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Spinning at the moment ...
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...500_AA300_.jpg
A speculative eBay purchase.
"Yorkshire Glory - a symphonic portrait" Composed by one Christopher Gunning and with Vernon Handley, no less, conducting the Royal Liverpool Phil.
Currently on its 5th or 6th play. Surprisingly good! Good sound quality, too. :thumbsup:
...sounding quite nice (and quiet) with a .7 spherical...
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/IMG_0254.jpg
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/IMG_0252.jpg
Listening to Tchaikovsky's Manfred - awesome stuff with Svetlanov at the helm ...
Now moved onto Scriabin Piano Sonatas 3,4,5,8 & 9 on Decca & played by the peerless Vladimir Ashkenazy :youtheman:
After hardly listening to any music for 6 months I am back with a vengeance!
Now spinning "Spem in Alium" - Thomas Tallis's profoundly beautiful motet for 40 voices. I would urge anyone who likes choral music to check out this recording, ZRG5436, the sound quality of which is staggering.
After a quick detour with some vintage Iron Maiden :eyebrows:
back to the classical with a great DGG recording of Stravinsky's "Firebird". Wonderful memories from seeing the Mariinsky ballet perform this at the Royal Opera House - quite sublime, as was my favourite "Scheherazade".
Nice old Argo LP, that. You can't go wrong with the King's College Choir either. I have a lovely old Faure/Durufle recording by them on the Decca label, might have been an Argo originally.Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Sublime it is ...
I am still looking for a good copy of ZRG787 - Durufles Requiem - it can be very pricey!
Now moved onto "The Piano Music of Ravel vol 1" played by Pascal Roge.
A real contender to Argerich playing Ravel ...
That's the one. It's a simply stunning performance and recording. I have it on CD but sadly not on vinyl.Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Let's hope we don't have a bidding war on ebay if one comes up :lol:
I do have an alternative on vinyl (but sadly only the Faure): Ledger, ECO, Choir of Kings College Cambridge, EMI (1982).
Putting it on now.
The Trooper? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Not far off! Just bought the "Somewhere in Time" lp ... :hairmetal:Quote:
Originally Posted by WOStantonCS100
Right now, on CD, The Best of Shotakovich (on Naxos) - what amazing performances and recording quality!! :eek:
Marco.
Mozart Die Zauberflote Solti Vienna Phil, Lorengar, Deutekom, Prey et al, recorded 1972. Just found an old copy. Lovely, pleasantly surprised at the recording quality.
http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/sin...UCT_NR=4582132
Chris
Thought I'd buy some 'Folia' via download. Bit of trawling and ended up on the Hyperion site, which I've bought from before. Ended up with 4 albums:
- Scarlatti http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDH55233
- Corelli http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDH55240
- Vivaldi http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDH55231
- Various http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67035
The Corell's got some really nice pieces in it. Nicely recorded. Maybe just a little too smooth/polite for my tastes - I like a little bit more 'energy'.
Just finished the Scarlatti. Lynne Dawson has a beautiful, clear voice and she really makes it for me. Lovely.
The rest will have to wait.
Chris
I have this one by Panagua on Harmonia Mundi:
http://www.soundstagedirect.com/medi..._la_spagna.jpg
It's fun, and a little mad.
I was also tempted by this http://www.alia-vox.com/cataleg.php?id=29. I like some of the things Jordi Savall et al have done, but ... No download.
Chris
I really really like I Musici's performance of Geminiani's La Folia.
.
Full of energy and passion - just how I think it should be. :)
Chris
Of late ...
Bach Well Tempered Clavier BK 1 - Egarr on harpsichord, Harmonia Mundi CDs. Lovely sounding harpsichord recording - very present, but not jangly or harsh. Hmm :hmm: this might be my fave recording of WTC1 on harpsichord.
Dvorak 7th symphony. The 'dark' tempestuous one. Colin Davis, Concertgeboeuw on Philips CD. A surging powerful performance, and a nicely dark-hued recording that suits the music, if with rather overblown bass!
Schubert quartet for flute, guitar, viola and cello. Bit of a curiosity, this one. An early work, but still full of Schubertian beauty. On a Meridian CD CDE 84118. Lovely sq, too.
A recent late-romantic discovery - Scotsman James Friskin (1886-1967). He married famed composer and viola player Rebecca Clarke. The more challenging aspects of 20th century classical music seem to have entirely passed him by! Very rewarding and a good discovery for me, chamber music on a Nimbus Alliance CD released this year - NI 6182. I've played this a few times recently.
Which brings about the question, Jerry: do you prefer harpsichord or piano for this work?Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
Oh, and how are you getting on without a PPP in your system?
Harpsichord or piano.
It's not a choice or preference I recognise! - I love both. :)
Yep, Egarr on harpsichord for the WTC - Joao Carlos Martins or Glenn Gould on piano.
I wouldn't want to do without any of them.
Spinning now -- Stockhausen - Mantra, on a Naxos CD. For piano duo and electronics.
Hmm. :scratch:
Actually, it's quite fun and interesting. :) ... not sure I'm up for the whole 67 minutes, though!
Bruckner Symphony No. 9 - Rattle, BPO, EMI [cd]
http://www.emiclassicsus.com/wp-cont...F1-300x300.jpg
I've finally had the chance to listen to this tonight, the first time I've heard the reconstructed 4th movement. It's a powerful performance, not as urgent as the Eugen Jochum, but still impressive and well recorded considering it's a live performance. At least as convincing as the reconstructed Mahler 10th and the potency of this symphony isn't diminished at all.
I'm looking forward to hearing it in September - with Haitink and the VPO, no less :)
Hmm - would have enjoyed going to Bruckner 9 / Rattle but would have to sit through Beethoven which am not sure I could do - maybe I could just turn up after the interval :eyebrows:
Do you mean the Brucker 9 / Haitink Prom, Jules? But - it's Beethoven! The 4th Piano Concerto too, which is wonderful. I guess each to their own.
Just cannot abide Beethoven or Mozart! :D
They both leave me completely cold ...
I feel the same way about Mendelssohn.Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
:exactly: we're agreed on that one - his violin concerto is supposedly the most popular of all :violin: :zzz:Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
This evenings choons ....
William Grant Still (Black-American composer, died 1978) - Afro-American Symphony, Africa tone poem, In Memorium. Wonderful music, nicely recorded on a Naxos CD.
Georgy Dmitriev (b. 1942) - All Night Vigil. New Russian Music CD. Yup, very much like Rachmaninoff's choral masterpiece of the same name - i.e. fabulously beautiful. :)
Testing out my new amp with Herman Krebbers tearing up Brahms's Violin Concerto with Haitink / Concertgebouw ... Superbly rich recording on Philips.
Is this a Quad 606 or 909, Jules? How does it compare with the 405-II? For classical music, of course ;)
Rather a special composer, this. Komitas. Very sad life - caught up in the genocide of the Armenians at the beginning of the 20thC. :(
I watched a DVD concert last night given by the Russian pianist, Grigory Sokolov, including Komitas' 6 dances for piano.
If you love 'minimalism' - Phil Glass etc, then you may well love this, too.
Give it a listen .... I find it deeply moving
Got this little lot today, from a variety of charity shops in Frodsham, Cheshire - all 50p, apart from the box set at the end, which was £3.
Prokofiev – Lieutenant Kije Suite/Scythian Suite, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1978.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy – Romantische Klavierstucke, Branka Musulin, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1969.
Respighi – Fountains of Rome/Pines of Rome, with The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1978.
Schubert - Symphony No9 in C Major ‘The Great’, with The Halle Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli, on EMI ‘His Master’s Voice’, from 1968.
Bach - Violin Concerto in A Minor/Violin Concerto in E/Hadyn Violin Concerto in C, with Arthur Grumiaux (violin) and The English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raymond Leppard, on Philips, from 1964.
Chopin – Tamas Vasry Spielt, Chopin’s Beliebeste Klavierstucke, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1972.
Dvorak – Symphony No1 in C Minor “Bells of Zlonice”, with The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Istvan Kertesz, on Decca FFRR, from 1967.
Schubert – Wanderer Fantasia/Schumann – Carnaval Julius Katchen (piano), on Decca Eclipse, from 1970.
Gabriel Faure – Requiem Op.48/Cantique de Jean Racine Op.11, with The Orchestra of the Monte Carlo Opera, conducted by Louis Fremaux, on The World Record Club, from 1964.
Carl Nielsen – Symphony No5 Op.50, with The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein, on CBS, from 1963.
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No4, with The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Wilhelm Backhaus (piano), on Decca Ace of Clubs, from 1959.
Beethoven – “Eroica” Symphony, with The Vienna Orchestra, conducted by Erich Kleiber, on Decca Ace of Clubs, from 1959.
Brahms – Symphony No1, with The Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, conducted by Eduard van Beinum, on Decca Ace of Clubs, from 1959.
Mozart – Piano Concertos, with The Philharmonia Orchestra and Annie Fischer (piano), conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch, on HMV ‘His Master’s Voice’, from 1959.
Bach – Cantatas Nos 11 and 67, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, with the Cantata Singers and Jacques Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Reginald Jacques, on Decca Eclipse, from 1970.
Beethoven – Symphony 5, with The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carlos Kleiber, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1975.
Britten – The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, with The Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, conducted by Eduard van Beinum. Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf, with The London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicolai Malko, Narrator: Frank Phillps, on Decca Ace of Clubs, from 1960.
Beethoven (box set) – The Masses, with The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, Munich Bach Choir and Munich Bach Orchestra, conducted by Karl Richter, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1970.
That should keep me busy for a while! :cool:
Marco.
I'll be interested in what you think of Pines. I love it, very evocative imagery and two awesome build-ups to huge crescendi. The Karajan should be good if not a stellar era for DG recordings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Here you've struck gold, Marco. The most riveting, exciting and vibrant recording of the 5th you might ever hear. Forget stale fifths, this one takes you through a journey. One of the very best recorded classical performances of anything that I know.Quote:
Beethoven – Symphony 5, with The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Carlos Kleiber, on Deutsche Grammophon, from 1975.
Cheers, Martin. Nice to know... I'll let you know what I think! Bit of a bargain that lot though, eh? :)
Marco.
It's not often I come across such a jaw-dropping, stunning album such as this.
http://www.platinumconsort.com/uploa...692916.jpg?248
Sung by the Platinum Consort, this album of Renaissance choral pieces has some modern pieces by James Macmillan and Richard Bates which blend the sensibilities of renaissance polyphony with more adventurous harmony to form something that's simultaneously both old and new and doesn't sound out of place in the company of Victoria, Gesualdo, de Lassus etc. Occasionally Richard Bates slips in something Poulenc would be proud of, but the effect is totally natural.
Singing and recording are superb. This is a download only album, either from Resonus or, with a 20% discount on the 96/24 FLAC from eClassical.
On eClassical you can hear all the album - anyone with the slightest interest in choral music should definitely check this out . . .
That's really nice, Bob. Some of the Richard Bates has similar beautiful dissonances to John Tavener. I've never bought an entire downloadable album before, this may be my first.
For the true Bruckner dovotee, have a listen to this -
A choral song called "Evening magic" for tenor, male choir, three female yodellers and four alphorns. :lol:
Actually, it's kind of nice. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mOpRZlXhaQ
WOW - yummy. Most of them are very good to astonishingly wonderful!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I agree with Martin, the Kleiber Beethoven 5th is pretty much unequalled.
But there's other fab stuff there as well - Mozart piano concertos with Annie Fischer - Brahms 1st symphony with van Beinum; mmmm, I'd like to hear that! - Backhaus may well be my fave Beethoven pianist, I see you've got the 4th concerto; I've never heard that recording and I'd love to! - Faure Requiem; very beautiful - Dvorak's 1st symphony; great stuff, imo his best symphony before the final three - Grumiaux in Bach - Vasary in Chopin.
:drool:
It's a treasure trove, Marco! :thumbsup:
Here's a few little somethings that I picked up yesterday in a local Oxfam shop - sadly, at £1.99 each, except the Chopin double LP at 99p!
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...0/DSCF7832.jpg
Also :drool: !!
I hope you take the plunge, Martin . . . :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
http://c3.cduniverse.ws/resized/250x...02/6972402.jpg
Currently my favourite version of this old classic. I started years ago with "the old mucker" Nigel Kennedy before I knew any better.
I would hate to count how many versions I have of this, but Janine's is sublime. Nice cover as well !!!
Thanks, I'll look her up, Guy. This is my all-time favourite, a desert island disc for me:
http://pixhost.me/avaxhome/d7/33/001633d7_medium.jpeg
Strauss - Four Last Songs & Metamorphosen, Janowitz, von Karajan, BPO [cd]
http://img1.douban.com/lpic/s7059173.jpg
Bought in an effort to further expand my collection of Four Last Songs and highly recommended in general.
Oh dear, where do I start? The sound is simply horrible, poorer even than DG's low standards in the early 1970s. At once shouty, harsh, one-dimensional and lacking in detail. Then there's Karajan's pace: way too fast for the songs of an 84 year old writing his final thoughts on life. Im Abendrot is not supposed to be taken at a trot, no matter what the score says! Gundula Janowitz's voice does have a gorgeous tone but it's hard to hear beauty when everything is shrieking at me to take it off.
The Four Last Songs have a very strong personal meaning for me and can and do reduce me to tears. This is an affront.
Not even in the same galaxy as my favourite Jessye Norman, Kurt Masur and the Gewandhausorchester.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Just say what you mean, already. :lol:
I'm not familiar with this music at all. Got a piccy of this one? Sounds like something I would like.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
http://cdn.7static.com/static/img/sl...623466_350.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by WOStantonCS100
Treat yourself, Biff. If you only want one Four Last Songs, this is the one to have. Deep, emotional, very beautiful and Jessye sings them as is they were written for her. The summary statement of an old man.
I played Beim Schlafengehen at my wife's funeral in 1999. I want Im Abendrot played at mine.
Bruckner Symphony No. 9, Jochum, BPO, DG [cd]
I've been going through my Brucker 9s and this is my favourite, the 1966 DG recording on Classikon. It's not a fantastic recording, very in-your-face but I prefer this to a soupy mess and the brass section are simply mesmerising. Jochum drives it hard - the second movement is always the measure of a good performance of the 9th and here he excels. Wonderful pace, attacking performance and makes sense of Bruckner's final work. I've always liked Jochum and saw him twice commanding the VPO with iron control. A great loss to the conducting world.
...a little Stravinsky
http://i815.photobucket.com/albums/z...a/IMG_0399.jpg
Yup, I'm with you on this one, Martin.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Probably equal in my esteem with the equally old (but still stereo) Bruno Walter recording on CBS/Sony. That's ab-fab, too!
The new wannabe conductors just cannot compete! :nono: :)