Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[sidoze]

I am playing that right now.  Those '80s recordings with the Concertgebouw are all worth hearing (the '84 #8 especially so.)

Is the 8th from that 2 or 3 sym box-set which Tahra released (including the 5th)?

I've fallen back into collecting-mode and visited a secondhand shop I haven't been to in about 9 months. Picked up a couple interesting things:

an M&A disc of Furtwangler conducting 3 movement's of Bruckner's 6th sym (1943)

the Saga disc of Lazar Berman playing the Appassionata and Liszt sonata. Been wanting this one for ages as they're both early performances from 1958 (apparently the Brilliant set contains a '55 Liszt sonata but i haven't heard it).

also saw a 10CD Bernstein/NY Phil box-set of live performances. This one looks very tempting, including (among many other things) a live Prokofiev PC 2 with Ashkenazy from 1958! That's bound to be thrilling. Anyone heard it?

[Choo Choo]

Is the 8th from that 2 or 3 sym box-set which Tahra released (including the 5th)?

It was in a box with the 4th, 6th & 7th - but not the 5th AFAIK.  It was also available as a single CD and as part of the Jochum brothers' box-set (all on Tahra.)

an M&A disc of Furtwangler conducting 3 movement's of Bruckner's 6th sym (1943)

That is a superb performance.  With the missing 1st movement it would surely have been one of the all-time greats.  Without it, it is heartbreaking both for what it is and for what it is not.

also saw a 10CD Bernstein/NY Phil box-set of live performances. This one looks very tempting, including (among many other things) a live Prokofiev PC 2 with Ashkenazy from 1958! That's bound to be thrilling. Anyone heard it?

No, but I'd be interested in it if you weren't.

[AnthonyAthletic]

Tony, Nigel.

Do you need to install some sort of language pack to view HMV Japan?  When I click on "English" I do get the English version of the page, but when I surf to another page, instantly it jumps back to the Mother language.  Some great items on the site but I am really struggling to view them, once again the luddite in web browsing is showing through.

Tony

[bhodges]

Hi Tony, no installation of anything should be necessary.  I just tried the site and it seems to come up (and stay up) in English no matter where I go.    (And perhaps oddly, it came up in English without having to click on "English.")

http://www.hmv.co.jp/index.asp

--Bruce

[AnthonyAthletic]

Hi Tony, no installation of anything should be necessary.  I just tried the site and it seems to come up (and stay up) in English no matter where I go.    (And perhaps oddly, it came up in English without having to click on "English.")

http://www.hmv.co.jp/index.asp

--Bruce

Thanks Bruce, its just me being a muppet    All sorted now.  Funnily enough it was the "English" button on the left which did the trick    been trying to view surf for months now, clicking the wrong button....live & learn.

[bhodges]

Thanks Bruce, its just me being a muppet    All sorted now.  Funnily enough it was the "English" button on the left which did the trick    been trying to view surf for months now, clicking the wrong button....live & learn.

Excellent!  It's a great site.  Let us know what delicacies you procure...

--Bruce

[Heather Harrison]

Here are two more.



I finally decided to check out Gorecki's music.  These are generally very serene, slow, meditative pieces with a rather mystical character.  For both of these, one hearing isn't quite enough to form a strong opinion, but my first impression is that I liked them, and they will likely be well-suited to times when I feel like listening to slow, relaxing music that actually has some musical content to it.  I find it interesting that Symphony No. 3 is so popular.  Perhaps it fills a need; in today's hectic and fast-moving society, maybe people are looking for a way into a more peaceful, slow-moving world.  I could easily imagine that I would find comfort in this music after a horribly busy week.  In fact, I've been extremely busy today (rearranging my apartment so that I can fit my ever-increasing quantities of stuff).  Maybe when I'm done, I'll listen to these pieces again.  It might be just what I need to calm down after such an unpleasant activity.

Heather

[Solitary Wanderer]

Here are two more.



I finally decided to check out Gorecki's music.  These are generally very serene, slow, meditative pieces with a rather mystical character.  For both of these, one hearing isn't quite enough to form a strong opinion, but my first impression is that I liked them, and they will likely be well-suited to times when I feel like listening to slow, relaxing music that actually has some musical content to it.  I find it interesting that Symphony No. 3 is so popular.  Perhaps it fills a need; in today's hectic and fast-moving society, maybe people are looking for a way into a more peaceful, slow-moving world.  I could easily imagine that I would find comfort in this music after a horribly busy week.  In fact, I've been extremely busy today (rearranging my apartment so that I can fit my ever-increasing quantities of stuff).  Maybe when I'm done, I'll listen to these pieces again.  It might be just what I need to calm down after such an unpleasant activity.

Heather

I too, have the Gorecki #3 with Dawn Upshaw which I think is a beautiful, elusive and centering piece of music. That disc was a surprise million seller

[Mark]

I too, have the Gorecki #3 with Dawn Upshaw which I think is a beautiful, elusive and centering piece of music. That disc was a surprise million seller

Yes, it was. Bafflingly so, IMO, as Upshaw wrecks that highly emotional work with a voice that's way too operatic.

[SonicMan46]

Yes, it was. Bafflingly so, IMO, as Upshaw wrecks that highly emotional work with a voice that's way too operatic.

Mark - I love Dawn Upshaw and own a lot of her CDs in a 'wide variety' of genres; the reason is she is one of the few 'opera' singers who seems to be able to 'crossover' easily into other areas (a rarity in my experience); but, I must say that I did own her in the Gorecki Symphony No.3 - great reviews and thought that it was fine, but then bought the Naxos version below w/ Zofia Kilanowicz singing the soprano role - the whole performance just seems to have a better 'fit' - for those trying to make a decision, CLICK on the image for some good Amazonian comments -     P.S. for some reason, the cover art on the current Amazon pic is now Munk's The Scream - well, like my cover better! 

[Mark]

Dave, I have the version of which you speak ... but it didn't start life on Naxos. It began (AFAIK) in 1993 on the Keynote Productions label. I have a 1998 Belart reissue with a much nicer cover than that of the Naxos. It's a terrific performance and puts the Upshaw to shame, IMO.

[Heather Harrison]

It certainly is nice to have a modern work like Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 available in multiple readily available performances to compare.  I picked the one I did because I wanted to hear the very recording that made this piece popular.  In general, with classical music written after World War II, that is a luxury that we don't have.  We're lucky to have two at most.  I may well try another one; reviews I have seen of the Naxos recording make it seem worthwhile (and the price is right).

As I indicated previously, this music must have struck a nerve with the public.  Something about it must have met a need that isn't often met by modern music.  I wonder if it will have staying power.  Assuming that civilization survives and symphony orchestras continue to perform, will this piece be in the standard repertoire in 100 or 200 years?  It's hard to say.

Heather

[George]

Shameless plug for a Fleisher/Szell LvB PC 1&3 CD that I have for sale

[SonicMan46]

It certainly is nice to have a modern work like Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 available in multiple readily available performances to compare....................

Heather - I really have an attraction to Dawn Upshaw and enjoyed her perfomance in the Gorecki Symphony, but the Naxos release (from 1993 and likely a licensed version from another producer, as Mark has indicated) is worth a listen (now my preference), but I would certainly like to hear some other opinions - as to its future hundreds of years from now, not much of a concern for me, at least -     Dave

[Solitary Wanderer]

I'd be interested to hear another version without Upshaw just to make the comparison.

[SonicMan46]

I'd be interested to hear another version without Upshaw just to make the comparison.

SW - well, look above - the Naxos offering is your perfect choice & cheap!  Enjoy - Dave 

[Heather Harrison]

Here are the final two items from yesterday's purchase.



These are SACDs of orchestral showpieces.  The first is a reissue of an early-1960's RCA Victor recording of Stokowski conducting the sorts of flamboyant orchestral pieces that he is best at.  As usual, sound quality is excellent.  The second pairs Bartok's famous Concerto for Orchestra with Lutoslawski's less well-known Concerto for Orchestra.  It is an excellent pairing; the two pieces exhibit similar qualities, and Lutoslawski's less famous piece stands up very well next to Bartok's.  As an added bonus, the SACD includes Lutoslawski's Fanfare for Louisville, a very short piece for woodwinds, brass, and percussion written late in the composer's life and showing a great deal of influence from the post-war avant-garde.  Paavo Jarvi conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in a performance that brings out the power and orchestral richness of the music.

Heather

[Todd]

I wasn't really looking for a new DSCH string quartet cycle, but then I stumbled upon the above while shopping.  A bit spendy at $85, and the sound is mixed and of the era (50s-70s Soviet recordings) based on some sampling, but I just had to have it.  The First Quartet is darned good.  Should be listening to more tomorrow. 

[Que]

Shopping trip to Amsterdam today.
I went into French baroque music with appropiate grandeur!  (thanks Harry for the advice).

And I was able to correct a major error I made in the past - passing over the early recordings in the Heifetz Edition, which are now OOP and are fetching huge prices on the Amazons and ebay.
I got hem cheap!    The shop assistent told me that they got them from BMG Benelux which was dumping its stock!    I'm very grateful and didn't know they had these in stock - haven't seen these in the shops for years - but what is going on at BMG?



Du Mont:7 Motets pour la Chapelle Royale de Louis XIV; Campra:Requiem, Miserere; F. Couperin:Motetten; Clerambault:Chants et Motets pour la Royale Maison; Rameau:Grand Motets (Deus noster refugium, Quam dilecta, In convertendo)
Crook, Lamy, Visse, Harvey, Dens, Fouchecourt, Musica Aeterna Bratislava, Le Grande Ecurie et la Chambre
du Roy, Les Talens Lyriques, Le Concert Spirituel, Schneebeli, Malgoire, Rousset, Niquet. (5 CD)

        
Orphée descendant aux enfers H. 471
In Nativitatem Domini Canticum H.416
Messe de Minuit 4 voix, flutes et violons pour Noel H.9
Divertissements, Airs et Concerts. (4CD)





And some nice extras:



Q

[sidoze]

I wasn't really looking for a new DSCH string quartet cycle, but then I stumbled upon the above while shopping.  A bit spendy at $85, and the sound is mixed and of the era (50s-70s Soviet recordings) based on some sampling, but I just had to have it.  The First Quartet is darned good.  Should be listening to more tomorrow. 

Nice one Todd. Could you report back on any which you find exceptional? I've only heard the first few of these--on a different label from several years back--and am interested enough to pursue them if your take is positive.