Potter Symphonies vol.2 (cpo)

[Alan Howe]

I agree with you: the B flat Symphony sounds altogether more convincing. Maybe Potter wasn't really a C minor-key guy?

I didn't find the Concertante very convincing, I'm afraid. Very much small beer.

[promusician]

I listened to this recording several times, without losing interest. It's way better than the old BBC recording, faster tempo and greater dynamic contrast. Looping the Scherzo of the C minor several times. Really did justice to the symphonies. And I agree, the Concertante is not a good piece, I am removing it from the playlist every time.

[Hector]

I recently had a brief conversation with Howard Griffiths on Facebook -

I said - I've just been listening to Cipriani Potter's C minor symphony & it reminds me of Ries' C minor symphony. They were both premiering in London at about the same time, is there possibly some influence passing between the two composers? Or is it just the lingua franca?

He said - That's a very interesting question. They certainly both lived in London at the same time for several years. As far as I can find out there does not seem to have been any great friendship between them. They were almost rivals in the London scene. Particularly as both were involved in the Royal Philharmonic Society. I think both were under the influence of Beethoven as many other composers of that time.

I replied - I'll have another listen and see if I can identify the passage that set me thinking.

& me again - The finales. Both have a lyric theme with prominent winds, and then a dramatic march like second theme. Potter prefaces his with fanfares. That's the similarity I noticed.

(PS I think the La Folia concertante is great fun)

[Alan Howe]

Howard Griffiths is a very generous correspondent. How many other conductors would be open to this sort of discussion?

[Hector]

I once had an interesting conversation with  David Lloyd-Jones by Email. Otherwise I wouldn't really know how conductors would respond to such an approach. I was certainly pleased with Howard Griffiths' response (we may be wandering off topic)

[eschiss1]

I could give another example also.  I'm aware there are "divas" in the classical music world but the conductors, musicologists, etc. who work in our area are generally not them, I think...