What are you listening to now?

[Karl Henning]

Happy birthday to "Papa"!

Te Deum, Hob. XXIIIc № 2
Chœur de Chambre de Namur
La Petite Bande
Mijnheer Kuijken

[asin]B007AR7QZI[/asin]

[Ken B]

Beethoven, 5, Immerseel, Anima Aeterna

[North Star]

Sibelius
Violin Concerto
Vadim Repin, Krivine & LSO

[Harry]

A new Ilya Murometz

[asin]B00HFDKTC4[/asin]

The mediocre sonics are a bummer.

Tim Handley is a very experienced engineer, so if this doesn't sound good, something must be wrong with the acoustics. And actually that could be the case, for I remember a Naxos CD with the same forces, and also Handley as engineer, which sounded also so so!
Yes the Kleinhans Music Hall, that was the bummer.

[Mirror Image]

Hartmann, Concerto Funebre

Excellent choice. I love Hartmann's music.

[Mirror Image]

A new Ilya Murometz

[asin]B00HFDKTC4[/asin]

The mediocre sonics are a bummer.

Hurwitz gave that recording 10/10. Go figure. Falletta must have some dirt on him.

[Ken B]

Hurwitz gave that recording 10/10. Go figure. Falletta must have some dirt on him.

One of my complaints with Hurwitz is he is way way too soft on his favourites.

[Mirror Image]

One of my complaints with Hurwitz is he is way way too soft on his favourites.

Favorite composers, labels, orchestras, or conductors? Please elaborate.

[DavidW]

Favorite composers, labels, orchestras, or conductors? Please elaborate.

Conductors, ensembles.  For example the Talich Quartet is amazing, I like them as much as Hurwitz does.  But he gives them a sound rating of 10 just so that they get that 10/10 seal of approval... but the sound quality is not a 10.  He'll overlook problems with conductors and interpretations that he likes and give them a 10.  Especially if he can thumb his nose at someone he doesn't like in the process.  For example he loves the Rilling box of Bach Cantatas.  Rilling's interpretation changed dramatically as he progressed through the cycle.  Does each and every recording have the same artistic merit?  Even the ones antithetical to the others?  Just for that reason, I don't think that big box deserves a 10, perhaps an 8 or a 9 is more in order.

[Brian]

Was Mariss Jansons' interpretation of Shosty's Sixth always this fast?



The Largo movement takes fewer than 16 minutes, and the whole piece is done in just shy of a half-hour. It's actually working just fine. The Largo never feels rushed (final coda is actually wonderful), and overall it's pretty enjoyable.

The mediocre sonics are a bummer.

The other Naxos version, Donald Johanos with a Slovak band, is super exciting but with rather primitive sonics. I guess the acoustic in Buffalo is kind of bland. FYI (Mirror Image take note), I do agree that this is a very good performance, joining Johanos at the top of my list - the first-movement introduction is really perfect.

He'll overlook problems with conductors and interpretations that he likes and give them a 10.

Giving a 10 in sound quality just so something will be 10/10 is one of my (comparatively few) beefs with Hurwitz. He even does it with a lot of recordings from the 1960s. It's not just 10s though; if the sound is not perfect, he gives a 9/9 regardless of whether it could have been a 10/9, and if he thinks it's a really good CD but not a great one, he gives a 9/9 no matter what the sound quality. 9/9 is probably the least helpful CT score because anything could be 9/9.

[Mirror Image]

Conductors, ensembles.  For example the Talich Quartet is amazing, I like them as much as Hurwitz does.  But he gives them a sound rating of 10 just so that they get that 10/10 seal of approval... but the sound quality is not a 10.  He'll overlook problems with conductors and interpretations that he likes and give them a 10.  Especially if he can thumb his nose at someone he doesn't like in the process.  For example he loves the Rilling box of Bach Cantatas.  Rilling's interpretation changed dramatically as he progressed through the cycle.  Does each and every recording have the same artistic merit?  Even the ones antithetical to the others?  Just for that reason, I don't think that big box deserves a 10, perhaps an 8 or a 9 is more in order.

I wonder if he's personally met any of these conductors he champions? Maybe they have bribed him with chocolates and a free lap dance from a Thai hooker? Lol...

[DavidW]

Giving a 10 in sound quality just so something will be 10/10 is one of my (comparatively few) beefs with Hurwitz. He even does it with a lot of recordings from the 1960s. It's not just 10s though; if the sound is not perfect, he gives a 9/9 regardless of whether it could have been a 10/9, and if he thinks it's a really good CD but not a great one, he gives a 9/9 no matter what the sound quality. 9/9 is probably the least helpful CT score because anything could be 9/9.

Yes the 9/9 is horrible!  Infuriating!!

[North Star]

Was Mariss Jansons' interpretation of Shosty's Sixth always this fast?



The Largo movement takes fewer than 16 minutes, and the whole piece is done in just shy of a half-hour. It's actually working just fine. The Largo never feels rushed (final coda is actually wonderful), and overall it's pretty enjoyable.

Jansons on EMI: 15:24, 5:51, 6:40 = 27:55

[Brian]

Jansons on EMI: 15:24, 5:51, 6:40 = 27:55

Ah! Well that's pretty similar to the new reading.

I wonder if he's personally met any of these conductors he champions? Maybe they have bribed him with chocolates and a free lap dance from a Thai hooker? Lol...

Hurwitz has an actual record as a musician, you know. And that does inform some of his writing. He arranged the USA premiere of George Lloyd's Fifth Symphony, and he told me in private correspondence that he was personally good friends with the late conductor Antonio de Almeida - they used to hang out studying scores together like nerds. 

[Ken B]

The Hurwitz-dissed Martinu 3 and 4 by Bamberg, Jarvi.

[mn dave]

.
[asin]B001OBBSQY[/asin]

[Daverz]

Hurwitz gave that recording 10/10. Go figure. Falletta must have some dirt on him.

A 10/10 allows the ClassicsToday "10/10" sticker to go on discs he likes.

However, many other folks have praised the sonics.  So it may just be me and my equipment.

To be explicit about what I don't like: the sound is lacking in transparency, the soundstage seems lopsided and congested,  and the strings sound scrawny.  I would rate the sonics as acceptable enough to allow enjoyment of the music, but definitely below average for Naxos.

I put on one of the Naxos Rossini discs from Prague after this, and it sounds wonderful.  Of course that is much smaller scale music. 

[Daverz]

Tim Handley is a very experienced engineer, so if this doesn't sound good, something must be wrong with the acoustics. And actually that could be the case, for I remember a Naxos CD with the same forces, and also Handley as engineer, which sounded also so so!
Yes the Kleinhans Music Hall, that was the bummer.

Thanks for the info, Harry.  Here is a very short video of the recording sessions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpIskkC18EE

[Mirror Image]

A 10/10 allows the ClassicsToday "10/10" sticker to go on discs he likes.

However, many other folks have praised the sonics.  So it may just be me and my equipment.

To be explicit about what I don't like: the sound is lacking in transparency, the soundstage seems lopsided and congested,  and the strings sound scrawny.  I would rate the sonics as acceptable enough to allow enjoyment of the music, but definitely below average for Naxos.

I put on one of the Naxos Rossini discs from Prague after this, and it sounds wonderful.  Of course that is much smaller scale music.

Well, your comments aren't without merit and taking note of, Daverz.

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Anthony Marwood -                                                                             


Ilan Volkov -


BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra -


Listening to Marwood tear apart the Violin Concerto. This is one of my favorite Britten recordings. Every work is performed to such a high standard. Volkov's other Britten disc (w/ Steven Osborne in the PC) is also another winner.