This older message thread in the Raff Forum has been archived. Just click on the icon to email the writer direct. To see all the archived messages return to the Message archive.

Unfortunately it is not possible to add further messages to this archived threads. Instead, just start a new thread in the current Raff Forums.

Posted by	Message
FERNANDO OLIVA   19/12/2003	Subject: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR Message: I wish all Rafficionados and friends MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year with -Much Peace -Much Love -Good job better paid and... -MUch more RAFF music around the world. And Also I would give an special congratulation to our friend MARK for his great work on Joachim Raff and other neglected composers cause! Fernando.
Mark   19/12/2003	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: Many thanks, Fernando, for your good wishes which I, of course, return and echo to all Rafficionados everywhere. Have a Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2004. Mark
peter conole   06/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: Fernando Excuse me for being late. I have only just discovered this forum for Rafficionados. Merry Xmas and a very happy year 2004 for you. I have read your postings and a lot of others in the newly developed forum. It is real gift to find so many other music lovers who have a passion for Raff and the other forgotten masters of 19th century European music. About ten years ago I 'discovered' the glories of the classical-romantic tradition and I have been on a voyage of exploration ever since. Works in concerto form are what I love most - especially for piano, violin and cello. Even now, a vast number of 19th century masterpieces have not been recorded. I have collected all I can over the years. I can hardly wait until Tudor issues the CD of Raff's cello concertos. There is an old CD of both of Rubinstein's cello concertos. It was issued by Koch Schwann in 1990 (CD 311 103H1). Now deleted, I fear. As you know, the Marco Polo recording of his violin concerto and Don Quixote op.87 is also unavailable. regards Peter Conole
John Boyer   06/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: The Koch/Schwann of the Rubinstein Concertos was only recently deleted...about a year ago. But the Violin Concerto on Marco Polo was reissued on Naxos. It needs a better recording, though. The violin is way too loud, another example of the "Attack of the 50 Foot Soloist" School of Recording that ruins 8 out of 10 concerto recordings for me.
Mark   07/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: On the question of the Rubinstein Violin Concerto recording, wasn't this one of the first Marco Polo releases? I certainly owned it first on LP. Secondly, isn't the soloist Klaus Heymann's wife? Maybe he was happy with the, shall we say, forward balance! Interestingly, and whilst we are chewing over Rubinstein's fat, I see that MDG are bringing out another CD using the Wuppertal Orchestra. This features the Ocean Symphony, the Triumphal Overture op.43, the Serenade Russe No.1, the Valse Caprice and the Ride to Calvary. I can't say that I'm familiar with any of the fillers, the last three of which I suspect are piano pieces, but I assume that to accomodate them the Ocean will be in the original four movement form.
Peter Conole   07/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: I agree. Have got a mountain of 19th century violin concertos and the 'Paganini syndrome' is common in recordings. That is, " I am the king and the orchestra folk are merely my household servants". However, it is not always the case. I thought the Tudor recording of the master's (Raff) concertos was very nicely balanced. Same goes for others. Would be interested in your view of Albert Dietrich's violin concerto in D Minor, op.30 (Koch Schwann Cd 311 070H1). Same decade as Raff's and another favourite of mine. It is very annoying to know that scores of fine (even great) violin concertos by masters of Raff's era remain unrecorded. Am also really angry about the failure of CD companies to take on board the works of some early romantic masters. In my opinion, the neglect of Ferdinand David's concertos is a scandal. A couple are 1st rate. I am sure you could add a lot more to the musical 'hall of shame' neglected list.
peter conole   07/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: Lines have been crossed here. No matter. I will get hold of MDG's and the Wuppertal stalwart's Rubinstein recording though the heavens fall. Four movements will be better than the water-logged Marco Polo recording of the 'Ocean Symphony'. Mind you, any high ground in a flood will do. I do not think the symphony (or Rubinstein's violin concerto) were recorded before Marco Polo discovered him. On the same subject - and it is related to the master (Raff) - has anyone bothered to give Rubinstein's piano concerto's a careful hearing? Not a dud among them. The last couple seem to get the most plaudits, but I am very fond of no.1. It was composed when Rubinstein was about 20 or 21. The last movement has a spectacular, rip-roaring virtuoso finale that really had this little black duck jumping out of his chair. I find it hard to believe that Raff was not influenced by Rubinstein's style and approach re works for piano and orchestra. Can anyone enlighten me on the subject, one way or another?
John Boyer   11/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: The Ocean Symphony was first record for Vox/Candide by Richard Kapp in the early 1970s. It contained six of the seven movements, dropping the original slow movement. Another LP appeared around 1982, this time from Melodiya. The best way to hear the work is in the original version, and with a programmable CD player it's easy enough to program the four original movements in their correct order, leaving out the supplements.
peter conole   14/3/2004	RE: MERRY X-MAS, ANOTHER YEAR IP: Logged Message: Thanks for the advice on an alternative listening method for the 'Ocean Symphony'. Am going to try that one out. I hate to say it , but the earlier versions of the symphony will probably be out of my reach forever. Was happy to learn Rubinstein had scored earlier breakthroughs though. Best of all, if Mark is correct, the Wuppertal orchestra and MDG are about to do the right thing by us. I respect the orchestra and label for their Draeseke rescue mission. regards Peter regards Peter