tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post2962587635133079798..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: CDs of 2018: public gongs, private pleasuresDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-12336922610804642182019-05-15T23:08:39.614+01:002019-05-15T23:08:39.614+01:00Exactly. I gave up on what is loosely called '...Exactly. I gave up on what is loosely called 'world music' live years ago. The trouble is that some of those groups - Taraf de Haidouks and the Afro-Cuban Allstars were primary offenders - brought their own amplification systems and drove the excellent sound technicians of the two halls in question to distraction. So much better on the CDs.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-35520199925978307272019-05-15T13:05:40.316+01:002019-05-15T13:05:40.316+01:00I agree about amplification. One might otherwise s...I agree about amplification. One might otherwise stay at home and listen to a CD<br />David Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-19985475743807746822019-05-12T09:32:33.177+01:002019-05-12T09:32:33.177+01:00Sue - Berlioz would have loved it, given the theat...Sue - Berlioz would have loved it, given the theatrical dimensions to so many of his concert works (he even writes stage directions in 'L'enfance du Christ') and it must have been JEG's idea, since he loves the dramatic dimensions of concert space.<br /><br />David - I do indeed argue against amplification of any solo instrument in the Albert Hall. Piano AND violin unamplified have worked a real magic during the Proms. As Barenboim said, you shouldn't force out into the Albert Hall; bring the audience in to you. And with amplification you lose some of the natural timbres of the instrument.<br /><br />I also agree about 'winners'. And there may for instance be two outstanding discs in one category (Shibe AND Olafsson, for instance) and none in another (the orchestral seemed to me a bit so-so). As when I did Building a Library for Radio 3, the actual winner was the sop to the wider public; the main purpose of such events is to publicise classical music and the still very lively recording industry around it.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-6392171419484175272019-05-12T08:52:21.389+01:002019-05-12T08:52:21.389+01:00(1) Can you elaborate on whether to amplify piano ...(1) Can you elaborate on whether to amplify piano in the Royal Albert Hall? Your sentence seems to argue against, and then mentions the vast space<br /><br />(2) This sort of ranking - like most rankings in other fields - are probably invalid as between one candidate and the next in rank. I would say that unless there is a candidate that outshines by a clear margin the more valid judgement would be to say that the top three or five are the equal winners. But that would not be so newsworthy/exciting<br />David Damantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-1302556341169654472019-05-11T23:16:06.165+01:002019-05-11T23:16:06.165+01:00Lots here I don't know, but one I feel lucky t...Lots here I don't know, but one I feel lucky to have heard live was Tamestit in Harold en Italy. His walkabout performance (love your word choice) could have been mannered in someone less able, but with Tamestit it felt organic to the work, as if a walkabout had been an instruction in the score.Susan Scheidhttps://prufrocksdilemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com