Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Sid]

I only have one recording by Carter so far, but I think he will be up my alley.  This will be the second.


[asin]B0016MJ3M2[/asin]

That is a very fine album, which I have enjoyed since getting it for a while now. My favourite works by Carter are things like his 1st string quartet or piano sonata, coming from his early period, the 1940's & '50's. These are by no means simple works (but then again neither is something like Beethoven's late string quartets, to be honest), but they have a strong aspect of past traditions about them. The violin concerto on that album comes across a bit like that to me as well, although it's from the 1980's. Here, the orchestral part is not overly complex or dense, which is a bit unusual for Carter, who usually relishes and goes for the more complex end of the classical spectrum. The solo violin part, while quite fragmented, comes across as being quite lyrical and even poetic at times. This is a gentle dialogue rather than a kind of "duel" as in some of the big top-heavy late romantic things. The soloist, Norwegian Olle Bohn, is actually based here in Sydney, he lectures at the Conservatorium and I've seen him in a number of recitals of this kind of modern area here. He did some Berg last year which was quite good. His more kind of understated style suits this less flashy concerto down to a tee.

As for the other works on the album, I've spent a bit less time with them. They strike me as in another realm to the violin concerto or the earlier SQ#1 or piano sonata. Alot of things happen in them in short spaces of time. There are only fragments of melody, and Carter's colour range is full-on. This might sound wierdish to you, but the extremes here kind of mirror what I hear in stuff like Carlo Gesualdo's madrigals. It's almost as if Carter was writing something to illustrate a text in a highly meticulous way, but with no vocals. This sounds quite close to the truth, if I think about it, the concerto for orchestra was inspired by a poem called "Vents" that Carter read at the time (it's mentioned in the cd notes). Carter is not only an excellent musican, he's also a literary kind of guy who can read the classics in their original languages. No surprise that his music comes across as having a large amount of intellectual rigour, even though sometimes it's hard to grasp, or graspable "only just."

Anyway, get back to us to tell us what you think of these works, especially if it's the first time you've heard them...

[Scarpia]

That is a very fine album, which I have enjoyed since getting it for a while now. My favourite works by Carter are things like his 1st string quartet or piano sonata, coming from his early period, the 1940's & '50's. These are by no means simple works (but then again neither is something like Beethoven's late string quartets, to be honest), but they have a strong aspect of past traditions about them. The violin concerto on that album comes across a bit like that to me as well, although it's from the 1980's. Here, the orchestral part is not overly complex or dense, which is a bit unusual for Carter, who usually relishes and goes for the more complex end of the classical spectrum. The solo violin part, while quite fragmented, comes across as being quite lyrical and even poetic at times. This is a gentle dialogue rather than a kind of "duel" as in some of the big top-heavy late romantic things. The soloist, Norwegian Olle Bohn, is actually based here in Sydney, he lectures at the Conservatorium and I've seen him in a number of recitals of this kind of modern area here. He did some Berg last year which was quite good. His more kind of understated style suits this less flashy concerto down to a tee.

As for the other works on the album, I've spent a bit less time with them. They strike me as in another realm to the violin concerto or the earlier SQ#1 or piano sonata. Alot of things happen in them in short spaces of time. There are only fragments of melody, and Carter's colour range is full-on. This might sound wierdish to you, but the extremes here kind of mirror what I hear in stuff like Carlo Gesualdo's madrigals. It's almost as if Carter was writing something to illustrate a text in a highly meticulous way, but with no vocals. This sounds quite close to the truth, if I think about it, the concerto for orchestra was inspired by a poem called "Vents" that Carter read at the time (it's mentioned in the cd notes). Carter is not only an excellent musican, he's also a literary kind of guy who can read the classics in their original languages. No surprise that his music comes across as having a large amount of intellectual rigour, even though sometimes it's hard to grasp, or graspable "only just."

Anyway, get back to us to tell us what you think of these works, especially if it's the first time you've heard them...

Sounds like I'm going to like it.

[Que]

Purchased yesterday:

[asin]B0032700SU[/asin]

Q

[Mn Dave]

Purchased yesterday:

[asin]B0032700SU[/asin]

Q

That picture's hilarious. He's like, "Oh, it's me!"

[not edward]

@Scarpia: I'd also recommend the Gielen disc on Arte Nova, which is my favourite Concerto for Orchestra on any 'official' label; it's a bit more sharp and detailed than Knussen without losing any of the work's epic sweep. It also comes with Ursula Oppens in the Piano Concerto--she and Gielen have recorded this extremely difficult and dark work twice, and both are superb performances.

I wish the superb live NYPO/Boulez Concerto for Orchestra could get an official release; it's a sensational performance (FWIW, I think the other recording with the NYPO, Bernstein's, is a lot better than its reputation--the playing isn't all it could be but Bernstein catches the spirit of the work very well).

@MI: IMO, good call on the Clarinet Concerto and Seht die Sonne, which I think are two of Lindberg's strongest recent works, the Piano Concerto/Kraft disc will provide good contrast to the more recent works as well. Hopefully you'll enjoy the other disc more than I did.

[Mirror Image]

@MI: IMO, good call on the Clarinet Concerto and Seht die Sonne, which I think are two of Lindberg's strongest recent works, the Piano Concerto/Kraft disc will provide good contrast to the more recent works as well. Hopefully you'll enjoy the other disc more than I did.

Well I hope to enjoy the music. I've read a lot about Lindberg and his various styles and since I've recently gotten into Salonen's music, I was going to pick up some Lindberg sooner or later.

[marvinbrown]

  My 5th and final Ring Cycle on CD: 

 

  marvin

[Coopmv]

  My 5th and final Ring Cycle on CD: 

 

  marvin

My 5th Ring Cycle is on DVD by Boulez, which is still in shrink-wrap ...

[karlhenning]

  My 5th and final Ring Cycle on CD: 

Final Ring Cycle . . . for now, you mean . . . .

[Coopmv]

Final Ring Cycle . . . for now, you mean . . . .

Are there many more Ring Cycles worth collecting? 

[Scarpia]

Have this on pre-order at importcds.com

[asin]B004RRW4HE[/asin]

Still looking for a Parsifal video that will work for me.

[Mirror Image]

  My 5th and final Ring Cycle on CD: 

 

  marvin

Excellent! Barenboim's Ring is the only cycle I own. I haven't even listened to it yet. Please let me know your thoughts on it when you've heard at least one of the operas. Thanks.

[Coopmv]

Excellent! Barenboim's Ring is the only cycle I own. I haven't even listened to it yet. Please let me know your thoughts on it when you've heard at least one of the operas. Thanks.

Perhaps Barenboim's Ring is better than his WTC.   

[Mirror Image]

Perhaps Barenboim's Ring is better than his WTC.   

What is WTC?

[Mn Dave]

What is WTC?

Well-Tempered Clavier

Not a Baroque guy, are ya? 

[Coopmv]

What is WTC?

Not World Trade Center for sure.   
It is JS Bach Well Tempered Clavier, which many consider to be a major bomb by Barenboim ...

[Mirror Image]

Not World Trade Center for sure.   
It is JS Bach Well Tempered Clavier, which many consider to be a major bomb by Barenboim ...

Oh, okay. Thanks for the clarification.

[Mirror Image]

Just landed:



There are only two recordings of the complete Jungle Book cycle: Zinman and Bedford. Now I own both! The Zinman is easy to track down and will cost you less money overall. The Bedford, on the other hand, is a rarity, especially the pressing I own. I paid a good bit for this recording (around $17). The Bedford, like the Zinman, is a 2-CD set.

[asin]B000PGTIBQ[/asin]

Can't wait to hear what Boult does with these symphonies.

[marvinbrown]

Are there many more Ring Cycles worth collecting? 

Final Ring Cycle . . . for now, you mean . . . .

I am not in the habit of collecting multiple versions of the same work and when I do it hardly ever exceeds 2 versions.  Until we come to the ring cycle. What can I say but if there is ever a work that is best served with multiple recordings  it is the ring cycle!  Every recording in my collection has something special to offer: with Krauss, the ideal cast, with Bohm, a superbly conducted live performance, with Karajan, the most beautifully     played ring on record, with Solti, a stunningly crafted studio recording dripping with adrenaline........ And now   Barenboim, a modern recording with the sound of the Bayreuth opera house captured on CD like never before,   this is the recording to satisfy audiophiles, I also hear that Tomlinson's Wotan is pretty damn good too !!     


  Edit: I forgot the Levine DVD recording, the most lavishly produced Ring I have ever seen and to hear the Met orchestra in surround sound ......... Oh my!

  One can never have too many ring cycles 

  marvin

[Sergeant Rock]

It is JS Bach Well Tempered Clavier, which many consider to be a major bomb by Barenboim ...

Barenboim's WTC is fer sure da bomb   Seriously, I love it. There was one other person (who remained anonymous, fearful of harsh reprisal, I assume ) who voted for it too in Bulldog's poll.

Sarge