21 April 2010

Robert Irving / New SO - Gluck -&- Gretry: Ballet Suites - Decca 1955

Christoph Gluck:  Ballet Suite no.1   (arr: Felix Mottl)
Introduction ("Don Juan") -  Air gai ~ Lento ~ Air gai  ("Iphigenie en Aulide") ~ Dance of the Blessed Spirits  ("Orfeo ed Euridice") ~ Musette  ("Armide") - Air gai  ("Iphigenie en Aulide") ~ Siciliene  ("Armide") ~ Air gai  ("Iphigenie en Aulide").    
Andre Gretry:  Ballet Suite   (arr: Constant Lambert)      
Largo - Andante ~ Gigue legere ~ Pantomime ~ Passepied ~ Largo ~ Pantomime ~ Tambourin ~ Loure ~ Air lent ~ Passepied ~ Gavotte ~ Finale.  
2 files zip FLAC  Mega Download
Geoffrey Gilbert  (flute solo)   New Symphony Orchestra of London  conducted by  Robert Irving   
Decca  LXT 5063   1959 Matrices: ARL 2519 -5NR / ARL 2520 -4NR     Recorded: 14/15 February 1955, Kingsway Hall.
Slightly re-edited  October2012   Sleeve-note >>>






8 comments:

  1. Since Geoffrey Gilbert was not yet a member of the RPO it seems unlikely (but by no means impossible) that this disc features them. Thank you for this upload - pre-'authentic' performances are very welcome!

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  2. It was a 'stab in the dark': but the repertoire seemed more of Beecham's RPO-era than any other likely 'candidate'.
    Most of my stuff is, inevitably, 'pre-authentic' (!). I was looking at some 'Oiseau-Lyre' de Froment's a few months back - Rameau (stereo) plus one of 'The Lullyists' - but need to convince myself that the performances really stand-up to scrutiny - which Irving's obviously did...

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  3. Thanks - Jerry

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  4. Wonderful music and rarest recording!

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    1. Intended adding a comment that the Gretry really was exceptionally nice music.
      Remarkably, this was almost the only of his compositions in the Gramophone catalogue of 50 years ago...

      If I wasn't so pressed-for-time (transfers can never be 'speeded-up', unfortunately) I might have added Irving's LSO 'Le Cid/'Patineurs'; the latter also arr: by Lambert..but having already uploaded a 'rare' Le Cid thought any editing-time would be better-spent on the supremely fine Paris National/Blareau 'Giselle' (Decca LXT 5378)...much the best '50s version.

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  5. Both quality-wise and musically really gorgeous.

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  6. Anonymous21 July, 2013

    These arrangementa are, nowadays, a discovery.
    And the sound is fantastic.
    Thanks a lot.

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  7. I tend to forget how 'nice' the older transfers sounded - unless they're re-edited to remove previously unheard clicks/ticks.

    Munchinger did a Gluck: 'Chaconne' c.1960 (only have the mono LXT: probably better than the SXL stereo..) which I've not played..but it might be interesting to play the Lambert-conducted 78's of 'Dido & Aeneas' (?)

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