Why are the violin concertos of Bazzini so neglected?

[terry martyn]

Some time ago,I heard a performance on YouTube of his Fourth - a barnstorming performance by Aldo Ferraresi that's still available from Presto,if you have tons of money to spare

And I have been playing and replaying a video of his Fifth "Militaire" Concerto, which has the bombast and swagger of a Mussolini in a live performance which the audience appeared to have enjoyed, rather than throwing their shoes at the stage.

Presto are about to release a boxed set of every single Viotti concerto ever unearthed, which made me think: why has no-one in modern times recorded any of Bazzini's concertos,far less issue a boxed set of them?

It can't be,can it,that the afficionados realise how vacuous these works seem to be?   But a tad addictive,like the fairground music of childhood.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Hyperion intended to record some of them as part of their RVC series (similarly Litolff's Eroica concerto symphonique for violin and orchestra) but that, alas, won't happen now. The only one of Bazzini's violin concerti I couldn't find full score or parts for was No. 3. Agree, by the way, on the quality of No. 4 - it is a splendid work.

[Alan Howe]

but that, alas, won't happen now

For me, this was a great shame. They turned down Draeseke's VC (even though an orchestration was available), but his music is 'difficult', so...

Anyway, back to Bazzini...

[Droosbury]

Which makes me wonder what actually is going on with Hyperion now? Since the takeover their output seems to be restricted to two new releases a month, and those only of bigger-name artists (endless Stephen Hough, much as we and Radio 3 might love him, etc). So is it really a sad goodbye to all the less profitable (but more interesting) releases? I guess I know the answer already ...

[Gareth Vaughan]

That's right. They are only interested in big artist names, not in repertoire at all. Universal is the kiss of death.