Topic: Purchases today.

[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).

[erato]

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...

I've bought some Eloquence from them as well with hefty delivery times. Seems like the UK importer occasionally runs out (perhaps they do the importing themselves as they seem to have a wider selection that what I've seen at other UK webshops) and have to get new stocks from Australia of selected titles, probably by boat. But I'd feel pretty confident that they'll eventually arrive.

I have some ABC Classics on order at mdt where the same seems to have happened. But I chill.....

[listener]

Any opinions about these recordings?
(Sibelius 7 Symphonies,    Collins, LSO

Thanks

Orpheus 

They look like the recordings that were on Beulah, from London /Decca LP issues.  They are among the great recordings of these symphonies.  You'll ignore the mono sound.
I put his no.2 way up in my list.  The passage in the 1st mvt for brass with string tremolo in 4/4 after N to the change to 3/4 always takes my breath away.

[Harry]

Both these boxes arrived today from Abeille music in shrink wrap, well packed. 

[Harry]

These 4 very interesting releases from Brilliant.

[Harry]

 

[jlaurson]

Listen what le cat dragged in.(A selection) (Abeille)

Paul Motian & the EBBB Play Monk and Powell Winter & Winter	Tango Alla Baila Tangata Rea Winter & Winter	Vale Tango Musicas de Noche Winter & Winter                                                        .
J.S.Bach The Art of the Fugue Lorenzo Ghielmi, Il Suonar Parlante Winter & Winter	F. Schubert Piano Trios opp. 99, 100, 148 La Gaia Scienza (period performances, aka. PePe Winter & Winter	J.S.Bach The Cello Suites Paolo Beschi (baroque cello) Winter & Winter                                                        .
Janacek The Makropulos Case Prague Ntl.Th. Bohumil Gregor et al. Supraphon	Janacek From the House of the Dead Czech Phil.O. Neumann et al. Supraphon	Suk Orchestral Works Czech Phil.O. Neumann, Pesek Supraphon                                                        .

[Opus106]

Listen what le cat dragged in.(A selection) (Abeille)

The guys who delivered for a measly sum, in tiny font. And nine links to Amazon.com.

[Sergeant Rock]

I had decided to wait for the inevitable box with Boulez's Mahler but Amazon DE has halved the price on the individual CDs, making it attractive to complete the cycle this way. I still need 1, 8, and 9. The classic Klemp M2 is a replacement for my well-worn LPs.







Sarge

[DavidW]

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).

Why not?  A musicweb reviewer did just that for the Fischer cycle.  Reviewers have done that for Haydn's SQ, PS and PT box sets.  It's important because many times the performer changes his/her approach to the music as he/she progresses to more mature works.  His review does not indicate that he did any kind of sampling, just that he didn't like the packaging and organization.  He makes almost no specific comments about the music making itself.  Don't defend Hurwitz here, he did not post a real review, he simply took an opportunity to slam a conductor that he clearly has a grudge against.

Edit: besides you've straw-manned my point.  It's not a hardly listen vs completely listen, that's a false dichotomy.  I was clearly saying that he should have listened to more than just the first cd.  His specific comments suggested that is all that he did.