This month, principal cellist Joe Crouch has chosen ‘Mr Corelli in London’ (2010):
“Most of my favourite CDs are things I’ve come across by accident or through recommendations from people who’ve spoken passionately about something they’ve heard. This recording, though, was thrust upon me by our orchestral manager, the embodiment of benevolent indomitability and wonder that is Sarah.
I was not yet a member of TEC and was about to join them for one of my first projects, in a programme with recorder virtuoso Maurice Steger. Knowing that the rest of the orchestra had performed this programme together many times, Sarah sent me the CD so that I’d know what to expect at the first rehearsal.
Two things I took from the gesture: firstly, that this orchestra expected seriously high standards of preparation and performance from everyone and, secondly, that they would do everything they could to help you achieve those standards. The cellist on this CD is my wonderful friend Sarah McMahon; listen to the elegance and effortlessly exquisite pacing of her walking bass in track 8, and the sparkling accompaniments of the whole continuo team in track 5.
And then there’s Mauricehimself: being around people who set themselves such high standards and then somehow surpass them in performance is a constant inspiration for me. His high D on track 1 still sends shivers down my spine 14 years on, while the warmth in the orchestral playing is, I think, a legacy of Trevor Pinnock’s sound ideal that we all cherish and try to build on.“
Trumpeter Alison Balsom appeared on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, and dedicated a section of the programme to our 1982 recording. Many thanks to Alison for allowing us to adapt her interview for this month’s very special guest recommendation from the TEC archives.
