Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[DavidRoss]

After virtually all of my ideals orders were cancelled, I feel (falsely and foolishly) as if I'm the beneficiary of a windfall. Accordingly:





Only one -- the Gardiner Schumann symphonies -- was among those I had hoped to get from ideals. I already own Schønwandt's Nielsen symphony recordings, so when the concertos disc popped up on my radar it seemed like an obvious choice.

[TheGSMoeller]

David, that Rosamunde disc of Haydn's Seven Words is very good. It's definitely a little less dramatic than Emerson's take, more monotonous, with what also seems like much less vibrato. Sounds like I just described a dull performance, but there's a meditative quality to it, and I find it fits the music's message.

[Conor71]

Just ordered this set :

[Mirror Image]

Just ordered this set :

It's about time!!! Where the hell have you been? Interestingly enough, I wrote a review of this set (not this reissue), but of the other one, here's what I wrote:

Gunter Wand in his later years became a supreme advocate of Bruckner's symphonies. This box set titled the "Gunter Wand Edition" is a must for anyone wanting to step outside the cycles Jochum and Karajan. For me, I believe Wand had much more interesting things to say in Bruckner's music than Jochum or Karajan. Before the Jochum/Karajan bandwagon bombards me with a slew of unhelpful votes allow me to explain why I enjoy Wand's Bruckner cycle so much:

1. I really admire the flow that Wand is able to produce with his orchestras. Too often with Bruckner's symphonies, as in the case of Jochum, the listener is treated to a stop-and-go affair with no attention made to the transitions from segment to segment, which in my opinion is one of the most compelling aspects of Bruckner's symphonies. Too often I hear a conductor not really paying attention to these transitions (i. e. Jochum, Lopez-Cobos, Tintner).

2. The attention made to the vast structures of his music are also important. I think Karajan, fails to convince me that he had a full understanding of the given symphony's architecture. Karajan also doesn't build Bruckner's climaxes the way I personally think they should be built. Wand, who has been criticized by being literal to a fault, displays a strong understanding of these structures and is able to build these long durations of tension, which I think gives the listener something to anticipate as Wand approaches that all powerful Bruckner climax.

3. Wand does a remarkable job of handling the tempi. Jochum in both accounts on DG and EMI absolutely butchers the tempi and seems to not put much thought into this very crucial element of the music. Karajan's tempi are much better than Jochum's.

These opinions are not without experience. I have heard both Jochum cycles numerous times and Karajan's EMI and DG recordings. I definitely enjoy Karajan much more than Jochum if I had to pick from these two conductor's cycles. I do feel, however, that Gunter Wand expanded the importance of Bruckner's music for modern audiences by conducting the music with a detail-oriented approach that is engrossing and majestic.

In this particular cycle, the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra plays magnificently. I was not only impressed with Wand, but the committment from this German orchestra. These musicians are all amazing. This orchestra may not be a household name, but their dedication should certainly be commended. This orchestra went on to perform admirably well in Gary Bertini's Mahler series, which has been praised by Mahler fans for years now.

For those just arriving at Bruckner, I would suggest listening to Jochum's and Karajan's cycles first, then persue Wand's recordings. I'm certainly in the minority when it comes to my personal preference in Bruckner conductors. That said, Wand is not for everybody, but I think any self-respecting Brucknerian would not want to be without this set.

[DavidRoss]

David, that Rosamunde disc of Haydn's Seven Words is very good. It's definitely a little less dramatic than Emerson's take, more monotonous, with what also seems like much less vibrato. Sounds like I just described a dull performance, but there's a meditative quality to it, and I find it fits the music's message.

Thanks, Greg. It popped up while I was searching to fill that hole in my Haydn quartets and I thought, "Hmmm...what's this now?" Found it on Mog and began listening. It didn't take long to click "buy."

[Conor71]

It's about time!!! Where the hell have you been? Interestingly enough, I wrote a review of this set (not this reissue), but of the other one, here's what I wrote:

Gunter Wand in his later years became a supreme advocate of Bruckner's symphonies. This box set titled the "Gunter Wand Edition" is a must for anyone wanting to step outside the cycles Jochum and Karajan. For me, I believe Wand had much more interesting things to say in Bruckner's music than Jochum or Karajan. Before the Jochum/Karajan bandwagon bombards me with a slew of unhelpful votes allow me to explain why I enjoy Wand's Bruckner cycle so much:

1. I really admire the flow that Wand is able to produce with his orchestras. Too often with Bruckner's symphonies, as in the case of Jochum, the listener is treated to a stop-and-go affair with no attention made to the transitions from segment to segment, which in my opinion is one of the most compelling aspects of Bruckner's symphonies. Too often I hear a conductor not really paying attention to these transitions (i. e. Jochum, Lopez-Cobos, Tintner).

2. The attention made to the vast structures of his music are also important. I think Karajan, fails to convince me that he had a full understanding of the given symphony's architecture. Karajan also doesn't build Bruckner's climaxes the way I personally think they should be built. Wand, who has been criticized by being literal to a fault, displays a strong understanding of these structures and is able to build these long durations of tension, which I think gives the listener something to anticipate as Wand approaches that all powerful Bruckner climax.

3. Wand does a remarkable job of handling the tempi. Jochum in both accounts on DG and EMI absolutely butchers the tempi and seems to not put much thought into this very crucial element of the music. Karajan's tempi are much better than Jochum's.

These opinions are not without experience. I have heard both Jochum cycles numerous times and Karajan's EMI and DG recordings. I definitely enjoy Karajan much more than Jochum if I had to pick from these two conductor's cycles. I do feel, however, that Gunter Wand expanded the importance of Bruckner's music for modern audiences by conducting the music with a detail-oriented approach that is engrossing and majestic.

In this particular cycle, the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra plays magnificently. I was not only impressed with Wand, but the committment from this German orchestra. These musicians are all amazing. This orchestra may not be a household name, but their dedication should certainly be commended. This orchestra went on to perform admirably well in Gary Bertini's Mahler series, which has been praised by Mahler fans for years now.

For those just arriving at Bruckner, I would suggest listening to Jochum's and Karajan's cycles first, then persue Wand's recordings. I'm certainly in the minority when it comes to my personal preference in Bruckner conductors. That said, Wand is not for everybody, but I think any self-respecting Brucknerian would not want to be without this set.

Hehe thanks - that's a good review and has me feeling eager to hear the new set 

[Mirror Image]

Hehe thanks - that's a good review and has me feeling eager to hear the new set 

You're welcome. Enjoy the music!

[Mirror Image]

Just bought for nothing thanks to an Amazon promotional credit and free 2-day shipping:

[asin]B008W5TDP8[/asin]

Been waiting for this one for quite some time.

[Mirror Image]

Got this with a promotional credit from Amazon also with two-day free shipping:

[asin]B00000I9GE[/asin]

I've been looking at this recording for years, but finally decided it was time to pull the trigger.

[Sergeant Rock]

Another arrival from the Shire:




Sarge

[The new erato]

from mdt:

[asin]B0053SQSNM[/asin]

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

from mdt:

[asin]B0053SQSNM[/asin]

Mhhhh, looks interesting. Let us know your votes. Beautiful cover art too!

[The new erato]

Mhhhh, looks interesting. Let us know your votes. Beautiful cover art too!

We'll see in due time. It's gotten outstanding reviews - and Diabolus in Musica is a really excellent ensemble.

Also: I ordered this 5 disc set from prestoclassical:

[asin]B0046VRR7S[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Also: I ordered this 5 disc set from prestoclassical:

[asin]B0046VRR7S[/asin]

Great set! Enjoy it, erato!

[marvinbrown]

  Just bought my 3rd Mahler Symphony cycle:

  [asin]B0033QC0WY[/asin]

  marvin

[mahler10th]

I buy music  every week from various sources and outlets.  I do not understand why I do not make use of this thread more, as looking through it there are some interesting recommendations, and I should post stuff here too.   

PS:  MI (John), I completely agree with you about Wands Bruckner.

  Just bought my 3rd Mahler Symphony cycle:
  [asin]B0033QC0WY[/asin]
  marvin

Oh!  You bought that DG release after all!

[marvinbrown]

I buy music  every week from various sources and outlets.  I do not understand why I do not make use of this thread more, as looking through it there are some interesting recommendations, and I should post stuff here too.   

PS:  MI (John), I completely agree with you about Wands Bruckner.

Oh!  You bought that DG release after all!

  Yes, so much discussion happened after I chose the Sony set. I had a change of mind after going through the posts.  The impression I got was that the DG set was the more deserving of the two sets.

  marvin

[DavidRoss]

Just bought my 3rd Mahler Symphony cycle:

Wow, that was fast! Of course, between Jens & Sarge you have two of our best informed and most thoughtful Mahler lovers advising you. It's a great choice and a fine addition to the cycles you already have, Marvin ... and it will grow on you and with you!

So far just these two -- but the day is young here in sunny California!

[Lisztianwagner]

  Just bought my 3rd Mahler Symphony cycle:

  [asin]B0033QC0WY[/asin]

  marvin

Wonderful choice, the Bernstein DG is absolutely the finest Mahler Cycle I've ever heard so far.

[marvinbrown]

Wow, that was fast! Of course, between Jens & Sarge you have two of our best informed and most thoughtful Mahler lovers advising you. It's a great choice and a fine addition to the cycles you already have, Marvin ... and it will grow on you and with you!

So far just these two -- but the day is young here in sunny California!

  You had as much to do with my decision as everybody else did. You said that you owned both Bernstein sets but prefer ed the DG  as it had symphonies that were in your opinion the "best recorded ever". This bolstered the case for the DG set  . Thank you for that.

  marvin

  PS. : I have been a member with GMG for quite some time now and I have learned to trust the many opinions that are given ESPECIALLY when there appears to be a consensus emerging.