Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[mc ukrneal]

The Gottschalk are excellent. That series was quite a surprise for me, and I have been enjoying many of those discs in the series. If you like them, they usually have several at Berkshire, and much cheaper there!

[Valentino]

Doesn't that just mean Brilliant will soon be giving it away?

I must must must have that yellow badge.

[SonicMan46]

The Gottschalk are excellent. That series was quite a surprise for me, and I have been enjoying many of those discs in the series. If you like them, they usually have several at Berkshire, and much cheaper there!

Just to support the above recommendation - I own about a half dozen of these Gottschalk discs on Hyperion w/ Philip Martin on the piano - a wonderful series, and will plan to complete the entire series; as suggested, I've obtained virtually all of these periodically from BRO, which has @ the moment 5 discs of these works (but by experience various ones seem to appear peridiocally - just need to check - these are only $7 per CD) - 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

In the mail today:

[Wanderer]

The Gottschalk are excellent. That series was quite a surprise for me, and I have been enjoying many of those discs in the series. If you like them, they usually have several at Berkshire, and much cheaper there!

Just to support the above recommendation - I own about a half dozen of these Gottschalk discs on Hyperion w/ Philip Martin on the piano - a wonderful series, and will plan to complete the entire series; as suggested, I've obtained virtually all of these periodically from BRO, which has @ the moment 5 discs of these works (but by experience various ones seem to appear peridiocally - just need to check - these are only $7 per CD) - 

The Hyperion Gottschalk series has been a nice surprise. I bought vol.4 recently on a whim due to a sale on Hyperion's website (after listening to the provided samples I thought it wasn't likely to be a dud and indeed it wasn't) and now vol.5 went on sale, too. For those who don't know it, Hyperion has launched a permanent sale on a periodically changing list of - as they claim - the most unpopular items in their catalogue. Personally, I'd like to grab quite a number more of Leslie Howard's more obscure Liszt recordings at these prices (having quite a number of them already from my early collecting days) and quite a number of other items which although being on the wishlist (some of them for a long time) did not seem attractive enough at full price.

[jlaurson]

Beethoven, Piano Concertos 3-5
Mackerras, Pizarro
Linn CKD336


Songs of Muriel Herbert
Ailish Tynan, James Gilchrist,
David Own Norris
Linn CKD335

[Bulldog]

The Hyperion Gottschalk series has been a nice surprise.

I was also surprised, but not pleasantly.  From my perspective, Martin is too sedentary and in no way expresses the adventure inherent in Gottchalk's music.  Much better is a disc by Cecile Licad on Naxos that is exciting and rings with vibrancy.  If interested, you can find my review of the Licad on MusicWeb.

[Daverz]

From Amazon.

[Valentino]

In the mail today:

I'm anticipating that one. Shall acquire everything they've ever put on record.

[SonicMan46]

I was also surprised, but not pleasantly.  From my perspective, Martin is too sedentary and in no way expresses the adventure inherent in Gottchalk's music.  Much better is a disc by Cecile Licad on Naxos that is exciting and rings with vibrancy.  If interested, you can find my review of the Licad on MusicWeb.

Now Don please don't discourage those considering the Martin recordings from a potential purchase - these recordings have gotten superlative reviews on the Hyperion WEBSITE and also a top 3* rating in the latest Penguin Guide; plus, I'm not sure that there have been as complete a set of recordings of Gottschalk's Piano Music, so if one wants more that just one disc, there may not be that many options?

OTOH, the Licad recording has been well reviewed, so I'll add to my 'wish list' for a comparison - thanks for the recommendation - Dave 

[Daverz]

top 3* rating in the latest Penguin Guide;

At least it didn't get a rosette.  That's like a kiss on the mouth from Michael Corleone.

[Coopmv]

I'm anticipating that one. Shall acquire everything they've ever put on record.

I ordered this last evening ...

[SonicMan46]

At least it didn't get a rosette.  That's like a kiss on the mouth from Michael Corleone.

Dave - LOL!    Yes, this guide has become somewhat of a PITA - now they have added a 4* rating, plus their usual 'keyed' & 'rosette' recommendations, so what to do?  A 3* rating seems to be fairly good (of course, if you trust their comments, which is often contentious on this forum -  ) - but should one now only consider 4* w/ a key & a rosette the only choice? - may be now a time to give up this guide?

However, the Hyperion recordings of Gottschalk are pretty damn good, so if one wants a listen to several discs, then these offerings @ a bargain price are worth obtaining; again, I goin' to try the single CD offering of Licad just for a comparison, but not sure what else is offered in this volume?  Dave 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I'm anticipating that one. Shall acquire everything they've ever put on record.

They're a heck of a group. Certainly worth the effort.

[Harry]

I was also surprised, but not pleasantly.  From my perspective, Martin is too sedentary and in no way expresses the adventure inherent in Gottchalk's music.  Much better is a disc by Cecile Licad on Naxos that is exciting and rings with vibrancy.  If interested, you can find my review of the Licad on MusicWeb.

O, I a so surprised you saying that. It is the worst recording I ever heard, and I am not the only one in thinking so.
The playing is horrendously bad.
This music is far better served by Martin
Licad should be forgotten, and will be no doubt.

[Wanderer]

I was also surprised, but not pleasantly.  From my perspective, Martin is too sedentary and in no way expresses the adventure inherent in Gottchalk's music.  Much better is a disc by Cecile Licad on Naxos that is exciting and rings with vibrancy.
If interested, you can find my review of the Licad on MusicWeb.

She must be pretty buoyant if you consider Martin sedentary in comparison. Thanks for the heads-up, I'll check it out.
The Martin volume 4 I already have contains salon-type music mostly (mazurkas, caprices, a polka, a grande marche solennelle) and I don't think Martin's lacking any brio or gusto in his playing; indeed he seems to be having a lot of fun and of course the whole thing is excellently recorded in the usual Hyperion manner.

Harry, the Loon Lake Hovhaness symphony in your signature has a title worthy of Gottschalk! 

[nut-job]

[Kullervo]

I'm not a "recordings" person, but that looks awesome!

[Bulldog]

O, I a so surprised you saying that. It is the worst recording I ever heard, and I am not the only one in thinking so.
The playing is horrendously bad.
This music is far better served by Martin
Licad should be forgotten, and will be no doubt.

Not by the Bulldog or other listeners of insight into the American experience.  I was looking into reviews other than mine on MusicWeb and came up with the following:

Jed Distler/ClassicsToday - "A sensational disc".
David Lewis/All Music Guide - "Everyone at the office here is unilaterally amazed by the disc's virtues".
Los Angeles Times - "Licad's dazzling crystalline tone and riveting rhythmic precision make her ideal for these 16 well-chosen selections".

So don't be so surprised with my praise for Licad's disc.  Your personal opinion is not universally shared.  I suggest you leave your preconceptions at the door and listen to disc without prejudice. 

[Novi]

Finally! I ordered this set about three weeks ago:



There was an interesting review of the 1980-90 volume on the radio over the weekend and I liked what I heard there. Having listened to a few of the disks in this set, I think I want all the other ones as well (although vol. I is OOP now). Quite pricey though and I'm supposed to be on a CD buying moratorium .