CD Review on Saturday 7 April 2012 - BAL is JS Bach

[Jared]

Ciaran... that's the post of the week (probably month) without any shadow of a doubt... thanks SO much for talking the time to put that together, for such a small audience; like Sean, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading it...

... I only wish I had the literary skill to compose such a piece... fabulous.

and as far as I can remember, yes the veil was torn 'in twain' from the top to the bottom, with no left or right mentioned... ;-)

[Diapason]

I'd also like to add my thanks to Ciaran for that. Great stuff!

You know, I've never once listened to BAL, but having read a few reports about it, it always seems...odd. Not mentioning previous top recommendations seems perverse to me, and spending so much time on English traditional versions at the expense of, for example, McCreesh just doesn't make sense to me. I really must try to catch an episode dealing with something I know well sometime.

[Jared]

Not mentioning previous top recommendations seems perverse to me, and spending so much time on English traditional versions at the expense of, for example, McCreesh just doesn't make sense to me.

quite right Simon... being a self-confessed McCreesh fanboy, I hold the view that he's the victim of snobbery... the old guard don't like his lightning tempos...

[fergus]

I'd also like to add my thanks to Ciaran for that. Great stuff!

You know, I've never once listened to BAL, but having read a few reports about it, it always seems...odd. Not mentioning previous top recommendations seems perverse to me, and spending so much time on English traditional versions at the expense of, for example, McCreesh just doesn't make sense to me. I really must try to catch an episode dealing with something I know well sometime.

In all honesty I would not go out of your way to listen to it Simon. I did listen in on a semi regular basis long ago but I gave it up long hence. I must admit that the format is an interesting one though.

[Seán]

I'd also like to add my thanks to Ciaran for that. Great stuff!

You know, I've never once listened to BAL, but having read a few reports about it, it always seems...odd. Not mentioning previous top recommendations seems perverse to me, and spending so much time on English traditional versions at the expense of, for example, McCreesh just doesn't make sense to me. I really must try to catch an episode dealing with something I know well sometime.

In all honesty I would not go out of your way to listen to it Simon. I did listen in on a semi regular basis long ago but I gave it up long hence. I must admit that the format is an interesting one though.

I listen to the entire CD Review programme every week and I really enjoy it. Sometimes I even record a BAL broadcast too, like last Saturday's for example.

[Jared]

One in four of the BALs are always given a two side potted version in the BBC Music Mag... this month was Schumann Symph No.1, and the next month is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos... they always have a 3rd side entitled 'Where to next'? which gives the listened choices of works they might enjoy, of a similar style... I always enjoy this section of the magazine.

[bombasticDarren]

Not mentioning previous top recommendations seems perverse to me, and spending so much time on English traditional versions at the expense of, for example, McCreesh just doesn't make sense to me.

quite right Simon... being a self-confessed McCreesh fanboy, I hold the view that he's the victim of snobbery... the old guard don't like his lightning tempos...

All may not be lost for McCreesh fans! After a bit of research I can confirm that BaL has recommended your man in the following recordings (since 2000):-



I am quite a fan of Building a Library, and will often relisten to particularly enlightening episodes. That said; it can be nigglingly frustrating when Mr or Ms Reviewer doesn't single out for praise the recordings which I hold dear...

...if the Mackerras SCO recording of the Jupiter symphony isn't recommended next week, someone at the BBC will pay! ;-)

[Jared]

thanks for that, Darren... where's his Haydn Creation (Gramophone disk of the year 2008) I want to know.. ;-)

[bombasticDarren]

thanks for that, Darren... where's his Haydn Creation (Gramophone disk of the year 2008) I want to know.. ;-)

I seem to remember Gramophone's Essential Collection feature recommending Karajan strongly in that work; but this was before McCreesh's reading appeared...

[fergus]

...if the Mackerras SCO recording of the Jupiter symphony isn't recommended next week, someone at the BBC will pay! ;-)

Good for you Darren....you tell 'em!!!