Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[George]

Moravec and Chopin ... need I say more? 0:)

Nope. 

[Mark]

Yeah, yeah. I get the point.

[Heather Harrison]

Cecilia Bartoli - Maria - fancy version with large hardcover book and DVD documentary.  With Orchestra La Scintilla, conducted by Adam Fischer.  This CD is a tribute to Maria Malibran, a famous opera diva of the bel canto period.  Since this is a big release by a major star on a major label, there is a certain amount of marketing hype which is bound to bother people.  However, it is worth cutting through the hype to see what is actually here.  (Of course, the marketing machine is trying to portray Bartoli as somehow equivalent to Malibran, which is unlikely to be the case.  We can't even know what Malibran sounded like anyway.)

I find this to be a very worthwhile recording for many reasons.  It is a serious attempt at HIP in the bel canto repertoire of the early-to-mid 1800's.  A lot of historical research went into it, and the accompaniment is provided by a period-instrument orchestra.  There is also a great deal of obscure material, much of which is recorded here for the first time.  The only well-known items on the CD are arias from Bellini's operas La sonnambula, Norma, and I Puritani.  (However, the excerpts from I Puritani are from a little-known version in which Bellini made some modifications for Maria Malibran.)  Even the well-known pieces by Bellini have a different feel here, thanks to the period-instrument orchestra and the mezzo-soprano voice.  (Although [according to the book and the documentary] written for mezzo-sopranos, the title roles in these operas are now traditionally sung by sopranos.)

The unfamiliar music chosen for the bulk of the CD is generally quite good, and some of it is rather unusual.  Highlights include Hummel's Air a la Tirolienne avec variations, which I would describe as a yodel-aria; and Mendelssohn's Infelice (London version), an incredibly beautiful aria, featuring a prominent violin solo.  Apparently, this is the first recording of the London version.  There are also arias by forgotten masters of Italian bel canto, such as Pacini and Rossi.  This is the sort of selection that I might expect to find on the Opera Rara label, but it seems weird that a major label is putting its formidable marketing machine behind unfamiliar music like this.  I suspect this is entirely due to Bartoli's star power and the fact that she has shown a great interest in digging through the dustbins of history in the past few years.  (If not for anything else, she deserves to be commended for her efforts in this regard.)

Bartoli's voice is distinctive and tends to raise strong opinions.  Some love her, while others can't stand her.  I doubt this CD will change any opinions.  In general, I like her (but do not worship at her altar), and I find her performances here to be of similar quality to her last CD - Opera prohibita - in my opinion, one of her best in recent years.  The orchestra provides great accompaniment, but the reverb in the recording is just a bit too high for my taste.  The CD is full, with barely a few seconds of free space to spare.  The excerpts from operas just include the most popular parts of the scenes; long complete scenes are not present.  I suspect they wanted to fit as much onto the CD as possible.  As such, it is just a tantalizing glimpse into the music of the time, and it leaves me hoping that more historical research will be done and more recordings of this material will appear in the future.  Perhaps this release will spur interest and others will take it up and dig deeper, while Bartoli moves on to her next project, whatever that may be.  As for the HIP aspect, that tends to raise controversy on just about any recording, and I'm sure it will here.  Bartoli has her own unique singing style which isn't entirely typical of the modern era and probably isn't typical of earlier times either.  The orchestra compares well with other HIP early Romantic performances I have heard.  However, I know of no other release of bel canto opera performed in this way, so I have nothing to compare it with.  (If anyone has encountered HIP bel canto, I would be interested to hear about it.)

The book has the usual material found in CD liner notes, in many different languages.  For a book of its size, there isn't a great deal of information.  However, there are many photographs of artifacts associated with Maria Malibran, and those are interesting to see.  The documentary on the DVD is a bit over 20 minutes long, and it presents basic information about Malibran's life and about the historical research.  It also shows footage from the recording sessions.  Given that it is rather short, it doesn't go into great detail, but it is worth seeing.  (I think the DVD is only included in this "deluxe" version, and I suspect the book in the standard version includes a bit less.)

In general, I would recommend this for those who aren't annoyed by Bartoli's voice and who want to hear some unfamiliar material of the bel canto era and some familiar material (i.e. "Casta Diva") performed in an unusual way.

Heather

[quintett op.57]

- Haydn / Weil / Tafelmusik
- Bruckner Sy 1 / Wand / Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
- Bruckner Sy 5 / Knappertsbusch / VPO

[Heather Harrison]

Last night, I attended a Utah Symphony concert at which Manuel Barrueco was the soloist in Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.  Also on the program were Ravel's Alborada del gracioso and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.  It was one of those concerts at which everything came together amazingly well, and the excitement in the audience was palpable.

Anyway, as usual, they were peddling CDs.  The first is entitled "Solo Piazzolla"; it includes pieces for solo guitar; some are arrangements.  All are beautifully played; Barrueco gets a wonderful clear tone out of the guitar.  The second CD features music by Rodrigo, including Concierto de Aranjuez, Fantasia para un gentilhombre, songs (with Placido Domingo), and solo guitar pieces.  Placido Domingo conducts on the orchestral pieces.  Again, performances are very good, and the selection of music is interesting.

Heather

[Kullervo]

Nice set! If you didn't already know the quintet, you're in for a treat.

[Kullervo]

One more:

[Que]

Well, I endlessly contemplated and deliberated and just ordered these...
Many thanks for all your contributions on the Alpha-thread! 


   

   

   

 

Q

[Harry]

More than excellent choice Que, will dabble myself also in this label. The last 350 batch have all the ones you ordered and a few more. Look forward to your reviews of them.....

[71 dB]

 

Amazing cover art! 

[George]

[Mark]

George, I thought you already had the Gilels set.

[George]

George, I thought you already had the Gilels set.

I had "borrowed" one CD and heard enough to buy the whole kitten-kaboodle. 

Pity one one CD dates from earlier than the 70s, boy was he on fire in that 60s CD. 

[George]

George, I thought you already had the Gilels set.

Now if you mean the DG set, the above set is live performances from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

[Mark]

I had "borrowed" one CD and heard enough to buy the whole kitten-kaboodle. 

Ah, that explains it. You know what I'm referring to.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life ~ Robert Spaethling

Looking forward to getting my nose into this tonight 

[Mark]

Mozart's Letters, Mozart's Life ~ Robert Spaethling

Looking forward to getting my nose into this tonight 

Chris, the similarities between you and I continue to be astonishing - and slightly freaky. I got that same book as a gift not two months ago.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Chris, the similarities between you and I continue to be astonishing - and slightly freaky. I got that same book as a gift not two months ago.

Really! I've had it on my wish list for some time but finally hit 'buy now' about a month ago. I was expecting it last week so its always a relief/joy to finally see it in my mailbox. I've had a sneak peek at a few pages and it looks interesting/engaging/charming; much like the author of the letters no doubt. 

[AnthonyAthletic]

Berwald

RPO - Ulf Bjorlin

The 4 Symphonies
Play of the Elves
Estrella de Soria Tragic Overture
Reminiscences from the Norwegian Mountains
Racing
Drottingen av Golconda Overture
Piano concerto
Bajadarfesten
Violin concerto
Allvarliga och muntra infall

Having only the 3rd/4th symphonies, this seems a very good value set and intro to a few of Berwald's other pieces.  The 3rd and 4th are charming works, hope the rest are of such good quality 

[Mark]

Berwald

RPO - Ulf Bjorlin

The 4 Symphonies
Play of the Elves
Estrella de Soria Tragic Overture
Reminiscences from the Norwegian Mountains
Racing
Drottingen av Golconda Overture
Piano concerto
Bajadarfesten
Violin concerto
Allvarliga och muntra infall

Having only the 3rd/4th symphonies, this seems a very good value set and intro to a few of Berwald's other pieces.  The 3rd and 4th are charming works, hope the rest are of such good quality 

Tony, you might want to check the content of a certain DVD, if Berwald's your thing.