Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Coopmv]

Made this small purchase on eBay yesterday and it is brand new at an unreal price ...

[Mirror Image]

Just bought:

[asin]B000A5DLPG[/asin]

[mc ukrneal]

[asin]B00345IOLA[/asin]

Here's another long on my wish list. These recently went on sale at presto, so once again getting a strong look. Will be interested to hear what you think.

[Daverz]

Bernstein's Schumann on DVD:

[asin]B001F4Z6DQ[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Bernstein's Schumann on DVD:

[asin]B001F4Z6DQ[/asin]

Love Bernstein, but I dislike Schumann. He has to be one of the most God awful orchestrators I've heard in music. Liszt's orchestrations sound like Ravel compared to Schumann's. 

[otare]

Ordered today.

[Mirror Image]

Just bought:

[asin]B0007DAXY8[/asin]

[asin]B000001GQ2[/asin]

I already have this performance of Berg's Chamber Concerto, but I did not have this Stravinsky with Boulez. Now, I own all of Boulez's Stravinsky recordings for Sony, Erato (Warner Classics now), and DG.

[Daverz]

Love Bernstein, but I dislike Schumann. He has to be one of the most God awful orchestrators I've heard in music.

This is an old canard.  Schumann's orchestration is fine.

[Mirror Image]

This is an old canard.  Schumann's orchestration is fine.

To you perhaps, but not in my estimation.

[Scarpia]

This is an old canard.  Schumann's orchestration is fine.

It is better than just fine if done properly.  Harnoncourt's series of recordings really opened my eyes to the possibilities in Schumann's symphonies.  Dausgaard has also been a revelation.

[Brahmsian]

To you perhaps, but not in my estimation.

To a lot of people, I think.  Perhaps Schumann wasn't exactly a Ravel, Beethoven or Mahler, in terms of orchestration genius (who was though, really?), but I don't think Schumann's orchestration is 'terrible' as some claim.  I have no problems listening and enjoying his symphonies and concerti (though I haven't yet heard his late posthumous Violin Concerto).  Schumann's symphonies, for example, I enjoy a lot more than say Mendelssohn's.

[Mirror Image]

It is better than just find if done properly.  Harnoncourt's series of recordings really opened my eyes to the possibilities in Schumann's symphonies.  Dausgaard has also been a revelation.

But if one generally dislikes Schumann, like myself, there's really no point in listening to any more recordings.

[Scarpia]

But if one generally dislikes Schumann, like myself, there's really no point in listening to any more recordings.

What better way to guarantee that you will continue to dislike Schumann?

[Mirror Image]

What better way to guarantee that you will continue to dislike Schumann?

I actually have several Schumann recordings of his symphonies (all of Harmoncourt's, Solti's, Bernstein's), but I just haven't connected with the music. I usually have a hard time with earlier Romantic music anyway.

[Daverz]

To you perhaps, but not in my estimation.

I think you're just presenting this received opinion as your own.

[Scarpia]

I thought Schumann was a lousy orchestrator after listening to Kubelik's DG recordings.  Later I concluded that Schumann just needs a better conductor and better audio engineering.

[MishaK]

I thought Schumann was a lousy orchestrator after listening to Kubelik's DG recordings.  Later I concluded that Schumann just needs a better conductor and better audio engineering.

...and even aside from the HIP crowd, Schumann can sound glorious with a lush modern orchestra. See e.g. Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin/Warner.

[Scarpia]

...and even aside from the HIP crowd, Schumann can sound glorious with a lush modern orchestra. See e.g. Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin/Warner.

I recently acquired that set after enjoying his recent Beethoven symphony recordings.  Harnoncourt's cycle is on modern instruments, although maybe some would label it as quasi-HIP.   Bernstein's Weiner Philharmoniker set is also quite a firecracker.

[The new erato]

I actually have several Schumann recordings of his symphonies (all of Harmoncourt's, Solti's, Bernstein's), but I just haven't connected with the music. I usually have a hard time with earlier Romantic music anyway.

The problem is that the best - far best - of Schumann lies outside his orchestral music. What you're saying (if I dn't misunderstand) is that you dislike the orchestral Schumann. Fair enough IMO. It's not the part of his work I listen to very regularly either. 

[Lethevich]

A few secondhand finds in town.

[asin]B000006BZK[/asin]