...forthcoming from Chandos:
(https://media1.jpc.de/image/w1200/rear/0/0095115218327.jpg)
I will look forward to Jarvi's Lalo CD. The Symphony is a fine work, but the other items are usually overlooked.
Namouna is a fabulous ballet and almost completely overlooked today. When is the last time, a production has taken place? The music is quirky, rhythmic and is brilliantly offbeat.
The Le Roi d'ys Overture is a scintilating piece with a tremendous final section. It has been recorded before, but the modern Chandos recording, should make those who care about this great French composer very happy.
The Le Roi d'Ys Overture is a terrific piece - really Wagnerian in its swaggering drama. It was my introduction to Lalo and, fine composer though he is, I've never heard a piece by him which makes more impact.
The only reservation I'd have about this release would be whether the conductor is too slick. I'll be interested to hear some excerpts...
True, Järvi's need for speed sometimes doesn't serve the music.
As an example, I compared Bakels (on BIS) in the Symphony at 26:33 and Beecham (Warner) at 27:25 with Järvi at 24:58, so we'll see whether the difference is significant.
Beecham, by the way, does his usual trick of making Lalo's Symphony sound better than it (probably) is...
Both of Beecham's recordings that I know of the Lalo symphony are rather special (and my opinion of the piece is perhaps higher than most here to begin with). Interestingly, I think that in some ways Järvi is not unlike Beecham; I'm specifically referring to what he says at the beginning of this interview:
The big difference may be that Järvi's approach is, in the well-chosen words of a review I read, more "coarsely grained" (Dutch: grofkorrelig). It can really be a bit of a gimmick. Don't get me wrong, it may sometimes even be an advantage, but I rather suspect it won't be here. We'll see.
The item of interest here for me, though, is the two suites (sometimes also described as Rhapsodies) from the ballet
Namouna, the genre of music in which Lalo was truly a standout. It's not been recorded often, and should be right up Järvi's street.
Thanks, Ilja. That's both illuminating and amusing. A far cry, I may say, from the micro-managers among today's conductors who can't see the (complete) wood for (all the individual) trees. If you get my meaning...
The De Almeida Monte Carlo is my go-to fun recording. The finale bounces along in a swaggering way.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Saturday 02 December 2023, 11:04...micro-managers among today's conductors who can't see the (complete) wood for (all the individual) trees. If you get my meaning...
Alan, we'd better pray they never try Raff's 3rd then!
;D very good!
Great j-oak!
Quote from: terry martyn on Saturday 02 December 2023, 12:19The De Almeida Monte Carlo is my go-to fun recording. The finale bounces along in a swaggering way.
Me too, Terry. The Namouna music has always been my favourite work by Lalo. I think the selection of works for this new release should make for a most enjoyable experience, and I think a lively tempo won't hurt!
Lalo: Orchestral Works
Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Release Date: 19th Jan 2024
Catalogue No: CHAN20183
Label: Chandos
Length: 77 minutes
The above recording combines The 2 Suites from the beautiful ballet 'Namouna' with the Symphony and the Le Roi d'ys:Overture.
N.Jarvi continues his remarkable Chandos series, devoted to romantic composers.
If you have never given Namouna a proper listen, this is your chance, the rhythmic and off-beat melodies will have you tapping your feet with gusto.
Here is hoping Jarvi will respond to the lovliness in Namouna.
Just a quick reminder, if I may: it's always worth checking first before posting about a new release - otherwise we get an awful lot of repetition (and often confusion). Thanks.
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Thursday 30 November 2023, 08:39The Le Roi d'Ys Overture is a terrific piece - really Wagnerian in its swaggering drama. It was my introduction to Lalo and, fine composer though he is, I've never heard a piece by him which makes more impact.
Its coda is a bit too long and have too many repeated notes in the final tutti, bordering on comic, though.
Quote from: tuatara442442 on Thursday 18 January 2024, 01:15Quote from: Mark Thomas on Thursday 30 November 2023, 08:39The Le Roi d'Ys Overture is a terrific piece - really Wagnerian in its swaggering drama. It was my introduction to Lalo and, fine composer though he is, I've never heard a piece by him which makes more impact.
Its coda is a bit too long and have too many repeated notes in the final tutti, bordering on comic, though.
I beg to differ. The repeated notes and the odd rhythms make the coda to the Overture very exciting. It is far from comic. It is and has been a favorite Overture in its overall impact on me for over 60 years.
I'm sure this release will prove highly satisfactory, but wait: don't forget Beecham! If it's the Symphony you're after, I can't imagine a more highly charged and convincing performance than his classic recording made in Paris in December 1959. The sound is remarkably clear for its time and the sheer power that Beecham elicits from the orchestra is quite stunning. What a great conductor he was! He makes Lalo's compact work into a veritable pocket-battleship of a symphony. Try it out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47w_plUKSZo&t=129s (but it sounds even better over a decent hi-fi).
Alan, thank you for bringing back delightful memories of the great Sir Thomas. I purchased the Lalo Symphony in a small record shop opposite Columbia University in New York City in 1969.
After listening to Jarvi in this Symphony, Beecham wins hand down.
Your thoughts on Beecham's disc mate for the Lalo, the Franck Symphony. I truly love what Beecham does with Franck's great work.
It doesn't have to be a competition, of course. The comparison is interesting, however, because in some ways Beecham and Järvi are quite similar conductors, and Lalo's work suits their temperament. Both recordings are very good. Beecham is perhaps just a tad too quick in the opening movement, and Järvi in both middle movements. But in general approach they're quite similar, despite the 65-year gap between them. Remarkably, the older recording sounds quite a bit better than the (untypically) rather dry sonics in Järvi's Chandos version.
Having said all that, my favorite is still Jean-Pierre Haeck with the Liège Philharmonic on Cypres, a recording which seems a bit "sharper", and effectively bringing out the lightness and fleet-footedness of Lalo's music.
Thanks, Ilja. I'll investigate Haeck. A timely reminder to consider lesser-known conductors who understand the idiom...
Thanks to Ilja I have now acquired the recording of Lalo's Symphony conducted by Jean-Pierre Haeck on Cyprès - and I must agree that it is a superlative performance. The sound is more up-to-date than Beecham's, having been recorded in 2002, and the orchestra, the Liège Phiharmonic, prove themselves thoroughly up to the job.
This is indeed a timely reminder not to underestimate the capabilities of less well-known musicians and the labels that feature them.
This review shares some of the reservations that have been expressed about Järvi's conducting:
https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/02/lalo-orchestral-works-chandos-2/