Topic: Purchases today.

[DavidW]

Two purchases



Koopman, Bach's Musical Offering.



Barenboim, Mahler 9.

I'm a fan of Koopman's Bach, but Barenboim's Mahler is taking a chance for me.

[jlaurson]

Two purchases



Koopman, Bach's Musical Offering.



Barenboim, Mahler 9.

I'm a fan of Koopman's Bach, but Barenboim's Mahler is taking a chance for me.

The Art of the Fugue is terrific. More fun than his first recording. Barenboim's Mahler, too. I am not a particular fan of the fine 5th, the 9th is very good (better than the ninths I've heard with him live), the 7th spectacular. (First mvt. esp.)

[kishnevi]

Barenboim, Mahler 9.

I'm a fan of Koopman's Bach, but Barenboim's Mahler is taking a chance for me.

Be not afraid.   It may be the best 9th released in the last couple of years; it certainly edges out the recording Rattle made with the crosstown rivals, and it's certainly much better than the 5th he did with the CSO.

[Antoine Marchand]

The Art of the Fugue is terrific. More fun than his first recording...

In fact his AoF is very interesting, almost integrally performed on two harpdischords by Koopman and his wife Tini Mathot. But the recording here referred is the Musical Offering.

[jlaurson]

In fact his AoF is very interesting, almost integrally performed on two harpdischords by Koopman and his wife Tini Mathot. But the recording here referred is the Musical Offering.

THAT's why they seemed so different.

[Brian]

Looks like Brian is the only happy customer so far but he has not made an appearance on the forum for a few days now ...
 

My computer's hard drive broke and I have been living without the Internet!

Abeille Musique shipped all of my CDs last week - no cancellations - and I am eagerly waiting for them to arrive in the mail. It has now been exactly 2 weeks since I placed my order. I used Google Translate to quickly translate the e-mails they sent me.

FWIW George has been right that I've used the no-computer time to catch up on listening - check out my forthcoming post in the listening thread...

[Orpheus]

Any opinions about these recordings?





Thanks

Orpheus 

[Orpheus]

and this?



 

[Opus106]

and this?

For starters, check Todd's "New" Music Log thread and the Haydn Haus; I think he provided some comments somewhere there.

[DavidW]

Well it looks I have something to look forward to, thanks Jens, kishnevi, and James for the comments.

[Brian]

and this?



 

The Hurwitzer found reason to dislike that one. Given that the Dorati can be found for about $70 and the Fischer for $90 (or $35 if you like MP3s), the Russell Davies seems like a risky buy. Additionally, according to Hurwitz, Sony seems to have botched the production of the box itself:

There's something shoddy about the entire production, beginning with a bad edit right at the start of the First Symphony. The poorly translated notes sagely assert that "nearly four years separate" the first symphony from the last. Interesting. What a busy bee Haydn must have been during those 48 months.

The Sinfonia concertante is listed as "Symphony No. 105", while "A" and "B" are numbered "107" and "108" respectively, even though they belong with the earliest works. Oh, and there is no "106". The symphonies are not listed numerically, but chronologically, which is largely speculative until we get to the later works, and this arrangement makes finding individual pieces a pain in the neck.

[Scarpia]

The Hurwitzer found reason to dislike that one. Given that the Dorati can be found for about $70 and the Fischer for $90 (or $35 if you like MP3s), the Russell Davies seems like a risky buy. Additionally, according to Hurwitz, Sony seems to have botched the production of the box itself:

Any consideration of the set ended when I read that applause is included at the end of each symphony.

[Orpheus]

Thank you very much friends! I'll look forward an good offer of Dorati set.

Orpheus 

[erato]

Given that the Dorati can be found for about $70 and the Fischer for $90 (or $35 if you like MP3s), the Russell Davies seems like a risky buy.

Actually the Fischer was included in my 150 CD Haydn box at Eur 35 from abeille - given that I bought this box for the baryton trios cheaper than the barytone trios are going alone I got the Fischer free......

Sorry; just need to rub it in.

[DavidW]

That's one of those reviews where you just want to say "don't hold back Dave, tell us what you really think!"   I didn't know they used a harpsichord continuo for the bass line, that's more for Gurn, pass.

[jlaurson]

That's one of those reviews where you just want to say "don't hold back Dave, tell us what you really think!"   I didn't know they used a harpsichord continuo for the bass line, that's more for Gurn, pass.

Except... he doesn't say anything in those excerpts about the quality of the performances. Nothing. And the numbering of the symphonies (105, 107, 108) is not exactly novel or unique to DRD... it's one of the traditional ways. He pretends not to know why 106 is missing to make a point... but it is disingenuous entirely. Ditto his deliberate misreading of the liner notes. (They were recorded in the span of about four years.)

I've not listened to more than five discs of the set yet, so I can't really comment... except that I like the idea behind DRD's Haydn and that I, too, think that the applause didn't need to be included.

[DavidW]

He did mention choppy phrasing (actually a plus for me) but yeah that is about it.  That is pretty typical when Hurwitz really doesn't like a performer to dismiss without good cause.  You might have already listened more than he has, it sounded like he listened to cd 1 and then put the entire set away.

I still can't find any reason for giving a bad sq score.  You would think it would be bar none the best sounding cycle since the others are simply more dated, and don't have a major studio supplying great equipment and engineers.

[Soapy Molloy]

A measly £6 in one of MDT's perennial offers. 

[Barak]

Any opinions about these recordings?





Thanks

Orpheus 

I'll tell you when I finally get them. Presto Classical just wrote saying they should complete my order 'soon'. I've been waiting for 6 weeks...

[Barak]

He did mention choppy phrasing (actually a plus for me) but yeah that is about it.  That is pretty typical when Hurwitz really doesn't like a performer to dismiss without good cause.  You might have already listened more than he has, it sounded like he listened to cd 1 and then put the entire set away.

I still can't find any reason for giving a bad sq score.  You would think it would be bar none the best sounding cycle since the others are simply more dated, and don't have a major studio supplying great equipment and engineers.

I honestly can't figure a reviewer listening to the entire set, let alone making comparisons. I'd bet he sampled here and there (he does say he had trouble finding individual works because of the chronological numbering used).