Cello Concerto in E minor op 85 by Edward Elgar 1. Adagio-Moderato 2. Lento-Allegro molto 3. Adagio 4. Allegro, ma non troppo Hallé Orchestra Sir John Barbirolli, Conductor
My favorite recording of that piece. And I still remember when André Navarra was demonstrating all of this when we were studying with him at the Paris Conservatory or in Siena. We all were in awe and so moved.
Without a doubt the best modern recording, albeit released in mono. Beatrice Harrison's with the composer conducting is in a different category for many reasons and because she used gut strings there were some issues requiring fingering because on could not just stop when recording straight to cutter. Navarra was a 'cellist who was also a conductor in later life, whereas Barbirolli had been an orchestral 'cellist while studying and working his way up to be the great conductor he was by the time of this recording by Mercury. It was recorded in early stereo but released in mono. In a way this is a 'dream team', with both men at their peak and the Halle still not over-refined but with muscle and grit to match Navarra's notable athleticism (he was a swimmer and boxer) and Barbirolli being somehow delicate but virile in his conducting as he extended his and the Halle's repertoire substantially. One can feel some lighthearted tension in this recording, notably where the 'cello gets half a bar ahead on a scale passage then was likely given the famous Sir John surprised look. Both men and the orchestra leader felt that it was more of a live performance and the producers (British and American) agreed. Re-takes were common in recordings then but not the 'cut and paste' which came later. The result, in my opinion, is simply the best recording of the work so far with no exaggerations and dragging out of passages. This was an autumnal work for the composer and seems to have an exploring quality about it -- somewhat akin to the quartet and quintet. So, this is Elgar in the safe but dynamic hands of musicians who knew that it would become a repertoire concerto.
My favorite recording of that piece. And I still remember when André Navarra was demonstrating all of this when we were studying with him at the Paris Conservatory or in Siena. We all were in awe and so moved.
Without a doubt the best modern recording, albeit released in mono.
Beatrice Harrison's with the composer conducting is in a different category for many reasons and because she used gut strings there were some issues requiring fingering because on could not just stop when recording straight to cutter.
Navarra was a 'cellist who was also a conductor in later life, whereas Barbirolli had been an orchestral 'cellist while studying and working his way up to be the great conductor he was by the time of this recording by Mercury. It was recorded in early stereo but released in mono.
In a way this is a 'dream team', with both men at their peak and the Halle still not over-refined but with muscle and grit to match Navarra's notable athleticism (he was a swimmer and boxer) and Barbirolli being somehow delicate but virile in his conducting as he extended his and the Halle's repertoire substantially.
One can feel some lighthearted tension in this recording, notably where the 'cello gets half a bar ahead on a scale passage then was likely given the famous Sir John surprised look. Both men and the orchestra leader felt that it was more of a live performance and the producers (British and American) agreed. Re-takes were common in recordings then but not the 'cut and paste' which came later.
The result, in my opinion, is simply the best recording of the work so far with no exaggerations and dragging out of passages. This was an autumnal work for the composer and seems to have an exploring quality about it -- somewhat akin to the quartet and quintet.
So, this is Elgar in the safe but dynamic hands of musicians who knew that it would become a repertoire concerto.
Best recording....Done!
Der einzige Cellist der hatte ein entsprechendes Sautille dafür....
Ja. Er war gottlich...