tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post302663931869812599..comments2024-03-26T07:58:59.761+00:00Comments on I'll think of something later: In the midst of lifeDavidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-58238731961868856862009-12-21T20:22:28.541+00:002009-12-21T20:22:28.541+00:00Thanks for that, Will, exactly the sort of comment...Thanks for that, Will, exactly the sort of comment that leads one on. I'll consult my Dorati recording imminently.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-55535633631929303802009-12-21T19:47:10.343+00:002009-12-21T19:47:10.343+00:00Another Dies Irae, albeit arguably a less signifi...Another Dies Irae, albeit arguably a less significant one than the others you mention, occurs in the Brazilian Impressions of Ottorino Respighi. <br /><br />The second movement was inspired by a visit Respighi made to the Instituto Butantan in Sao Paolo which has a specialty researching venomous animals and developing antidotes; it houses an enormous population of poisonous snakes. Resphigi remembers the visit in eerie music depicting the slithering, rattling creatures while the Latin chant appears as a descant for high strings--one of his tours de force of orchestration.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14279473113628377106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-8645149833616410492009-12-21T10:27:16.101+00:002009-12-21T10:27:16.101+00:00Do you know Sir Charles' Shostakovich _Five_? ...Do you know Sir Charles' Shostakovich _Five_? <br /><br />These may indeed have been brushed-up 78 Rachmaninoff, but I am not absolutely certain. <br /><br />This coming Saturday's _CD_ _Review_ seems as if it will be interesting. Hopefully Dr. Vickers will bring forward one or more first-rate Handel oratorio recordings which I have missed since, for me, there have not been too many such this year. <br /><br />J. V.JVaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468133975019785693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-2937354015494594692009-12-20T22:41:49.523+00:002009-12-20T22:41:49.523+00:00Ah - I wasn't aware there was a Mackerras Symp...Ah - I wasn't aware there was a Mackerras Symphonie fantastique; those RPO recordings often slipped under the radar.<br /><br />If I'm not mistaken, weren't the Rach-as-pianist recordings brushed-up versions of his 78s, rather than the piano rolls? I have the as-new set to hand, must give them a listen.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-49845799807482230192009-12-20T18:10:51.876+00:002009-12-20T18:10:51.876+00:00Sir Charles of course, with the RPO, paired with a...Sir Charles of course, with the RPO, paired with a frequent coupling, the _Roman_ _Carnival_! <br /><br />Again _MOST_-interesting re Rachmaninoff the Maestro! As for Rachmaninoff the virtuoso pianist, I heard once that he felt there was someone who played his _Second_ _Piano_ _Concerto_ better than he, though I forget who. I have also heard it said that he did not want that work over-sentimentalized, though that music seems to have a good deal of "schmaltz" built in. Though he grew tired of his famous "C-Sharp-Minor Prelude," it was good to hear him play it, in full modern stereo, on _CD_ _Review_ a few weeks or so ago, though hope what we were given indeed accurately reflected how he played it on that occasion. I only know the basics of piano rolls, but cannot how quickly the pedal is pressed reflect tempi to the extent that we do not know whether or not we are hearing them as they were originally played? <br /><br />J. V.JVaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468133975019785693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-53307858661682258792009-12-20T12:10:56.908+00:002009-12-20T12:10:56.908+00:00Erm - no, I can't guess, unless you be a Sir C...Erm - no, I can't guess, unless you be a Sir Col fan.<br /><br />Rachmaninov was one of the greatest conductors ever, as was quickly accepted in Moscow in the early 1900s. Alas, the hicks at RCA didn't realise the value of what they had, and a proposal to record the Symphonic Dances was rejected as not likely to sell. So all we have are the Third Symphony - unsurpassed still - the Isle of the Dead (with cuts) and the Vocalise.<br /><br />At least there's nine CDs worth of Rach the pianist, again the greatest ever, possibly.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14506881804082382739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1248503935075362425.post-44289994375699790982009-12-20T11:45:52.957+00:002009-12-20T11:45:52.957+00:00I was on my way to post my latest comment about mu...I was on my way to post my latest comment about musicals, etc., and found this! I did not know that we had any examples of Rachmaninoff as a conductor, nor whether or not he even did that. <br /><br />Thank you _VERY_ much for your _FASCINATING_ comments, helped by Berlioz himself, re the _Symphonie_ _Fantastique_! I think you can guess whose recording of that I have! <br /><br />J. V.JVaughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07468133975019785693noreply@blogger.com