Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Antoine Marchand]

I read this statement to mean "I like this set and recommend it over all others recorded in the past 30 years."  Thanks to Elgarian's advocacy of Handel's operas, I'm enjoying his music quite a bit these days and am interested in filling a couple of holes in my collection.  This set by Pinnock might fit the bill and your high praise certainly prompts further consideration.  However, I'm not yet familiar enough with your tastes to know how to assess your statement in relation to my own, and I am aware that some of your previous appraisals have been quite at odds with my own.  Consequently I hope you can fill me in on some of the details regarding your recommendation:

(1) How familiar are you with all of the other recordings of Handel's orchestral works made in the past 30 years?  What do you think of McGegan's recordings, for instance?  And Manze's?  Gardiner's?  Hogwood?  I Musici?  Iona Brown?  Pearlman?  Have you heard the recent Eggar op 3?  What do you think of the new Antonini op 6 that's received such high praise here and elsewhere?

(2) What is it about Pinnock's recordings that makes you feel confident enough about their superiority to proclaim them "the best" and not merely ones that you happen to like? 

(3) Your comment suggests the existence of recordings from more than 30 years ago that you regard as at least as good as Pinnock's, if not better.  If so, which recordings do you like better and why? 

Thank you. 

It looks like an exam (and not an easy one). 

[Bulldog]

This collection of Handel's orchestral works is easily the best that has been recorded over the last 30 years.  I just bought this set about a month ago, though I have also owned the individual singles that make up the set since the mid 80's ...

It's good to know that you'll be getting double the pleasure.

[DavidRoss]

It looks like an exam (and not an easy one). 

Well, if the set is "easily the best," then I doubt the exam will prove too difficult. 

[The new erato]

Due to arrive any day now from mdt:

[jlaurson]

Look what the cat dragged in:

Mendelssohn, Organ Works W.Whitehead	Bacewicz, Violin Concertos 1, 3, 7 J.Kurkowicz et al.	Mendelssohn, Piano Trios Borodin Trio
Mendelssohn, SQ4ts 1 & 2 Gabrieli SQ4t	Martinu, Cello Concertos Belohlavek, Wallfisch	Beethoven & Clement, Violin Concertos R.Barton-Pine, Serebrier

[The new erato]

Your cat's stronger than mine, obviously.

[The new erato]

Just added an order for these as these labels still are on offer on mdt for some days.



Albinoni's not a particular favorite of mine, but this disc has received praise, I have other admirable releases by Banchini, and Zig-Zags productions are nearly worth it just to look at, and touch.



The string quartet disc on cpo is quite fine and has given me some interest in exploring Marx slightly more. I'm thinking about the Herbstsymphonie on cpo also, europadisc still have good cpo prices until the 3oth of July.

[jlaurson]

Busy little pussy. Just fished these out of the mail box, too.

Frank Martin, Concertos volume 2 (Polyptyque, Passacaille, Cto. pour Clavecin Jac van Steen et al.

Szymanowski, Complete Wks. for Violin & Piano Paul Gulda & J.Madroszkiewicz

Reger, Clarinet Quintet, String Sextet Ensemble Villa Musica

[jlaurson]

Hope you enjoy it! I have yet to hear all of my set (I've only heard the first two quartets), but so far I LOVE what I hear.  

I love those, too. Surprisingly soft hued excellence. But unlike Scarpia, I don't despise, I adore the Takacs set.

Of course, I'm also of the opinion that one can't have enough Bartok Quartet cycles. I don't love them (below) all, but each offers one or more aspects I greatly enjoy.
I wish that the Quatuor Ebene had finished a Bartok cycle before they switched from Mirage to Virgin... now it's going to take a while until they are allowed to record Bartok again.

B.Bartok, String Quartets Takacs Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Vegh Quartet (stereo)	B.Bartok, String Quartets Juilliard Quartet (1963)
B.Bartok, String Quartets Belcea Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Keller Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Tokyo String Quartet (DG)
B.Bartok, String Quartets Emerson, Lake & Palmer	B.Bartok, String Quartets Chilingirian SQ4t

[Brian]

B.Bartok, String Quartets Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Tee-hee! 

[prémont]

B.Bartok, String Quartets Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Who is the fourth guy on the picture?

[mahler10th]

Todays finest composer. 

[Scarpia]

I love those, too. Surprisingly soft hued excellence. But unlike Scarpia, I don't despise, I adore the Takacs set.

Of course, I'm also of the opinion that one can't have enough Bartok Quartet cycles. I don't love them (below) all, but each offers one or more aspects I greatly enjoy.
I wish that the Quatuor Ebene had finished a Bartok cycle before they switched from Mirage to Virgin... now it's going to take a while until they are allowed to record Bartok again.

B.Bartok, String Quartets Takacs Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Vegh Quartet (stereo)	B.Bartok, String Quartets Juilliard Quartet (1963)
B.Bartok, String Quartets Belcea Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Keller Quartet	B.Bartok, String Quartets Tokyo String Quartet (DG)
B.Bartok, String Quartets Emerson, Lake & Palmer	B.Bartok, String Quartets Chilingirian SQ4t

Your matrix has one open square which you should fill with the best one of all

[Elgarian]

Aha! Unexpectedly, a new 'bottom ten' appeared on the Hyperion website today. So, big bargain purchases as follows:

Details & samples:http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66921/3

Details & samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67467

And also, to get an extra 10% off the total:

Details & samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67298&f=handel%20hercules

And that almost exhausts my resources for this month, so I hope there are no unmissable bargains in the next couple of weeks!

[Lethevich]

Details & samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67298&f=handel%20hercules

'especially enjoyable' (Gay Times)

Interesting - I didn't know they reviewed baroque!

Interesting looking piece, BTW.

[Elgarian]

Interesting looking piece, BTW.

I have high hopes of it.

[Coopmv]

Aha! Unexpectedly, a new 'bottom ten' appeared on the Hyperion website today. So, big bargain purchases as follows:

Details & samples:http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66921/3

Details & samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67467

And also, to get an extra 10% off the total:

Details & samples: http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67298&f=handel%20hercules

And that almost exhausts my resources for this month, so I hope there are no unmissable bargains in the next couple of weeks!

You want to bet Elgarian, the e-tailers will always have some new offers you cannot refuse?  They want you to break your bank ...   

[Drasko]

Had no intention buying Beethoven cycle but ridiculous price of 7 euros at prestoclassical clearance sale changed my mind, Fischer Mahler from same place (for under 6 euros). Sofronitsky is brand new release from Vista Vera (ordered from their website) containing few previously unexisting pieces in his discography - 1st and 4th Ballades and incomplete 3rd Sonata (sans finale).

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

My latest batch just arrived, underlining my listening eclectitude:

[George]

Sofronitsky is brand new release from Vista Vera (ordered from their website) containing few previously unexisting pieces in his discography - 1st and 4th Ballades and incomplete 3rd Sonata (sans finale).

When you get a chance, I'd appreciate your impressions of the sound and performance on that CD.