Recordings That You Are Considering

[Jo498]

I also love the Zimmermann Szymanowski/Britten disc; the other twofer I mentioned is this one:

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[Madiel]

Thanks everyone. I've seen nothing but good things about the Zimmerman. Also aware of Wit's performances (including a series on Naxos).

Decisions decisions. We shall see in... well, it could be years depending on just what makes its way into my (on average) twice-yearly shopping.

[SonicMan46]

Shostakovich, D. - String Quartets w/ Quatuor Daniel - currently perusing the Sept-Oct issue of Fanfare and the recording below was well reviewed and attracted my interest - NOW, I already have 3 sets of these works, so do I need to add another?  Attached is a PDF file containing four reviews, including the one from Fanfare - ALL are positive except the AllMusic comments (more average w/ 3 1/2/5 rating).

SO, just curious if others have heard these works (from the early 2000s) and thoughts relative to some of the other offerings (my other collections are w/ the Borodins, Manderlring Quartett, & the Pacifica Quartet) - Dave

[jlaurson]

Shostakovich, D. - String Quartets w/ Quatuor Daniel - currently perusing the Sept-Oct issue of Fanfare and the recording below was well reviewed and attracted my interest - NOW, I already have 3 sets of these works, so do I need to add another?  Attached is a PDF file containing four reviews, including the one from Fanfare - ALL are positive except the AllMusic comments (more average w/ 3 1/2/5 rating).

SO, just curious if others have heard these works (from the early 2000s) and thoughts relative to some of the other offerings (my other collections are w/ the Borodins, Manderlring Quartett, & the Pacifica Quartet) - Dave

I've always heard that it was one of the, if not THE modern set to have. It was always just out of my price-league when I was working at Towers... but I coveted it for years. Now it's finally in my hands, since Alpha re-issued it. And yet, I've not heard it, even though it's been with me for quite some weeks. I'll take your post as my motivation to listen through it, tomorrow... and report back.
But you really have some of the best (and most diverse) DSCH SQ4ts in your collection, with those three. I, too, of what I have so far, would keep those three cycles. Mandelring for mellow aural bliss, Borodin for 'authenticity' and grit, Pacifica for modern attack and superb extras. Or something along those lines.

[SonicMan46]

I've always heard that it was one of the, if not THE modern set to have. It was always just out of my price-league when I was working at Towers... but I coveted it for years. Now it's finally in my hands, since Alpha re-issued it. And yet, I've not heard it, even though it's been with me for quite some weeks. I'll take your post as my motivation to listen through it, tomorrow... and report back.
But you really have some of the best (and most diverse) DSCH SQ4ts in your collection, with those three. I, too, of what I have so far, would keep those three cycles. Mandelring for mellow aural bliss, Borodin for 'authenticity' and grit, Pacifica for modern attack and superb extras. Or something along those lines.

Thanks Jens for your comments and looking forward to your comments on the Quatuor Danel - I've been culling these SQs for years and finally ended up w/ the 3 mentioned which I definitely plan to keep - just wondering if the other is needed?  The price now is certainly excellent!  Dave

[betterthanfine]

Thanks everyone. I've seen nothing but good things about the Zimmerman. Also aware of Wit's performances (including a series on Naxos).

Decisions decisions. We shall see in... well, it could be years depending on just what makes its way into my (on average) twice-yearly shopping.

If it means anything, the Rattle box does come with a booklet with all the lyrics to the vocal works, including the entire Krol Roger libretto. I own it and enjoy it.

[SonicMan46]

One of the best complete cycles.  When I got that box it had different art:We share some cycles, I also have the Pacifica, Borodin and Manderlring, as well as the Emerson, Fitzwilliam, and Shostakovich. 

Yeah, I like these works.  I should get one off the shelf ...

Hey San Antone - LOL!    You have twice as many 'boxes' as me - I might just go ahead and put in an order but still feeling deprived w/ only 4 sets -   Thanks for your comments - Dave

[ritter]

The francophile in me is tempted by this (and the fact that it includes music by the underrecorded Maurice Délage--other than the Quatre poèmes hindous--is an added attraction):

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Although I don't own many recordings by Armin Jordan, I admire his recording of Dukas's Ariane et Barbe-Bleu, and have a soft spot for his Parsifal, used as the soundtrack for the stuning Syberberg film. By coincidence, I saw Parsifal conducted by Armin's son Philippe Jordan in Bayreuth in 2012 (and there was an eerie moment in which both the Syberberg film and the Herheim staging permitted the audience to see the conducter--father and son, respectively).

[Madiel]

If it means anything, the Rattle box does come with a booklet with all the lyrics to the vocal works, including the entire Krol Roger libretto. I own it and enjoy it.

That is definitely a plus in my book, thanks.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

One of the best complete cycles.  When I got that box it had different art:

Yes, I love the Danel. And that's the box I have, too. Second (and third and fourth?) the rec.

But why is it now on Alpha? Isn't Fuga Libera (the issuing label) still alive and kicking?

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Hey San Antone - LOL!    You have twice as many 'boxes' as me - I might just go ahead and put in an order but still feeling deprived w/ only 4 sets -   Thanks for your comments - Dave

Sonic, you might be happy to know that Todd likes the Danel set, too.

[NorthNYMark]

Shostakovich, D. - String Quartets w/ Quatuor Daniel - currently perusing the Sept-Oct issue of Fanfare and the recording below was well reviewed and attracted my interest - NOW, I already have 3 sets of these works, so do I need to add another?  Attached is a PDF file containing four reviews, including the one from Fanfare - ALL are positive except the AllMusic comments (more average w/ 3 1/2/5 rating).

SO, just curious if others have heard these works (from the early 2000s) and thoughts relative to some of the other offerings (my other collections are w/ the Borodins, Manderlring Quartett, & the Pacifica Quartet) - Dave

I have both the Borodin and Mandelring sets, plus the Danel (and the Shostakovich and Rasumowsky Quartets). Of those, I usually prefer the Mandelring and Shostakovich sets over the others, though the Danel would probably be my third choice if I could keep only three. The Danel will definitely offer a different type of interpretation from the others--in general,the performances strike me as somewhat cold and tense (often a bit on the slow and meticulous side), with a very dry recorded sound and a balance strongly favoring the first violin (the opposite, in some ways, of the Mandelring set, which is warm and somewhat reverberant, with more of a blended group sound). I get an almost menacing vibe from the Danel at times, which is kind of interesting, and which works better for some (especially later) quartets than others.

[SonicMan46]

Thanks ALL for your thoughts about the Shosty SQs w/ the Danels - I went ahead and made an order, just thought that the comments given indicated a contrasting interpretation and also a more recent recording (PLUS, the price was right!) - believe this will be the termination of my acquisitions of these works - the 4 sets should be fine for me - thanks for all of the comments and help.  Dave

[The new erato]

Yes, I love the Danel. And that's the box I have, too. Second (and third and fourth?) the rec.

But why is it now on Alpha? Isn't Fuga Libera (the issuing label) still alive and kicking?

No. They got included in the Outthere group, which did some serious cleanup in their various labels and regroupd it under the Alpha lanel.

[king ubu]

Here's a review on the Danel's Shostakovich:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/shostakovich-the-complete-string-quartets

Sounds good indeed!

And it's part of Presto's sale, very tempting:
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Alpha/ALPHA226

[North Star]

Here's a review on the Danel's Shostakovich:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/shostakovich-the-complete-string-quartets

Sounds good indeed!

And it's part of Presto's sale, very tempting:
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Alpha/ALPHA226

Even cheaper at Amazon FR mp

[king ubu]

Even cheaper at Amazon FR mp

... or aDE itself (minus VAT, plus free shipping) - but assuming it's a cardboard thingie, presto would properly pack it - I've had so many crushed boxes from amazon lately, I've become somewhat weary (the Prêtre and Jordan ICONs luckily arrived intact, but some of the recent Warner boxes looked as if a truck had run over them).

[Dancing Divertimentian]

No. They got included in the Outthere group, which did some serious cleanup in their various labels and regroupd it under the Alpha lanel.

Thanks, erato. Hadn't heard. Hope everything works out.

[Mandryka]

Accademia Bizantina, Dantone, Opfer

[SonicMan46]

Here's a review on the Danel's Shostakovich:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/shostakovich-the-complete-string-quartets

Sounds good indeed!

And it's part of Presto's sale, very tempting:
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Alpha/ALPHA226

Concerning the review link above - for those interested, please return to my original post (« Reply #13598 on: September 13, 2016, 11:39:12 AM ») on a previous page - I left a PDF file of 4 reviews of the Q. Danel performances of the Shosty SQs, including the one above.  Dave