indeed, perform some fine Shostakovich with the Halle.

[Mirror Image]

I listened to some of the sketches of Symphony No. 3 and wasn't particularly impressed with it. I actually stopped playing after the second movement. It sounds nothing like Elgar to my ears and I'm beginning to wonder how much tinkering did Anthony Payne actually do? I would say this is a good historical document to have in any Elgar collection, but it's far from great music IMHO. One listen to the previous symphony and you have to think "Surely Elgar would have done more with this work had he actually completed it?" This was constantly running through my mind throughout the first and second movements. I certainly never thought "This is Elgar's shining moment" or "That's fantastic!"

[Mirror Image]

Revisited Elder's The Apostles recording again last night and such a superb work and the performance is just exemplary. I need to revisit The Spirit of England, The Music Makers, and The Dream of Gerontius again. I also have been immensely enjoying the Violin Concerto so I'll probably listen to Little/A. Davis performance again which may be my preferred performance of this concerto now.

[madaboutmahler]

I listened to some of the sketches of Symphony No. 3 and wasn't particularly impressed with it. I actually stopped playing after the second movement. It sounds nothing like Elgar to my ears and I'm beginning to wonder how much tinkering did Anthony Payne actually do? I would say this is a good historical document to have in any Elgar collection, but it's far from great music IMHO. One listen to the previous symphony and you have to think "Surely Elgar would have done more with this work had he actually completed it?" This was constantly running through my mind throughout the first and second movements. I certainly never thought "This is Elgar's shining moment" or "That's fantastic!"

That's a shame, John, but fair enough. Don't you think that the second subject of the first movement shows Elgar still beautifully lyrical melodically though? I can't help but love the work, of course it's not of the calibre of the first two and isn't 100% Elgar, but I still find it to be brilliant, and am pleased we get to be treated to moments like that gorgeous second subject of the first movement.

[Mirror Image]

That's a shame, John, but fair enough. Don't you think that the second subject of the first movement shows Elgar still beautifully lyrical melodically though? I can't help but love the work, of course it's not of the calibre of the first two and isn't 100% Elgar, but I still find it to be brilliant, and am pleased we get to be treated to moments like that gorgeous second subject of the first movement.

I didn't find anything particularly compelling about any of these sketches, Daniel. As for the Davis performance, I suppose it's good, but it's hard to tell with such uninspired music. I'll leave this for the specialists. I don't plan on listening to this monstrosity again for a very long time...if even then.

[mc ukrneal]

That's a shame, John, but fair enough. Don't you think that the second subject of the first movement shows Elgar still beautifully lyrical melodically though? I can't help but love the work, of course it's not of the calibre of the first two and isn't 100% Elgar, but I still find it to be brilliant, and am pleased we get to be treated to moments like that gorgeous second subject of the first movement.

I was not a huge fan the first time around, but I have wanted to give this a re-listen and your enthusiasm helped push me to at least listen to the first movement again. So I must say, I have really enjoyed this much more this time around (was probably just in the wrong frame of mind the first time or something). I doubt I will prefer it to either of the first two symphonies, but so glad I didn't give up on the piece. So thanks for providing the motivation.

Oh and PS: That theme you were talking about is outstanding - gorgeous music.