Sometimes
I wonder at the sense displayed by the
record industry. We have them bleating
all the time about poor sales and how
difficult it is to sell product with
the high level of costs and diminishing
returns plus of course the effect of
pirating on the market. We see them
sitting on a relative goldmine of back
catalogue which many collectors like
myself would pay good money for, and
yet doing nothing about it, except one
or two enlightened companies – e.g.
Universal with their recent boxed sets
of well respected artists of the earlier
era e.g, Curzon, van Beinum, Markevitch
and Fricsay. I hope the sales of these
superb boxes will persuade them to issue
more of these.
Still,
off my soapbox and on to the current
issue – three popular string serenades,
well played, conducted and recorded
at premium price by relatively unknown
artists. This is the sort of disc that
EMI would issue on their "Debut"
label at budget price. With the full
price level of this release, even taking
into account the respected label of
Telarc, notable for their superb recording
quality, I fail to see how more than
only small sales will be achieved for
this disc apart maybe from in Rotterdam
where the orchestra is likely to be
better known.
Let
me say at once that these are perfectly
good performances of these works with
accurate intonation and with the playing
captured in an acoustic that more than
does justice to the players. Many people
I know buy Telarc discs for the hi-fi
aspects of their recordings. With this
release, even this significant selling
advantage is lessened, since there are
no spectacular sounds to be had from
a small chamber orchestra. What we do
have here is a perfectly good sound
quality more than adequate to give the
listener a good idea of the interpretations
and the works themselves. Almost any
other supplier could however have matched
this.
The
first work on this disc is the Holberg
Suite of Grieg, Op. 40. It harks back
to the olden days of the orchestral
suites by the Classical composers. Accordingly
we have a Prelude, Sarabande, Gavotte,
Air, and finally a Rigaudon. This pastiche
works very well and it is no wonder
that it is so popular. In this performance
the playing is first class, allowing
us to thoroughly enjoy the composer’s
inspiration.
The Dvořák
Serenade is again beautifully played
and recorded but memories of Czech performances
with Vicek, Suk and Bĕlohlávek
remaining in the forefront of my mind,
this recording has no special competitive
edge. This lovely work continues to
deliver its magic
and, played as well as this, we are
lucky to have so many good versions
available in the catalogue.
The
Elgar Serenade is also not devoid of
superb performances either, by such
conductors as Barbirolli, Boult, Handley
et. al. The present performance is perfectly
satisfactory, and those attracted by
the Telarc label will not be disappointed
by the house quality of the recording
This is
a very attractive programme, superbly
recorded, and as such, highly recommended.
John Phillips
Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra/Conrad van Alphen.
