Spinning Today (Classical version)

[Barry]

Franz Berwald



New to me and well worth the punt for 50p. Think I'll try and seek out some more of his work.

[Barry]

Jean-Marie Leclair - 'Eight Sonatas for Flute and Continuo', Volume 1


L'Oiseau Lyre OLS 150 (1972, but original recording Decca 1957)

Again new to me. Interesting, but I quickly tired of them as they sounded too similar to me to warrant much attention.

Listening to Volume 2 didn't change my mind.


L'Oiseau Lyre OLS 151 (1972, as for Volume 1)

[Barry]

'Musique Royale'



The London Fesival Symphony Orchestra, cond. Thomas Greene

'Lollipops' from Handel, Purcell, Gluck and Boyce.

Musidisc, Gravure Universelle Stereo, Collection Richesse Classique: RC 849 (date not recorded).

[Barry]

Sibelius - 'Symphony no.3 in C major, Op. 52 (1907)' and 'Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 (1903 -1905)'



Philharmonia Orchestra, cond. Paul Kletzki (Symphony No.3)

The Stockholm Festival Orchestra, cond. Sixten Ehrling (Violin Concerto, David Oistrakh (violin)).

Angel Records 35315 (Mercure Éditeur, Paris) Recorded in Europe, pressed in U.S.A. (again no date of the recording).

Monophonic, but an excellent recording on a nice thick and heavy piece of vinyl, with a nice thick cardboard sleeve to match.

[Barry]

Vivaldi - 'Le Quattro Stagioni'



The English Consort, dir. Trevor Pinnock.

Archiv 2534 003 (1982)

Played on period instruments, this recording comes a close second to that by the Drottingholm Consort.

[Barry]

Ariosa Quartet - 'Dvorak - String Quartet no. 12 in F, Op.96' and 'Bartok - String Quartet no.1 in A minor, Op.7'



Hanna Bowers (first violin)
Mathilde Milwidsky (second violin)
Sophia Dignam (viola)
Ariana Kashefi (cello)

Picked up in a charity shop, mint and still sealed in the cellophane wrapping. You won't find any information about this quartet on the web (not even the redoubtable 'Discogs').

All I can tell you is what is written in the sleeve notes:

The Quartet was formed at South Hampstead High School and has been playing since 2002.

The recording was made by Geoff Foster (there is no recording number, so the recording was made privately and is probably of limited numbers). The sleeve notes are dated London, September 2009.

Like all newly-formed quartets that only have had a few years of playing together, there is an excitement and verve to the playing which I find quite refreshing. I hope they are still playing together and have developed the subtle understanding and interplay between themselves that the established and more famous string quartets display.

[AJSki2fly]

Picked up up this Decca recording about a week ago for £3 in the Hospice Care warehouse, it was rather dirty and needed a clean which I have just got round to, turns out it looks minty, occasional crackle so I think another scrub in the ultrasonic bath should should do it.

I already have 2 other recordings of Mahler's Symphony No 5, one by Rafael Kubelik & the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the other Claudio Abbado & Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I think I prefer this recording/rendition, it seems to have more depth and emotion to how it is presented, but maybe I am talking rubbish.

Mahler* – Chicago Symphony Orchestra* • Georg Solti • Yvonne Minton – Symphony No. 5 In C Minor / Songs From "Des Knaben Wunderhorn"
Label: Decca – SET 471-2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Stereo Box Set
Country:UK
Released: 1970

[Barry]

Solti's reading is better IMO, but I'm not a big Mahler fan.

[Marco]

Ariosa Quartet - 'Dvorak - String Quartet no. 12 in F, Op.96' and 'Bartok - String Quartet no.1 in A minor, Op.7'



Hanna Bowers (first violin)
Mathilde Milwidsky (second violin)
Sophia Dignam (viola)
Ariana Kashefi (cello)

Picked up in a charity shop, mint and still sealed in the cellophane wrapping. You won't find any information about this quartet on the web (not even the redoubtable 'Discogs').

All I can tell you is what is written in the sleeve notes:

The Quartet was formed at South Hampstead High School and has been playing since 2002.

The recording was made by Geoff Foster (there is no recording number, so the recording was made privately and is probably of limited numbers). The sleeve notes are dated London, September 2009.

Like all newly-formed quartets that only have had a few years of playing together, there is an excitement and verve to the playing which I find quite refreshing. I hope they are still playing together and have developed the subtle understanding and interplay between themselves that the established and more famous string quartets display.

Interesting one, Barry... I also approve of your other selections above, and indeed own some of them myself. I particularly like the Sibelius

If you're into lesser known composers, are you aware of the work of Carl Heinrich Graun? If not, have a listen to this as an example and see what you think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg2givgOUOk

Marco.

[Marco]

Another lesser known composer you may be unaware of is Alfredo Casella, who was also a conductor and pianist. Just been listening to this, which is rather good:



From the BBC Music Magazine:

"[A notte alta] has a dark beauty and some striking sonorities. Martin Roscoe is the exquisite soloist here, and this atmospheric performance should win new friends for a work that is among Casella's best...Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic capture the verve and spirit of Casella's oft-changing music".

Marco.