Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[jlaurson]

  Hello and welcome to Wagner  .

What thread are we in?

The Parsifal choice is seconded. A very rare instance where I think that (modest, old) sound may indeed be secondary to a great performance. Still, my first choice would probably go to Kubelik's or even Boulez' Parsifal.

(In any case, I'd actually recommend the earlier operas first, rather than M-Singer & P'val... but that's neither here nor there. Well, maybe there.

Parsifal


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Parsifal
Kubelik
Arts Music


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Parsifal
Boulez
DG


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Parsifal
Barenboim
Telarc
Waltraud Meier as Kundry alone would make this a recommendation.

Meistersinger


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Meistersinger
Kubelik
Arts Music

The Kubelik Meistersinger is absolutely outstanding...  I don't even feel like hinting at other excellent ones, like Kempe (EMI).

Tristan & Isolde


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Parsifal
Barenboim
Telarc
Waltraud Meier again in top form... Jerusalem while he was still very good... this is a superb Tristan and, among many good, even great Wagner recordings of Danny B., well possibly his best.


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Boehm
Tristan & Isolde
DG

I really like the Boehm as well... and tons of improvements on sound from the Furtwaengler. And Nilsson's first act puts your heirs on end. Windgassen's lightness is a whole new game in Wagner singing. (Well, it was back then. And he was criticized for it, before he was deified by the Wagnerians.)

[Mirror Image]

  Hello and welcome to Wagner  ...................  beyond the Ring I can recommend these:

1)

  I have close to 1000 CDs and this Furtwanger Tristan recording is my absolute favorite!  In my opinion there isn't a better Tristan on record (not even Bohm at Bayreuth which would be my second choice)!

2)

  This Karajan recording is breathtakingly beautiful!

and finally this:

  3)

   Wagner had the sound of his Bayreuth Opera House in mind for Parsifal, so a recording at Bayreuth is essential for any collection!  I suppose you can also buy the Karajan Parsifal as well but no, stick with my recommendation first you won't regret it!

  Solti's Ring is excellent, but Bohm's Ring is not to be missed either  !! 

 

  marvin 

That's for your help Marvin, but as a personal preference I'm looking for Wagner that is in excellent audio in addition to the performance. Early stereo is okay, but mainly depends on what label did the recording. What do you think of Solti's Wagner recordings?

[MishaK]

That's for your help Marvin, but as a personal preference I'm looking for Wagner that is in excellent audio in addition to the performance. Early stereo is okay, but mainly depends on what label did the recording. What do you think of Solti's Wagner recordings?

In that case, Jens' Barenboim recommendations will nicely fit that bill. In modern sound, there isn't a better Tristan, Lohengrin or Parsifal etc. His Meistersinger is also highly lauded, but I haven't heard it personally.

[Mirror Image]

In that case, Jens' Barenboim recommendations will nicely fit that bill. In modern sound, there isn't a better Tristan, Lohengrin or Parsifal etc. His Meistersinger is also highly lauded, but I haven't heard it personally.

Thanks Mensch. I was probably heading for Barenboim anyway.

[MishaK]

Thanks Mensch. I was probably heading for Barenboim anyway.

Now, if 70 (80s?) stereo is fine, that Kubelik Parsifal is very special. A little harder to find at a decent price though.

[Brian]

I liked Wozzek on stage, the extreme emotions were well expressed with his music. I listened to pieces now and again on the radio, quite a lot over the years, and I can sum up: I'm not interested enough "to go towards him", if he comes along I can listen with interest, but I don't need him. I need something I can connect to "melodiously-emotionally", and I don't find enough of that in Berg. (Which of course is not only a matter of tonality, there are very tonal and very boring things.) Some of Shostakovich's things can be quite not so "beautiful", almost noise, especially if you sit right in front of the stage, e. g. the ballet of the policemen in Katerina Ismailova or parts of "The Nose", but I do connect emotionally to it and finde it somehow "attractive".

Try Hartmann's Sixth Symphony. I think I know exactly what you're talking about with the melodious-emotional axis not being in Berg, and can assure you that Hartmann No 6 is one twenty-five minute gigantic wailing scream of "noise" but with a pretty much instant emotional grip.

[Sid]

Just got this yesterday:
[asin]B000FVQUVW[/asin]

[Sadko]

Try Hartmann's Sixth Symphony. I think I know exactly what you're talking about with the melodious-emotional axis not being in Berg, and can assure you that Hartmann No 6 is one twenty-five minute gigantic wailing scream of "noise" but with a pretty much instant emotional grip.

Thank you for the recommendation, I'll put it on my list.

[PaulSC]

Just placed my first order with BRO, consisting of:

Kraus, Joseph Martin [1756-1792]: Four Sonatas for Fortepiano & Violin; Sonata for Fortepiano in Eb; Fortepiano Trio [2CD]
Schlepp/Lohmann/Wakelkamp
CHALLENGE CLASSICS

Benda, Jiri Antonin [1722-1795]: The 18 Keyboard Sonatas [4CD]
Sylvia Georgieva, harpsichord
PRAGA

Davies, Peter Maxwell: 'Naxos' String Quartets 1 & 2; 'Naxos' String Quartets 3 & 4.
Maggini Quartet
NAXOS

[Scarpia]

I see it's been remastered.  That squashes the rumour that the master tape had unrecoverably deteriorated.   

[marvinbrown]

That's for your help Marvin, but as a personal preference I'm looking for Wagner that is in excellent audio in addition to the performance. Early stereo is okay, but mainly depends on what label did the recording. What do you think of Solti's Wagner recordings?

  Hello Mirror Image, I do not know much about the current Wagner recordings as most of my recordings date back to the 50s and 60s (those decades were the Golden Age of Wagnerian singing).  But all the recordings I recommended to you above have to my ears very good if not excellent sound.  Which brings us to your question about Solti, I have his Ring Cycle. Solti's Ring dates back to the 60s but you would not know it if you hear it.  The sound is spectacular! The cast is stellar!   It is a studio recording and has that rich Technicolor sound. Over the years it has attained a legendary status.  So buy it without hesitation! I have also heard Solti's Tannhauser, a very fine recording as well with very good sound.  I do not know about the rest, but I would not want a Wagner collection made up of exclusively Solti recordings  . 

  Seeing as you have a preference to excellent audio sound my suggestion would be to sample before you buy. See if your local library has any of the current Wagner recordings in their catalogue.  Some universities might have them as well. Some classical music stores will allow you to sample at their stores as well.  Good Luck in your hunt!

  marvin

 

[Sergeant Rock]

Out of all the choices available and recommended by knowledgeable fans here, why did you select Barenboim's Ring for your first?

I have been listening to the Ring for 49 years and I own 12 versions. Barenboim is a favorite along with Karajan, Böhm and Moralt. I too (along with Mensch and Jens) think MI chose wisely. Tomlinson is a superb Wotan and he might even make you, Sherman/David, appreciate Act II Walküre 

...as a personal preference I'm looking for Wagner that is in excellent audio in addition to the performance. Early stereo is okay, but mainly depends on what label did the recording. What do you think of Solti's Wagner recordings?

The recommendations given by Jens, Mensch and Marvin would not neccessarily be my first choices (I'm a Karajan man) but I have no problem seconding their choices. Another Lohengrin you might consider is the recent Bychkov/WDR Köln. It is stunning sonically and, as a performance, as good as any since Kempe's. His villanous duo is better than Danny Boy's.

Solti's Wagner? One of my least favorite Rings (for reasons I've given in the various Wagner threads and won't repeat here). I do love his Tannhäuser, though. Forget Solti's Lohengrin: Domingo's attempt at German is not successful.

Sarge

[jlaurson]

Listen what the Cat dragged in:


W. Mozart (1813– 1883)
Chamber Works for Clarinet
Stadler Quartet & J.C.Veilhan
K617

not available in the US -- but used copies only get cheaper and cheaper in Germany and France. (Link above to German Amazon where it's below $20. Absolutely terrific sounding.


R. Wagner (1813– 1883)
Mahler Symphony No.10 (Carpenter)
(+ Quigang Chen: Wu Xing - Five Elements)
Lan Shui / Signapore SO
Avie DVD

Not convinced by the videography... the performance I've not heard in good enough circumstances yet to responsibly judge.


J.S. Bach (1685– 1750)
Flute Sonatas
Marina Piccini / Brasil Guitar Duo
Avie

[Mirror Image]

  Hello Mirror Image, I do not know much about the current Wagner recordings as most of my recordings date back to the 50s and 60s (those decades were the Golden Age of Wagnerian singing).  But all the recordings I recommended to you above have to my ears very good if not excellent sound.  Which brings us to your question about Solti, I have his Ring Cycle. Solti's Ring dates back to the 60s but you would not know it if you hear it.  The sound is spectacular! The cast is stellar!   It is a studio recording and has that rich Technicolor sound. Over the years it has attained a legendary status.  So buy it without hesitation! I have also heard Solti's Tannhauser, a very fine recording as well with very good sound.  I do not know about the rest, but I would not want a Wagner collection made up of exclusively Solti recordings  . 

  Seeing as you have a preference to excellent audio sound my suggestion would be to sample before you buy. See if your local library has any of the current Wagner recordings in their catalogue.  Some universities might have them as well. Some classical music stores will allow you to sample at their stores as well.  Good Luck in your hunt!

  marvin

Thanks again for your help, Marvin. I appreciate it.

[Mirror Image]

I have been listening to the Ring for 49 years and I own 12 versions. Barenboim is a favorite along with Karajan, Böhm and Moralt. I too (along with Mensch and Jens) think MI chose wisely. Tomlinson is a superb Wotan and he might even make you, Sherman/David, appreciate Act II Walküre 

The recommendations given by Jens, Mensch and Marvin would not neccessarily be my first choices (I'm a Karajan man) but I have no problem seconding their choices. Another Lohengrin you might consider is the recent Bychkov/WDR Köln. It is stunning sonically and, as a performance, as good as any since Kempe's. His villanous duo is better than Danny Boy's.

Solti's Wagner? One of my least favorite Rings (for reasons I've given in the various Wagner threads and won't repeat here). I do love his Tannhäuser, though. Forget Solti's Lohengrin: Domingo's attempt at German is not successful.

Sarge

I knew you would know quite a bit about Wagner's Ring considering you own 12 of them!   I think I made a good choice in Barenboim as well. I heard Solti is a little over-the-top and I'm looking for more refinement. Karajan or Bohm sound like both good choices to me. I'll probably flip a coin to see which one I want to get for my birthday. Thanks for your comments, Sarge.

[MishaK]

Another Lohengrin you might consider is the recent Bychkov/WDR Köln. It is stunning sonically and, as a performance, as good as any since Kempe's. His villanous duo is better than Danny Boy's.

I wasn't aware of this recording until I happened across this on amazon yesterday. Having just heard the vocally stupendous Johan Botha live at the Lyric Opera Chicago in this role last Friday, I can imagine this would be a first rate recording to have. Now with Sarge's recommendation, off into my shopping cart it goes. 

[asin]B001OBT3M0[/asin]

[admiralackbar]

A recent purchase.

[asin]B0038Q3UKA[/asin]

I fell in love with Brahms' late piano works thanks to Lupu, so I was thrilled to pick those up along with his Schubert, which I hear very good things about, for a reasonable price.

[Brian]

Usually I don't post things when they arrive at my door, but I ordered this set on 28 December and it only just got here, so I think a repost is in order...

[asin]B0046VRR7S[/asin]

I am very excited. The booklet is luxurious, a beautiful tribute to a great, great artist.

[Mirror Image]

Usually I don't post things when they arrive at my door, but I ordered this set on 28 December and it only just got here, so I think a repost is in order...

[asin]B0046VRR7S[/asin]

I am very excited. The booklet is luxurious, a beautiful tribute to a great, great artist.

Truly a great set. I love it. Top-notch performances of Janacek and Martinu. I especially loved Mackerras' version of Glagolitic Mass. Totally awesome.

[Brian]

Truly a great set. I love it. Top-notch performances of Janacek and Martinu. I especially loved Mackerras' version of Glagolitic Mass. Totally awesome.

I'm watching the DVD version right now!