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SIR EDWARD ELGAR - The Collector's Edition ELGAR: Enigma Variations, Op. 36. FRANCK: Le Chasseur
Maudit. BOCCHERINI:
Overture in D. GRÉTRY: Zémire et Azor Ballet Suite. LISZT: Die
Loreley. BEETHOVEN: Fidelio PONCHIELLI: La Gioconda Here is a huge, super-budget price issue from EMI Classics to commemorate, in a very big way, the 150th anniversary of Sir Edward Elgar's birth (June 2, 1857). EMI recorded Elgar's works profusely with their top artists. For this compilation they have selected stereophonic recordings of major performances, many of historic interest. We have all of the symphonic and choral works as well as chamber music, instrumental and stage works, plus many relatively known pieces. Conductors include Sir John Barbirolli, Sir Adrian Boult, Vernon Handley and Sir Charles Groves. Audio throughout is excellent and it is obvious much care has gone into putting this set together. The final CD is devoted to early mono recordings with Elgar conducting his own music recorded 1926-1933 (he died February 23, 1934). We even hear him introducing his own Land of Hope and Glory for a 1931 Pathé newsreel. A 32-page booklet accompanies the set giving details of all performances, performers, and recording dates, but no texts—that would be a volume by itself. Each disk has its own plain white sleeve—this is not deluxe packaging, but it serves the purpose very well indeed—and the price is unbelievably low. In my early days of collecting I treasured a Columbia LP that contained Franck's Le Chasseur Maudit played by the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, recorded in 1951. The new Beecham CD of live performances features an electrifying performance of this work recorded live in Royal Festival Hall during a St. Cecilia's Day concert November 22, 1954. Alan Civil is credited as horn soloist, and he is spectacular in sound and virtuosity. From the same concert we have a vivid performance of Elgar's Enigma Variations, plus a rarity, Liszt's Die Loreley in the composer's arrangement for soprano and orchestra featuring Rosina Raisbeck as outstanding soloist. Raisbeck (1916-2006) began as a mezzo. At Beecham's suggestion she turned to soprano roles enjoying a wide-ranging career that included Carousel and The Sound of Music as well as major opera roles. The CD is filled out with two Beecham favorites, music of Boccherini and Grétry recorded in Usher Hall at the Edinburgh Festival August 23, 1956. Audio quality on all of these is excellent. A major release in DGG's Karajan discography is the never before issued performance of Fidelio recorded at the Vienna State Opera May 25, 1962. Karajan was producer as well as conductor, and the evening was special as it was the first time Christa Ludwig (Leonore), Walter Berry (Don Pizarro), and Gundula Janowitz (Marzelline) sang these roles. It was one of the truly great nights at the Vienna State Opera. Karajan made a commercial recording of the opera in 1971 in Berlin featuring Jon Vickers and Helga Dernesch, and two other live recordings are available. A complete libretto in German, French and English is included—as it should be for a full-price issue. This magnificent performance of La Gioconda is of odd provenance. The G.O.P. (Great Opera Performances) label states it is a live recording from "Roma, July/August 1957." And the cast is magnificent in every way: Milanov at her near-best, Di Stefano a perfect Grimaldo, Leonard Warren, Rosalind Elias and Belen Amparan of equal quality. However, there is not one touch of audience sound or applause. If what we hear is taken from live performances, Laura Caravaggio who was "in charge of production and restoration," did an amazing job of editing out audience noises and response. I imagine most listeners would wish to have the applause included. Sound quality is outstanding. There is no libretto. Admirers of Milanov and Gioconda surely will wish to own this set, if only to hear Milanov's famous velvety B-flat (4:28 into track 5, CD 1).NOTE: Several observant and knowledgeable readers have pointed out that this performance actually is the RCA commercial recording. For more infrormation on this, visit this site http://fourcranks.blogspot.com/2004/11/rcadeccas-lost-gioconda-unearthed.html R.E.B. (July 2008)
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