 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2014-06-22 21:42
I just saw that the London Sinfonietta recording of Stravinsky's 'The Fairy's Kiss' with Riccardo Chailly is up (probably illicitly) on Youtube.
In 1979 the Sinfonietta played 'The Rake's Progress' with Chailly in Milan, production by David Hockney and La Scala. It was a wonderful experience, even though initially Ricardo thought he had to WHIP us to get results. Well, he was young, and he quickly changed tack.
But early on, I remember that at one point he shouted, "F*** you, horns!"
They got their own back later, though; at the end of the patch the double bass player/composer/graphic artist Barry Guy did a big thank-you drawing of Chailly which we all signed; the horns wrote, "Thank you, and f*** you too!"
We did several Stravinsky recordings with Chailly soon afterwards. We thought he was vivid, stylish and inspirational.
The 'Fairy's Kiss' record I lost track of – perhaps I gave it away – and I hadn't heard it for some 30 years. I think it's not in the catalogue any more.
It's interesting to me because it's one of the last recordings to have been made in the legendary Kingsway Hall in London, where Furtwangler recorded Tristan. The experience of recording there was very different from what it often is now: when you went into the box to hear the playback you heard something that sounded quite like...well...what you thought you'd sounded like:-)
Anyway, here it is. It's one of the few recordings on which I appear that I think is relatively OK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBscpkemviw
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C0JuzR2aWqE
Tony
Post Edited (2014-06-23 13:18)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-06-22 22:38
Some really wonderful, interpretive and delicately played moments from all. Chailly is on my short list of good, living conductors.
Still there was a moment at 9:45 where the the trumpets were let loose beyond reason.......reminiscent of the Chicago Symphony of the '80s. Chailly can do better than that!
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2014-06-22 22:50
I've always been a fan of old Kingsway Hall recordings. Boult's recordings of Vaughan Williams' The Pilgrim's Progress was there...still astonishes me as one of the great opera recordings. Such depth, warmth, and clarity (when usually one is sacrificed for the other). Also some of the Elgar oratorios (I think The Apostles and one of the Gerontius recordings...)
Does the venue still exist? And if so, is there any particular reason it's not still used for recordings?
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2014-06-22 23:06
I left off half of it by mistake. It's there now.
To answer Eric: there was always an issue with the underground trains. We often had to abort a take because of noise.
But, beyond that – and I'll find out more – the hall was sold to a group of people who weren't interested in letting it out for recording.
I think that the underground trains were too major a factor in subsequent negotiations. WE knew it was wonderful – but did THEY? And what did they care, anyway?
Money again.
Tony
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2014-06-22 23:19
Thanks Tony--
An old friend of mine had been part of one of Boult's choruses for one of those recordings and had mentioned it, but I'd long since forgotten. It's a shame, as whatever inconvenience there might have been is offset by the brilliance of the recordings. That Pilgrim recording has always made me wish a Ring Cycle had been recorded there.
It seems to me that recording technology and acoustic knowledge has progressed to the point where things are never quite done badly anymore, but taking a risk on Greatness is what hangs people up. Too bad--greatness ought to be what it's about.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2014-06-23 01:48
Fairies Kiss oldies by Graf/Houston and Reiner/CSO. ( Last saw them listed in 2006)
richard smith
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-06-23 05:22
Speaking of trains:
Karajan was rehearsing Stravinsky's Apollo at New York's Carnegie Hall when a low frequency rumble causes him to stop in mid phrase. He looks to an aide who explains that it is the city subway system. "Poor city planning," Karajan mutters.
................Paul Aviles
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