Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Harry]

Hope you enjoy! As you know, I love the Fete set!

On the other, I have the Cinderalla (Prokofiev, very good), Cinderella (Strauss, also good), Delibes (all three, very good indeed), Giselle (most enjoyable), Glazunov (also good), and Swan Lake (positions seem mixed on this, but I love it and the sound is outstanding).  I have different versions of the others, but those here seem mostly good. I hope it brings many hours of enjoyment.

If you do like it, there are more ballets by Adam and Minkus that you can pick up. Already thinking ahead to your purchase for you!  It's fun spending other people's money...

Would love to know which ones....well honestly.

[SonicMan46]

When you'll have time for listening, I'd be quite interested in your thoughts about it, Dave.

Hi Andrei - I've been following the posts between you & Harry on the Gade Symphonies; I already own 3 of those volumes, and just felt like completing the set - has been a while since my last listening, so when this current order arrives, I'll take an aural trip through the whole set - 

My original interest in Hogwood's series was based on a number of excellent reviews as I recall; e.g. David Hurwitz (who I seem to like when he gives a good review that I'm in agreement -  ) - but he seemed to really appreciated and enjoy these works, 10/10 ratings - one Reprinted HERE - I'm still curious about the Jarvi recordings, but will make a decision when I do my perusal of these works in the near future - Dave

[listener]

Label?

AMIROV's Egyptian Nights is on the Olympia label,
an earlier ASV disc duplicates much of the new Naxos one.
His opera Sevil was on a 3-disc LP set  Melodiya 33D 019415-420, and there was a Stokowski  arrangement/paraphrase/great moments from the Azerbaijan Mugams on Everest.   I seem to remember a short excerpt filling the LP of the Glière horn concerto as well  (Glière conducting).   His Six Pieces for flute and piano are on BIS 419.

[mc ukrneal]

Would love to know which ones....well honestly.

Well, since you asked.... For many of these, there is little to no competition, so I can't really tell you much about competing versions (and if they are even better), but I can tell you whether I like the ones I've got.

If I had to choose just a few as a starting point, I would pick among Adam, Messager, and Lovenskiold. But I could see picking Gliere, Minkus or Arensky as well. They all have some rewards!

Adolphe Adam:
La Filleule des Fees: Queensland SO/Mogrelia on Marco Polo: Very entertaining music. Tuneful/happy music (but not overly deep/weighty). Well performed in good sound. Great value. I love this set.
La Jolie Fille de Gand: same group as above again on Macro Polo: Also very good and well performed. If the previous one brings you into nature scenes easily, this one has a bit more of a dramatic feel to it. Also good value.

Arensky:
Egyptian Nights: Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Yablonsky on Marco Polo. I love Arensky (a much under-rated composer in my opinion), so I am biased. Good sound and performance.

Josef Bayer:
The Fairy Doll: Slovak Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Mogrelia on Naxos: Very nice ballet, if a bit light on substance. But the music is enjoyable and the performance as good as you will find. I wouldn't start here, but definitely some attractive music. Reminds me a bit of Strauss in parts.

Glazunov
Raymonda: Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Anissimov:  At the time, on cd, it was this or nothing (and I'm not sure much has changed), but it is quite well performed. Sound is good.

Gliere:
Red Poppy: St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra/Anichanov on Naxos: This is the one with the famous Dance of the Soviet/Russian Sailors. Very bombastic and a lot of fun with lots of dances. Well performed. Good sound. Has always reminded me of Scheherazade in sound style (but not always  ).

Herold:
La Somnambule: Vicotria Symphony Orchestra/Bonynge on Melba records. I got this on Amazon, but it may be hard to find. If you like the Herold on Ballet Masterpieces, you might like more! I like the music. Sound and perfromance good.

Lovenskiold:
La Sylphide: Royal Danish Orchestra/GArforth on Chandos. I saw a version of this on Mezzo and just had to have it. WOnderful music. Lively performance and good sound.

Messager:
Les Deux Pigeons: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Lanchberry on Decca Eloquence Classics for Pleasure. Excellent performance in decent sound.  Really enjoy this performance. Sound is not quite as good as some of the others, but is not a deal breaker (and I am picky about that). Comes with Herold, which is on the 35 discer you got. There is an alternate version on Decca Eloquence with Bonynge conducting. Haven't heard it, so can't comment.

Minkus:
Don Quixote: Sofia National Opera Orchestra/Todorov on Naxos. There just aren't that many versions on CD. I like some of this a lot. But I've never really warmed to it. I think perhaps I'd like a bit more oommpf in some places. Sound is good.
La Bayadere:  English Chamber Orchestra/Bonynge on Decca: Sound and performance here. My suggestion here is to read the Amazaon US reviews for this version and for the Spassov recording. They are different versions and some people seem to have strong views of which is 'right'. Personally, I just really like the music.

Saint Saens:
Javotte: Queensland/Mogrelia on Marco Polo again. Good performance and sound. I never knew that Saint Saens even wrote a ballet, which was why I acquired this. I enjoy it, but not as much as the symphonies or piano concertos or... Not sure if there is another verson of this out there.

And I better stop there - certainly plenty to choose from!  (And as an aside, I got stuck listening to the Two Pigeons, so that is what I am listening to! Wonderful music!)

[The new erato]

Cinderalla (Prokofiev, very good),

Is this the Gipsy version?

[Harry]

AMIROV's Egyptian Nights is on the Olympia label,
an earlier ASV disc duplicates much of the new Naxos one.
His opera Sevil was on a 3-disc LP set  Melodiya 33D 019415-420, and there was a Stokowski  arrangement/paraphrase/great moments from the Azerbaijan Mugams on Everest.   I seem to remember a short excerpt filling the LP of the Glière horn concerto as well  (Glière conducting).   His Six Pieces for flute and piano are on BIS 419.

Will try to get the ballet, that looks really interesting!

[Harry]

Well, since you asked.... For many of these, there is little to no competition, so I can't really tell you much about competing versions (and if they are even better), but I can tell you whether I like the ones I've got.

If I had to choose just a few as a starting point, I would pick among Adam, Messager, and Lovenskiold. But I could see picking Gliere, Minkus or Arensky as well. They all have some rewards!

Adolphe Adam:
La Filleule des Fees: Queensland SO/Mogrelia on Marco Polo: Very entertaining music. Tuneful/happy music (but not overly deep/weighty). Well performed in good sound. Great value. I love this set.
La Jolie Fille de Gand: same group as above again on Macro Polo: Also very good and well performed. If the previous one brings you into nature scenes easily, this one has a bit more of a dramatic feel to it. Also good value.

Arensky:
Egyptian Nights: Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Yablonsky on Marco Polo. I love Arensky (a much under-rated composer in my opinion), so I am biased. Good sound and performance.

Josef Bayer:
The Fairy Doll: Slovak Radio Philharmonic Orchestra/Mogrelia on Naxos: Very nice ballet, if a bit light on substance. But the music is enjoyable and the performance as good as you will find. I wouldn't start here, but definitely some attractive music. Reminds me a bit of Strauss in parts.

Glazunov
Raymonda: Moscow Symphony Orchestra/Anissimov:  At the time, on cd, it was this or nothing (and I'm not sure much has changed), but it is quite well performed. Sound is good.

Gliere:
Red Poppy: St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra/Anichanov on Naxos: This is the one with the famous Dance of the Soviet/Russian Sailors. Very bombastic and a lot of fun with lots of dances. Well performed. Good sound. Has always reminded me of Scheherazade in sound style (but not always  ).

Herold:
La Somnambule: Vicotria Symphony Orchestra/Bonynge on Melba records. I got this on Amazon, but it may be hard to find. If you like the Herold on Ballet Masterpieces, you might like more! I like the music. Sound and perfromance good.

Lovenskiold:
La Sylphide: Royal Danish Orchestra/GArforth on Chandos. I saw a version of this on Mezzo and just had to have it. WOnderful music. Lively performance and good sound.

Messager:
Les Deux Pigeons: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Lanchberry on Decca Eloquence Classics for Pleasure. Excellent performance in decent sound.  Really enjoy this performance. Sound is not quite as good as some of the others, but is not a deal breaker (and I am picky about that). Comes with Herold, which is on the 35 discer you got. There is an alternate version on Decca Eloquence with Bonynge conducting. Haven't heard it, so can't comment.

Minkus:
Don Quixote: Sofia National Opera Orchestra/Todorov on Naxos. There just aren't that many versions on CD. I like some of this a lot. But I've never really warmed to it. I think perhaps I'd like a bit more oommpf in some places. Sound is good.
La Bayadere:  English Chamber Orchestra/Bonynge on Decca: Sound and performance here. My suggestion here is to read the Amazaon US reviews for this version and for the Spassov recording. They are different versions and some people seem to have strong views of which is 'right'. Personally, I just really like the music.

Saint Saens:
Javotte: Queensland/Mogrelia on Marco Polo again. Good performance and sound. I never knew that Saint Saens even wrote a ballet, which was why I acquired this. I enjoy it, but not as much as the symphonies or piano concertos or... Not sure if there is another verson of this out there.

And I better stop there - certainly plenty to choose from!  (And as an aside, I got stuck listening to the Two Pigeons, so that is what I am listening to! Wonderful music!)

Some of them I had already, but others not. Thank you so much for this list, it kept you busy, and now it keeps me busy.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

AMIROV's Egyptian Nights is on the Olympia label

Thanks for answering Harry's question. I was out...

[Sergeant Rock]

CDs today from various sources: Amazon FR (the Furtwängler Bruckner box), JPC (Rott symphonies and string quartet), an Amazon seller (Stein's Bruckner Sixth) and Kaufland, a supermarket (the Brahms Requiem):







Sarge

[DavidW]

Splurge!



I used to own those cd.  Should have kept it.   Actually if I still have it, man I will hit myself.



Old school Mozart.



I don't know if I've even heard these works before, new to me.



Based on what gmgers rec'd.



Rach is awesome, haven't tried this set, hope that it's better than Ashkenazy but it would pretty much have to be.

[mc ukrneal]

[

Based on what gmgers rec'd.

Very much interested in how you like this. I've been considering it myself, but am wary as I seem to be pickier with Bach in some pieces.

[The new erato]

Ordered from mdt:

[mc ukrneal]

Ordered from mdt:

I would love to hear how you like this.  I liked his piano concerto on Hyperion. I have been eyeing it, but it is so expensive!  Seems very hard to find Sterling for less (or on sale).

[The new erato]

I would love to hear how you like this.  I liked his piano concerto on Hyperion. I have been eyeing it, but it is so expensive!  Seems very hard to find Sterling for less (or on sale).

Will try to remember to report when it arrives. Yes Sterling is expensive, and never on sale anywhere (it seems).

Another label that is expensive and very hard to get (at least in Europe) is Tall Poppies. Few carries it, I've found crotchet.co.uk, so I ordered this:

[DavidW]

I finished my splurge off yesterday by ordering Badura-Skoda and the Festetics Q performing Mozart's Piano Quartets.

[Bunny]

Well, I don't believe that I've posted here since earlier in the month, but have a number of 'outstanding' orders (MDT, Amazon, & Barnes/Noble) shown below - some of these have receive 'mixed' comments (e.g. Gade's Symphonies w/ Hogwood) and others have been lauded, so a mixture I guess; the Dorati Haydn box is 'backordered' at an excellent price from Barnes & Noble, and not expecting them to come through on that item - 

Barnes & Noble cancelled my order more than a week ago saying that it was "no longer available." Good luck with your order.  I've already reordered it, but have little hope that it will be fulfilled. 

Now that Caiman is gone, I guess B&N is jumping into their special niche.   

[Coopmv]

Barnes & Noble cancelled my order more than a week ago saying that it was "no longer available." Good luck with your order.  I've already reordered it, but have little hope that it will be fulfilled. 

Now that Caiman is gone, I guess B&N is jumping into their special niche.   

The snow storm over the northeast is no doubt causing delay on the arrival of my MDT order from the UK ...   

[Bunny]

The snow storm over the northeast is no doubt causing delay on the arrival of my MDT order from the UK ...   

I got another message from MDT as well.  I had ordered some Koroliov Bach cds and they wanted to inform me that their supplier was backordered, but that I shouldn't reorder because they would send it as soon as it was available.  Meanwhile, everything else in the order is sitting in England as well.  sigh...

[Coopmv]

I got another message from MDT as well.  I had ordered some Koroliov Bach cds and they wanted to inform me that their supplier was backordered, but that I shouldn't reorder because they would send it as soon as it was available.  Meanwhile, everything else in the order is sitting in England as well.  sigh...

My first MDT order was shipped on 2/17 so it is not a substantial delay.  For my second MDT order, the Savall Biber CD is out of stock but the order still has not shipped yet.  It typically takes MDT a few days to ship. 

[SonicMan46]

Barnes & Noble cancelled my order more than a week ago saying that it was "no longer available." Good luck with your order.  I've already reordered it, but have little hope that it will be fulfilled. 

Now that Caiman is gone, I guess B&N is jumping into their special niche.   

Hi Bunny - well, not holding by breath on that order despite the great price @ B&N (i.e. $57) - I was notified of the delay 2 weeks ago, and suspect my next e-mail from them will be a cancellation, but maybe not?  Dave