The Romantics in Period Performances

[Antoine Marchand]

The discs below seem to be a major find  . I have ordered all of them, although I only have heard a few examples on internet. Just ordered, I am sharing this find  .

Anyone knows these recordings?

The only strange thing is the recording devoted to the Beethoven's string trios because Beethoven is not frequently considered a Romantic composer, the volume indicates the number 4 on the cover (but apparently is the 6th) and, also apparently, the Adaskin String Trio doesn't play on period instruments.

[Antoine Marchand]

 

[Antoine Marchand]

 

[Bunny]

I don't know the record, but the painting is "On the Sailing Boat" by Caspar David Friedrich.

[Antoine Marchand]

I don't know the record, but the painting is "On the Sailing Boat" by Caspar David Friedrich.

Nice... "Clara and Robert on the Sailing Boat". Very poetic.

[Antoine Marchand]

Links to several reviews and audio examples on the "Musica Omnia" site:

http://www.musicaomnia.org/reviews.htm

[Sorin Eushayson]

I see some Mendelssohn in the above-noted discs...  Anyone have any recommendations for his solo piano works? 

[Antoine Marchand]

Hi, Sorin.

Unfortunately, I don't know records devoted to his solo piano works, but you will find some Mendelssohn's HIP in the next list:

Cpte. Org. Works [1820-1845] / J.-B. Robin / Triton 331130 (3CD)
Cpte. Vn.&Fpn. Sons. [1825-1839] / T. Kiriyama & K. Ogura / ALM Records ALCD-1056
Cpte. Vc.&Fpn. Sons. & Var. [1829-1843] / C. Coin & P. Cohen / Decca 430245
Cpte. Fpn. Trios [1839-1845] / Voces Intimae / Symphonia SY02199
Cpte. Str. Qts. [Op.12,13,posth., 1823-1827; Op.44-1,2, 1838; Op.44-3,80, 1847] /
      Eroica Quartet / Harmonia Mundi HMU907245; HMU907287; HMU907288
Cpte. Str. Qnts. [#1, 1826; #2, 1845] / L'Archibudelli / Sony SK60766
Cpte. Wind & Fpn. Qts. [Konzertstücke 1 & 2, 1832/3], 1 Cl. Son. [1824], &
      8 Div. Fpn. Works / R. Burnett et al. / Amon Ra 38
Cpte. Str. Symph. [1821-1823] & Conc. / Concerto Köln / Warner Classics 25646-92709 (4CD) § ‡
Cpte. Secular Part-Songs for A Capella Choir [Op.41,48,49,88,100; Festlied zu Zelters
      70th Geburtstag; Die Frauen and die Sanger] / Saxon Vocal Ens. / Tacet 142
2     Orch. Stes. [A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1826 & 1842 (Op.21 & Op.61)] /
      Orch. of the 18th Century / Glossa GCD921101
Opera [Die Hochzeit des Camacho, 1825] / Orch. Anima Eterna / Channel
      Classics Ccs5593 (2CD)
Oratorio [Paulus, 1834-1836] / Das Neue Orch. Köln / Opus111 OPS30-135/6 (2CD)
Incidental Music [Athalie, 1845] / Das Neue Orch. Köln / Capriccio 67068
Oratorio [Elijah, 1846] / Orch. of the Age of Enlightenment / Decca 455688 (2CD)

Compiled by Dr. Roger Peters; last update 1st April 2009.

BTW, this list doesn't include the previous Musica Omnia discs posted by me; therefore, we have now the most complete Mendelssohn's HIP list on the web  .

[Sorin Eushayson]

...this list doesn't include the previous Musica Omnia discs posted by me; therefore, we have now the most complete Mendelssohn's HIP list on the web  .

Well done!!!  I see a number of omissions, however... Let me add a few...













There does seem to be a relatively large amount of period Mendelssohn out there; for that I am very thankful! 

[Que]

And...



Q

[Antoine Marchand]

Well done!!!  I see a number of omissions, however... Let me add a few...

D

I know, Sorin. I was just kidding about this list (an overview): http://www.wissensdrang.com/picds1.htm

In any case, it is rather evident the lack of recordings of the solo piano works.

A point to discuss would be the inclusion of his arrangement of the Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

[Sorin Eushayson]

In any case, it is rather evident the lack of recordings of the solo piano works.

That's very disappointing.  His piano concerto sounds great on fortepiano!

Which reminds me, if you haven't got that Nimbus Hanover Band disc yet I highly recommend every and all HIP Mendelssohn lover do so! 

[Antoine Marchand]

The Green cover Schubert is complemented by the orange covered Schubert.  Both cds are also available in the set with the blue cover.  This can make for very confused buying! 

+ =

I have found that I really like all of the cds I have bought by La Gaia Scienza, including the Schumann and Brahms recordings pictured below.  They are both excellent, and easy to recommend.

 

Great suggestion, Bunny.

These are some of the most attractive discs that I have heard in the last time.

Especially that Brahms: it's really a bullet on the head! And Federica Valli, what an appealing fortepianist!

All of them are almost perfect, only excepting the weird digipacks and some lacking of information in the "booklets", when they are included.

[FideLeo]

[Antoine Marchand]

Hidemi Suzuki looks rather self-confident in those pictures  . Is that justified, traverso?

[FideLeo]

Hidemi Suzuki looks rather self-confident in those pictures  . Is that justified, traverso?

I only have the Mendelssohn and there he sounds very fine (can't say more for lack of comparison. )

[Que]

Anyone tried this yet? 
Should be swell - Andreas Staier is one of the best Schubertians I've heard.

BTW "Op. 78" = D894.



Q

[Lethevich]

Lilas, great review, thanks! I am not a great connoisseur of historic performances, but Schuricht is one of my favourites, initially thanks to his Bruckner.

Earlier I played these two:



And they immediately went onto my purchase list. The inspired programming decisions (choral music alongside a symphony) I initially felt might deprive me of half a disc of what I wanted to listen to - which was Brahms' fine orchestral music - but they compliment each other very successfully. The coupling makes sense given the forces Gardiner has at his disposal (both choir and orchestra are his "home" ensembles), but the decision to actually carry it out makes for some very distinctive releases. Not just the diversity of texture, but they allow each symphony to be the focus of the respective disc, rather than jostling each other for attention as sometimes might seem the case with couplings. It could've been too easy to throw in a perfunctory Tragic Overture or Haydn Variations to fill each disc out. And of course, the choral contribution from the Monteverdi Choir is exceptional, as always.

The symphony performances are exactly what one might expect from Gardiner - his fans will enjoy, those less convinced could find it a bit passionless or brash. I do feel that there is a lyrical side, as well as a little flexibility, although these qualities are of course incomparable to performances which have come before throughout the previous century. I do find these performances to be interesting not only for the HIP-centric, but simply for those interested in objective and clear performances. The massive arc of the first movement of the second symphony I find gripping in this performance and due to Gardiner's focus on playing up the dramatic side of the work as well as its lyrical one. Overall it sounds a fine equal to the first symphony rather than the usual view of it as almost a light interlude. It's not as heroic, but nor is it as one-dimensional, as these performances find a fine ambiguity in mood which I had not experienced before from previous performances in major cycles.

Overall, I hope that these discs are successful for SDG, as HIP Brahms symphonies aren't exactly a dime a dozen and the interesting couplings work brilliantly in context.

[FideLeo]

Anyone tried this yet? 
Should be swell - Andreas Staier is one of the best Schubertians I've heard.

BTW "Op. 78" = D894.



Q

The album is not released in uk until next week....so report from me will have to come later. 
How do you like the still ongoing series by Jan Vermeulen?  I listened to his D894 and Impromptus and have had some ambivalent feelings.  The instrument sounds good (not stupendously beautiful), but I find him to be a bit
stiff expressively from time to time.

[DavidRoss]

I've moved Lethe's interesting review to here from the Listening thread, for safe keeping and perhaps further discussion.

Her review prompted me to search Rhapsody for them.  I listened to the first movement of the second and was surprised by Gardiner's measured pace, having expected something more brisk, but he held it together well and any Brahms orchestral performance that doesn't bury the sound in a thick mush of strings has merit in my estimation.  Because I've no interest in the couplings I will wait to see if the symphonies are offered as a set when the cycle's complete.

Somewhere I stumbled upon Gardiner's notes on his Brahms project.  He justifies using a comparatively large complement of strings based on his interpretation of Brahms's preferences, claiming that the composer would have liked more if he could have gotten them.  I'm more persuaded by Robert Pascal's notes to Mackerras's edition that support Brahms's preference for a smaller string section.  Given Brahms's mastery of chamber music, I doubt he would really care just how many strings are in the band as long as they don't drown out the winds and the balance permits all voices to be heard clearly.  This is one of the strengths of Mackerras's set and, based on the little I've heard, of Gardiner's as well.