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Discussion: Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, A Midsummer Night's Dream - Chen/RPO/Glover

Posts: 19
Page: prev 1 2

Post by seth March 30, 2006 (11 of 19)
flyingdutchman said:

Previn's I believe has the spoken dialogue, but I'd have to pull it out to listen. The Ozawa has the spoken dialogue. BTW, it has been done more often than people think.

My question, was if it has all of it. I assume it does, but if cuts were made to keep it on a single LP, I wouldn't be surprised. In general, I'm skeptical about any recording that claims to be the complete version since so many make this claim but are missing stuff.

Post by flyingdutchman March 30, 2006 (12 of 19)
seth said:

My question, was if it has all of it. I assume it does, but if cuts were made to keep it on a single LP, I wouldn't be surprised. In general, I'm skeptical about any recording that claims to be the complete version since so many make this claim but are missing stuff.

And my answer was that it does have all of the incidental music. It, along with the Ozawa and Klemperer are complete.

Here's the listing for Previn:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005UUOI/104-8945075-1958360?v=glance&n=5174

Post by akiralx March 31, 2006 (13 of 19)
seth said:

There are three performing versions:

1. Mendelssohn's *Complete* Incidental Music to "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Few people have heard this version, let alone are aware of it. It's nearly 60 minutes long, containing a significant amount of Shakespeare's dialogue, both sung and spoken. Because of this, when performed, it's typically done as a semi-staged production. Some of the most famous music, like the Scherzo and Wedding March, are a bit different than people are used to since there are transitions to, and interjections of Shakespeare's text. (Example: Previn/EMI -- I haven't actually heard this, so I don't know if all the spoken dialogue is included)

2. Mendelssohn took the big orchestral chunks and created an orchestral suite before there was such a thing. It includes: Overture (composed years earlier), Scherzo, Nocturne, Intermezzo and Wedding March. This is the most widely performed and recorded version. (Example: Szell/Sony)

3. I don't know if Mendelssohn did this, but there is performing version which takes the 'suitized' music (mentioned above), and combines it with some of the choral music from the Complete Incidental version. This version is often wrongfully called the complete version. (Example: Kubelik/DG)

Finally, some people do versions 1 & 3 using German instead of the original English.

I'm going to have to write a review of the Szell disc now, as it is some very, very fine Mendelssohn.

Yes, of the complete/nearly complete versions, I've heard Abbado (Sony) and Ozawa (DG) - and have a definite preference for the latter, beautifully played and with excellent dialogue spoken by Judi Dench. Kenneth Branagh for Abbado on Sony is not so good.

I think Kubelik's shorter DG recording *is* in German, unless my memory is playing me false...

Post by ruxtonvet October 1, 2013 (14 of 19)
There is a decided digital edge to this SACD. It is so bad that I would not buy this SACD. This is a 1995 digital recording. No reason to make a SACD out of it - just an unlistenable CD would have been fine. Sonically I would give this 2 stars.

Post by hiredfox October 1, 2013 (15 of 19)
ruxtonvet said:

There is a decided digital edge to this SACD. It is so bad that I would not buy this SACD. This is a 1995 digital recording. No reason to make a SACD out of it - just an unlistenable CD would have been fine. Sonically I would give this 2 stars.

You must be the only forum user who didn't know about Membran. Everyone buys one to find out the hard way, unfortunately.

Post by samayoeruorandajin October 1, 2013 (16 of 19)
Some are good. The Handley Holst is one I would like to have and haven't been able to find.

Post by Lute October 1, 2013 (17 of 19)
samayoeruorandajin said:

Some are good.

Agreed! To be sure, some are better than others. The important point is that Membran SACDs are from early digital sources. As long as one is aware of that, I don't see any problem with giving them or Capriccio's SACDs a chance. Many are well recorded (for their time) and offer wonderful performances with a Mch mix at super bargain prices.

Post by ruxtonvet October 2, 2013 (18 of 19)
The insert mentions that the "extra clarity" of the recording is due to the 48 microphones that are used in the recording process. Enough said.

Post by samayoeruorandajin October 2, 2013 (19 of 19)
ruxtonvet said:

The insert mentions that the "extra clarity" of the recording is due to the 48 microphones that are used in the recording process. Enough said.

No, that isn' t enough said.

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