Albert Ketèlbey - The Immortal Works (Eric Rogers)

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Composer: Albert Ketèlbey; Jenő Hubay; Benjamin Godard; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Paul Sternhold; Jules Massenet; Richard Heuberger; Erich Wolfgang Korngold; Vittorio Monti

1. In a Monastery Garden
2. Wedgwood Blue
3. In the Mystic Land of Egypt
4. Bells Across the Meadows
5. In a Chinese Temple Garden
6. Sanctuary of the Heart
7. 'Appy' Ampstead
8. The Phantom Melody
9. In a Persian Market
10. Hubay - Scène de la csárda No. 4 "Hejre Kati" in E major (arr. Sax)
11. Godard - Jocelyn, opera, Op. 100: Berceuse (arr. Sax)
12. Tchaikovsky - 6 Pieces, Op. 51: 6. Valse sentimentale (arr. Sax)
13. Sternhold - Fêtes Tzigane
14. Massenet - Thaïs, opera, Act II: Meditation (arr. Sax)
15. Heuberger - Der Opernball, opera, Act II: Im Chambre séparée (arr. Sax)
16. Korngold - Much Ado About Nothing, incidental music, Op. 11: Garden Scene
17. Tchaikovsky - 6 Romances, for voice and piano, Op. 6: 6. None but the Lonely Heart (arr. Sax)
18. Monti - Csárdás (arr. Sax)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, cond. Eric Rogers (1-9)
Sidney Sax, violin; London Festival Orchestra (10-18)
Date: 1969 (1-9), 1972 (10-18)
Label: Decca
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4447862

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Review

The original LP, with Eric Rogers and the RPO, is supplemented here by a potpourri of ‘violin favourites’ in arrangements by Sidney Sax. Sax was a fascinating character; not only was he a leading violinist/session musician in London in the 1960s he was also co-founder of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. The latter, an ad hoc group of professional musicians, features elsewhere in this box and in many fine recordings of the 1960s and 1970s. Sax conducts his arrangements under the pseudonym Josef Sakonov.

Eric Rogers, who I always associate with the Carry On films and other bits of risqué silliness, does a rather fine job with these Ketèlbey pieces. The RPO are almost Mantovani-like is their refulgence, which is not a problem in this largely mellow repertoire. Appropriately enough the choral part to In a Monastery Garden sounds like distant monks heard as if from the cloister. The gavotte Wedgwood Blue gets a most affectionate outing, and the animated In the Mystic Land of Egypt emerges with startling impact and splendour.

Ketèlbey was a terrific tunesmith and the instrumental flourishes, exotic colours and taut rhythms of these pieces are beautifully conveyed by Rogers and his band; as for the RPO chorus, they sing with tremendous feeling throughout. The recording is warm, full-bodied and without distortions, musical or otherwise. The ear-pricking tintinnabulations of Bells Across the Meadows were made for Phase 4, as were the gongs – echoes of Turandot – and the faux orientalism of In a Chinese Temple-Garden. Oh, and I do like the big-band sweep and surge that Rogers brings to these well-crafted scores.

The incipient sentimentality of Ketèlbey’s output really comes out in the rather dated Sanctuary of the Heart and The Phantom Melody, which are very different from the good humour and effervescence of 'Appy 'Ampstead. This part of the programme ends with the Polovtsian-dance-like rhythms and tramping choruses of In a Persian Market. These are all charming pieces from another, more innocent, age and Rogers gives them the open-hearted, uncomplicated performances they deserve.

Following on from those full-cream confections Sax’s playing and conducting of Hubay’s Hejre Kati comes as something of a palate cleanser. The remaining fare is mixed; Godard’s Berceuse de Jocelyn and Tchaikovsky’s Valse sentimentale are high in calories and the extra sugar in Thaïs will only appeal to those with a very sweet tooth. Korngold’s Much Ado About Nothing – which brings to mind his Violin Concerto – adds a touch of bitter to the sweetness. Balances are close, but otherwise there’s little here to offend the ear.

The Ketèlbey is winningly played, sung and recorded; even the ‘violin favourites’ are enjoyable.

-- Dan Morgan, MusicWeb International

More reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/Monastery-Garden-SAKONOV-ROYAL-ROGERS/dp/B000004279

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Albert Ketèlbey (9 August 1875 – 26 November 1959) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist, best known for his short pieces of light orchestral music. Ketèlbey composed more than 200 works, about 150 of them for the orchestra. In the 21st century, Ketèlbey's music is still frequently heard on radio.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ket%C3%A8lbey

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