Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Maciek]

I wrote "north of Warsaw" because I didn't recall the name of the town.  It is Bydgoszcz, and the marriage takes place at the Hotel Palac-Myslecinek.

Unfortunately, that's about half way between Warsaw and the Baltic. I hoped you'd get to see the sea .

Actually, we'll be going to the seaside with my wife and daughter early June, and we'll probably be driving through Bydgoszcz (it's a roundabout route but much more scenic). I'll be looking around for a wedding then!

I don't want to be stretching the thread topic and there's another question I just have to ask, so I'll start a new thread in the Diner just for you presently (OK, OK, just for me )...

Maciek

[orbital]

My main problem is what to do about smoking, since the air travel takes forever.  Maybe I'll just sit on the wing and puff away.

You have not been to Europe, I don't take that to mean that you have not made long air travel before so you might be familiar with this, but with me, the psychology that you are absolutely, positively banned from smoking while on the plane takes the pressure off a bit. Of course, you can't wait to get your luggage and step outside once you're there.

My great aunt who was quite old and was actually prescribed by her doctor to smoke after meals for digestive purposes used to be let in the cockpit in order to smoke  

[Heather Harrison]

Here is one more item from my recent group of purchases:



I have a copy of the only DVD (so far) of Il Trittico (Gavazzeni/La Scala), but I also wanted a CD performance.  I primarily wanted it for Suor Angelica (yes - I love those sentimental tearjerkers), but the others are interesting too.  I heard some clips from this one, and it sounded good, so when I saw it in a store, I bought it.  All three operas are performed very well - better than on the DVD version.

Il Tabarro is quite interesting to listen to, simply as a piece of music.  It comes across much like a tone poem - one that has a dark mood and, musically, quickly gets to the point.  It feels like there isn't a wasted note in it.  I will have to listen to this carefully a few more times; the music is a lot more interesting than I remember from the DVD and its visual distractions.  It stars Maria Guleghina, Neil Schicoff, and Carlo Guelfi, all of whom sing very well.  Guleghina gives out a great blood-curdling scream at the end.

Suor Angelica is my favorite opera out of the three, probably because I have a weakness for this sort of overt sentimentality.  I love how the music sets a peaceful mood, but at the end runs through an incredible range of emotion.  This performance stars Cristina Gallardo-Domas.  I have seen and heard her in other operas, and her performances are inconsistent.  When she is good, she has a lovely voice (and good acting ability), but when she is bad she screeches in a way that hurts my ears.  Fortunately, in this performance, she is at her best and she gives a moving performance.  (I wouldn't have bought this if I hadn't previously heard clips and seen good reviews.)

Gianni Schicchi is an entertaining opera that works very well musically, but out of these three it is the one that most benefits from also having the visual medium.  Even without the visual aspect, it comes off well in this performance.  It stars Jose Van Dam, Angela Gheorghiu, and Roberto Alagna.  The sense of exaggerated, fake grief with which the opera opens works very well here, and Gheorghiu gives a beautiful rendition of O mio babbino caro.  The duet at the end is also lovely.  Van Dam manages to be really funny as Schicchi (especially in his impersonations of the late Buoso).

This set is a welcome addition to my collection.  Although I bought it primarily for one of these operas, it is well worth having for all three.

Heather

[Steve]

Bernstein's Das Lied von der Erde.

[Harry]

Looks like a very interesting set, five cd's for the price of two, excellent bargain me thinks!

[rockerreds]

Mozart:Piano Concertos Nos.20, 21 & 26,Anda,Salzburg Mozartum Orchestra(DG)

[rubio]

I bought a few cheap discs today:

[Steve]

At this price, I'm thinking of adding one more Shostakovich cycle to the collection  (49.99)

[Steve]

Oh and perhaps this too...

[Harry]

At this price, I'm thinking of adding one more Shostakovich cycle to the collection  (49.99)

I have this set too, and I am very happy with it.

[Steve]

I have this set too, and I am very happy with it.

If I do, I will have a total of 4 Shostakovich Symphony Sets.... hmmm.

[Harry]

If I do, I will have a total of 4 Shostakovich Symphony Sets.... hmmm.

Well Haitink is kind of special. It was my first set, and apart from that it has a certain grandeur that is often absent on other recordings.

[Solitary Wanderer]

and



and



and

[Robert]

and



and



and

Is this Sinatra an old rewrapped columbia album?

[Harry]

That's the one I have with this cellist!
The first, and good it is.

[Steve]

Is this Sinatra an old rewrapped columbia album?

I must agree with Harry on this reccomendation. This is simply the finest recording of Dvorak's Cello Concerto available.

[Bogey]

More Bach Cantatas:

Cantatas 24-27 Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus Wien (Teldec)

[Harry]

More Bach Cantatas:

Cantatas 24-27 Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus Wien (Teldec)

Well Bill is Harnoncourt growing on you?

[canninator]

Boccherini-Guitar Quintets with Narciso Yepes and the Melos Quartet. Total yawn-fest I'm afraid. Purchased primarily for Yepes but the passion of his solo work barely surfaces.

[Harry]

Well maybe the Brilliant boxes are less of a yawn. I find them irresistable.