Scheherazade, by Rimsky-Korsakov:
A fine performance of the full work by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under the LSO’s principal conductor, Valery Gergiev.
More on the background of the piece here.
Classical Music
Music For The Day
Two very different approaches to the same piece of music today – Keyboard Concerto no. 7 in G Minor, BWV 1058, by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Firstly in a recording with Harpsichord solo, performed by Trevor Pinnock with the English Concert Orchestra (second movement only):
And secondly, as interpreted by Glenn Gould on the piano in a performance with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Golschmann (full performance):
My preference lies with the latter recording, perhaps unsurprisingly given the fact that I am on record as considering Gould to be my favourite pianist and best interpreter of Bach. I am not one to stubbornly insist that the modern piano is an inappropriate instrument for the performance of Bach, believing (as did Gould himself) that the composer was always looking to test and push the boundaries of what was possible, and would have embraced the modern concert grand piano had it been available in his time.
And while I enjoy the fruits of the period instrument movement to a point, I firmly believe that the evolution in the modern symphony orchestra, as with individual instruments, is not something that need be shied away from or apologised for. The shortcomings of “historically informed performance” are set out very well in this essay from the Arts Journal.
However, setting my preference aside, there is a wonderful musicality to the harpsichord performance, and pleasure to be had in listening to both with an open and receptive ear.
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Music For The Day
Piano Quartet, Op. 47, by Robert Schumann:
Performed by the Juilliard Quartet with Glenn Gould at the piano. The contrast between the brooding, somewhat affected opening and the following allegro ma non troppo is wonderfully done.
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Music For The Day
More Brahms, and more Maurizio Pollini at the keyboard. Stick with it, there are rewards to be had. An older recording today, this time of Brahms’ somewhat underrated Second Piano Concerto.
Featuring the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the late Claudio Abbado.
There is some truly fine Brahms playing going on here. Very fine indeed.
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The Storm Cone
A supplemental Music For The Day suggestion: “Look, The Storm Cone” from Act I of Benjamin Britten’s 1945 masterpiece, the opera Peter Grimes.
This music seems particularly apt given the severe weather which continues to batter much of the United Kingdom this week, leading to the first “red warning” of the winter from the Met Office.
As the villagers proclaim at the climax: O tide that waits for no man – spare our coasts!
All Now the flood tide And the sea-horses Will gallop over The eroded coast Flooding, flooding Our seasonal fears. Look! The storm cone The wind veers. A high tide coming Will eat the land A tide no breakwaters can withstand. Fasten your boats. The springtide’s here With a gale behind. Chorus Is there much to fear? Ned Only for the goods you’re rich in: It won’t drown your conscience, it might flood your kitchen. Boles God has his ways which are not ours: His high tide swallows up the shores. Repent! Ned And keep your wife upstairs. Omnes O Tide that waits for no man Spare our coasts!
Those within traveling distance of London may want to check out the English National Opera’s production of Peter Grimes, running until the 27th February.
Semi-Partisan Politics 