Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Papy Oli]

Just another one to add to the collection :





Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to All !!! 

[AnthonyAthletic]

Just another one to add to the collection :





Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to All !!! 

Mehta's Magnum Opus?  Possibly the finest thing he ever recorded (Bold statement.....I know) 

[71 dB]

Are you kindin? In my youth I had all TD records.....

Oh really? You are a real TD fan then!

What are your favorite albums?

[Harry]

Oh really? You are a real TD fan then!

What are your favorite albums?

Alas I sold all my records, and remember only the music, not the titles.
I am on a classical tangerine dream now........

[Lilas Pastia]

Bach's Christmas Oratorio  with Harnoncourt. This is not the familar 1973 version, but a new one made in 2007. Deusche Harmonia Mundi. I don't know what to expect. The 1973 is still my favourite, but Harnoncourt is one of those conductors who has changed a lot in later years. The orchestra is the same, though (Concentus Musicus). Has anyone heard this ?

Bach again, a nice collection of organ works by Michel Chapuis (with my favourite piece, the almost melodramatic g minor Fantasia and fugue). Chapuis is one of my favourite organists. His Bach is dynamic, dramatic and very colourful.

Bruckner: symphonie no. 7 and a disc coupling the Mass no 2 in e minor with the Te Deum. On both discs Heinz Rögner conducts the RSO, Berlin. I was thrilled by these artist's 'Romantic, a vigourous, bracing yet lyrical interpretation. I see the timings of the 7th point to the same kind of approach, which works very well.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Mehta's Magnum Opus?  Possibly the finest thing he ever recorded (Bold statement.....I know) 

That would be this


or maybe this:

or even this:


Anyway. I picked these up for the holidays:

[Drasko]

Mehta's Magnum Opus?  Possibly the finest thing he ever recorded (Bold statement.....I know) 

He made few quite good recordings, especially early in his career. I'd nominate this one.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'd nominate his recording of Franz Schmidt's Fourth Symphony.

[M forever]

I have several releases from that series, all with Jansons (Shostakovich 7, Symphonic Dances/Petrushka, Mahler 1, Heldenleben, Sibelius 2). They are all really good, orchestrally and musically, well produced (except for the silly display of the conductors' titles on the cover) and recorded, in what appears to me to be fairly "realistic" and "honest" sound representing the trademark dark and rich sound of the Concertgebouw pretty well, with brass actually coming from the back of the orchestra (rather than blaring right in your face). That said, I probably don't need another Mahler 4 from Haitink (I don't even know how many I already have, 4 or 5, I think  )

Unfortunately not familair with the Östman, M.

Q

You should definitely check that out some time. I am sure with your interest in "period perfomance" and "early music", you will appreciate it. This version comes closest to my personal ideal for this piece. Instead of "grand opera" with singers howling like valkyries, this is a small ensemble with the characters beautifully singing and declaiming their parts (so clearly and intelligently that you can learn Italian from listening to this) so vividly, you can "see" the action. But there is also plenty of drama when needed. At the end, DG really goes to hell. And Hakan Hagegard as youthful and vigorous (anti)hero really does the part very well. And so do the other singers.

Here is Gilles Cachemaille as Leporello: http://tinyurl.com/23ch5m

[Heather Harrison]

Here are the rest of the CDs from my recent group of purchases.



The Silk Road:  A Musical Caravan (various artists).  This is a 2-CD compilation from Smithsonian Folkways.  It includes music in very traditional styles from many of the countries and regions along and near the historic Silk Road.  Central Asia is very well represented, and there are some tracks from Japan, China, Iran, and Turkey.  Sound quality is generally very good, but it does vary a bit.  The music is quite fascinating; numerous styles are represented, including instrumental improvisations, songs, and Sufi ceremonies.  One highlight is the Mongolian music represented here.  I discovered traditional Mongolian music years ago and found it to be quite beautiful; the morin khuur (horse head fiddle) is one of my favorite instruments - it has a rich, beautiful sound.  Another highlight is music of the Khakas ethnic group.  I had not previously heard any of their music, so I was happy to hear something new.  Their style reminds me somewhat of the music of Tuva.



Mahler - Symphony No. 2.  Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich/David Zinman.  The performance style here is similar to Symphony No. 1, which I reviewed in a previous post here.  It is very clear, disciplined, and precise.  It is perhaps a bit lacking in the passion found in some other performances, but I find the clarity refreshing.



Bach - Cantatas BWV 147, 80, 140, 8, 51, 78.  The Bach Ensemble/Joshua Rifkin.  This is a budget-priced 2-CD set of well-known cantatas.  The performances use a small ensemble with one voice per part; the cantatas perhaps lose some of the lush sound that larger ensembles provide, but they gain clarity, and this may well be closer to the way they were originally performed.  I find the performances to be generally good, if a bit uneven.

Heather

[Que]

Bach's Christmas Oratorio  with Harnoncourt. This is not the familar 1973 version, but a new one made in 2007. Deusche Harmonia Mundi. I don't know what to expect. The 1973 is still my favourite, but Harnoncourt is one of those conductors who has changed a lot in later years. The orchestra is the same, though (Concentus Musicus).

Will be very interested in your feedback on that one, Lilas!
When sampling on-line it sounded "bigger".

I have several releases from that series, all with Jansons (Shostakovich 7, Symphonic Dances/Petrushka, Mahler 1, Heldenleben, Sibelius 2). They are all really good, orchestrally and musically, well produced (except for the silly display of the conductors' titles on the cover) and recorded, in what appears to me to be fairly "realistic" and "honest" sound representing the trademark dark and rich sound of the Concertgebouw pretty well, with brass actually coming from the back of the orchestra (rather than blaring right in your face). That said, I probably don't need another Mahler 4 from Haitink (I don't even know how many I already have, 4 or 5, I think  )

I've always liked his recording with Elly Ameling ('67), prefered it to the later recording in the offical Philips cycle with Roberta Alexander, which I found a bit uneventful. Never got to his Berliner recordings, because I have a weak spot for the RCO/Mahler combination and I didn't feel it was always an improvement interpretation-wise. I got this latest recording somewhat out of curiousity and it comes highly recommended. I think he got the right soprano for the job - Christine Schäfer

You should definitely check that out some time. I am sure with your interest in "period perfomance" and "early music", you will appreciate it. This version comes closest to my personal ideal for this piece. Instead of "grand opera" with singers howling like valkyries, this is a small ensemble with the characters beautifully singing and declaiming their parts (so clearly and intelligently that you can learn Italian from listening to this) so vividly, you can "see" the action. But there is also plenty of drama when needed. At the end, DG really goes to hell. And Hakan Hagegard as youthful and vigorous (anti)hero really does the part very well. And so do the other singers.

I think so too. HIP in Mozart's operas does great things, though I wouldn't like to be without the "Viennese" Don Giovanni by Krips (or the Nozze by E. Kleiber, or the Cosi by Jochum). I've heard - but do not own - Östman's Zauberflöte and Nozze, was particularly impressed by the latter. This neat set is on my list for a while now - thanks for the rec.!



Q

[71 dB]

Alas I sold all my records, and remember only the music, not the titles.
I am on a classical tangerine dream now........

So, after you got married you didn't need TD albums anymore to seduce women???

Or did you get fed up with electronic music? 

[M forever]

I've always liked his recording with Elly Ameling ('67), prefered it to the later recording in the offical Philips cycle with Roberta Alexander, which I found a bit uneventful. Never got to his Berliner recordings, because I have a weak spot for the RCO/Mahler combination and I didn't feel it was always an improvement interpretation-wise.

Interpretation-wise, there is indeed not much "new" to be gained from his Berlin recordings. Haitink has always approached this (or indeed any) music in a very reflected and balanced manner, so he is not the kind of conductor you would expect to come up with some "interesting new ideas" anyway. His consequent refusal to glue together "interpretations" from random ideas and his attention to detail in a larger coherent frame on the other hand are what make him such a respectable and serious conductor. His high level of craftsmanship and musical sincerity are qualities I have come to appreciate more and more although it is true his readings aren't always among the most "exciting".
What makes the Berlin recordings very interesting to compare to his Amsterdam recordings therefore is not really any new "revelations" (there are really none anyway) but the contrast in tone and sonority, with the weightier and more massive playing of the BP lending Haitink's "serious" approach an additional degree of a somewhat "icy objectivity" which in itself is quite interesting. This probably doesn't work equally well with all the symphonies though, certainly not in the 4th which in Haitink's readings IMO has always lacked a little in "wit" and "poetry", but it works very well in some other symphonies, especially the more "serious" ones like the 6th or 7th which in his BP readings have a relentless inevitability to them which I find very interesting to listen to.

[Harry]

Christmas gift from my girl from New York......

[PaulR]

Atterberg:  The Symphonies Rasilainen/NDR-Radiophilharmonie/Radio-Sinfonieorchester stuttgart des SWR/Radio-sinfonieorchester Frankfurt
PDQ Bach: Oedipus Tex and Other Choral Calamities Wayland/Greater Hoople Area Off-Season Philharmonic
Durufle: Requiem, Mass-Con Jubilo, Motets Plasson/Toulouse Orchestra
Beethoven: Symphonies #2 and #5 Abbado/BPO (DVD)
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto #1 in Eb Major Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante Rostropovich (DVD)
Arensky: Piano Concerto in F minor Fantasia on a Russian Folk Song, for piano & orchestra, Op 48   Bortkiewicz: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat, Op. 16 Coombs/Maksymiuk/ Glasgow BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

[Fëanor]

Yeehaw!!    Three DVD operas for Christmas from my mother and my son.

Hope everyone did at least as well   

[M forever]

Looks interesting. I will probably get that CD. I watched the 12-part Chinese/Japanese documentary about the silk road, a fascinating subject. BTW, are you familiar with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble explorations (I am not, I just know he did hat project and wondered if it is interesting or just ethnokitsch)?

Mahler - Symphony No. 2.  Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich/David Zinman.  The performance style here is similar to Symphony No. 1, which I reviewed in a previous post here.  It is very clear, disciplined, and precise.  It is perhaps a bit lacking in the passion found in some other performances, but I find the clarity refreshing.

Hmm...what is the point of having this then? There are many, many well played recordings of this repertoire already, and many of them are discliplined and precise, too. And some offer some special musical insights. Which is really what I am looking for when I get yet another Mahler disc. I have Zinman's Strauss collection, and while it is very decent, there is really not much reason to have it, actually.
That said, I just ordered Zinman's recording of Mahler 3 - but only because I am a fanatic Mahler 3 collector 

[Symphonien]

Ordered the following off Amazon with Christmas money:









All new composers for me to explore when they arrive.

[Que]

Filling some empty spaces in my L'Archibudelli collection.



Q

[Harry]

Filling some empty spaces in my L'Archibudelli collection.



Q

Zwei obligaten Augenglasern!
Boy that made me grin big time.
Goodmorning Que.
Hope you have good Christmas cheer.....