Playing today:
Elgar's Enigma - LAPO/Mehta (splendid Decca LP)
Bartok piano concerto 1 - Anda, Fricsay/Berlin RSO (DG)
Berkeley Symphony 3 - Lennox Berkeley/LPO (Lyrita)
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Playing today:
Elgar's Enigma - LAPO/Mehta (splendid Decca LP)
Bartok piano concerto 1 - Anda, Fricsay/Berlin RSO (DG)
Berkeley Symphony 3 - Lennox Berkeley/LPO (Lyrita)
So far today:
Stanford's Clarinet Sonata with John Denman
Gotta get in the mood for work :lolsign:
Interesting listening, Bob!Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
I have the Anda Bartok PC set, too. Lovely, innit! Unsurpassed in my view. :)
And Berkeley symphony #3 - ooo, I have 1 & 2 and enjoy them a lot. I must investigate numero 3.
I also have Berkeley's string quartets on Naxos - bloody marvellous! :thumbsup:
My recent listening ...
Gilbert & Sullivan, The Gondeliers. Canadian CBC live DVD from 1983. Hmm. Definitely one of my least favourite G&S. 25% good bits, 75% fairly tedious. ... probably worth it for the good bits. :scratch:
Erkki-Sven Tuur - Architectonics IV. On an ECM CD. Wow. Truly weird modern stuff - but entrancing. One of my fave 'modern classical' recordings.
I've never warmed to G&S. Neither opera nor operetta are my favourite types of music. I blame being dragged along, as a young teenager - to see/hear Die Meistersinger. Five bloody hours :eek: Never quite recovered. (Brain, or bum :rolleyes: )Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
Mr Tuur has definitely not been on my radar - though I do like a lot of ECM stuff - Scandinavian jazz, Jan Gabarek & the Hilliard Ens. etc.
Will PM you about Berkeley :)
So far today:
Walton - Choral Music, Christchurch Cathedral Choir (Argo)
and, er
Spyro Gyra - Freetime.
(Just trying out my eBay'd and Vantage Audio serviced SL-Q1 - now considering the mods to be applied to it while Richard's away servicing my SL7 - what a guy! :thumbsup: )
Yup, I can entirely sympathise with that. I'm not an opera/etta fan at all ... the previous exception being Philip Glass's Akhnaten.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
But .... I recently discovered a step-brother (long story, don't ask! :doh:) and he is mad keen on G&S so, for family's sake, me and the missus thought we'd give it a go, if only to shut Gareth up! :eyebrows:
Has to be the full audiovisual thing - but, yup, we've been totally converted.
If you'd like a reccie or two to give G&S the best shot, then try this Pirates of Penzance if you can play Region 1 DVDs. :thumbsup:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pirates-Penz...2565042&sr=1-4
or this Mikado, cheaper and Region 2! :)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gilbert-Sull...2565208&sr=1-2
It really is worth a go, imho! :thumbsup:
DVDs it is then:)Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
I was listening to more Berkeley at lunchtime (gotta love working from home) - the Serenade for Strings op.12 (another splendid Lyrita disc). I'd almost forgotten how "classically" elegant and well-crafted his music is, with harmonic twists to keep you guessing, and - :eek: melodies too.
Not too much traffic to this thread . . . :violin:
Anyhow.
Have just dug out an Argo LP - ASMF/Marriner playing American pieces - Barber, Ives, Copland, Cowell and Creston. . .
Ill be listening a lot more in the evenings once the current work stresses die down. Right now I'm going home and collapsing :eek:
Ravel - String Quartet (Parrenin Quartet on Pathe Marconi)
Yesterday ...
Mainly listening to a batch of minty LPs acquired from a charity shop tour ...
Ivan Rebroff sings Russian folk songs on CBS LP. What an astonishing voice! 4 octaves from a basso profundo to a genuine soprano. :stalks: Lovely songs, too.
Butterworth - Shropshire Lad, Banks of Green Willow. Dilkes / English Sinfonia / EMI LP.
Bridge - "There is a willow grows aslant a brook". Soppy title, but actually quite challemging and adventurous, in the Frank Bridge manner. Same LP as previous.
Vaughan Williams - The Wasps overture. Chandos LP with Vernon Handley. Mmm ... a bit laid back in the Handley and Chandos manner. I much prefer Previn on RCA, but Handley is interesting if not exactly bubbling with energy.
Bach organ works with the inimmitable Carlo Curley on RCA LP.
And ending the evening with a CD of Antonio Soler's 4th quintet for harpsichord and strings.
OMG - just switched on Classic FM and was treated to a live recording of Martha Argerich playing Rach 3 with Berlin Radio Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly. Simply awesome, she is on-fire. :clapclapclap:
Will be more than happy if she decides to play Rach at next year's Barbican concert.
I have her recording of Rach 3 and she really does float across the keys. I will be in seventh heaven if she plays that next year.
Yesterday ..
Kalliwoda - string quartets 1, 2 & 3 on a Calliope CD - the next generation on from Beethoven, born in 1801. Very listenable.
Michael Kamen - Saxophone concerto on Warner CD. I lurvs the sound of the sax with a lively pair of lungs behind it, just bursting with vibrant energy & ripping thru the air from the speakers! This is pretty much the perfect classically oriented sax concerto for me - forget the soporific pootlings of Milhaud etc! Bravo!! :clap:
Yesterday ...
Vaughan Williams symphonies 3 & 4. Haitink / original issue EMI CD. :) I really like Haitink's cycle.
Gilbert & Sullivan "The Mikado" on DVD. D'Oyly Carte production. Hmmm ... a bit 'stiff', more recent productions have a more relaxed and natural way with the humour of it all.
But Valerie Masterson is seriously yummy as Yum-Yum!
I've never heard Haitink's VW - have got both Boult and Handley (RLPO) cycles, plus some of Previn's. Is there an easy way to characterise it?
Yesterday's fare included "Full of Cobbles" by Nymanesque Glassian Wim Mertens http://www.wimmertens.be/.
Maybe something was lost a bit in the title translation (from French/Flemish?). It does invite comments from those not in tune with the style :lol:
Some contentious (but deeply felt!) opinions below - so please don't get offended.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
All opinions are mine, and your mileage may vary, as they say! :)
Boult and Handley.
Is that the stereo Boult set?
Hmm. Both a bit variable, imo.
Handley lacks oomph and can lack for 'fire in his belly'. I read an interview given by him in Gramophone a few years back, and he was proud of his unexcitable approach. Takes all sorts I guess, but I think RVW is a deeply passionate composer, and I think that is missing in Chuck Handley's RVW interpretations.
I find him much overrated in RVW, but I really enjoy his Elgar, where he does take a more passionate stance.
Boult's stereo 3rd is incomparable, really wonderful, but his 5th is a bit perfunctory and a distinct let down for me.
The 8th and 9th for a long time were underrated - largely because it's only recently with Haitink and (especially) Slatkin that the music has been understood in any sensible way and comes over very strongly. No slacking off in old age for RVW, far from it! But I don't think you'd know that from older recordings.
Previn is an excellent allrounder, but the RCA sound quality is def past its sell by date, which is a great shame.
How to characterise Haitink?
Clear headed, with a fine ear for dynamic gradations, surging and passionate when the music calls for it, but with genuine tenderness where appropriate.
I like his whole cycle a lot - and it has excellent sound quality, although the re-mastering/transfer for the budget set has resulted in rather too forward/bright a sound, imo.
I'm collecting the original EMI CD issues, superb sound!
All imo, ymmv. :)
I'm fairly sure I have Boult's 2nd (A London Symphony) and it's a stunning, fiery reading. Superb recording, too.
Thanks for your thoughts, Jerry!
Yes, I've Boult's stereo version on EMI. I don't share your assessment of the Handley cycle, but will readily admit that may be because I had a connection to him through singing in his Guildford choirs :rolleyes:.
Browsing eBay last night I saw Haitink's London Symphony/Tallis LP and have put a "snipe" on it, so I can hopefully hear this. I remember a Prom with Haitink where Elgar 2 was on the program, and I'd got a seat behind the orchestra, just near the horns I recall. This was a tremendous experience.
Anyhow - listening now to Moeran's G minor Symphony on a 78rpm transfer - Leslie Heward and the Halle. This is making an interesting comparison to Boult, Handley & Dilkes ...
Indeed! It was a vintage period for both Boult and the Bishop/Parker recording team :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Result. Mine for £0.99 plus p&p. :cocktail:Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
Yesterday ...
Mendelssohn violin concerto with one of my fave violinists, Aaron Rosand. Ooooh, just lovely!
Veljo Tormis - Ocean. A very interesting symphonic suite, and Sibelius Swan of Tuonela, both conducted by the very beautiful Anu Tali ... :drool:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...0/anu_tali.jpg
Yesterday ...
Leclair - violin trio sonatas - Trio Sonnerie - Gaudeamus LP
Elgar 2nd symphony - Solti - Decca LP.
Elgar 1st symphony - Boult EMI LP.
Liszt late piano music - Brendel - Philips LP
Playing now -
Tchaikovsky's 4th - Leningrad Phil, Mravinsky (DG LP)
That's a good version. Have you tried the Jansons/Oslo on Chandos? A really great performance and recording, beaten only by their own Tchaikovsky 5th, which is stupendous.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
No, but I have the Oslo 5th. What I like about the Leningrad performances are the idiomatic instrumental timbres; hollow woodwind, brass with loads of vibrato etc Plus thrilling readings. Some while back I got a two disc Privilege set of 4,5 and 6. Really long sides, but gutsy sound. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Bach – ‘Goldberg Variations’
Ralph Kirkpatrick – harpsichord.
1959, DGG 439 465-2
Beethoven – ‘Pathétique’ and ‘Moonlight’ Sonatas
Emil Gilels, piano
1989 DGG 400 036-2
Bruckner – Symphony No. 6
Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Frankfurt, cond. Eliahu Inbal.
1989 Teldec 244 182-2
Rachmaninov – ‘Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18’ and ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43’
Philip Fowke, piano Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Yuri Temirkanov.
1985 EMI EMX 9509
Shostakovich – ‘Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2’ and ‘Cello Concerto No. 1’
André Previn, piano Yo-Yo Ma, cello, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. Leonard Bernstein.
2001 Sony SMK89752
This morning it's various organ pieces by J S Bach - Helmut Walcha at St Laurens Church, Alkmaar (DG Archiv)
Coming up after that Saint Saens Symphonies 1 & 2, Jean Martinon/Orchestra National de l'ORTF (EMI)
Now there's a thought: I don't think I've ever heard them, swamped as they are by the 3rd.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
Well, my Haitink "London" turned up this morning - visually immaculate but suffering from rice crispies throughout (need to do a wet clean and vacuum on it . . ). This doesn't help the very wide dynamic range, but it is a both a very good recording and performance. Not what I was expecting, really, because the first movement was taken - after the quiet intro - much brisker than I though Haitink would be. As a whole it was a very satisfying and idiomatic performance!Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
The Tallis Fantasia was good but doesn't displace Barbirolli's Sinfonia of London HMV disc IMO - which for sheer rapt wonder and passion has the field to itself.
However, I'll definitely keep a lookout for more Haitink VW :thumbsup:
Well, here's the very disc :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Kerching! On a BIN of £2.50, it would be rude not to. I also spotted a Kleiber Beethoven Symphony No. 5 with the Concertgebouw, hadn't realised he had made a previous recording of the 5th.
Thanks, Bob!
You're welcome. :)
This was the same eBay seller that I got my VW London from, and I was just curiously browsing his other items. I hope your Saint-Saens isn't as crackly as my purchase, though .. ..
No worries - my Clearaudio Smart Matrix should be able to handle it.
Oh, I've got one of those as well :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Erm, alternative classical Mark?
PMSL... Erm no...That post is about to go the way of the Dodo :o
Yes, well - as you say, that's a rather unfair comparison!Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
Yep, it is good.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
A friend came 'round yesterday for a few hours listening. He's looking to buy his dad a CD set of the RVW symphonies for Xmas and was wondering which one to get.
We listened to the opening 5 minutes or so of the Sea Symphony from Haitink, Previn and Slatkin.
Haitink came out tops! It sounded magnificent, tbh - beautifully executed, the playing and singing very clear and articulate, and the sq is clean as a whistle and nicely dynamic.
Yep - that may well be my Sea Symphony of choice these days. :)
Recent listening ....
Requiem by Ragnar Grippe on a BIS CD. Ha! - a huge amount of fun - classical requiem meets synth bass and pop! :lol: Demonstration class recording, too.
Jonathan Leshnoff - Double concerto for violin and viola on Naxos CD. Lovely modern piece - tonal and approachable, but quite exhilirating. Well worth exploring, imo. :)
Have just listened to a few excerpts from this on eClassical.com - will definitely put this one on my list :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
I was on the site downloading "Nordic Spell" - an excellent title for some atmospheric Scandinavian flute concertos. Just started listening a few moments ago. Thinks - soundtrack to a film of a Jo Nesbo or Henning Mankell novel ? Anyhow, another good BIS recording. [Actually paid for it on Saturday when it was on special offer - £2.88 :cool: ]
BIS are consistently good, aren't they?Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
They are indeed. I think of them as a cross between Chandos and Nimbus in both the repertoire and SQ stakes .. ..Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Yesterday ...
Langgaard - Music of the Spheres on a Chandos CD with Rozhdestvensky. Kind of weird in a Richard Straussian sort of way. Quite enjoyable.
Some Mozart piano sonatas - Jeno Jando on Naxos. Without doubt my fave versions of these sublime works. I have all 5 Naxos CDs. You can hear where Beethoven followed on from with Jando. Very forthright and dynamic. Wonderful playing. :thumbsup: Immediate and dynamic sq, too, which matches the performances.
Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony - Slatkin/RCA CD, from my boxed set of the symphonies.
Hmm. :hmm: Not sure this impresses me so much any more - I may sell the set on. Haitink is so much better. Slatters hoiks the tempo around a bit and exaggerates the dynamic markings, or so it seems to me, presumably to enhance the excitement. Personally I think RVW knew what he was doing with the way he wrote the score!
Massively powerful sound though.
Hmm. :hmm:
Yesterday ...
Sibelius piano music on a Naxos CD. A real find - who knew that he wrote such wonderful piano music? Well, OK, you might have done - but I didn't!
Vaughan Williams symphonies 5 & 2 - Slatkin, RCA CDs. Not bad at all, I think I'll be keeping the set after all! :)
Lennox Berkeley string quartets 1-3 on a Naxos CD. I like these, I play them fairly often. Tonal but challenging.
Spinning today (on the server)
Anthony Louis Scarmolin - Symphonies 1-3. This is an HDtracks download - so details here.
Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra, Ormandy, Philadelphia, EMI [vinyl]
Last night. I don't think I've ever heard it sound better: the visceral energy of the organ, the sheer beauty of the New Philadelphia strings. My absolute favourite recording of this piece, and not as harsh as I once thought (it's a DMM).
http://www.shugarecords.com/images/r...500a5f3c-0.JPG
And very nice these two pieces have proven to be, with good EMI sound.Quote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
http://www.musicobsession.com/Pictur...inon373408.jpg
Glad you like this! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
Currently listening to a mint copy of Vaughan Williams 'Sinfonia Antartica', as I write my Christmas cards and sip a nice glass of Drambuie, by our roaring log fire.
The record is on the purple Decca Eclipse label, from 1970, with the London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, featuring Margaret Ritchie and Sir John Gielgud, and conducted by Sir Adrian Boult.
It sounds simply gorgeous! The SPU Classic GM E, on the Techy, undoubtedly does classical music just as well as rock, pop and jazz :)
Marco.
Sounds idyllic :). The wind machine howling away while you're warmed inside and out . . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
The Eclipse disc can't have been one of their dreadful reprocessed stereo efforts, though, if it sounds so good :eyebrows:
Nope, the copy I've got definitely doesn't fall into that category..... Aye, you can't beat the warmth from a real log fire on cold and wintry nights! :)
Incidentally, we'll be down your way on Saturday, visiting Speedy Steve in Bisley, but we're going to pop into Guildford for lunch and to do some shopping.
Where's good to eat, Bob? We'd like to go to a cosy and quaint little olde worlde pub that serves real ales and classic home-made British pub grub, not bloody curries, Chinese or Italian food, like some pubs do... Think home-made soups with thick rustic bread, game pies and ham hocks, local sausages with onion gravy - that type of thing. Any links to relevant websites would be appreciated :cool:
Marco.