Recent posts

#1

The Diner / Re: What are you currently rea...

Last post by AnotherSpin - Today at 03:18:29 AM

I wonder if there are a few Russian members and they can provide thoughts/insights about the non-Russian editions of Russian literature. My gut feeling is that about 70 percent of the text could be translated to non-Slavic language accurately and aesthetically.

Big fan of Dostoyevsky, but I don't personally consider the Karamazov his successful work.

I live in Ukraine, however, Russian is my native language. I read almost all of Dostoevsky 30-40 years ago. There was no desire to re-read it before, and there is none now. I have nothing to say about the translations of Dostoevsky or other Russian-language authors; I never had the idea to inquire. Nevertheless, for some reason I have the feeling that Dostoevsky in translation is much more popular in the West than in the Russian-speaking environment. Perhaps he is better in translation than in the original? I don't remember meeting D.'s serious fans among my Russian-speaking friends. On the contrary, I have heard negative attitudes more than once. Compared to that, the perception of Tolstoy is much more favourable, or at least it used to be. Also Gogol, Chekhov. Pushkin and Lermontov, of course.

Perhaps it should be taken into account that all the authors mentioned above were in the program of compulsory study at secondary school in the USSR. Children were forced to read Crime and Punishment at the age of 13 or 14, War and Peace a year or two later.  For a child's psyche D. is hardly suitable, rejection could leave a trace for life. I read the rest of his main books, The Idiot, etc., in my university years.

#2

Composer Discussion / Re: Luís de Freitas Branco (18...

Last post by Roasted Swan - Today at 03:16:59 AM

Just came across something.

kyjo from the past said this (bolded text):


but kyjo from the present claimed (bolded text):

It must be that Vahtek (first post) and Vathek (second post) are different (and this is not the first time I've detected the same thing on him with other works). 

Lucky the person who always remembers every piece of music they have ever heard - even ones that make quite an impression!  The thing I take from Kyjo's posts is how consistent his reaction is which to my mind reads that Vathek has made a powerful impression on him both times he encountered it with an "innocent" ear.  How he writes with such enthusiasm also makes me want to listen to given that I have no memory of ever having heard it before...... probably......

#3

GMG News / Re: Bug Report 2024

Last post by Madiel - Today at 03:09:13 AM

I was having a slow time of it around the same time as Harry. Though several hours later it seems to be back to normal speed.

[Prokofiev]

#4

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Madiel - Today at 02:56:51 AM

Prokofiev: Chout (suite only)



It's always just a touch disappointing when this box has extracts rather than a complete version (and this comes just after a full 2.5-hour rendition of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, but I guess the suite version is far more common and still presents a decent amount of music.

The recording has plenty of colour (Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra from 1966, so fairly early in Abbado's career).

#5

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by AnotherSpin - Today at 01:52:28 AM

Op. 106

[Brian]

#6

Great Recordings and Reviews / Re: Gaspard de la Nuit

Last post by Hobby - Today at 01:31:13 AM

Brian led a mini-blind comparison of Gaspard here on GMG back in 2013.  20 starters, 10 made it through to round 2 (Le Gibet) and 7 to the Final (Scarbo).  Even without the files available, the thread still makes a very good read.
To pick two favourites from this thread, Argerich (live Concertgebouw) came 20th out of 20, and (studio DG) 11th out of 20.  Michelangeli made it to the Final (twice), but four others were preferred - all pianists not mentioned so far in this thread - with the 'winner' being emphatically ahead of the rest.

https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,21672.0.html

Of more recent candidates, I just love Jan Lisiecki's  d e a d  slow Gibet - on one of those ghastly themed compilation albums, 'Night Music'.

The winner was Steven Osborne who has not yet been mentioned on this thread. His is a wonderful version. Why so coy about mentioning the winner's name?

#7

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Florestan - Today at 12:58:06 AM

I threw out something you said to me 5 years ago so that you can say something new. 

Great! 

#8

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Madiel - Today at 12:13:32 AM

I said stop quoting me. Not reading it.

[François Dufaut.Pieces de Luth and Manuscrits.Hopkinson Smith plays on a Pietro Railich Lute, Venise, 1644.See back cover for more details.]

#9

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by Harry - Today at 12:13:06 AM

François Dufaut.
Pieces de Luth and Manuscrits.
Hopkinson Smith plays on a Pietro Railich Lute, Venise, 1644.
See back cover for more details.

Another pearl in the crown of Smith, a master Lute player of yore, and one of the best that graced our earth. Recording and performance are without blemish.

#10

General Classical Music Discussion / Re: What are you listening 2 n...

Last post by AnotherSpin - Today at 12:12:39 AM

Then stop quoting me. Seriously, I mostly ignore you for a reason. The only reason I bothered looking is because you quoted me. I assumed that meant you had something to say to me. But if not, then you are not just wasting my time, but your own.

You can reject absolutely anything by playing the "subjective" card. Including the entire history of philosophy and logic. How convenient.

I admit I'm wrong. Teasing a cranky child is not nice. I won't do it again, I promise