Best (and Worst) "Bolero"?
Michael Smith
so a 'Best' recording is out of the question.
Still, the Dutoit is pretty serviceable, although I have to say
it's not a work of which I would particularly want more than one
version.
Michael
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stations in Toronto. This has got to be one of the very best performances
I've ever heard - very exciting and dynamic. Unfortunately, I don't have
any other information on this performance.
Regards,
Wong
=======================
Feuillade <feui...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000624203817...@ng-da1.aol.com...
> This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
>
> What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of Ravel's
> "Bolero," and why?
>
> Are there any really interesting historical recordings that one should out
for
> (historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
>
>
> Tom Moran
>
> http://members.aol.com/Feuillade/TomMoran.index.html
>
> My theater reviews can be read at:
> http://www.eclipsemagazine.com
> (Latest reviews: "The Wild Party" and "The Music Man"
> Upcoming: "Uncle Vanya" and "Macbeth")
Feuillade
Ehrlich606
(Feuillade) writes:
>
>This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
>
>What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of Ravel's
>"Bolero," and why?
>
>Are there any really interesting historical recordings that one should out
>for
>(historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
>
There are historically interesting recordings by Copolla, Ravel, Koussevitzky
(twice), Mengelberg. But, given the requirements of this piece, the only one I
would recommend would be the Koussevitzky post WW2 version which has not been
CD'd yet, as far as I know.
The question it seems to me that you have to ask about this piece is: what are
the requirements? I think it is clear that you need a hypnotic approach, which
means slow. Berstein and Munch, as I recall, are both too fast and not steady
enough.
Second, you would like there to be some stunning sonics, especially towards the
end. Martinon with Chicago, and Solti with Chicago, both use the Chicago brass
to create a massive taffy pull in the closing pages (M better than S, although
both are rather fast)
A completely different approach was taken by Karajan, who emphasized the moment
after the trombone solo where the massed strings come in with the tune
accompanied by the snare drum. This is quite a thrill. The downside of this
version is that typical for HvK the brass is not given its head in the closing
pages, but is homogenized with the strings. NOTE: this refers to the 1960's
version on DG. The later EMI is good, the later DG is not so good.
Most others fall between these limits, that is, are mediocre. Any of these
could quality as "worst".
An interesting version by Sinopoli tries a fresh approach emphasizing different
instrumental lines, and, while interesting is not very successful.
Therefore, I would say that the best versions of Bolero are:
Koussevitzky, BSO, RCA -- not on CD, I don't think
Martinon, CSO, RCA -- not on CD, I don't think
Karajan, BPO, DG -- don't know
John H
>This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
>
>What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of Ravel's
>"Bolero," and why?
>
>Are there any really interesting historical recordings that one should out for
>(historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
>
>
>Tom Moran
>
I've always had a fondness for my first Bolero, which was also my
first Pictures At An Exhibition -- Von Karajan's early 70s recording,
reissued in the DG Originals series. It has a certain barbaric
splendour unusual in a Fluffy recording.
John Harkness
Eric Li
Mengelberg" box set (EMI Toshiba TOCE-8191-99). It was recorded on May 31 1930.
www wrote:
> Many years ago, I heard Mengelberg conducting Bolero from one of the radio
> stations in Toronto. This has got to be one of the very best performances
> I've ever heard - very exciting and dynamic. Unfortunately, I don't have
> any other information on this performance.
>
> Regards,
>
> Wong
> =======================
> Feuillade <feui...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20000624203817...@ng-da1.aol.com...
> > This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
> >
> > What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of Ravel's
> > "Bolero," and why?
> >
> > Are there any really interesting historical recordings that one should out
> for
> > (historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
> >
> >
> > Tom Moran
> >
Victor Chen
the end, as I recall.
-Victor
Heck
X-reated ,as is much of LB/NYPO from that period. Not
available on CD, I believe, the later Paris one is
released, but not in the same league.
Martinon, and Solti/CSO are very strong - esp Martinon -
but i don't think it's available - Iwas hoping RCA would
put it on the recent Ravel/Martinon disc.
* Sent from AltaVista http://www.altavista.com Where you can also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and Shopping. Smart is Beautiful
David I.
It was a wonderful performance, with crack wind and brass
soloist
Matthew B. Tepper
remember, I'm one of the Toscanini fans. The tempo just sagged in
parts, and the trombone messed up big-time.
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
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Soyara
feui...@aol.com (Feuillade) wrote:
> This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
>
> What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of
Ravel's
> "Bolero," and why?
>
<tounge firmly in cheek> In my opinion, *any* recording of "Bolero" is
a bad recording.
--
Greg Hlatky
www.borzoi.net/soyara
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
wetmorer
ever, and there is rhythmic flair and sophistication to it
like no other. I consider it one of the great recording of
the century, and in a class all it's own...
Heck
Bolero isn't that easy - some of the solos are treacherous.
Standard rep, but treacherous nonetheless.
I heard a live BSO broadcast once, not that long ago - late
80s, early 90s - where the bassoon player shat all over it,
f'ed up the Dbs beyond recognition.
An earlier BSO one from 70s, was famous for the trombone
just obliterating the solo - horrendous.
With live performance, anything can happen.
Russell W. Miller
news:0304c290...@usw-ex0109-069.remarq.com...
> Leibowitz owns the piece IMO. Funkiest, sexiest trombone
> ever,
Played by Vinko Globokar, who studied both composition and conducting with
Leibowitz.
JRsnfld
closely to this piece with anticipation for each new color and each soloist's
take on the theme. Very stylish. If memory serves correctly, Manuel Rosenthal's
performance has similar virtues.
--Jeff
Ehrlich606
>yes the karajan is on Galleria (is that right?), the cheap dgg label. i
>bought it for the 2nd movement of La Mer. Exquisite performance.
>
That is correct. BTW, I listened to the Bolero again just to see. Still has
the magic. The rest of the CD is also exquisite.
thebarnman
"Ehrlich606" <ehrli...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000624205924...@nso-fu.aol.com...
>
> >
> >This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
> >
> >What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of
Ravel's
> >"Bolero," and why?
> >
out
> >for
> >(historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
> >
>
>
yes the karajan is on Galleria (is that right?), the cheap dgg label. i
Owen Hartnett
<mynewsg...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Ehrlich606" <ehrli...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20000624205924...@nso-fu.aol.com...
> > In article <20000624203817...@ng-da1.aol.com>,
> feui...@aol.com
> > (Feuillade) writes:
> >
> > >
> > >This may seem a trite question, but I'll ask it anyway.
> > >
> > >What in your opinion is the best (and also the worst) recording of
> Ravel's
> > >"Bolero," and why?
> > >
> > >Are there any really interesting historical recordings that one should
> out
> > >for
> > >(historical being defined as, let's say, pre-1960).
I haven't heard too many recordings of this work, but I still gives thumbs
up to the Simon Rattle/Birmingham performance on an EMI CD. It has superb
sonics and it is quite magical, IMHO. I believe that this recording has
been issued on a cheap budget (EMI Red line) CD with an okay Daphnis. Has
anyone else heard this recording? I'm just curious as to how it compares.
I would find it hard to improve on.
-owen
vaneyes
<<yes the karajan is on Galleria (is that right?), the cheap dgg label.
i bought it for the 2nd movement of La Mer. Exquisite performance.>>
Also on the budget DG "100 Masterpieces" series.
Regards
Baldric
>Leibowitz owns the piece IMO. Funkiest, sexiest trombone
>like no other. I consider it one of the great recording of
>the century, and in a class all it's own...
>
>
also find related Web Pages, Images, Audios, Videos, News, and
Shopping. Smart is Beautiful
>
>
I'm with Randall on this one!
Baldric