Recordings That You Are Considering

[marvinbrown]

Personally, Marvin, I'd go with the DG box of Stravinsky for the simple fact that it covers all the bases: symphonic works, ballets, concertante works, chamber music, operas, etc. A reviewer pointed out on Amazon that this DG set is not actually 'complete' but what's missing is relatively minor (mostly arrangements of other composer's music). For a starter set, I can think of no better way to get acquainted with Stravinsky's music.

  Thank you Mirror Image.  After reading jlaurson's response (very helpful thank you!) I got the impression that the sony set is somewhat of a Stravinsky "connaisseur" set.  Yes I have read the amazon reviewer who questioned the completeness of the DG set but its a minor quibble as far as I am concerned.  I'll get the DG set for now and if Stravinsky catches on like Wagner did for me I'll spring for the Sony set later.

  Thank you and jlaurson for your help and I look forward to reading jlaurson's review of the Sony set. The packaging from what I have seen looks incredible!

  marvin

[Mirror Image]

Glad I could help!

[marvinbrown]

Plus 1.
I'd go for the DG box if the price is comparable. I have the other, and most of the DG contents.

  Done!

  PS: The price is only comparable if you take it per disk £2/disk! But the 2 boxes are different animals (for lack of  a better expression)

  marvin

[Parsifal]

Depends on whether you like the performances in each box. There is a lot in the DG box that I personally consider unpalatable.

This set is more to my liking (not complete, by any means) and you might consider it as well.

[asin]B005BLYSJC[/asin]

[Ken B]

Depends on whether you like the performances in each box. There is a lot in the DG box that I personally consider unpalatable.

This set is more to my liking (not complete, by any means) and you might consider it as well.

[asin]B005BLYSJC[/asin]

Fabulous set. FABULOUS.

[Mirror Image]

Currently considering this recording:



I've read Frang does a tremendous job in the Korngold Violin Concerto. I never really cared for the Britten. She's really turning out to be a remarkable violinist and takes a different approach to these violin warhorses. I absolutely loved her Nielsen Violin Concerto performance. I'll need to revisit her Sibelius.

[Ken B]

Currently considering this recording:



I've read Frang does a tremendous job in the Korngold Violin Concerto. I never really cared for the Britten. She's really turning out to be a remarkable violinist and takes a different approach to these violin warhorses. I absolutely loved her Nielsen Violin Concerto performance. I'll need to revisit her Sibelius.

Have you heard Janine's Britten?

[Mirror Image]

Have you heard Janine's Britten?

I have and Britten's VC is still a work I have yet to fully connect with. Now, Britten's Double Concerto, Piano Concerto, and Diversions is a different story. I love those works. I also still have yet to develop the taste for the Cello Symphony.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I have and Britten's VC is still a work I have yet to fully connect with.

If you haven't heard it, MI, my fave for Britten's VC is Haendel/Berglund/Bournemouth:




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[Madiel]

Does anyone have this set?

[asin]B00ZE5M946[/asin]

It seems pretty much the go-to way to get most of the works, which aren't common except perhaps the Requiem and Stabat Mater.

However, I'm curious about whether the PDF file with the texts passes muster - I've seen at least one report of someone having issues with it.

[jlaurson]

Does anyone have this set?



It seems pretty much the go-to way to get most of the works, which aren't common except perhaps the Requiem and Stabat Mater.

However, I'm curious about whether the PDF file with the texts passes muster - I've seen at least one report of someone having issues with it.

I have that set and love it. I opened the pdf-files just now and they work perfectly fine for me.

[Madiel]

I have that set and love it. I opened the pdf-files just now and they work perfectly fine for me.

Thanks. I've been sampling the whole thing on iTunes (previews of 113 tracks takes a while!) and it certainly sounds like it's worthwhile having. I don't own very much choral music but I think Dvorak's the kind of composer who can make choral work for me.

It's going on the future shopping list.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks. I've been sampling the whole thing on iTunes (previews of 113 tracks takes a while!) and it certainly sounds like it's worthwhile having. I don't own very much choral music but I think Dvorak's the kind of composer who can make choral work for me.

It's going on the future shopping list.

It certainly looks like a wonderful set, orfeo. I may jump on it myself. In fact, I'd love to have all of those Supraphon sets of Dvorak.

[king ubu]

Haven't started exploring the set, but saving the PDF to my computer just now - not a problem at all.

[Madiel]

In fact, I'd love to have all of those Supraphon sets of Dvorak.

Yes, they're very impressive. I've got my eye on this one particularly because every work on it is of interest and there'd be no double-ups (you know me and my focus on acquiring new music, not just new versions), but every single box in the "colour" series has a pretty good reputation I think.

And above all they're logical. The choice of what goes in each box, the layout of each disc... it all makes sense in a way that so many box sets don't. Again, that matters to me more than it might to some people, but it's just so nice to see when a record company makes the effort.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, they're very impressive. I've got my eye on this one particularly because every work on it is of interest and there'd be no double-ups (you know me and my focus on acquiring new music, not just new versions), but every single box in the "colour" series has a pretty good reputation I think.

And above all they're logical. The choice of what goes in each box, the layout of each disc... it all makes sense in a way that so many box sets don't. Again, that matters to me more than it might to some people, but it's just so nice to see when a record company makes the effort.

I absolutely agree with your sentiments, especially in regard to the layout of a box set. This is more important than people realize. There's nothing worse than a box set that's cluttered and has no apparent organization.

In other news, thanks to you, orfeo, ( ), I just bought five of these Dvorak Supraphon box sets and I'm drooling at the thoughts of hearing this music (with many works I never even heard before).

[Madiel]

Oh goodness.

Yeah, I might have bought just this one by... the end of the year.

[Mirror Image]

Oh goodness.

Yeah, I might have bought just this one by... the end of the year.

Well, Dvorak has been a composer thanks to yours and so other GMGers various opinions and, in your own case, informed critiques/write-ups about his music that has made me become increasingly more and more curious about what's actually beyond the symphonies and tone poems. I'm ashamed to admit that I don't even know his concertante works as well as I ought to and the same goes for all these other orchestral works like Legends, Symphonic Variations, the Slavonic Dances, etc. just to name a few examples. Another complete blindspot for me is the chamber music and choral works. I'll be honest here and say I've never been disappointed with anything I've heard from Dvorak. This may be heaping praise with unjustifiable, blinded opinion considering I know so little, but, hey, he's just THAT good!!!

[Madiel]

Well, Dvorak has been a composer thanks to yours and so other GMGers various opinions and, in your own case, informed critiques/write-ups about his music that has made me become increasingly more and more curious about what's actually beyond the symphonies and tone poems. I'm ashamed to admit that I don't even know his concertante works as well as I ought to and the same goes for all these other orchestral works like Legends, Symphonic Variations, the Slavonic Dances, etc. just to name a few examples. Another complete blindspot for me is the chamber music and choral works. I'll be honest here and say I've never been disappointed with anything I've heard from Dvorak. This may be heaping praise with unjustifiable, blinded opinion considering I know so little, but, hey, he's just THAT good!!!

Oh, no argument from me. The more I hear of him, the more I enjoy... except for some of the very early works that are long-winded. But once he clicked, he really clicked. And my own collection has, by my standards, grown very rapidly.

It's just your speed of acquisition is so... scary. I don't know where the heck you put it all. I just did the maths, and I've bought 20 classical CDs so far this year (including an 11-CD Shostakovich set). Plus I've been given 4 more in extraordinary circumstances.

For me that's a decent amount - once upon a time it would have been a lot, but in the last few years my pace has accelerated a bit (GMG influence?) so 20 in a half-year is plausible. And I'll resist buying more until I finish at least the purchased ones. I'm close, but there's still a couple of Shostakovich symphonies and several Vine symphonies to go.

Whereas I get the feeling you regularly purchase 20 in a week.

[king ubu]

I have the Supraphon boxes on my shelf, but mostly unheard yet ... however, I stronly advise for some additions, such as this awesome two-disc set:



Actually, I'm at a total loss why they left these off the "Chamber Works" box in the first place! (Not just these recordings but these pieces - speak of "logical"!)

EDIT: memory slip, sorry - the piano trios (by the Guarnieri Trio Prague, not by the Suk Trio) are on "Chamber Works Vol. II" of course, which I don't have. Guess I should put that on my wishlist